The purpose of this page is to help you quickly identify the most common problems with the 2007 Chevrolet Equinox. By ’07, GM had finally fixed the issue with the high head gasket failure rate, which makes this a great model year choice over the 2005 or 2006 models. That being said, there are four recalls on this particular model year.
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Non-Drivetrain Related Problems
Biggest Issues With the 2007 Equinox
- Four Recalls– There were four recalls for the 2007 model year. Two of them had to do with the airbags, one was for the fuel pump module potentially catching fire, and the last was for improperly mounted glass (including windshield). You can read more about them here.
- Key Stuck in the Ignition– The early Equinox has always had problems with the key and the ignition. In 2005, they had a recall on that model year because it would fall out. In 2007, the problem was that it would get stuck in there.
- Gas Cap Failure– The gas cap has been know to go bad at high rate. This causes the service engine soon light to come on because one of the Evap system trouble codes have been triggered. This can also lead to trouble with filling the gas tank as well.
- Torque Converter Stops Locking– The locking clutch on the torque converter is a known area of weakness with this transmission. It is well known that the clutch is a little too small for many applications. More on this below.
2007 Equinox Engine Problems + Specs
The 2007 Equinox was available with one engine. It was the LNJ V6, which was a carryover from the 2005 and 2006 model years. It was manufactured in China.
The power output of the LNJ V6 remained a respectable 185 hp at the rear wheels and 210 foot pounds of torque. Although it was a carryover from previous model years, the issue with faulty head gaskets was addressed this year, which makes it a much better choice over previous models.
| 2007 Chevrolet Equinox Engine Specs | |
| Type | 3.4L V-6 |
| Block | Iron |
| Heads | Aluminum |
| Ignition | Coil on Plug |
| Fuel Delivery | Sequential Multi Port Fuel Injection |
| Horsepower | 185 @ 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 210 ft lb @ 3800 RPM |
| Compression | 9.5:1 |
Source: GM Heritage Center
There aren’t a whole lot of problems to report on the 3400 engine in the 2007 Equinox. The intake gasket is a known issue for this motor, but seems to not have been much of an issue for this model year.
2007 Equinox Transmission Problems + Info
The 07 Equinox was equipped with the Aisin AF33 transmission. It was made in China and found it’s way into not only General Motors vehicles, but also Volvos, Suzukis, Renaults, and Nissans. There are no Equinox specific problems for this year, but the common problems with this transmission are listed below.
It is considered to be a fill for life transmission. That means that as long as it is operated under normal conditions, it will not require any transmission fluid change.
Here’s are some of the most common issues with the AF33 transmission.
No Torque Converter Lock Up
The locking clutch on the torque converter is a known area of weakness with this transmission. It is well known that the clutch is a little too small for many applications.
When the torque converter refuses to lock up gas mileage suffers. The vehicle will also travel down the highway at a higher RPM. If you ever drove an older American car with an automatic transmission, you’ll know the feeling. You hit the gas and the rpm rises, even though the transmission isn’t downshifting.
No Forward Gears at All
A surprisingly common problem with the AF33 is the loss of all forward gears at one time. This is usually caused by a loss in line pressure. Common causes of this problem include:
- Bad front pump
- Bad pressure regulator
- Valve body (valve stuck)
Fluid Leak
It’s common for any transmission to develop a leak with enough mileage under it’s belt. Some common areas that the Equinox’s transmission leaks:
- Pan gasket
- Torque converter hub
Faulty Solenoids
Solenoids are devices that are used to control the flow of transmission fluid throughout the the transmission. There are many solenoids in the AF33. When one goes bad, the Equinox can not properly operate. A solenoid repair is not the most expensive repair. But, it can take some work to get to it.
Gear Ratios
The AF33 equipped in the 2007 Equinox has is not a true overdrive transmission. It’s final gear ratio is a 1:1 direct drive ratio. The necessary fuel economy is achieved through a very modest 2.48 final drive ratio. The gear ratios were brought a little bit closer together for 2007, which led to improved shift feel.
| 2007 Equinox Gearing | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | 5TH | REVERSE |
| 4.58 | 2.98 | 1.95 | 1.32 | 1.00 | 5.02 |
Identification
If you’d like to confirm that the transmission in your Equinox is the AF33, go ahead and pop open the glove compartment. You’ll want to check out the RPO codes in the glove compartment. You’ll either have the FWD or AWD version of this transmission. Find these codes on the tag to tell you which one that you have. The AWD Equinox takes a one mpg hit from the driveline drag from four drive wheels.
- M09- Front Wheel Drive
- M45- All Wheel Drive
Drivetrain- Other
A/C Compressor– The A/C compressor on the 2007 Chevy Equinox is known to have a high failure rate, since these are 10+ year old vehicles now, it’s only more likely that it’s an issue that you may come across when owning or buying one.
NHTSA Recalls: 2007 Chevy Equinox
There are no less than four recalls for the 2007 Chevy Equinox. Three of them were issued in 2007 and may have been fixed before your vehicle ever left the factory.
If you are would like to schedule service for any of these recalls, or confirm that they have been done, contact Chevrolet customer service at:
1-800-630-2438
-or-
GM Recall Number 07154: Windshield Mounting
Date Issued: 6/13/07
NHTSA Number: 07V242000
GM Recall Number: 07154
Affected Vehicles: 6,213
Almost 6000 Vehicles rolled out of the factory with the incorrect “windshield mounting”. This is owed to the fact that an incorrect primer was used while installing the windshield, and potentially the side glass as well.
GM will replace the windshield, liftgate glass, and side glass using the correct primer. This will correct the problem and keep the gas from potentially flying out at speed.
GM Recall Number 07174: Airbag Seat Sensor
Date Issued: 7/07/07
NHTSA Number: 07V344000
GM Recall Number: 07174
Affected Vehicles: 437
Less than 500 of the 2007 Chevy Equinox models made in 2007 have an issue with the sensor that detects whether or not the passenger seat is occupied by no-one, a child, or a full sized adult.
This can lead to the passenger side airbag deploying on a small child sitting in the passenger seat or failing to go off in the event of an accident with a full sized adult.
GM will reprogram the seat sensor to alleviate the issue. If you are planning on buying, or currently own an Equinox please check to make sure that you vehicle is not one of the few that had this issue.
GM Recall Number 07281: Roof Rail Airbags
Date Issued: 11/07/07
NHTSA Number: 12V459000
GM Recall Number: 07281
Affected Vehicles: 49,768
Equinox roof rail airbags and/or models equipped with a sunroof fail to meet federal impact standards. The solution that they came up with was to have the dealer install a piece of foam in the A-Pillar to help absorb impact.
GM Recall Number 12190: Fuel Pump Module May Crack
Date Issued: 09/19/12
NHTSA Number: 12V459000
GM Recall Number: 12190
Affected Vehicles: 49,768
In certain States GM has issued a recall on the 2007 Chevy Equinox for a problem with the fuel pump module, that may cause it to crack. It can cause fuel to leak at the source of ignition and cause a fire.
This is a relatively new recall in for a 10+ year old car. It was issued in late 2012. Make sure that you check to see if your vehicle was one of the affected models. There’s a good chance that if the vehicle has changed hands a few times, GM doesn’t have an up to date address or owner information.
This recall affects vehicles that were sold or are currently registered in:
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Nevada
- Oklahoma
- Texas