This page is meant to give a broad overview of the most common problems with the 2015 Chevy Equinox, with an emphasis on engine problems, transmission problems, and recalls.
Contents
2015 Equinox Most Common Problems
Source: NHTSA
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- Wiper/Visibility– There was a recall on the 2013 model year Equinox for a bad ball that connects to the wiper motor arm. It was fixed for the 2015 year, so there’s no recall. But, it’s still one of the most commonly reported issues with the NHTSA. All in all, 2015 appears to be a relatively trouble free year for the Chevrolet Equinox.
- Electrical System– There have been a number of electrical reported for the 2015 Chevy Equinox.
- Air Bag– There is a airbag recall for this year. It doesn’t affect a lot of units, but you should absolutely check and make sure that your Equinox isn’t one of them. You can find the information on where to call in the recalls section.
Here’s a pie chart of the most common issues with the 2015 NHTSA. Anytime someone makes a complaint to them it is recorded and categorized. This is a great way to see what issues people are having with this year of Equinox. There’s a link above you can click to see all 99 complaints.
2015 Equinox Engine Problems
The 2015 Chevy Equinox was available with two engines. They were the direct injected Ecotec 2.4L LAF I4 and the 3.6 LFX V6 engines. The LAF I4 was rated at 182hp and the LLFX was rated at 301hp. For the most part, they are fairly reliable motors.
There really aren’t any notable problems with the 2015 Equinox motors.
2015 Equinox Transmission Problems
The 2015 Equinox was equipped with six speed automatic transmissions. They could be manufactured both stateside and in Korea. The 6T45 is a relatively trouble-free transmission. We’ll line out some of the more common problems with it 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. That doesn’t mean that if you are using your Equinox to tow, or some other heavy use application that you should never change it though.
Solenoid Problems
Many of the problems that occur with this transmission can be attributed to the fact that it is fully controlled by the engines computer. It uses shift solenoids to accomplish this. When one of them goes bad, it can adversely affect the performance of the transmission.
Here are the main symptoms of a bad Equinox shift solenoid.
- Failure to Downshift– The 6T45E will often fail to downshift if one or more of the shift solenoids are stuck open or closed. This is due to the fact that the transmission fluid cannot be rerouted to the part of the transmission that would be making the next move. To put it simply, it is stuck doing what it was doing when the solenoid failed.
- Delay Going in Gear/ Between Gears– If there is a long pause between gear selection and engagement, it can often be attributed to a faulty shift solenoid. Furthermore, if there seems to be a lot of time between when the transmission exits one gear and enters another, than it’s a pretty good indication of a bad shift solenoid.
- Inconsistent Shifting– Often when a shift solenoid goes bad in the 6T45E, it’ll cause a lot of erratic shift behavior. The transmission will skip gears. It also may act like it is trying to “find the right gear”. Or, to put it another way, it’s can’t quite settle on the right gear.
- Stuck in Neutral– If a shift solenoid has failed entirely, that it’s entirely possible that the transmission will not work at all. In this situation the transitional will remain a neutral regardless of what gear you put it in.
Most of the problems that occur with a 6T45 shift solenoid are caused by the coil wire going bad in some way. It can go bad in a couple of ways. The plunger can also get stuck. We’ll cover the why and the how here.
You can test the solenoids with an OHM meter. You should be looking for 20-30 ohms of resistance. If no resistance is found, than you know that the solenoid is bad, and that it is broken. If the reading is less than 20 ohms than it’s probably melted. There’s more on both of those conditions and what causes them directly below.
- Broken Solenoid Coil Wire– In the event that the a solenoid coil wire breaks in your 2015 Chevy Equinox transmission, the solenoid will no loner be able to create the magnetic field. A broken shift solenoid wire is going to be caused by a lot of harsh vibration, or high voltage that’s out of the normal range.
- Melted Solenoid Coil Wire– The results of a melted solenoid coil wire are the same as a broken one, the difference is going to be the conditions that caused the wire to melt. Whereas a broken coil wire is likely to be caused by vibration or high voltage, a melted one is going to be caused extreme transmission temperature or high voltage.
- Plunger Stuck– The solenoid plunger is an area of failure in the 6T45E. Unlike when the shift solenoids are melted or broken, a stuck plunger can be repaired. Shift solenoids are not expensive. It would be a good idea to replace it if you can afford it. This will keep you from getting under the truck next time the plunger decides to get stuck. A stuck plunger is almost always caused by dirty transmission fluid or debris in the case. You’ll have to replace the transmission fluid anyway, but it’s a good idea to go ahead and change the filter as well. This will really help increase the odds that you won’t be making this repair again anytime soon.
- Broken/Stuck Spring– There is a spring in the shift solenoid that moves the plunger forward, when it is damaged that movement cannot happen.
Trouble Codes
One of the greatest benefits to a fully electronic transmission is all of the great data that they gather and store in the computer. You can use this information to laser pinpoint exactly what part of the transmission may be failing. Here is a great glossary of all 6T45 trouble codes from Transmission Builders Network.
The great thing about using the trouble codes to diagnose the problems with your 2015 Chevy Equinox transmission is that it takes almost all of the guess-work out of it.
Hunting for Gears
Many folks complain a lot about the 6T45 hunting for gears. In a quest to hit ever tightening CAFE fuel economy regulations, the 2015 Chevy Equinox will shift A LOT. This doesn’t necessarily indicate that there is anything wrong with the transmission itself. It just takes a little getting used to.
If you feel like it is hunting for gears even more than it was, you may need to have the transmission control module replaced.
NHTSA Recalls: 2015 Chevy Equinox
There has been one recall issued for the 2015 Equinox, according the the NHTSA.
- Side Impact Air Bag Modules may Rupture– When the vehicle is involved in a crash of a magnitude severe enough to cause the deployment of side impact air bags, shrapnel may strike the occupant causing injury or death. Please make absolutely sure that your 2015 Equinox has been serviced under this recall. GM Recall #01320
If you are would like to schedule service for any recall, or confirm that they have been done, contact Chevy customer service at:
1-800-630-2438
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