The 2009 Chevy Equinox was spoken highly of by car experts when it was newly launched. It was applauded for its powerful V6 engine options. It promised a smooth and comfortable ride and was commended for its practical interior. But as people started to use it in their daily commute, a number of 2009 Chevy Equinox problems arose that were reported by Chevy Equinox users.
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Car problems do occur whether you like it or not. You might encounter them from time to time. Although most car problems can be repaired, they can be a pain in the head. That is why it is important that you do your research first before purchasing a car, may it be brand new or a used one.
If you are contemplating purchasing a 2009 Chevy Equinox, then this guide can help you determine if it is the right car for you. Know if it is still worth buying despite the reported 2009 Chevy Equinox problems. Will the cons outweigh the pros? Let’s find out!
2009 Chevy Equinox Problems – Is 2009 Chevy Equinox a good car?
The 2009 Chevy Equinox is a five-passenger crossover SUV and was ranked third within the Affordable Compact SUVs category for the year 2009 by the U.S. News and World Report website. It is available with a choice of a front- or all-wheel drive and is offered in two powerful V6 engines. It comes in four trim levels – LS, LT, LTS, and the Sport.
The standard engine is a 3.4-liter V6 that makes 185 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque The Sport trim gets a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 264 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque which is said to be one of the most powerful engines for its class.
The 2009 Chevy Equinox has been praised for its spacious interior. It has an impressive amount of space due to its flat-floor construction. It is a great choice if you are looking for a car that offers power and space.
As for its safety, the 2009 Chevy Equinox takes pride in having one of the best safety records of any crossovers. It earned the highest possible scores for its crash tests that include frontal- and side-impact tests and frontal-offset crash tests. All 2009 Chevy Equinox comes standard with antilock disc brakes, dual-stage front airbags, side-curtain airbags, traction control, stability control, and OnStar.
The 2009 Chevy Equinox offers a comfortable ride with decent performance and a decent fuel economy. If you are more of a thrill seeker and would love to have a car that is fun to drive, the 2009 Chevy Equinox is not the car for you. Although its acceleration is quite good, its road manners are not that athletic.
Overall, the 2009 Chevy Equinox is a good car. It is spacious, offers a smooth and comfortable ride and it can give you peace of mind with its safety features.
2009 Chevy Equinox Problems – Do Chevy Equinox have a lot of problems?
2009 Chevy Equinox problems and complaints were reported on various car websites and reliability analysis, tests, and ratings have been done based on the data sent by the users. To know more about it, here is our list of the most common 2009 Chevy Equinox problems and complaints that have been reported.
- TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
One of the common 2009 Chevy Equinox problems that have been reported is its transmission. The Equinox is installed with an Aisin AF33 transmission. This transmission is also being used by Nissan, Volvo, Suzuki, and Renault. The problem is not specific to the 2009 Equinox alone but the problems seem to be caused by the said transmission.
Some of the problems that are found in the Aisin AF33 transmission are:
- Missing forward gears.
There were instances where the AF33 transmission lost all of its forward gears at a time. It is usually due to a loss in line pressure. A bad front pump, bad pressure regulator, and a valve stuck are some of the common reasons for this occurrence.
- Torque converter not locking up.
The Aisin AF33 transmission seems to have a weakness when it comes to locking the clutch on the torque converter. It is very apparent that its clutch is too small for many applications. It needs to be corrected since it is important that the torque converter locks up because it can affect your car’s fuel economy.
- Fluid leak.
A transmission that already has high mileage on it tends to develop fluid leaks. Leaks coming from the pan gasket and the torque converter hub are known to be one of the common 2009 Chevy Equinox problems.
- Bad solenoids.
The AF33 transmission has many solenoids which control the flow of transmission fluid through the transmission. When one of these solenoids becomes faulty, the Chevy Equinox won’t be able to operate well. Although a faulty solenoid is not that costly to fix, it can still be a bother and will take some of your time.
- Check engine light on.
For the 2009 Chevy Equinox with a six-speed automatic transmission, it tends to develop one or more transmission faults that are linked to a broken 35R clutch wave plate inside the transmission. These faults can trigger your check engine light. If you check the trouble codes, you will see the codes P0716, P0717, P0776, P0777, P2714, P2715, or P02723.
Many Equinox users have reported that they experienced transmission problems. If you want to be sure that your Chevy Equinox is equipped with an Aisin AF33 transmission, you can pop open your car’s glove compartment and check for the RPO codes. You would get an M09 code for the front-wheel-drive and an M45 for the all-wheel drive.
- MISFIRING
This issue is also one of the common 2009 Chevy Equinox problems. A misfiring Equinox engine tends to happen as its mileage increases. When this happens, you usually have to replace your plugs, wires, and coils to fix it.
- AIRBAG ISSUES
Lots of people have reported that they are having issues with their airbag sensors not properly registering with the NHTSA. People are reporting that their airbags are turned off when they are driving with a passenger in the seat. Some have had accidents but their airbags did not deploy.
- FAULTY A/C COMPRESSOR
Another 2009 Chevy Equinox problem that has been encountered by its users is a faulty A/C compressor. Its compressor is reported to have a high failure rate.
- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON
Aside from the check engine light on because of the transmission issues mentioned earlier, another problem that the 2009 Chevy Equinox has is a check engine light that is triggered by a loose or worn gas cap.
An illuminating check engine light can also be triggered by an issue with the powertrain control module. Your technician might suggest a software update in order to rectify the issue. This problem can cause your car to set off trouble codes P0011, P0014, P0021, P0024, P0341, P0346, P0336, or P0391.
- PROBLEM WITH FILLING GASOLINE TANKS
There are also some people who reported that their check engine light was set off plus issues with regards to filling their gasoline tanks up. It has been known that the 2005 to 2009 Chevy Equinox has problems with their EVAP system which is a part of its emission control system.
This happens when the EVAP canister vent valve fails. This sets off the check engine light and causes issues with filling up your gasoline tank. This also sets off the code P0446.
- RATTLING FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM
One of the 2009 Chevy Equinox problems is a rattling front lower control arm. It has been reported that the front lower control arm of the front suspension causes a rattling noise when driving through bumps and other road imperfections. A replacement may be required to fix the problem.
- BRAKE FLUID
A small number of people have reported that the brake fluid needs to be flushed and be replaced with a fresh one every 60,000 miles. It has to be done since contaminated brake fluid is not good for your brake system.
- ENGINE COOLANT
The Equinox engine coolant should be replaced every 30,000 miles to keep your cooling system and its components healthy.
- RUST
Rust has also been reported as one of the 2009 Chevy Equinox problems encountered by its users. Some say that rust had appeared on their vehicle within two to four years of ownership while some have reported that their Equinox started to rust around eight to ten years of ownership.
Keep in mind that where you reside can affect how early rust can set in on your Equinox. Chevy Equinox owners that live in cold regions have a higher percentage of rust forming on their vehicles since transport authorities tend to spread rock salts over snowy and icy roads. The salt is corrosive and when you drive through it, your car will be susceptible to corrosion.
- POWER DOOR LOCKS
It has been reported that the power door locks are working intermittently. This problem can be caused by a faulty actuator.
Although there are many reports and complaints about the 2009 Chevy Equinox problems listed above, there were no recalls made or issued by the NHTSA.
2009 Chevy Equinox Problems – How many miles can a 2009 Chevy Equinox last?
Chevrolet doesn’t really have a reputation for reliability like other car brands have but they make and build reliable models. The Chevy Equinox is one of these models. The answer to the question of how many miles can a 2009 Chevy Equinox last can vary but if you want numbers, reports say that an Equinox can last for 150,000 to 200,000 miles given that the recommended schedule for maintenance and services has been followed. Doing prompt repairs for any problem that arises can also help extend its life.
With proper care and maintenance, your Chevy Equinox can last 10 to 13 years if we based it on the national average of miles driven per year. To ensure that you’ll get the most miles from your Chevy Equinox, you need to maintain it well and do routine servicing that includes oil changes, filter replacements, wheel alignments, and tire rotations. You also have to make sure that you do regular checkups on all your car’s fluids, tire pressure, battery, and other car components. Washing your Equinox and keeping it clean will also help maintain its exterior and undercarriage.
Owning a Chevy Equinox can be quite a handful but if you are looking for a vehicle that has great size, impressive power, good styling, and is more affordable compared to other crossovers of the same era, then an Equinox will be a great choice.
A word of advice though, avoid 2005, 2006, and 2013 models. The 2005 and 2006 models are most prone to engine head gasket failures while the 2013 models have the highest number of the costliest problems to repair among all Equinox models. It may seem that the 2009 Chevy Equinox has a number of reported problems but it is one of the most reliable Equinox models there is. The 2019 model is a good choice too since it is known to be the Equinox that has the lowest reported problems.
2009 Chevy Equinox Problems – Conclusion
The 2009 Chevy Equinox problems can cause a lot of concern especially if you are looking for a car that you can use on your daily commute. You don’t want to deal with any underlying issues. Although there are several problems that have been reported, the 2009 Chevy Equinox is not that bad. It also has a lot to offer including its impressive specs, styling, and features. If you choose to buy one, make sure that you ask for a full-service history and do all the usual checks.
If you happen to already own one and you are experiencing these 2009 Chevy Equinox problems, we can take the problem from your hands by selling your car to us. We buy cars regardless of their condition!