ChevroletEquinox2012Overview/chevrolet/equinox/2012/base/

2012 Chevrolet Equinox

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Equinox.

Body SUV

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is an SUV that specifies 5 quarts of 5W-30 engine oil. This model year is associated with three recalls and 682 total owner complaints, with the engine identified as the top complaint area. Within the broader 2005-2026 model history, the 2012 version sits between the 2010 peak of 784 complaints and the 2026 low of 56.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeLTZ V6 P235-55R19OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742 alt 12580255
Engine air filter23335811
Spark plug12681658 alt 12681660
Front wiper blades19432579 alt 19432580
Serpentine belt12636138 alt 12634319
Thermostat03522676 alt 12622410
Cabin air filter20901295

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length188.6 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase112.6 in
Curb weight3929 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Equinox of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 2012 LTZ V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012LTZ V6 3.0L V67.80 sec16.10 sec264 hpFWD
2010LT 2.4L I-48.70 sec16.80 sec182 hpFWD
2016LTZ 2.4L I-48.90 sec16.80 sec182 hpAWD
2016LTZ 2.4L I-49.30 sec17.00 sec182 hpAWD
2016LTZ 2.4L I-49.50 sec17.00 sec182 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-6.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.0 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts10 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugNVG900: 11.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugNVG900: 18.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub151 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Injector Primary Resistance1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure30-70 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle140 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.080
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.06 in / 0.72 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 10074 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 15074 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep M11 Bolts

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2150 degrees; M8 Bolts150 degrees
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
275 degrees75 degrees
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115-22 ft. lbs., step 2: 3415–22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEmission Control System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox sits in the middle of a notably troubled period for this generation, with complaints at 682 (down from 780 in 2011 but well above pre-2010 levels), three ongoing NHTSA investigations carried over from 2010, and three recalls—matching the elevated activity of 2010-2011 before things began normalizing in 2014. The TSB count continued climbing to 1,847, indicating dealers were still addressing a high volume of technical issues. Compared to earlier years (2005-2009), this target year falls squarely within a spike period of elevated consumer dissatisfaction and regulatory scrutiny, though the complaint trend was beginning to trend downward. Engine issues dominate the complaints at 224, followed by visibility/wiper problems at 109, with 16 crash-related complaints and six fire complaints recorded. The concrete takeaway: the 2012 model year is among the weaker years in this generation's reliability arc—better than the 2010-2011 peak but still carrying meaningful risk—and prospective buyers should price in the likelihood of engine and visibility-related repairs.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1847
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
682
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 6 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 682 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine224
Visibility/Wiper109
Unknown Or Other25
Power Train,Engine22
Power Train21
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System17
Structure17
Steering16

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V502000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 05/07/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact…

14V447000Seats:Front Assembly:Power AdjustReported 23/07/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1847 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP61132026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set…
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Equinox. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Equinox take?

5 qt of 5W-30 MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Equinox have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.