The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox may be a bit of a headache when it comes to replacing parts after a collision. However, it comes with the territory as General Motors fits significantly more high and ultra-strength steel to Chevrolet’s new compact crossover.
According to Repair Driven News, high-strength steel is up to 11 percent, and ultra-strength steel rises to 31 percent. The outgoing Equinox features 10 and 12 percent. This means the structure of the 2018 Equinox is greatly improved and provides a safer occupancy but could mean for costly repairs.
The high-strength cage around the cockpit essentially becomes “replace only” should damage occur to the vehicle, and shops are not permitted to perform heat repairs on this grade of steel. Even if a dual-phase part is kinked, GM warns not to attempt even a cold repair. It’s also replace only.
In the process, the 2018 Equinox sheds 400 pounds by moving to advanced materials and also morphing to become a compact crossover riding on the D2XX platform. The 2018 Equinox will reach dealers in early 2017.
Comments
As for me all the cars that GM makes in China THEY CAN KEEP!!
Ed,
The 2018 Equinox isn’t being built in China for the U.S., but it will be built in China for local sales. Our Equinox will be made in Canada again, with possible overflow production for Mexico. The only vehicle GM builds in China and sells here is the Buick Envision, the CT6 PHEV will be the second.
Cheers,
-Sean
I totally agree Ed!!!!!!!
Can any of you point out where in China they make this vehicle? You can’t because it is made in Canada.
The steel in the cage area is seldom replaced as it is normally totaled if it is that damaged.
Aluminum also is worse as few aluminum panels can be repaired.
Metal has memory and as it is hardened the less memory it has same for aluminum as it will often crack or weaken if bent back.
Can people just stop being super paranoid about “Chinese-made”? For goodness sake!
Indeed, too much paranoia, because from all the other stuff (not automobiles) North America consumes, 70% or whatever is already made in China anyway – from socks to smartphones to whatever else.
Besides, China clearly can do world class manufacturing – e.g., CT6 PHEV, mentioned above, is top-of-the line GM vehicle, so, I guess, it will be built near-perfectly – and, imagine, in China! – at the same time.
I’ll bet the Japanese people felt the same way when Honda, Toyota, Mazda and others started building cars in America. Some of those cars are now being shipped back to Japan. To my knowledge there is no significant quality difference. If good manufacurig practices and equipment are in place and used by trained workers, the results are usually good.
The Insurance industry is going to love this . Replace no repairing is going to raise your insurance coverage for the liability portion of your bill . More money in their greedy old hands !
More people should be ” concerned ” with the unfair trade policies we live with . The fact is it is usually the case that those that think ( rightly so ) that the U.S is being treated unfairly by the Chinese are labeled as ” paranoid ” . Maybe they are just more concerned than the Walmart shoppers that enjoy buying goods from a Communist country .
Maybe Sean or somebody else could tell us just who is producing this high grade steel for the new Equinox . I would bet it’s coming from overseas as is the case for the majority of vehicles produced here in the States .
Regarding your last line, that seems unlikely. “ArcelorMittal USA and other domestic steelmakers remain bullish on advanced high-strength steel (AHSS), the steel industry’s answer to new federal standards that require fuel efficiency be doubled by 2025. ArcelorMittal said many of the newly introduced vehicles include high strength steel. Other AHSS-heavy vehicles include the Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu and Cruze; the Chrysler Town & Country; Nissan’s Murano, Maxima and Titan…”
Notice the 3 Nissan cars mentioned are all assembled in the U.S. (in Mississippi or Tennessee). So is it “unfair” — to a Japanese citizen — that a Japanese company is assembling cars in the U.S., and thus much more likely using U.S.-based high-strength steel (instead of from Japan, whose steel industry is also crumbling)?
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/steel-industry-touts-high-strength-steel-at-auto-shows/article_13d01631-66ea-59bb-96a7-77cad2db3129.html
I’m not looking to get into a huge discussion on this — I’m just pointing out things are rarely as simple as they same and trade & foreign companies benefits people in different way. Personally, I only buy GM, Ford or Chrysler cars assembled in the U.S. But I can completely understand some patriotic person from Tennessee proudly driving their Maxima and seeing themselves as more “American” than someone who buys an Equinox (which won’t be made in the U.S.).
Equinox is garbage ….had a 2010 ,….transmissio went and motorhad to be replaced at 4 yrs of age ….proved we had all required oil changes they replaced engine under warranty ….then 3 mnths later transmission went got rid of it ….got a 2016 nissa murano ….WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN
And GM is the only cars we have ever owned in 40 + yrs of buying cars
STAY AWAY FROM GM
You know we could write you off on one bad post in 5 years of post here. But would that be fair?
We have a 2012 Terrain with no issues and has been a great vehicle.
GM did have a short time with 4 cylinder issues that was covered under warranty and as for the transmissions that one is a rare issues as it was used in many GM vehicles and Ford with little reported issue.
The truth is you Nissan has about the save chance of issues as about anything else that is not built by FCA.
As for Insurance most cars having Suffered damage to the Cage area generally have enough damage they will not repair the vehicle anyways. The only ones affected are the ones with small tweaks they would pull straight on the rack from hitting a ditch or the like. Impacts from other vehicles are enough to take out many cars along with the related safety equipment anymore.
The cost of air bags and the belts along with many of the new head lamps really can add up to thousands of dollars alone Many Hids are $900-1500 alone per side. Then figure the bags and charged belts along with related sheet metal and glass or paint.
A small crash can be $10,000 or more in many vehicles real fast.
On the flip side, I have a 2012 Equinox LTZ that just might be the best vehicle I have ever owned. Now over 5 years old and at nearly 64.000 miles, it has been perfect. The V6 delivers 25-26 mpg highway and it is quiet and comfortable on the highway. I have owed nearly 50 vehicles, but this was my first new Chevy since 1981. Based on my experience, two friends also bought an Equinox, and both love them. If the 2018 is as good as it appears, I will be a customer.
I have a 2009 Chevy Equinox (last of Gen 1) and in seven years it only had three problems (one bad spark plug and two wheel sensors detected by the StabiliTrack system), all repaired by the GM dealer at no cost (just the waiting time). It is a fantastic vehicle, and car carry over 65 Cubic feet of cargo. I have carried 4×8 panels, a 10 foot ladder and several 10-foot wood beams INSIDE (with the trunk closed). It is one of the safest vehicles ever made, and that is why the Equinox was GM’s second best selling vehicles for several years, until the 2016 Malibu arrived.
Ya ours was the same…keep a close eye on it over the nect year
Keep a really close eye on your oil levels …that was the warning sign
3 other equinox owners at granddaughter school 4 to 6 yr old equinox ..r there now fighting with GM for the same thing …oil change done oil empty a week or 2 later ….this is not good
So I’m assuming you had a 4 cylinder equinox Terrance? First of all, the first world problem is that you bought the four cylinder version
This is not rare Google it and read about the nightmares
That is less than ten examples against over 1,890,000 Equinox sold since 2004. The Japanese have worst records! Their cars have worst safety record and have bursted in flames, too.
To be honest and fair here there was a small number of 4 cylinders in the early years that had cylinder issues that lead to oil consumption. Some say it was gas from the High pressure fuel pump leaking gas into the oil others say it was the rings.
GM for the most part has taken care of many of them with no issues. I am sure some may have had issues many were related to poor dealers and or things not explained here fully.
But with that said most 4 cylinders did not suffer this issue and none of the V6 have. As a whole this vehicle has had a pretty good record on par with most others in class. Not bad for a very old platform with so many examples on the road.
Some people then to believe Nissan, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota do not have issues but check out their service departments and they are just as busy as any Chevy dealer and they are not all just changing oil. I can tell you nightmares about Hyundai and why my buddy that worked for them drove a Chevy,
Bought my wife a new 2012 Equinox for a surprise Christmas present in the fall of 2011. Its a Blue, 4 cylinder, AWD optioned up LT with 2-tone leather and a sun roof. She loves it.
It just turned 100,00 miles last week. Had to replace the darn tires. Yup, the ORIGINAL ones. Gas, oil and filters besides that. Original everything else, including the brakes. Sorry to hear Terrance has had other experiences, but am I happy with ours. Glad to see a Turbo Diesel option coming on the 2018’s. That will probably be her next one after we drive the tires off this one…