GM has provided a solution for the strange odor that some Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain owners have noticed shortly after the engine performs a start/stop procedure.
Owners of 2020 to 2022 model year Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles may notice an unpleasant odor emanating from the vehicle’s climate control system. This typically occurs shortly after the engine has been switched off and then switched back on via the automatic start/stop system, although it may also be noticed at any time while the car is in operation if the passengers have a particularly sensitive nose.
This problem, GM says, can be traced back to the calibration of the electronic climate control module, which allows the evaporator temperature to drop below zero degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In this case, the air may have an odor as the evaporator is warming up during the engine stop process. To address the problem, GM has developed a calibration update for the electronic climate control module that prevents the evaporator temperature from dipping below freezing.
This problem is being addressed under a Service Bulletin, so customers that experience this problem will have to take their car into their dealership to have the repairs completed. Technicians will be instructed to perform the electronic climate control module update. These repairs will be performed under warranty for eligible customers/vehicles.
The 2022 Chevy Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain, which ride on the same GM D2 platform, are only available with the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX gasoline engine, rated at 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. The crossovers are produced exclusively at the GM San Luis Potosà plant in Mexico. While GM previously produced the Equinox at its CAMI plant in Canada, that facility is currently being retooled to build the new BrightDrop electric delivery vans.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Equinox news, Chevy news, GMC Terrain news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Does that not go for early model years like 2019 and 2018? I know for sure on the 19 theres some kind of a smell
We had 2017 Equinox with the same problem
Weird my 2002 GMC Sierra doesn’t have HVAC system odors.
Remember when GM & other automakers used to build quality cars? Pepperidge Farm remembers………….
What a strange problem to have. Hope this fixes it.
Disable start- stop!
You can disable it with the 2022 Terrain and Equinox.
These small issues should nt even exist gm needs to step up there game and quality control should nt be overlooked in every trim level not just the Denali trim level or the premier trim level in the equinox. Good to know but these issues before they occur and rectify the problem.thanks gm Authority
Had a similar problem with a 2012 Malibu without stop/start. There was a mold smell after restarting the car after being driven with the a/c on. It was solved by the dealer by programing the blower motor to turn on after about 10 minutes of the engine being shut off. The motor then blew for about another 10 minutes and then shut off automatically. In addition I sprayed lysol into the intake under the windshield to kill the mold build up in the system. After that procedure was performed, there has never been a problem in 10 years.
This problem could also be a dirty cabin filter I imagine it’s something that people don’t think about everyday… But it’s worth having it checked the cabin filter holds dirt and mold and should be changed! It also depends on where you live if you live in a city your going to get all different kinds of smells if you live in a country setting dust cow dung smell could affect the smell in the vehicle pollin also affects sense of smell! Last but not least try cleaning your car this helps with smells as well. Also GM does build quality vehicles EVEN is TROLL… ingorne him!
GM hasn’t built a car since about 1974…
What GM has built are Killing devices. Actually engineered to Kill, so it can’t rightly be called a car. Sure, GM started by simply Killing brands, like Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, SAAB, etc., but then GM turned to Killing Americans.
Interestingly, GM never even tried to Kill Europeans – only Americans. And, for their success, for a decade, GM was given BILLIONS of Tax Dollars. Because Handouts aren’t Handout when given to Billionaires – just call it your due as a good Americans.
I owned 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 EQUINOX models and all had/have the same problem. Dealer could not fix the problem. Dealer always said it is my head and I am thinking that smell is there which dealers could not smell it.
Dealer could have fixed the problem if they listen the complains.
Hoping this will fix the problem.
You owned models from every single model year going back to 2017? That’s every single model of the current generation. Wow! Do you own a dealership or rental agency or do you just really like buying Equinoxes? How have they been? Did you notice any significant differences between the different model years? I’ve owned several Chevies and rented the Equinox several times, but never actually purchased it, despite coming close several times. Thanks.