I am trying to help out my niece. She has a 2012 Equinox 2.4. I am trying to find out is she qualifies for an oil consumption issue. The Vin is 2GNALBEK3C1189423. It has 112000 miles. The Nox burns a lot of oil and she has very few dollars. Does this vehicle qualify for any help from GM?* Thanks in advance.

7 years, 120,000 miles. There’s an open and active Special Coverage Adjustment (SCA) for 2012 model year you *might* be eligible for. You’re OK with the miles, but I’m guessing the 7 years is from the “put-into-service” date? If I’m wrong, hopefully someone will chime in (eg: maybe it’s calendar year (?) ... but that sounds too generous to me).

Do you know when the “put-into-service” date was? Did you buy the vehicle brand new? If so, that’s the date - unless the dealer put it into service (as a “loaner”, service vehicle, or “demo”) before you bought it. If you bought it used, call GM, give them the VIN#, and they’ll tell you the date.

What’s the build date on the driver’s door jamb? The vehicle *could* have been built in late 2011 - in which case you’re probably out of luck.

I’d just call GM and ask them. You can do this anonymously (with a block on your phone number). Tell them you’re considering purchasing the vehicle. Don’t give them any information (names or phone numbers). I’ve done this several times over the years.

And then head for the dealer to start your Consumption Test. Hopefully you fail and they replace the piston rings under the SCA.

Also - there’s a class-Action lawsuit in progress that would likely include your vehicle, however - you won’t know until October at the earliest. That’s when the Preliminary Action brought by 13 Plaintiffs in 3 states will either be Finalized, continued, or dissolved. If Finalized (and only if nobody Objects), you will likely get a letter saying you’re included. But that won’t guarantee you a penny because you’ll *still* be subject to the current SCA.

So you might as well get going on the Consumption Test ASAP - if you can, that is ...

Colt Hero, That is some very informative information. Thank you. You said to call GM. Is this the GM dealer or someone else. She purchased the Nox used . I feel sorry for her as she said she owes about 11 K on the car.*

The door tag on the door jam says 11/11.on the upper right side.* Should I assume the kid is S O L?* Thought I might be able to help her being a single mom and making some bad choices.*

I’d call Chevy Customer Service at 1-800-222-1020, wait for all the Takata Air Bag BS to finish, and after the initial options go by, wait ... then in the 2nd round of options, choose option #4 (shopping for new vehicle). I actually tried to do it myself, but they’re closed right now. Try again Monday morning.

As for your Build Date, that’s an early 2012 build, however - I’ve seen vehicles sit on dealer lots for *two years* before their first sale. I almost just recently bought a 2017 Terrain, built March 2017, that was still sitting on the dealer lot at Christmas 2018 ... so going on *two years* old! Had I bought it, the warranty would’ve started December 2018.

Call that Chevy number above and act like you’re buying a new vehicle. They’ll tell you you’re mistaken ... that it’s a used vehicle, but then just ask them when it was “Put Into Service” - either by the dealer as a loaner, service vehicle, or demo, or by the first owner. You don’t want any personal information -and they’re not going to give you any - that’s not what you’re asking for. You just want the initial Put-Into-Service date. I *think* that’s the date they’ll use to determine whether you qualify for the SCA.

So we’re already in 2019 (July). I think you need this vehicle to have sat on a dealer lot from Nov 2011 to at least July 2012 to qualify.

And I would say, given that the Equinox was still new at that point, and possibly near the height of its appeal, this is unlikely.

But call Chevy and get that date first.

The Equinox was put in service December 28, 2011. Looks like she is SOL. Thanks for your help.*

*IF* that’s the date GM uses to determine eligibility. It very likely *is*, but I wouldn’t throw in the towel just yet.

Did you explicitly ask GM in your call? If you did, and they said you’re OOL, maybe visit 3 dealerships and see what answer you get there.

And, of course, you’ll probably get the Class Action letter in the November timeframe. If by then you’re certain you’re OOL, then you need to OPT-OUT in writing to preserve your right to bring your own legal action - which would end up being your reimbursement for your repair costs.

Heck - you could even become one of the October “Objectors”, holding up the Finalization of The Settlement that isn’t going to benefit anyone but the original 13 Plaintiffs and a scant few owners of 2010 and 2013 models who’ve had their vehicles sitting in a garage most of the time.

G.J.E:

I slightly mis-spoke: it’s 7 years AND 6 MONTHS, or 120,000 miles.

But if GM is using the “put-into-Service” date as the yardstick, even with that extra 6 months you’re still out of luck.

A member here just received his letter from the lawsuit Administrator, “Analytics Consulting”. If you get one too, you should immediately call to determine your eligibility.

Due to some personal problems, I turned all the information to the girl's father. He went to the dealer that she bought the car from. The service writer said the the vehicle had some sort of extended* warranty on the Equinox from GM. He then told the father that it was out of warranty by 30 days. The father got a little loud, but not stupid. He wanted the name of the man in charge of the shop and the name and number of the owner. The father told me a guy came out of the office and said the owner would turn the problem over to him. He asked the father what was wrong and the father told him the details.* The manager told the father that he has some wiggle room on this, He offered the following He would do the oil consumption test at the girls expense.. About $50. If it flunks the test, they will replace the rings (maybe the pistons). The girl would have to pay for the timing chain, some king of guides and some sort of cam sensor. Sorry I can not give a better description of what they will do. Should cost her about $1500. I don't know if they are doing good for her or not.*For what it is worth, today they got a letter about the law suit.

Sounds like they were referring to the SCA (Special Coverage Adjustment) for your model year. 7.5 years from 12/28/11 is June of 2019, or about 30 days past the SCA deadline?

So OK, IF she fails the Oil Consumption Test, they fix the pistons and rings on GM's dime, but the Timing Chain problem really *follows from* the oil consumption problem because the Tensioners rely on *oil pressure* to operate properly! If the engine is consuming the oil, the oil level drops too low, the Tensioners fail, the chain slackens, starts making noise, ultimately slips or skips teeth, sending the engine out-of-time, and then you've got valve damage!

What's needed here is a *second* Class Action suit for the Timing Chain ... because they're not including it in the Pistons/Rings lawsuit. It really needs to be a package deal.

I'd be trying to pay nothing ... probably tell them to fix *both* the rings/pistons under the SCA, AND the timing chain, or sue GM in a new Class Action, or a Small Claims Court case.

What a mess!