Hear a cold-start tick. Smell oil or coolant. Watch the idle shake. That’s how Toyota Sequoia engine problems begin. Since 2001, this SUV has run three very different engines. The 2UZ-FE V8 handles neglect but needs timing-belt discipline. The 3UR-FE drops the belt and brings oil and coolant leaks instead. The new twin-turbo hybrid adds … Read more
Burn oil. Hear chain rattle. Watch power drop without warning. That’s how Chevy Equinox engine problems start. Since 2005, this SUV has run V6 engines, oil-hungry four-cylinders, and small turbos. The 3.4L blows head gaskets. The 2.4L burns oil and wrecks timing chains. The newer 1.5T trades that for icing, underboost, and vacuum pump trouble. … Read more
Hear a chain rattle on startup. Watch the dash light up. Feel the idle turn rough. That’s how many Chevy Traverse engine problems begin. Since 2009, this SUV has used three very different engines. Early models ran the 3.6L V6 and built a bad name for timing-chain wear and oil trouble. Later models kept the … Read more
Feel a hard shift hit like a hammer. Hear a clunk under load. Watch the wrench light pop mid-route. That’s how Ford Transit transmission problems start. Since 2015, two gearboxes run this van. The 6R80 6-speed shows leadframe faults and converter shudder. The 10R80 10-speed brings CDF drum wear, harsh shifts, and early-build trouble under … Read more
Hear a knock. Watch the oil light flicker. Smell heat where it shouldn’t be. That’s how many Kia Sportage engine problems begin. From simple early MPI fours to GDI-era Theta II engines tied to recall 17V-224, the story isn’t uniform. Some years chew through rod bearings. Others slowly burn oil until the dipstick runs dry. … Read more
Jerk off the line. Watch RPM flare with no push. Feel the shift hang too long. That’s how many Kia Soul transmission problems start. Since 2010, the Soul has run 4-speed automatics, 6-speeds, a 7-speed dry DCT, and now the IVT. Each swap changed how it drives and how it fails. Some years cruise quietly … Read more
Smell coolant. Hear a tick. Watch the temp climb past normal. That’s how many Ford Explorer engine problems begin. Since 2011, this SUV has cycled through the 3.5L V6, 2.3L EcoBoost, 3.0L twin-turbo, and 3.3L hybrid. One hides a water pump inside the engine. Another fights coolant intrusion and exhaust heat. A newer one runs … Read more
Hesitate on a merge. Feel a light shudder at 45 mph. Watch the gear change slam harder than it should. That’s how many Kia Telluride transmission problems begin. Since 2020, the Kia Telluride has paired a 3.8L V6 with an 8-speed automatic built to haul families and tow up to 5,500 pounds. Early 2020 units … Read more
Smell coolant at a stoplight. Hear chain rattle behind the front cover. Watch white smoke drift in the mirror. That’s how many Ford Edge engine problems start. Since 2007, the Edge has carried the 3.5L and 3.7L Cyclone V6, the 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder, and the 2.7L twin-turbo Nano V6. Early models center on an internal … Read more
Shift into tow haul. Feel the torque. Then see “Reduced Engine Power” and lose half the truck. That’s how many 2.8 Duramax problems begin. Debuting in 2016, the 2.8L LWN packed 369 lb-ft into a midsize chassis. Cast-iron block, forged crank, DOHC head, variable-geometry turbo, and a quiet timing belt setup. The core engine holds … Read more