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Vehicle Stats/Chevrolet/Equinox Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Jul 2026Methodology

Chevrolet Equinox Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 1,919 complaints and 33 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Chevrolet Equinox options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

1,919
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
33
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
116
Crash-Related
crash complaints
27
Fire-Related
fire complaints
86
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

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Found a Chevrolet Equinox? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
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Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Equinox has 1,919 owner complaints and 33 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.

Chevrolet Equinox — key reliability facts
Make
Chevrolet
Model
Equinox
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,919
Safety recall campaigns
33
Crash-related complaints
116
Fire-related complaints
27
Worst model year (by complaints)
2018 (392 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2026 (57 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ENGINE
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Jul 29, 2026
This Equinox has 33 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

Chevrolet Equinox: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2018392 complaints2020297 complaints2019293 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
202657 complaints202468 complaints202188 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The CHEVROLET EQUINOX has 1,919 NHTSA complaints and 33 recalls on record. 116 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 1,919 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 33 federal recall campaigns
  • 116 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
270
2018
392
2019
293
2020
297
2021
88
2022
156
2023
89
2024
68
2025
209
2026
57

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

33 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM

#24V925000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCMDecember 12, 2024
Safety recall

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

#24V737000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFebruary 10, 2024
Safety recall

CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR

#23V339000CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORNovember 5, 2023
Safety recall

CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR

#23V339000CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORNovember 5, 2023
Safety recall

CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR

#23V339000CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORNovember 5, 2023
Safety recall

TIRES

#21V612000TIRESMay 8, 2021
Safety recall

TIRES

#21V612000TIRESMay 8, 2021
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

#23V869000STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

#26V114000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Safety recall

SEATS

#22V724000SEATS
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#22V929000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS

#20V811000SEAT BELTS
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE

#23V013000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
Safety recall

SEATS

#22V359000SEATS
Safety recall

SEATS

#22V724000SEATS
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE

#23V013000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

#25V012000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Safety recall

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

#25V704000TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT

#25V878000BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

#26V114000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,919 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ENGINE537 complaints
02
SERVICE BRAKES398 complaints
03
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM300 complaints
04
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM294 complaints
05
UNKNOWN OR OTHER277 complaints
06
POWER TRAIN253 complaints
07
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE103 complaints
08
STEERING68 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

1,919 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJul 2026

My car broke down on me in the middle of a highway on my way to work yesterday with no warning it just died and I had to roll in between the island of the road, but I was blocking off traffic and my side of the car was still in the way of people coming up behind me. It wouldn’t start over. It was extremely hot outside and trucks tractor trailers and cars were flying up behind me, the speed limit on that road is 50 but people go between 65 70 miles an hour on that road so it was extremely scary and I was shaken up and was trying to think of how to fix the situation cause I had to call Work and tell them that I was down the road, broken down and two firetrucks stopped because they saw me and thankfully pushed me out of the way, and then my boss came for me to sit in the air conditioner while I figured out getting a tow I had it towed to the dealership I bought it from. ironically that morning I had a diagnostic email sent to me and everything was perfectly fine on it. onstar all of a sudden when the car shut down on me, it gave me a code of p129f. I also received an email at that time from OnStar that my fuel system was down. I called the dealership and told them that the car was coming to them. They ended up calling me back and telling me that it was the fuel pump and that it’s known for breaking down because GM apparently knows that there was something wrong with the fuel pumps in these cars. When I bought the car brand new after driving it, I had mentioned to the car dealership that it felt like it was lagging, and when they looked at it, they said it was fine. There was nothing wrong with it. I feel like this was kept for me that this could’ve been an issue and that I should’ve been sent a letter from GM knowing that I have the year making model of these cars that tend to have these issues that my fuel pump should’ve been replaced or looked at because I was putting a very extremely dangerous situation yesterday .

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2026

I was turning at a green light while following behind a truck pulling a trailer. All of the sudden, the car did the automatic emergency braking. It slammed on the brakes in the middle of an intersection while I was going ~15mph, and gave me whiplash. I am not sure if the car got confused by the trailer in front of me, but this is the first time this has happened in my first few weeks of owning this car. I've read that many others have had this issue with the Chevrolet Equinox EV, and this poses a serious safety issue for drivers of this car and others on the road.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJul 2026

Subject vehicle has 11919 miles. The vehicle is less than three years old and covered under factory warranty. While driving 35MPH, engine suddenly did not respond to throttle. This engine stopped. Driver was able to coast to roadside. After OnStar analysis, engine control computer logged code 'P129F - An issue has been detected in the Fuel Management System used to maintain, control and monitor fuel consumption'. After towing to dealer, part number 13554821 was replaced. There were no prior warnings. The engine just stopped and would not restart. This is a major safety concern. This incident occurred 10 minutes after exiting the highway (65MPH). Having your engine stop unannounced at any speed in traffic is not safe, especially in high traffic and high speed situations. Dealer service nevertheless indicated this particular problem and part is well known but not considered a safety issue by the manufacturer. We disagree.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJul 2026

Check engine light with message engine running at diminished capacity as speed would not go above 20mph. Safety at risk from other vehicles on highway until able to reach safe location. Dealer states SES light on P0089 and P228C. GM bulletin on both codes. Programmed ECM with latest calibration for codes listed. If codes come back must do further diagnostics. Concerned about repeat possibility.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGJul 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a loud ticking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle started jerking, vibrating, and decelerating before it stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with bearing and push rod failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, but days later, the contact discovered engine oil was leaking from the vehicle onto the driveway. The vehicle was driven back to the dealer, who discovered a pinhole in the engine intake manifold, which had caused the engine oil leak. The intake manifold was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,600.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

My car seized while I was driving. It started fine and I drove about 10 min down the road and all of a sudden it seized. My car was towed to dealership. OnStar sent me a code p129f fuel pump. I was driving on the road and it seized. Could have caused a bad accident. Cars had to go around me. Yes the problem was “fixed” today 6/30. No prior error messages after is seized my battery light came on

Read 14 more owner reports
POWER TRAINJun 2026

The transmission lurches and shakes violently when under pressure such as times when trying to accelerate onto a highway. I recently was traveling and had to enter numerous highways and each time the transmission was extremely jerky and I felt it may fall out of the car at some points. Once I was trying to get on to the highway and a tractor trailer was coming up behind me and I literally have to pull off to the right because the car would not accelerate and was jerking violently. I've had it to Chevrolet service three times and each time they tell me it's normal which I know is absolutely not true.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJun 2026

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV. Beginning approximately two infotainment software updates ago, the vehicle's Bluetooth system repeatedly drops the connection to my paired iPhone, and the contact-sync feature stopped functioning entirely. The problem did not exist when the vehicle was new and started only after a vehicle software update, indicating a software-introduced defect rather than a phone fault. I have reset the infotainment system and performed a full delete-and-re-pair on both the phone and the vehicle; the dropouts and contact-sync failure persist. Because the system no longer reliably supports hands-free calling, I am unable to consistently place or receive calls without handling the phone directly while driving, which I consider a driver-distraction safety concern. No warning was issued and I am not aware of a recall or software fix addressing this.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

Less than 2 years old and under 50k miles. Car began to sputter and then shut off - no warnings received until the car shut off. Once able to turn back on (approx. 10 minutes) car went into limp mode. Was able to drive to a dealership where they received codes for fuel tank with no visible issues through a thorough service at the dealership. Dealership reprogrammed the car and indicated codes could replicate and require a new fuel pump.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned? Engine and Transission System Fuel Management system, How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While driving the vehicle it would just shut off, when you tried to restart vehicle it would not start all you could smell was gas. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? This happened on 3 different occasions by 3 different Chevorlet dearerships. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? ONSTAR provided the diagnostic codes to provide to the dealership Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Their were no lights or warnings, only after it turned off we would receive a reduced engine power notice on the dash but no warning lights.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

Between XXX, a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox RS experienced repeated sudden loss of engine power, throttle control, and steering control at highway speeds. Fuel management system, turbocharger, and catalytic converter failed repeatedly. GM-authorized dealer confirmed defects on multiple warranty repair orders. Breakdown 1: Nov 2024, interstate, rain, nighttime. Vehicle lost power and steering surrounded by semi-trucks on three sides with a ditch on the right. Towed to GM dealer. Breakdown 2: Dec 2024, [XXX], 2 miles from home. Same failure. Semi on driver side, vehicles fast approaching from rear, ditch on right. Crawled under 35 mph for 5 miles to next exit. GM OnStar app confirmed Engine/Transmission and Emissions System warnings. Independent scan confirmed P0299, P0171, P00C6. Check Engine FAIL, Emission Ready NO. Breakdown 3: XXX, [XXX] , 1 AM, winter storm. Same failure. Driver stranded. Sustained burns from superheated hood mechanism and fall injuries on wet pavement. Dealer confirmed turbocharger damage, blocked catalytic converter, and fuel rail pressure failures across multiple visits. On fourth repair attempt, dealer technician documented a component from a prior repair had fallen out and was not caught, directly causing the next breakdown. GM Technical Assistance Center was engaged. Same fault codes recurred across all four repair attempts. MyChevrolet app diagnostics, independent AutoZone scans, and dealer warranty repair orders confirm the recurring defect pattern. Vehicle was repossessed by lender in June 2025 following loan delinquency caused directly by extended repair periods and income loss from recurring defects. Vehicle no longer in owner's possession. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SEATSMay 2026

The bottom of driver seat leans to the left and moves when stopping or accelerating, moving forward or backwards, and does not stay stabilized like it should. This issue is not an electrical or power issue but seems to be a broken support bolt that attaches to track for seat.

CrashSERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMay 2026

On May 9, 2026, while pulling into a parking garage parking space at low speed (below 5 MPH), the brake pedal was pressed but failed to engage or slow the vehicle. The pedal was pressed completely to the floor with no resistance, and the vehicle continued moving forward until it struck a wall, causing damage to the vehicle. Earlier the same day, the brakes produced an abnormal hissing sound while pulling out of a parking space. No other symptoms or abnormalities were present prior to failure. The vehicle may also have recently received a software update, although it is unknown whether that is related to the incident. The failure appears to involve the brake system and the driver safety assistance systems equipped on the vehicle like forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and Dynamic Brake Support systems. The exact failed component is currently unknown and remains under inspection by a Chevrolet dealership. No warning lights, messages, or audible alerts appeared before, during, or after the incident. The automatic braking/collision avoidance system also did not activate. Because the vehicle had no braking capability at the time of the incident, the occupants and nearby pedestrians were placed at risk of serious injury. On May 10, 2026, the vehicle was taken to a Chevrolet dealership for inspection. The dealership has been unable to reproduce the issue, and no mechanical defects or diagnostic trouble codes related to the incident were identified. On May 13, 2026, the issue was escalated to the GM Technical Assistance Center (TAC) for further review, and the vehicle remains at the dealership awaiting a response to the TAC case. The dealership acknowledges similar brake-loss concerns referenced in GM service bulletins involving the 2025 Chevy Equinox and other models, including bulletin N24471431, although they stated the bulletin does not apply to this specific VIN.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEApr 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off in a parking lot, the vehicle became inoperable and failed to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump module failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. The VIN was not available.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApr 2026

The vehicle first experienced a serious malfunction on October 12, 2025, while driving on an expressway at 65 mph, and the same issue recurred on March 8, 2026, while driving on a 6-lane, busy highway at 45 mph. The condition involves the vehicle unexpectedly shutting down, rendering the acceleration pedal useless and causing the car to glide to a complete stop in traffic, creating a significant safety concern and rendering the vehicle unreliable for normal use. The vehicle has been at the Chevrolet dealership since March 8 2026 with them unable to replicate the issue. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem before the failure. I called OnStar both times it happened immediately after the incident, with neither time resulting in any negative results on the report.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApr 2026

The engine failed while driving on the highway on two separate occasions due a fuel pump issue. The first time it happened, it was just reduced power (could only drive maybe 40 miles an hour). I brought it to the dealership and they said that General Motors told them it needs a software update which they completed. However the second time it happened (4 months later) it was full engine shutdown in the left lane on a 65mph highway with my family (including my toddler) in the car. The first time it happened we were able to make it home by driving with the hazard lights on very slowly. But the second time we were doing the 65 mph speed limit in the left lane on a 3 lane highway. To avoid causing a pile up of cars or a deadly accident, we had to use the momentum of the speed we were going to try to safely drift across three lanes of congested traffic just to make it safely to the shoulder. We were then stuck on the side of the highway in the sun on an 80 degree day with a car with no power. I had to remove my two year old from the car so he didn't get heat exhaustion and stand on the side of the highway holding him in the little bit of shade we could find. The car then had to be towed back to my dealership over an hour away because it would not even turn on. The dealership was not able to replicate the issue the first time it happened, but did the software update that the manufacturer recommended. To my knowledge its only been inspected by the dealership. The only warning signs/messages/lights were the ones happening as the engine was failing/shutting down. There was no advanced warning. This care is less than two years old and its a leased vehicle from the dealership down repairs, I work from home there are less than 20k miles on i, this is not neglect on my part or over usage in anyway of the vehicle.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApr 2026

I was on a road trip and halfway through my check engine light came on and notified me that engine power was reduced while on a 70mph highway. My car the slowed itself down to not exceed 45 then 25mph. I was in a remote area and very far away from a Chevy dealership. I was forced to drive for a long distance to make it to a Chevy dealership that was willing to work with me. Come to find out my fuel pump failed and the car is only 2 years old with only 58,000 miles. This same issue happened a few months ago and I was told by my dealership that it was just update codes required by Chevy that did not update correctly. I’ve had several other issues like this and have been told it’s because the new cars are “basically giant computers”. This car also got a new battery after one year because they stated a faulty or crappy manufacturer battery they put it went bad. My local dealership then tried to charge me for it until I reminded them of my warranty. I take my car for regular oil changes under the 6,000 miles to keep my Warranty Forever. I was terrified driving on highway roads when my car wouldn’t exceed the required speed limit causing other motorists to navigate around me all because I needed to make it to a Chevy dealership willing to work with me.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEApr 2026

Vehicle suddenly brakes aggressively for no reason ! Blue sky no weather events no obstructions ! It also happens I reverse!!! At 60 mph I 4 lanes it’s not fun!!!!!!

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEApr 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and abruptly stopped on three occasions. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving approximately 60-70 MPH on the highway, while driving and approaching a stoplight approximately 300 ft. away. The failure also occurred while driving from a complete stop. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and attempted to diagnose the vehicle through the OnStar App, but no diagnostic trouble codes were found. The manufacturer contacted the dealer to schedule a service appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 9,500.

CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMar 2026

I slowly put my foot on the brake and suddenly heard a noise under the vehicle. It sounded like loud grinding. As pulled forward I looked in the rear view mirror and didn't see anything in the road that may have fallen out from under my vehicle. When I pushed on the gas I was suddenly accelerating forward very quickly without my control. This was maybe one or two seconds after I heard the noise. I hit the brakes and nothing happened. My only choice was to hit the back end of the other vehicle as there were pedestrians on either side. The vehicle was continuing to accelerate even after I tried to put it in park. I was worried if the car in front of me moved, that I would keep going. I even pressed the emergency brake button twice and nothing worked. Nothing was working at all. I called the police. They told me to try turning off the car. I pressed the button to turn the car off, but it took several pushes to work. I could hear that the rpms lowered extremely slowly. Once the police came they didn't see anything in the road at all. Vehicle was moved to a body shop and when they turned on the car it immediately started revving really loudly again.

Showing 20 of 1,919 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Equinox

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Equinox, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Equinox has 1,919 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet Equinox has 33 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 116 of the Chevrolet Equinox's 1,919 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Equinox vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Equinox vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet Equinox has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Chevrolet Equinox by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet Equinox.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Chevrolet Equinox reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

Poor. The Chevrolet Equinox has 1,919 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (392 complaints), 2020 (297 complaints), 2019 (293 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Chevrolet Equinox problems?

Top reported issues: ENGINE (537 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (398 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (300 complaints).

Does the Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?

Yes — 33 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet Equinox. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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