Chevrolet Equinox Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
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.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Equinox has 1,897 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.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Equinox
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,897
- Safety recall campaigns
- 33
- Crash-related complaints
- 116
- Fire-related complaints
- 27
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (389 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (55 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
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.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP 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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe CHEVROLET EQUINOX has 1,897 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.
- 1,897 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 33 federal recall campaigns
- 116 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- 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
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
33 recalls foundSafety 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR
TIRES
TIRES
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
SEATS
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
SEAT BELTS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
SEATS
SEATS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
EQUIPMENT: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 1,897 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,897 totalThese 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.
Possible O2 sensor. Engine misfired, bucking under acceleration, engine light flashing and auto hold system shutdown. Upon pulling out into traffic, I hit the gas and this happened, which was a risk to me and other drivers as I could not accelerate properly. I am taking my car to Reedman Toll on July 13. I can reproduce the problem every time I heavy accelerate.
My name is [XXX], I live at [XXX]. I own a 2021 Honda Passport, VIN ending in [XXX]. Two serious safety issues: 1. The multifunction camera behind the windshield has failed with codes [XXX] and U0416-F8. This is the same known defect that is the subject of a class action lawsuit. The dealer quoted me $1700 to fix it. I have only had the car for two years and I should not have to pay this much for a major safety failure. 2. The front passenger power seat moves backwards on its own and does not stop. On one occasion it trapped my young nonverbal autistic son in the car seat. I had to physically intervene to stop it from crushing him. I reported this issue to Honda USA customer service, and they told me to take it to the dealer. Both of these are serious safety defects. The seat issue especially is extremely dangerous for a child who cannot speak or scream for help. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate these defects immediately. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
No warning messages or check engine lights. However, I am concerned for my safety as my 2026 equinox I bought last year in may of 2025 from motion chevy in hackettstown NJ with 21k miles (as of now, bought it brand new last year) has a windshield distortion that when looking to the passenger side of the windshield, it’s very wavy and distorted and I already had a Chevy dealership named Mcguire’s Chevy in newton dismiss it saying others on the lot had the same issue (which they did as I saw but still unacceptable!!) I also noticed many other owners of my vehicle have the same complaint via online forums and even after several replacements from GM the issue persists which is unacceptable. The next issue are the rotors. They most likely are warped as when I step on the brakes the steering wheel vibrates slightly and the car shakes slightly which is not safe. Again, McGuire Chevy in newton dismissed it saying normal. And lastly, the front end of the car shakes when starting vehicle with or without the air conditioner on. It shakes for 10-30 seconds and you can feel it strongly in the brake pedal area as well as rest of the front end of vehicle before going away which seems unsafe, yet the first dealer Mcguire’s said it’s normal. I am having these issues looked at by a local GMC dealer and hope they rectify the issue or else GM may need to do a buyback if they can’t fix the issues and keep saying it’s “normal”. They opened a case with GM for the shaking so far not the other issues yet so we will see. Honorable mention is the blend door actuator making a noise (another known issue) on this car via online forums making a noise every time you go from hot to cold and vice versa. Mine is affected to just not severely but enough to where it’s very irritating and it’s had this issue since new and the McGuire dealer said it’s normal….. at this point GM needs to issue recalls instead of dismissing customers.
The interior trim has many problems affecting safety. 1. Plastic chrome trim reflects blinding sun in my eyes. 2. Dash finish reflects severely onto the windshield, cannot see clearly. These are extreme safety issues. I believe GM should provide fix kits in a recall before someone is killed. And required design standards for this. Note: the camera lessens the glare in the attached pictures
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. During the crash, the parking braking activated, and smoke and flames were coming from both the rear wheels. The contact used a bottle of water to extinguish the flames. During the failure, the maintenance icon was displayed. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was advised to notify the insurance company of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,100.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil gauge fluctuated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. An appointment was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,678.
Read 14 more owner reports
Walked out of the car into the gas station came back out the brake pedal was locked up literally didn’t even wiggle at all couldn’t start the car I tapped it a couple times and then it made a horrible snap/pop sound and works fine for now
While cruise control was active, the vehicle initiated un-commanded physical acceleration and deceleration in unpredictable 5 mph increments (up or down), forcing the vehicle to change speeds without driver input. This required me to immediately deactivate the system and override the accelerator/brakes to maintain control of the vehicle in while driving, creating a severe and direct safety hazard. With cruise off I could see the erratic jumping of the set-speed number on the digital display. This issue has occurred on two separate instances. In both cases, pulling over, turning the vehicle completely off, and turning back on completely cleared the glitch and restored normal operation of this feature.
Driving towards direct light/sunlight is damn near impossible with this vehicle die to the extreme amount of glare from the dashboard. It makes me worried especially now that summer is approaching, feels like it can be catastrophic. Rear brake assist is horrible on more than one occasion the car will stop as if it has just been hit by a semi. Leaving the vehicle unable to proceed in reverse(one has to shift to drive or put in park before continuing to reverse). This is not only a nuisance but can lead to an accident especially during the mad rush of drop off at the elementary.
Front end suspension creaking and a moderate vibration under the gas pedal that gets worse over time
I was heading home from my vacation with my lady and had cruise control on and then all of a sudden my Rpms shot through the roof and then a flashing check engine light showed up and a message that said “acceleration reduced drive with care” when I took it to the dealer they told me it was due to the side object detection system malfunctioned and caused that issue then today I felt the car idle weird so I hooked up a scanner and it’s got a misfire on cylinder 2 and 4
At around 7k miles while driving the brakes and steering suddenly stopped working and all warning lights came on including check engine light. The dealership said it was the main brain and the fixed it. Then last Thursday night while driving on the highway my brakes stopped working suddenly and all warning lights came on again. It is at the dealership now and they are now saying the problem is the BCM. I’m honestly scared to drive on the highway now. I’m really scared someone will get hurt or killed from this vehicle if it happens again.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the automatic engine Start/Stop system engaged, and the vehicle shut off completely. The message "Please Hit The Start Button Again" was displayed, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact press the start button, but the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P), forcing the tow agency to drag the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,900.
This vehicle has been repaired (4) times for the same issue (vehicle turns off while driving and won’t immediately re-start and check engine light comes on) The First incident happened on or about 3/25/2026 (1083 mileage) and the fuel pump power control module was replaced at the dealership. The Second incident happened on or about 4/8/2026 (1347 mileage) and again the fuel pump power control module was replaced at the dealership. The Third incident happened on or about 5/6/2026 (2249 mileage) to which the dealership opened a TAC case #95864465 and was told a software update was available and updated the software. The Fourth incident happened on or about 5/18/2026 (2625 mileage) and the fuel pump power control module was once again replaced at the dealership. Every incident occurred while I was in traffic with my minor child and dog
See attached document for complaint.
The starter on a new 2026 Chevrolet Equinox RS failed at approximately 6,500 miles. While the vehicle was being driven home during evening rush hour, it shut off at a red light and would not restart. The vehicle was stranded in the left lane of a four-lane highway. It could not be moved because the engine would not start, and the vehicle would not even roll in neutral, as the wheels were locked and would not turn. The disabled vehicle blocked a live travel lane in heavy traffic. The driver was a [XXX] new driver. Being stranded in a moving traffic lane during rush hour created a serious risk of a rear-end collision to the occupant and to surrounding vehicles forced to maneuver around the disabled car. Police responded because the vehicle was creating an active roadway hazard and arranged for a tow. The tow operator had to drag the immobilized vehicle onto the flatbed because the wheels would not turn. The failure was confirmed by an authorized Chevrolet dealer, which diagnosed a failed starter and replaced it under the manufacturer's warranty. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The vehicle shut off and failed to restart without any advance indication. The vehicle has been repaired and is available for inspection. The failed starter was replaced by the dealer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2026 CHEVROLET Equinox. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at 63 MPH and above, he notices that the vehicle is not able to go into the 8th gear. The contact stated that for the vehicle to reach 8th gear, he would have to slow down to between 62 MPH and 55 MPH while driving on a 75 MPH highway, causing serious safety concerns while merging into traffic. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not able to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.
Sign recognition in advanced cruise control fails to slow prior to slower speed limit signs. Fails to decelerate in accordance with traffic regulations.
At approximately 75 mph on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shifted into Neutral after the Park button was accidentally pressed. Once in Neutral, the vehicle would not re‑engage Drive or any gear. The vehicle lost propulsion in fast‑moving traffic. I had to coast to the shoulder, stop completely, and shut the vehicle off. Only after restarting did the transmission respond again. No warnings appeared before the incident, and no software updates were pending. Loss of propulsion at highway speed is a serious safety hazard and indicates a possible failure of the shift‑by‑wire system or transmission control module to prevent unsafe gear changes. A transmission error did show up when coming to a complete stop.
The vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral if the vehicle runs out of gas. There is no way to shift to neutral and roll it to the side of the road. The vehicle ran out of gas on the interstate, automatically braked and could not be moved out of the middle of the interstate. To make matters worse, this was in a construction zone.
Showing 20 of 1,897 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.
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 1,897 complaints on record across 10 model years.
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.
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 1,897 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Keep researching before you buy
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Chevrolet Equinox reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
Poor. The Chevrolet Equinox has 1,897 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 (389 complaints), 2020 (294 complaints), 2019 (290 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 (528 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (391 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (299 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.