Chevrolet Equinox Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years
Own a Chevrolet Equinox? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Chevrolet Equinox — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Best | Excellent | — | 31 | — | — | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2025 | Good | — | 138 | 4 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2024 | Excellent | — | 43 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2023 | Good | 1 | 64 | 1 | 1 | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Full report → |
| 2022 | Good | 3 | 90 | 13 | 6 | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Full report → |
| 2021 | Good | 3 | 53 | 4 | 6 | — | Unknown Or Other | Full report → |
| 2020 | Caution | 3 | 221 | 19 | 8 | 1 | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2019 | Good | 3 | 193 | 18 | 1 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2018 | Caution | 3 | 253 | 21 | 27 | — | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2017 | Caution | — | 181 | 20 | 28 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2016 | Caution | 1 | 237 | 11 | 26 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2015 | Avoid | 2 | 430 | 14 | 8 | — | Visibility/Wiper | Full report → |
| 2014 | Caution | 1 | 359 | 14 | 11 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2013 | Avoid | 1 | 509 | 13 | 15 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2012 | Avoid | 1 | 474 | 14 | 5 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2011Worst | Avoid | — | 552 | 24 | 36 | 6 | Engine | Full report → |
| 2010 | Avoid | 1 | 537 | 9 | 12 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2009 | Good | — | 73 | 6 | 8 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2008 | Caution | — | 268 | 15 | 12 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2007 | Avoid | 2 | 504 | 9 | 16 | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Full report → |
| 2006 | Avoid | — | 471 | 21 | 26 | 2 | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2005 | Avoid | — | 489 | 36 | 22 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
22 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Chevrolet Equinox Problems
Based on 6,170 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Safety Recalls — Chevrolet Equinox (2022–2026)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212356050.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles. The driver's seat may have a stripped or loose bolt at the seat frame height-adjust pivot.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the seat cushion frame, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 4, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222377890.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles. The fuel pump module may not consistently provide sufficient fuel to the engine, resulting in an engine stall.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372310.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with ventilated front passenger seats. The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger presence system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222388911.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The door strikers may fracture, resulting in the door opening unexpectedly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all four door strikers and attaching bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232429911.
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
Showing 8 recalls from 2022–2026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.
Recent Owner Complaints
Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Chevrolet Equinox owners — 2022–2026 model years.
While driving, a burning odor developed followed by visible smoke entering the passenger cabin from the dashboard/HUD area. We pulled the vehicle over and had it towed due to safety concerns. Dealer required dashboard disassembly to investigate potential electrical/fire condition but was unable to replicate the issue.
For the second time the service high voltage system warning has came on first time it was updated the dealership said now it’s back on again A/C not working properly
Sometimes when I am backing up, the breaks will slam on. Back in 2025 first I noticed, but thought it was human error, just wasn’t sure. After it happened more than a couple of times in 2026, I realized it wasn’t me and must the safety warning system? I googled after it happened this month and (phantom breaking) popped up for the Chevy equinox. I Have an appt. With Chevrolet to check it out in 2 weeks. Scary when it happens. I’ve only noticed it so far when backing up. If it were to happen other than in a parking lot, that could be dangerous, especially if I am going faster.
Front seat passenger side seat belt. Does not have a height adjustment for the shoulder strap. Belt comes across the neck of shorter individuals.
wiring harness on PCV Valve causes check engine light to come on as soon as it rains or gets wet. Dealer has tried multiple times to fix issue to no avail. The parts are on national back order and they can not get them. Dealer has told me that this is a know issue with this model year equinox.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the high-voltage system message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnostic test and repair were performed on the computer, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again, where the AC receiver was ordered; however, the part ordered was the incorrect part. The dealer informed the contact that the part was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 6,065.
The Fuel pump module was a recall under N222372310 - Safety Recall in 2023. This recall was complete by a dealership. The recall fuel pump module assembly It was replace July 2023 with part number Fuel Pump Module 84782007. On April 13, 2026 (33 months later) the car would not start, if it did start it was stall and die. When it also run rough if it would start, then die again. I had to have the car towed to the dealership. The dealership said the fuel pump module was out AGAIN! The exact same problem the first recall was suppose to correct did not solve the problem. At this time there is not a new recall on this matter. The part that replaced the original fuel pump module did not solve the problem. The replacement part appears faulty as well. Had my car ben in traffic or on the highway it is possible I would have lost all power to the car which could have resulted in crash.
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.
The navigation system and the one-pedal driving system started malfunctioning. The navigation system began displaying a different location during remote driving, causing it to send me down a street against traffic. This issue has never been resolved and continues unabated. Then, while on the highway, when I needed to slow down, the one-pedal driving system deactivated, causing me to almost collide with another vehicle. This has happened more than three times this month. GM and Chevrolet just keep saying they'll call me back to resolve the issue, but they never do, and they refuse to fix it.
I felt ill for a few months. Started to smell gasoline in my garage and inside the car. When I sent in, the Fuel Feed Hose was leaking and not attached and damaged. My car could have blown up at any time, and I inhaled fumes probably for months
Vehicle will detect objects in the blind spot when there are none there. I will look back and see that nothing is in the blind spot. Turn my turn signal on to indicate a lane change. I get half-way through the lane change and the light on the mirror starts to flash indicating that something is in my blind spot. I react and return to my original lane. I look back again and ther is nothing there. This is the classic false positive. It is dangerous because I am learning that the system is unreliable and an unreliable system eventually gets ignored. This is the classic "Boy Who Cried Wolf." GM is aware of the problem but it is not getting the urgent attention that it needs. This is a bad situation. I would prefer it the system were turned OFF. This happens quite regularly in the drivers side blind spot.
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.
484 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 2022–2026. For older model years, see individual year pages.
Equinox Years to Avoid
Best Equinox Years to Buy
Not enough data to identify standout low-problem years.
Years with fewest complaints and recalls.
Chevrolet Equinox Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Chevrolet Equinox Reliability
What year Equinox has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 552 complaints and 0 safety recalls. See the full 2011 report for specific defects.
Is the Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
The Chevrolet Equinox has accumulated 6,170 owner-filed complaints and 25 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 9 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Equinox.
What are the most common Equinox problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Engine (1377 reports), Electrical System (597 reports), Visibility/Wiper (542 reports), Power Train (511 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Equinox has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Chevrolet Equinox VIN
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