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Chevrolet Equinox: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Equinox problems by model year, from 6,282 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (83%, 207 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (70%, 512 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (65%, 467 drivetrain complaints). 14 of the 14 Chevrolet Equinox years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 5 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Chevrolet Equinox year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2015 (41%).
By raw volume, the 2011 drew the most drivetrain complaints (512 of 3,455 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Equinox year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Equinox | high | 60% | 432 | 784 | 6/14 | 3 |
| 2011 Equinox | very high | 70% | 512 | 782 | 2/14 | 3 |
| 2012 Equinox | very high | 63% | 416 | 685 | 4/14 | 3 |
| 2013 Equinox | very high | 65% | 467 | 751 | 3/14 | 2 |
| 2014 Equinox | high | 50% | 260 | 548 | 11/14 | 1 |
| 2015 Equinox | high | 41% | 265 | 680 | 14/14 | 2 |
| 2016 Equinox | high | 58% | 221 | 396 | 8/14 | 1 |
| 2017 Equinox | very high | 83% | 207 | 273 | 1/14 | 0 |
| 2018 Equinox | high | 43% | 165 | 408 | 13/14 | 5 |
| 2019 Equinox | high | 55% | 155 | 302 | 9/14 | 4 |
| 2020 Equinox | high | 53% | 156 | 309 | 10/14 | 4 |
| 2021 Equinox | high | 49% | 42 | 96 | 12/14 | 4 |
| 2022 Equinox | very high | 61% | 103 | 173 | 5/14 | 5 |
| 2023 Equinox | high | 58% | 54 | 95 | 7/14 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Equinox years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Equinox transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Equinox involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 24 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2017 | 17V516000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2018 |
| May 2018 | 18V358000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V667000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2019–2020 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018–2020 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V013000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module | 2021–2022 |
19 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2009 | 09V489000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system | 2010 |
| Dec 2010 | 10V623000 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2011 |
| Oct 2011 | 11V511000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2012 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V447000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2010–2012 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V666000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V449000 | equipment: other: labels | 2016 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V502000 | electrical system: ignition | 2010–2013 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V582000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2013 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V252000 | visibility | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V576000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V184000 | seats | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V704000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2020 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V811000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V612000 | tires | 2021–2022 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V165000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2014–2015 |
| May 2022 | 22V359000 | seats | 2022 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V724000 | seats | 2022–2023 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V929000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2023 |
| May 2023 | 23V339000 | child seat: vehicle latch anchor | 2020–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Equinox
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Equinox
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Equinox?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Equinox years are the 2017 (83% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2011 (70% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (65% of relevant complaints, very high). 14 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Equinox?
No Chevrolet Equinox year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2015 (41%).
Does the Chevrolet Equinox have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 3,455 of 5,981 relevant NHTSA complaints (58%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 14 of 14 Chevrolet Equinox years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 58% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Equinox years we track, out of 24 in total: 19V667000 (Sep 2019, 2019–2020), 20V668000 (Oct 2020, 2018–2020), 23V013000 (Jan 2023, 2021–2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.