Reliable Auto DB

2020 Chevrolet Equinox reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox has 308 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 30 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Equinox years here — over the median of the other years, which is 23. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Vehicle latch anchor, Automatic transmission, and Caliper.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox
Photo by Ryan Daniel, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

308

Per year

30

Recalls

4

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (97 of 308), then Engine (89) and Fuel and propulsion system (50). Those filings include 20 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, 9 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Equinox has 301 complaints, 37 per year, and the 2021 has 94 complaints, 12 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall child seat, vehicle latch anchor 2023-05-11 · NHTSA campaign 23V339000
Summary 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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2020-10-29 · NHTSA campaign 20V668000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2019-10-03 · NHTSA campaign 19V704000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.
Recall gasoline fuel system, storage, tank 2019-09-19 · NHTSA campaign 19V667000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.

Complaints by component (308 total)

Service brakes
97
Engine
89
Fuel and propulsion system
50
Electrical system
41
Powertrain
39
Speed control
15
Forward collision avoidance
14
Steering
13
Hydraulic brakes
12
Suspension
10
Engine and engine cooling
9
Air bags
7
Fuel system, gasoline
7
Wheels
7
Exterior lighting
6
Structure
6
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Back-over prevention
3
Lane departure
3
Seat belts
3
Chest clip, buckle, and harness
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Visibility
2
Equipment
1
Parking brake
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Traction control
1
Show 20 more Show less
Crash-flagged

20

Fire-flagged

7

Injury reports

9

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

52019292020292021272022402023542024612025632026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I've spent $1000 on repairs to my turbo and now have to replace the whole thing. While looking online I've seen many people are having the same issue with the 2020 model. Almost every car has to replace the turbo…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-24
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, but initially the vehicle restarted. The contact was able to drive to the residence, but the vehicle failed to restart. An…"
    Fuel system, gasoline, Engine · filed 2026-09-22
  • "Vehicle began sputtering suddenly while driving 40mph. "Reduced Engine Power" warning appeared on dash. While trying to limp it home, the vehicle died in the middle of a turning lane. Pushed vehicle to the side of the…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-14
  • "While operating my vehicle, I experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure of the power-assisted braking system. The brake pedal completely lost hydraulic pressure, plunging effortlessly all the way to the floorboard. The…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine · filed 2026-09-10
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that occasionally while at a red light or while stopped, the vehicle hesitated for approximately 10 to 15 seconds to move while the accelerator pedal was…"
    Speed control · filed 2026-09-03

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Chevrolet Equinox SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Chevrolet Equinox SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Equinox all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed All-wheel drive 22 28 24 MPG $3300
Equinox all-wheel drive 1.5L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Equinox front-wheel drive 1.5L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 26 31 28 MPG $2300
Equinox front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 9-speed Front-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $3200

Specs and fitment

3rd generation, 2018–2024
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (1.5L turbo and 2.0L turbo); 5W-30 (diesel where equipped) , 5.3 qt capacity
Tire size 225/65R17 to 235/50R19 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Owner complaints for the 2018 launch year include service brakes among the leading components. Recall 18V-576 covers certain 2018-2019 Equinox vehicles among other GM models: rear brake-caliper pistons may have insufficient coating so gas pockets form and reduce rear brake performance; dealers bleed the brake system. Recall 20V-668 covers certain 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles among other GM crossovers: the start/stop transmission accumulator end cap may have missing bolts, which can lead to a transmission fluid leak, possible loss of propulsion, and a fire risk if fluid contacts hot exhaust. Dealers inspect the accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing. Recall 23V-869 covers certain 2024 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles among other GM crossovers: door strikers may fracture so a door can open while driving; dealers replace all four door strikers and attaching bolts.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Chevrolet Equinox Next year 2021 Chevrolet Equinox See every Chevrolet Equinox model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox has 308 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 30 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Equinox years here — over the median of the other years, which is 23. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Vehicle latch anchor, Automatic transmission, and Caliper.

What are common problems with a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (97 of 308), then Engine (89) and Fuel and propulsion system (50). Those filings include 20 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, 9 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Equinox has 301 complaints, 37 per year, and the 2021 has 94 complaints, 12 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox been recalled?

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?

Owners have filed 308 complaints about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox is 26 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?

3rd generation (2018-2024).

What engine oil does a Chevrolet Equinox use?

5W-30 (4-cylinder); 5W-30 (V6 where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 16V-582 cover on the Chevrolet Equinox?

Recall 16V-582 covers certain 2013 Equinox and Terrain vehicles: ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear until one or both wipers stop working; dealers repair the AIP hole and inspect and replace the front wiper module as needed.