Reliable Auto DB

2021 Chevrolet Equinox reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox over 6 years — 12 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Equinox years here — under the median of the other years, which is 23. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Vehicle latch anchor, Control module, and Tires.

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

94

Per year

12

Recalls

4

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 94), then Powertrain (17) and Engine (16). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Equinox has 308 complaints, 30 per year, and the 2022 has 170 complaints, 30 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

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 2021 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 gasoline fuel system, delivery, fuel pump, control module 2023-01-19 · NHTSA campaign 23V013000
Summary 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.
Recall Tires 2021-08-05 · NHTSA campaign 21V612000
Summary 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.
Recall Seat belts 2020-12-23 · NHTSA campaign 20V811000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Complaints by component (94 total)

Electrical system
17
Powertrain
17
Engine
16
Fuel and propulsion system
16
Service brakes
7
Structure
5
Air bags
4
Fuel system, gasoline
4
Seat belts
4
Steering
4
Exterior lighting
3
Lane departure
3
Tires
3
Engine and engine cooling
2
Forward collision avoidance
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seats
1
Wheels
1
Show 12 more Show less
Crash-flagged

6

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

62021152022142023152024192025252026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The vehicle intermittently triggers steering control, brake assist, and parking brake warnings during both highway and city driving, particularly when coming to a complete stop. These alerts are associated with a slight…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-15
  • "Fuel pump power control module"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-14
  • "I've been having issues since the beginning of 2026. It's saying my car has no recalls but I've found that is does on a part that's been complained about by others. I've had the car repaired multiple times updating the…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-13
  • "The fuel pump of my Chevy equinox failed while I was driving in the middle of a busy highway causing my engine to lose power putting myself and my passengers in danger along with everybody else on the highway because I…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-20
  • "While driving on the interstate, the moonroof glass began opening without any input from the moonroof controls. The power sunshade was still closed at the time. I opened the sunshade manually so it would not interfere…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-19

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Chevrolet Equinox SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 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 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

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 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Next year 2022 Chevrolet Equinox See every Chevrolet Equinox model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox over 6 years — 12 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Equinox years here — under the median of the other years, which is 23. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Vehicle latch anchor, Control module, and Tires.

What are common problems with a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 94), then Powertrain (17) and Engine (16). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Equinox has 308 complaints, 30 per year, and the 2022 has 170 complaints, 30 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox been recalled?

The 2021 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 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?

Owners have filed 94 complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox is 27.5 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.