Chevrolet Equinox Years to Avoid
Avoid: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2020 · Best: 2008, 2009 — based on 6,904 NHTSA complaints across 18 model years (2008–2025), severity-weighted and adjusted for time on the road; 2015–2022 average: 1.19 complaints per 1,000 sold.
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 6,904 NHTSA complaints, the Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2020 — the worst logged up to 2.1× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by engine failures. Updated November 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of November 2026 · How we rate model years
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict | Problems & recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 370 | 145 | 0 | BEST | — |
| 2009 | 94 | 44 | 0 | BEST | — |
| 2010 | 784 | 506 | 3 | AVOID | — |
| 2011 | 780 | 589 | 3 | AVOID | — |
| 2012 | 682 | 462 | 3 | AVOID | — |
| 2013 | 747 | 503 | 2 | AVOID | — |
| 2014 | 543 | 304 | 1 | SOLID | — |
| 2015 | 678 | 312 | 2 | SOLID | — |
| 2016 | 391 | 235 | 1 | SOLID | 2016 Equinox problems → |
| 2017 | 270 | 227 | 0 | SOLID | 2017 Equinox problems → |
| 2018 | 388 | 272 | 5 | AVOID | 2018 Equinox problems → |
| 2019 | 290 | 223 | 4 | CAUTION | 2019 Equinox problems → |
| 2020 | 291 | 235 | 4 | AVOID | 2020 Equinox problems → |
| 2021 | 87 | 50 | 4 | SOLID | 2021 Equinox problems → |
| 2022 | 153 | 126 | 5 | CAUTION | 2022 Equinox problems → |
| 2023 | 85 | 66 | 3 | SOLID | 2023 Equinox problems → |
| 2024 | 65 | 44 | 1 | SOLID | 2024 Equinox problems → |
| 2025 | 206 | 81 | 0 | SOLID | 2025 Equinox problems → |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Chevrolet Equinox. Full methodology.
Equinox problems by model year
Each year has its own page with the complaint components, NHTSA recall campaigns, service-bulletin count, a comparison with the year before and after, and what to check on a used one.
Common Chevrolet Equinox problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Chevrolet Equinox are engine, brakes, fuel. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Piston failure with excessive oil consumption
· Chevrolet Equinox 2011–2018Corroborated by 31 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 2,139 engine complaints across 2011–2018, typically 50,000–132,000 miles.
Piston failure with excessive oil consumption
· Chevrolet Equinox 2011–2018Corroborated by 31 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 2,139 engine complaints across 2011–2018, typically 50,000–132,000 miles.
Vacuum pump failure / brake assist loss / engine damage
· Chevrolet Equinox 2018–2020Corroborated by 16 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 304 brakes complaints across 2018–2020, typically 61,000–213,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $5,000–$11,500.
Vacuum pump failure / brake assist loss / engine damage
· Chevrolet Equinox 2018–2020Corroborated by 16 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 304 brakes complaints across 2018–2020, typically 61,000–213,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $5,000–$11,500.
Fuel pump module failure causing stalling
· Chevrolet Equinox 2019–2024Corroborated by 21 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 265 fuel complaints across 2019–2024, typically 8,400–79,665 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $599–$600.
Fuel pump module failure causing stalling
· Chevrolet Equinox 2019–2024Corroborated by 21 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 265 fuel complaints across 2019–2024, typically 8,400–79,665 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $599–$600.
Why these years stand out
2010 Chevrolet Equinox: 784 owner complaints on federal record, 506 of them severe, plus 3 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Chevrolet Equinox.
2011 Chevrolet Equinox: 780 owner complaints on federal record, 589 of them severe, plus 3 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Chevrolet Equinox.
2012 Chevrolet Equinox: 682 owner complaints on federal record, 462 of them severe, plus 3 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Chevrolet Equinox.
2013 Chevrolet Equinox: 747 owner complaints on federal record, 503 of them severe, plus 2 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Chevrolet Equinox.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox: 388 owner complaints on federal record, 272 of them severe, plus 5 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Chevrolet Equinox.
2020 Chevrolet Equinox: 291 owner complaints on federal record, 235 of them severe, plus 4 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Chevrolet Equinox.
Know what to pay for the right Chevrolet Equinox — then negotiate it
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FAQ
What years of the Chevrolet Equinox should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2020 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Equinox?
The 2008 and 2009 Chevrolet Equinox show the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Chevrolet Equinox verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Chevrolet Equinox's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Chevrolet Equinox before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
The Chevrolet Equinox's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 6,904 NHTSA owner complaints, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2020 rate "avoid", while 2008 and 2009 show the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Equinox?
The most-reported problem area for the Chevrolet Equinox is engine, followed by brakes and fuel. Confirmed failures include piston failure with excessive oil consumption, piston failure with excessive oil consumption, vacuum pump failure / brake assist loss / engine damage. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Chevrolet Equinox across every model year on record. Retrieved November 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered (the per-1,000-sold figure above divides 2015–2022 complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales); a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Chevrolet Equinox, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.