Chevrolet Equinox 2010–2017
2nd generation · GM Theta (GMT172)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20266,590 complaints, 4,451 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,136 and 107,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 18 complaints (0.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 11,500
- 25%
- 47,136
- Median
- 77,360
- 75%
- 107,000
- 90%
- 135,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 289 | 6.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 123 | 2.8% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 79 | 1.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 71 | 1.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 84 | 1.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 90 | 2.0% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 95 | 2.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 99 | 2.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 117 | 2.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 142 | 3.2% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 171 | 3.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 167 | 3.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 194 | 4.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 175 | 3.9% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 208 | 4.7% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 197 | 4.4% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 202 | 4.5% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 206 | 4.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 183 | 4.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 170 | 3.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 203 | 4.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 149 | 3.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 166 | 3.7% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 130 | 2.9% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 138 | 3.1% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 87 | 2.0% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 69 | 1.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 68 | 1.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 66 | 1.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 51 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 66 | 1.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 41 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 26 | 0.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 23 | 0.5% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 24 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 12 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 18 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 21 | 0.5% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 11 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.0% |
| 200,000+ | 18 | 0.4% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 6,590 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2017 Chevrolet Equinox, and 4,451 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,136 and 107,000 miles. The median is 77,360 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (34.0% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles), visibility/wiper (15.3% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.9% of complaints, typically around 79,000 miles).
8 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine89,000median 89,000 miles, middle half 64,000 to 114,000
- Visibility/wiper80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 107,000
- Transmission and driveline79,000median 79,150 miles, middle half 50,000 to 105,000
- Electrical system53,000median 53,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 92,000
- Problems owners could not categorise72,000median 71,706 miles, middle half 42,000 to 107,000
- Fuel and propulsion system76,000median 75,687 miles, middle half 44,000 to 110,000
- Airbag system55,000median 55,200 miles, middle half 28,000 to 103,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,243 | 34.0% | 89,000 | 64,000–114,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1,005 | 15.3% | 80,000 | 60,000–107,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 652 | 9.9% | 79,000 | 50,000–105,000 |
| Electrical system | 426 | 6.5% | 53,000 | 15,000–92,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 387 | 5.9% | 72,000 | 42,000–107,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 294 | 4.5% | 76,000 | 44,000–110,000 |
| Airbag system | 250 | 3.8% | 55,000 | 28,000–103,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 189 | 2.9% | 78,000 | 49,000–107,000 |
| Steering | 182 | 2.8% | 43,000 | 13,000–89,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 160 | 2.4% | 63,000 | 19,000–99,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 77,360 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 34.0% of complaints (2,243 reports, 1,396 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 63,980 and 114,000 miles.
A single system taking 34.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 15.3% of complaints (1,005 reports, 741 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 107,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.9% of complaints (652 reports, 468 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,150 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,500 and 105,409 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.5% of complaints (426 reports, 296 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 53,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,476 and 92,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 5.9% of complaints (387 reports, 211 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 71,706 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 107,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 4.5% of complaints (294 reports, 164 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,687 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,350 and 110,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2011 model year drew the most — 1,139 complaints — while 2017 drew the fewest at 370. The median year sits at 894.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 8 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around visibility equipment (2), the electrical system (1), equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 6,590 complaints filed against this generation, 250 reported a crash; 63 reported a fire; 246 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,136 and 107,000 miles, with a median of 77,360. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and visibility/wiper are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Visibility/wiper in particular shows a median failure mileage of 80,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2010–2017
2.4L Ecotec excessive oil consumption: the piston and piston ring assembly does not maintain adequate ring tension, so oil passes into the combustion chamber. The resulting chronic low oil level causes timing chain wear and connecting rod bearing failure. GM issued Special Coverage adjustments per model year and a class action settlement (final approval November 2019) covered MY2010-2013 Equinox and GMC Terrain; subsequent suits allege MY2014-2017 units have the same defect without the same coverage.
Engine
2.4L timing chain stretch, frequently secondary to the oil consumption defect above.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,118 | 897 |
| 2011 | 1,139 | 892 |
| 2012 | 943 | 673 |
| 2013 | 988 | 671 |
| 2014 | 697 | 470 |
| 2015 | 845 | 515 |
| 2016 | 490 | 216 |
| 2017 | 370 | 117 |
Recalls (8)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V165000 | 2022-10-25 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor |
| 16V582000 | 2017-04-13 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor |
| 16V502000 | 2016-10-14 | Electrical System:ignition |
| 16V449000 | 2016-07-14 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 15V666000 | 2015-10-19 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 14V447000 | 2014-12-26 | Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust |
| 11V511000 | 2011-11-09 | Tires:pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems |
| 10V623000 | 2011-01-18 | Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly |
What owners reported
My 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has an automatic door lock feature which automatically locks all doors when the vehicle is placed into gear. My concern is that if by accident, high water, or some other circumstance, the power locks and windows become inoperative as a result of electronic failure, and occupants become…
2010 · Latches and locks
Since the purchase of my 2010 chevy Equinox i have been experiencing rough shifts (clunks into gear) when the vehicle shifts up into 3rd gear. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong but went ahead and flashed the ECU. The vehicle worked fine for about 2 weeks then began to do the same…
2010 · Transmission and driveline
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving 35 MPH on a sunny day the contact stated the instrument panel storage lock distorted his vision while driving. He stated that the sun reflects on the chrome lock and impairs his vision. The contact stated he spoke with the dealer and the manufacturer and…
2010 · 5 miles · Electrical system
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated when she shifted from second to third gear. She noticed the problem since the vehicle was purchased. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and stated that it was normal. The contact felt that the problem was a safety…
2010 · 12 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 4,451 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page