Chevrolet Equinox 2018–2024
3rd generation · GM D2XX
NHTSA data through 12 August 20262,071 complaints, 651 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 45% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 7 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 45% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (1.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 675
- 25%
- 4,000
- Median
- 17,000
- 75%
- 61,000
- 90%
- 100,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 251 | 38.6% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 93 | 14.3% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 41 | 6.3% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 46 | 7.1% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 31 | 4.8% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 24 | 3.7% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 30 | 4.6% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 29 | 4.5% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 17 | 2.6% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 20 | 3.1% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 16 | 2.5% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 6 | 0.9% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 10 | 1.5% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 14 | 2.2% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 8 | 1.2% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 1.1% |
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 2,071 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018–2024 Chevrolet Equinox, and 651 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
45% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 7 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the engine (16.2% of complaints, typically around 15,000 miles), the brakes (15.1% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (12.5% of complaints, typically around 7,500 miles).
16 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine15,000median 14,700 miles, middle half 2,000 to 70,000
- Brakes34,000median 33,500 miles, middle half 4,000 to 75,000
- Fuel and propulsion system7,500median 7,275 miles, middle half 1,500 to 27,000
- Electrical system14,000median 14,427 miles, middle half 3,000 to 55,000
- Problems owners could not categorise5,000median 4,857 miles, middle half 750 to 18,000
- Transmission and driveline16,000median 16,000 miles, middle half 3,000 to 67,000
- Fuel system40,000median 39,500 miles, middle half 13,000 to 75,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 335 | 16.2% | 15,000 | 2,000–70,000 |
| Brakes | 312 | 15.1% | 34,000 | 4,000–75,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 259 | 12.5% | 7,500 | 1,500–27,000 |
| Electrical system | 202 | 9.8% | 14,000 | 3,000–55,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 187 | 9.0% | 5,000 | 750–18,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 179 | 8.6% | 16,000 | 3,000–67,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 67 | 3.2% | — | — |
| Fuel system | 61 | 2.9% | 40,000 | 13,000–75,000 |
| Steering | 55 | 2.7% | 10,000 | 3,500–27,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 44 | 2.1% | 9,000 | 5,000–13,000 |
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 17,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 16.2% of complaints (335 reports, 126 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,700 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 70,000 miles.
The brakes account for 15.1% of complaints (312 reports, 52 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 33,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 75,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 12.5% of complaints (259 reports, 24 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 7,275 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,500 and 27,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.8% of complaints (202 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,427 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 55,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.0% of complaints (187 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 4,857 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 750 and 18,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.6% of complaints (179 reports, 59 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 16,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 67,400 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 580 complaints — while 2024 drew the fewest at 121. The median year sits at 218.
That makes 2018 an outlier: roughly 2.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 16 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 the fuel system (3), seats (3), body structure (2). 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 2,071 complaints filed against this generation, 143 reported a crash; 36 reported a fire; 101 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.9% 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, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 45% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the engine and the brakes are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 14,700, 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
1.5L LYX oil consumption and PCV system diaphragm failure, which draws oil into the intake and can damage the turbocharger.
Engine
Intake valve carbon buildup inherent to the port-less direct injection design, causing misfires and rough idle at higher mileage.
Transmission 2018–2020
9T50 9-speed automatic shift quality and calibration complaints.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 580 | 248 |
| 2019 | 415 | 171 |
| 2020 | 483 | 133 |
| 2021 | 124 | 28 |
| 2022 | 218 | 44 |
| 2023 | 130 | 13 |
| 2024 | 121 | 14 |
Recalls (16)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V869000 | 2024-01-24 | Structure:body:door |
| 23V013000 | 2023-06-05 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump:control/Drive Module |
| 23V339000 | 2023-06-02 | Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor |
| 22V929000 | 2023-01-24 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger |
| 22V724000 | 2022-11-04 | Seats |
| 22V359000 | 2022-06-23 | Seats |
| 21V612000 | 2021-08-31 | Tires |
| 20V811000 | 2021-01-29 | Seat Belts:critical Fasteners |
| 20V668000 | 2020-12-15 | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
| 19V704000 | 2019-10-29 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
| 19V667000 | 2019-10-24 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| 19V184000 | 2019-04-15 | Seats |
| 18V576000 | 2018-10-11 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
| 18V358000 | 2018-07-02 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 18V252000 | 2018-05-15 | Structure:emergency:escape/Egress/Exit |
| 17V516000 | 2017-08-25 | Power Train:driveline:driveshaft |
What owners reported
When driving at night, if you put the car in reverse then put it back into drive the radio display is real bright, light is in daytime mode. As long as you don't put it in reverse the display in in night mode. The light is real annoying when driving at night.The dealer said there is nothing they can do about it. Gm…
2018 · 50 miles · Electrical system
After the first snow, driving with my new Equinox the slush built up inside the wheel-wells and affected the driving. My car shimmied while driving at any speed, and i have to stop and chop out the ice around the tires and spring above the tire, which is very close to the tire. It seems to be the "fabric" that the…
2018 · 70 miles · Wheels
Right rear door will not open from inside or outside due to defective latch. The original latch, the first replacement latch and the second replacement latch do not allow passenger to exit the vehicle as the door is stuck shut. This is dangerous is someone needs to exit the vehicle quickly. Local chevy dealership will…
2018 · 100 miles · Body structure
Brakes on the 2018 Equinox are too sensitive, when applied they cause occupants to lunge forward.We thought they would wear in but after several thousands of miles they are still the same.We talked to dealership, mcdaniels and service manager about this but they said it's like the other Equinox. Called gm customer…
2018 · 100 miles · Brakes
Built from 651 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page