The best Equinox years to buy are 2019 and 2021. Avoid the 2012 and 2013: the 2.4L engine in those years is known for burning oil, which can lead to timing chain wear and engine damage.
Best years: 20192021 Years to avoid: 20122013
Every Equinox year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Equinox problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 192 | - | 2 | Visibility and wipers | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 99 | - | 3 | Fuel System | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 184 | 87 | 5 | Fuel System | Good buy |
| 2021 | 100 | 60 | 4 | Fuel System | Good buy |
| 2020 | 318 | 117 | 4 | Brakes | Good year |
| 2019 | 310 | 90 | 4 | Engine | Good year |
| 2018 | 410 | 123 | 5 | Brakes | Good year |
| 2017 | 276 | 95 | 0 | Engine | Good year |
| 2016 | 400 | 165 | 1 | Engine | Average |
| 2015 | 680 | 245 | 2 | Visibility and wipers | Average |
| 2014 | 549 | 227 | 1 | Engine | Average |
| 2013 | 751 | 315 | 2 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2012 | 685 | 313 | 3 | Engine | Watch out |
About the Equinox
The Equinox improved a lot over the decade. The 2010-2013 cars with the 2.4L four-cylinder are the ones to avoid because of heavy oil consumption. The 2018 redesign brought small turbo engines and fewer complaints, and the 2021-2022 models are among the best.
- 2012-2017: Second generation. 2.4L oil burning on 2012-2013; much better by 2016-2017.
- 2018 on: Third generation with 1.5L turbo. Low complaints; a fuel pump module recall applies to 2021-2022.
Equinox warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Chevrolet files with NHTSA. 3,976 Equinox bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have incorrect instructions in the owners manual for Dinghy and Dolly Towing.
Customer Satisfaction Program.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain 2021 model year Chevrolet Equinox vehicles, equipped with a charge air cooler, (CAC), with cold weather shutters, (RPO VRI), may have been built without cold weather shutters.
18277 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles equipped with RPO MNH (6 Speed Automatic Transmission) may have been built without a transmission case assembly cup plug.
N182194810 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N182199610 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192266090 03 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192218430 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192266180 - Special Coverage - On some 2010-2012, and 2014-2017 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, a link ball socket in the wiper transmission may separate.
Special Coverage.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Equinox
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA26006 · 2024 · opened Aug 2026
On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles.
Preliminary evaluation PE20009 · 2012 · opened Jun 2020, closed Jun 2022
On June 1, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-009 to investigate instances of a momentary increase in steering effort after the vehicle is driven in a straight line for a period of time due to an issue with the steering gear in model year (MY) 2010 through 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Ter...
Engineering analysis EA19005 · 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 · opened Dec 2019, closed Nov 2022 · led to recall 22V165000
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures.
Recall query RQ18002 · 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 · opened Nov 2018, closed Dec 2019
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.
Equinox vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Equinox?
2019 and 2021. The best Equinox years to buy are 2019 and 2021. Avoid the 2012 and 2013: the 2.4L engine in those years is known for burning oil, which can lead to timing chain wear and engine damage.
Which Chevrolet Equinox years should I avoid?
2012, 2013. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Chevrolet Equinox average.
Based on 4,954 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.