Chevrolet Equinox by Model Year: Problems, Recalls and MPG
Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox drew the most (146; most-reported area: brakes) and the 2017 the fewest (31).
Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 32 mpg combined, arrived in 2018. Excludes the Equinox EV.
Most and fewest complaints
Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and partial first years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | First 3 years | All complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
Most reported: brakes |
146 | 408 | 5 |
Most reported: engine |
111 | 301 | 4 |
Most reported: fuel and propulsion system |
91 | 174 | 5 |
Most reported: brakes |
90 | 308 | 4 |
Most reported: fuel and propulsion system |
70 | 95 | 3 |
Most reported: engine |
46 | 396 | 1 |
Most reported: electrical system |
35 | 94 | 4 |
Most reported: engine |
31 | 273 | 0 |
Year by year
| Model year | Best rating | Recalls | Complaints | Crash test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 |
27 mpg Gas |
1 | 71 | Not rated |
2025 |
27 mpg Gas |
0 | 227 | Not rated |
2024 |
28 mpg Gas |
1 | 79 | Not rated |
2023 |
28 mpg Gas |
3 | 95 | |
2022 |
28 mpg Gas |
5 | 174 | |
2021 |
28 mpg Gas |
4 | 94 | |
2020 |
28 mpg Gas |
4 | 308 | |
2019 |
32 mpg Diesel |
4 | 301 | |
2018 |
32 mpg Diesel |
5 | 408 | 4 to 5 stars |
2017 |
25 mpg Gas |
0 | 273 | |
2016 |
26 mpg Gas |
1 | 396 |
Owner complaints by model year
All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.
2018: 408 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 396 |
| 2017 | 273 |
| 2018 | 408 |
| 2019 | 301 |
| 2020 | 308 |
| 2021 | 94 |
| 2022 | 174 |
| 2023 | 95 |
| 2024 | 79 |
| 2025 | 227 |
| 2026 | 71 |
Best combined rating by model year
The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 25 to 28 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2018. Diesel: 32 mpg (2018 to 2019).
- Best gas version
- Best diesel version
2026: gas 27 mpg · diesel not offeredTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Best gas version | Best diesel version |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 26 | – |
| 2017 | 25 | – |
| 2018 | 28 | 32 |
| 2019 | 28 | 32 |
| 2020 | 28 | – |
| 2021 | 28 | – |
| 2022 | 28 | – |
| 2023 | 28 | – |
| 2024 | 28 | – |
| 2025 | 27 | – |
| 2026 | 27 | – |
Sources and method
- US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
- NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.