Chevrolet Equinox 2010–2017
2nd generation · GM Theta (GMT172)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20266,592 complaints, 4,452 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 4,452
- Median of reported failures
- 77,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Engine (34.0%)
- Recalls
- 8
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,245 and 107,000 miles.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Equinox 2010–2017 · 4,452 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 289 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 18 complaints (0.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 11,500
- 25%
- 47,245
- 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 | 139 | 3.1% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 87 | 2.0% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 69 | 1.5% |
| 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% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
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 6,592 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2017 Chevrolet Equinox, and 4,452 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 47,245 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 (15.2% 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.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2010–2017 Chevrolet Equinox last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2010–2017 Chevrolet Equinox were filed by 77,000 miles and 90% by 135,000 miles — figures drawn from 4,452 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
18 reports (0.4%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Equinox reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2010–2017 Equinox: the 3-minute check
Generated from 4,452 mileage-tagged complaints, 8 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 8 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 2010–2017 cars. 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…
- Check engine. 2.4L timing chain stretch, frequently secondary to the oil consumption defect above.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,000 and 107,000 miles, with a median of 77,000. 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.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Equinox 2010–2017
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Electrical system426 reports53,00015,000–92,000Electrical system: 426 reports, median 53,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 92,000 miles.
- Airbag system250 reports55,00028,000–103,000Airbag system: 250 reports, median 55,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 103,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise387 reports72,00042,000–107,000Problems owners could not categorise: 387 reports, median 72,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 107,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system294 reports76,00044,000–110,000Fuel and propulsion system: 294 reports, median 76,000 miles, middle half 44,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline652 reports79,00050,000–105,000Transmission and driveline: 652 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 105,000 miles.
- Visibility/wiper1,005 reports80,00060,000–107,000Visibility/wiper: 1,005 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 107,000 miles.
- Engine2,244 reports89,00064,000–114,000Engine: 2,244 reports, median 89,000 miles, middle half 64,000 to 114,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,244 | 34.0% | 89,000 | 64,000–114,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1,005 | 15.2% | 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 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Equinox 2010–2017 · 4,452 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 34% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 61% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 83% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.4% of reports (18) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
34% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Visibility/wiper — middle half 60,000–107,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 50,000–105,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 15,000–92,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 42,000–107,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 44,000–110,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 28,000–103,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Engine — middle half 64,000–114,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
61% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Engine — middle half 64,000–114,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper — middle half 60,000–107,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 50,000–105,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 15,000–92,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 42,000–107,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 44,000–110,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 28,000–103,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
83% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Engine — median 89,000 mi
- Visibility/wiper — median 80,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 79,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 53,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 72,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — median 76,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 55,000 mi
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 (2,244 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 64,000 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 15.2% 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 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 105,000 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 15,000 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 72,000 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 76,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,000 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
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 6,592 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 250 (3.8%)
- Fires
- 63
- Injury reports
- 168
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
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 | 699 | 471 |
| 2015 | 845 | 515 |
| 2016 | 490 | 216 |
| 2017 | 370 | 117 |
Recalls (8) — is your car included?
Oct 2022 · 2014–2015 · VisibilityInoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
What can happen. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.
Apr 2017 · 2013 · VisibilityInoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.
What can happen. Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 25302.
Oct 2016 · 2010–2013 · Electrical SystemIf the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Sta
What can happen. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Jul 2016 · 2016 · EquipmentIf the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles manufactured October 16, 2015. The certification labels may have incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
What can happen. If the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires or rims or may improperly inflate the tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1050, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 46600.
Oct 2015 · 2015 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.
Dec 2014 · 2010–2012 · SeatsIf the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers'…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
What can happen. If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Nov 2011 · 2012 · TiresUnderinflated tires can result in tire overloading and overheating, which could lead to a blowout and…
The defect. General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC terrain vehicles, manufactured from july 18, 2011, through september 6, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 138, "tire pressure monitoring system" (TPMS). The tire pressure monitoring system is designed to illuminate the tire pressure warning light when the pressure in a tire is 25% below the recommended cold tire pressure. On these vehicles, the light will not illuminate until the tire pressure is more than 25% below the recommended cold tire pres
What can happen. Underinflated tires can result in tire overloading and overheating, which could lead to a blowout and possible crash. The resulting crash could cause serious injury. Underinflated tires can also result in premature or irregular wear, poor handling, and poor fuel economy.
The free fix. Gm dealers will update the body control module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 9, 2011. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Jan 2011 · 2011 · Seat BeltsThe safety belt system may not restrain the occupant(s) as designed and could increase the risk of injury.
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac srx, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC terrain vehicles. The driver and /or front passenger safety belt buckle anchor may fracture and separate near the seat attachment in a vehicle crash.
What can happen. The safety belt system may not restrain the occupant(s) as designed and could increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will modify the passenger and/or the driver safety belt buckles as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 18, 2011. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and at the owner center at www.Gmownercenter.Com.
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
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 they…
2010 · 5 miles · Electrical system
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 4,452 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page