Model research hub
Chevrolet Equinox
The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover introduced for the 2005 model year that shrank from mid-size to compact for its 2018 third generation, and now includes a separate electric Equinox EV. Federal data shows the 2015 with 679 complaints, the most of any year, and the 2018 with 5 recalls, and Four Wheel Trends says the newer generation gets fewer than 100 complaints per model year, a reliable choice for most buyers. The 2026 Equinox starts at $30,795.
What the Chevrolet Equinox is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Equinox as a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year, intended to replace the Chevrolet Tracker and S-10 Blazer, classed as a mid-size crossover from 2004 to 2017 and a compact crossover from 2018. The 2026 Equinox is offered with a 1.5L four-cylinder gas engine or as an electric Equinox EV, front-wheel or all-wheel drive, rated 26 to 108 mpg-equivalent by the EPA depending on powertrain, about $700 to $2,400 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices are $30,795 for the LT, $35,595 for the ACTIV and RS, and $37,595 for the higher ACTIV and RS trims.
Best and worst Equinox model years
Federal counts show the second-generation 2015 with 679 complaints, the most of any year, and only 2 recalls, the 2016 with 395 and 1 recall, and the 2017 with 271 and none. The third generation's 2018 Equinox has 5 recalls, the most of any year, covering the powertrain, brakes, fuel system and wipers, and 403 complaints, the 2019 and 2020 have 4 recalls each around 300 complaints, and the 2021 and 2022 have 4 and 5 recalls with far fewer complaints, 91 and 165. The 2023 has 3, the 2024 has 1, the 2025 has none but 217 complaints, and the 2026 has 1.
Four Wheel Trends (opens in a new tab) says the newer generation of Equinox SUVs has received fewer than 100 complaints per model year, making it a reliable choice for most consumers, and says to avoid the 2010 to 2013 model years, which had oil consumption issues with the 2.4L engine. Car Smite (opens in a new tab) sorts every model year into best, neutral or worst categories by generation, covering the first (2005-2009) and second (2010-2017) generations separately.
Choosing a year
Complaint counts fall sharply from 2021 onward within the third generation, matching Four Wheel Trends' view of the newer generation as reliable, while the older 2010 to 2013 second-generation cars need the oil-consumption check that guide names.
Questions buyers ask
Which Chevrolet Equinox years should I avoid?
Four Wheel Trends (opens in a new tab) says to avoid 2010 to 2013 for oil consumption issues with the 2.4L engine.
Is the newer Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
Four Wheel Trends says the newer generation has received fewer than 100 complaints per model year, a reliable choice for most consumers.
Research map
Every major decision path.
All three trims use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityChevrolet rates the Equinox to tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped with available all-wheel drive.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 Equinox.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Chevrolet Equinox
The 2026 Equinox is a five-passenger compact SUV offered in LT, ACTIV and RS trims. Every trim uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower. The transmission changes with drivetrain: front-wheel-drive configurations use a continuously variable transmission, while available all-wheel drive is paired with an eight-speed automatic.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Chevrolet Equinox model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Chevrolet Equinox | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Chevrolet Equinox | 2025 record → | |
| 2022 Chevrolet Equinox | 2022 record → | |
| 2015 Chevrolet Equinox | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Chevrolet Equinox.
The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. It was intended to replace the North American Chevrolet Tracker and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The third-generation Equinox also replaced the first-generation Chevrolet Captiva.
Source: Chevrolet Equinox (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Chevrolet Equinox at a glance
- Production
- 2004–present
- Model years
- 2005–present
- Class
- Mid-size crossover SUV (2004–2017), Compact crossover SUV (2018–present)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive / all-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Chevrolet Tracker (Americas), Chevrolet Tracker, Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
- Also called
- Pontiac Torrent (2005–2009), GMC Terrain (2010–present), Holden Equinox (2017–2020)
Chevrolet Equinox generations
The Chevrolet Equinox has been redesigned in 2010, 2018, gaps of 5, 8 years, an average of 6.5 years between generations. The current generation (third generation) began in 2018.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 2005–2010 | The Chevrolet Equinox was introduced in 2004 at the 2003 North American International Auto Show for the 2005 model year; its mechanical twin, the Pontiac Torrent, was introduced in 2005 at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show for the 2006 model year. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2010–2018 | The second-generation Equinox was announced by GM on December 21, 2008, and debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. |
| Third generation | n/a | 2018–present | Chevrolet unveiled the third-generation Equinox on September 22, 2016. |
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- February 2026, Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual. General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette… Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 227 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about electrical system (75), unknown or other (49), power train (34).
Year by year
The Chevrolet Equinox across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Chevrolet Equinox | 26–108 | $700–$2,500 | 4 | |||
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | 26–108 | $700–$2,400 | 5 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Chevrolet Equinox | 26–109 | $700–$2,400 | 5 | 217 | ||
| 2024 Chevrolet Equinox | 26–108 | $700–$2,400 | 4 | 1 | 74 | |
| 2023 Chevrolet Equinox | 26–28 | $2,250–$2,400 | 2 | 3 | 94 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Chevrolet Equinox | 27–28 | $2,250–$2,300 | 2 | 5 | 165 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Chevrolet Equinox | 27–28 | $2,250–$2,300 | 2 | 4 | 91 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Chevrolet Equinox | 24–28 | $2,250–$3,250 | 4 | 4 | 303 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Chevrolet Equinox | 24–32 | $2,250–$3,250 | 6 | 4 | 300 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Chevrolet Equinox | 24–32 | $2,250–$3,250 | 6 | 5 | 403 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Chevrolet Equinox | 18–25 | $2,500–$3,450 | 6 | 271 | 4 stars | |
| 2016 Chevrolet Equinox | 18–26 | $2,400–$3,450 | 6 | 1 | 395 | 4 stars |
| 2015 Chevrolet Equinox | 19–26 | $2,400–$3,300 | 6 | 2 | 679 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Chevrolet Equinox, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 5 to 4 | 304 to 313 | Labels: Equinox EV AWD | Labels: Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger), Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger); Transmissions: Automatic (variable gear ratios) | |
| 2025 to 2026 | 67.5 to 67.0 | 313 to 304 | |||
| 2024 to 2025 | 4 to 5 | 67.0 to 67.5 | 302 to 313 | Labels: Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger), Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger); Transmissions: Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 8-spd | Labels: Equinox EV AWD; Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd |
| 2023 to 2024 | 2 to 4 | 27.0 to 67.0 | first listed: 302 | Labels: Equinox EV AWD, Equinox EV FWD; Engines: Electric motor / not listed; Transmissions: Automatic (A1); Fuels: Electricity | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 27.5 to 27.0 | ||||
| 2020 to 2021 | 4 to 2 | 26.0 to 27.5 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic 9-spd; Fuels: Premium | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 6 to 4 | 28.0 to 26.0 | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl; Fuels: Diesel | ||
| 2017 to 2018 | 21.5 to 28.0 | Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl SIDI, 1.6L 4-cyl, 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic 9-spd; Fuels: Diesel, Premium | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI; FFV, 3.6L 6-cyl SIDI; Fuels: Gasoline or E85 | ||
| 2016 to 2017 | 22.0 to 21.5 | ||||
| 2015 to 2016 | 22.5 to 22.0 |
Buying used
What the Chevrolet Equinox recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | equipment (other) | None |
| 2024 | 1 | structure (body) | None |
| 2023 | 3 | seats; air bags (sensor); child seat (vehicle latch anchor) | None |
| 2022 | 5 | tires; seats; fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 1 more | None |
| 2021 | 4 | seat belts; tires; fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 1 more | None |
| 2020 | 4 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); power train (automatic transmission); 1 more | None |
| 2019 | 4 | service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); seats; fuel system, gasoline (storage); 1 more | None |
| 2018 | 5 | power train (driveline); visibility; fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 2 more | None |
| 2016 | 1 | equipment (other) | None |
| 2015 | 2 | air bags (side/window); visibility (windshield wiper/washer) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 973 | 32% | 2015 (227) |
| visibility/wiper | 402 | 13% | 2015 (250) |
| service brakes | 380 | 13% | 2018 (132) |
| electrical system | 374 | 12% | 2025 (75) |
| unknown or other | 365 | 12% | 2018 (55) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 347 | 12% | 2022 (71) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Chevrolet Equinox trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT | AWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 203 | 3,583 | – | 26 | $30,995 |
| RS | AWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 203 | 3,629 | – | 26 | $35,895 |
| ACTIV | AWD | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 203 | 3,607 | – | 26 | $35,895 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Chevrolet Equinox model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 3,583–3,629 | – | 15.6 |
| 2026 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 3,583–3,629 | 1,500 | 15.6 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 3,583–3,629 | 1,500 | 15.6 |
| 2024 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 3,274–3,350 | 1,500 | 14.9 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 175 | 3,274–3,350 | 1,500 | 14.9 |
| 2022 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170 | 3,274–3,350 | 1,500 | 14.9 |
| 2021 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170 | 3,274–3,350 | 1,500 | 14.9 |
| 2020 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170 | 3,274–3,350 | 1,500 | 14.9 |
| 2019 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170 | 3,274–3,350 | 1,500 | 14.9 |
| 2018 | 4 | 1.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170 | 3,274–3,350 | 3,500 | 14.9 |
| 2017 | 4 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,764–3,842 | 1,500 | 18.8 |
| 2016 | 4 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,764–3,842 | 1,500–3,500 | 18.8 |
| 2015 | 4 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 182 | 3,758–3,829 | 1,500–3,500 | 18.8 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Chevrolet Equinox.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0W-20 (4.2 qt) 1.5L L4 Engine (LSD) FWD; 0W-20 (5.3 qt) 1.5L L4 Engine (LSD) AWD | DOT 4 | 100 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2026 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2025 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2024 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2023 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2021 | 0W-20 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2020 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2019 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2018 | 0W-20 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2017 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2016 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2015 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Chevrolet Equinox: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Chevrolet Equinox : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 3.0).
- 2024 Chevrolet Equinox : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 3.0).
- 2016 Chevrolet Equinox : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 3.0).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Chevrolet Equinox : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting seats and tires.
- 2018 Chevrolet Equinox : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting powertrain and brakes.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | equipment |
| 2025 | 217 | ||
| 2024 | 1 | 74 | structure |
| 2023 | 3 | 94 | seats, airbags, child seat |
| 2022 | 5 | 165 | seats, tires, fuel system, child seat |
| 2021 | 4 | 91 | seat belts, tires, fuel system, child seat |
| 2020 | 4 | 303 | powertrain, fuel system, brakes, child seat |
| 2019 | 4 | 300 | powertrain, brakes, fuel system, seats |
| 2018 | 5 | 403 | powertrain, brakes, fuel system, visibility/wipers |
| 2017 | 271 | ||
| 2016 | 1 | 395 | equipment |
| 2015 | 2 | 679 | airbags, visibility/wipers |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Chevrolet Equinox model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Chevrolet Equinox?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026, 2024, 2016 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2022, 2018 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Chevrolet Equinox model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting seats, tires, fuel system; The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting powertrain, brakes, fuel system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Chevrolet Equinox model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox has 1 recall on file; The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox has 1 recall on file; The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 3.0. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Chevrolet Equinox by model year?
2026: equipment. 2024: structure. 2023: seats, airbags, child seat. 2022: seats, tires, fuel system, child seat. 2021: seat belts, tires, fuel system, child seat. 2020: powertrain, fuel system, brakes, child seat.
Q05Why do some Chevrolet Equinox model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Chevrolet Equinox model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling.
2022 Chevrolet Equinox owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering and Engine and cooling.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox owners specifically: see Transmission and drivetrain and Brakes, tires and steering and Engine and cooling and Climate and electrical.
Compared with
Models this Chevrolet Equinox is most often compared with.
Nearest Chevrolet models
Other Chevrolet models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many people does the 2026 Equinox seat?
The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox has seating for five people.
Q02What engine is in the 2026 Equinox?
All three trims use a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower.
Q03Is all-wheel drive available?
Yes. All-wheel drive is available in the 2026 Equinox lineup; it is not represented as standard across every configuration.
Q04How much can the 2026 Equinox tow?
Chevrolet rates the Equinox to tow up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped with available all-wheel drive.
Q05How long is the 2026 Equinox?
Chevrolet lists an overall length of 183.2 inches.