2nd generation · GM Theta (GMT172) · 6,590 complaints, 4,451 with mileage
Owners filed 6,590 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2017 Chevrolet Equinox, and 4,451 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 47,136 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 (15.3% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.9% of complaints, typically around 79,150 miles).
8 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,243 | 34.0% | 89,000 | 63,980–114,000 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1,005 | 15.3% | 80,000 | 60,000–107,000 |
| Power Train | 652 | 9.9% | 79,150 | 50,500–105,409 |
| Electrical System | 426 | 6.5% | 53,000 | 15,476–92,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 387 | 5.9% | 71,706 | 42,000–107,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 294 | 4.5% | 75,687 | 44,350–110,000 |
| Air Bags | 250 | 3.8% | 55,200 | 27,658–103,070 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 189 | 2.9% | 77,500 | 49,250–106,807 |
| Steering | 182 | 2.8% | 43,416 | 13,000–89,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 160 | 2.4% | 63,240 | 18,567–98,600 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,118 | 897 |
| 2011 | 1,139 | 892 |
| 2012 | 943 | 673 |
| 2013 | 988 | 671 |
| 2014 | 697 | 470 |
| 2015 | 845 | 515 |
| 2016 | 490 | 216 |
| 2017 | 370 | 117 |
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 (2,243 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 63,980 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 15.3% 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 79,150 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,500 and 105,409 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 15,476 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 71,706 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 75,687 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,350 and 110,000 miles.
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.
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.
Of the 6,590 complaints filed against this generation, 250 reported a crash; 63 reported a fire; 246 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.8% 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.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,136 and 107,000 miles, with a median of 77,360. 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.
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.
2.4L timing chain stretch, frequently secondary to the oil consumption defect above.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V165000 | 2022-10-25 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor |
| 16V582000 | 2017-04-13 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor |
| 16V502000 | 2016-10-14 | Electrical System:Ignition |
| 16V449000 | 2016-07-14 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 15V666000 | 2015-10-19 | Air Bags:Side/Window |
| 14V447000 | 2014-12-26 | Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust |
| 11V511000 | 2011-11-09 | Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems |
| 10V623000 | 2011-01-18 | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly |