Chevrolet Equinox 2018–2024

3rd generation · GM D2XX · 2,071 complaints, 651 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

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 17,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 16.2% of complaints (335 reports, 126 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,700 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 70,000 miles.

The brakes account for 15.1% of complaints (312 reports, 52 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 33,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,000 and 75,000 miles.

The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 12.5% of complaints (259 reports, 24 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 7,275 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,500 and 27,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 9.8% of complaints (202 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,427 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 55,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.0% of complaints (187 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 4,857 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 750 and 18,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.6% of complaints (179 reports, 59 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 16,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 67,400 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 580 complaints — while 2024 drew the fewest at 121. The median year sits at 218.

That makes 2018 an outlier: roughly 2.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 16 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 the fuel system (3), seats (3), body structure (2). 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

Of the 2,071 complaints filed against this generation, 143 reported a crash; 36 reported a fire; 101 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.9% 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.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 45% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.

On inspection, the engine and the brakes are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 14,700, 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.

Documented problems

Recalls (16)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Chevrolet Equinox 2005–2009
• Chevrolet Equinox 2010–2017
• Chevrolet Equinox 2025–2025