Chevrolet Equinox reliability by year
24 recalls and 9,001 owner complaints across 22 model years. Best year to buy: 2026. Year to avoid: 2007.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
Years to avoid — and why 6 flagged on the NHTSA record
Cleaner on the data: 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and others. Still verify the specific vehicle.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 22 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Equinox aggregated across 22 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Chevrolet Equinox?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox scores 7.8/10 — the strongest in the 2005–2026 range. 57 complaints on file, 1 active recall. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Chevrolet Equinox year should I avoid?
The 2007 Chevrolet Equinox scores 6.2/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 685 owner complaints with NHTSA, 3 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2007 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Chevrolet Equinox should I avoid?
On the NHTSA complaint and recall record, the model years to be most careful with are 2016 (avoid — the powertrain — powertrain: 25 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 48,000–89,000 mi); 2005 (avoid — the electrical system — 6 fire-related complaints and 2 crash-related complaints on the electrical system); 2020 (high-risk ownership — brakes: 75 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 48,800–106,070 mi); 2019 (high-risk ownership — brakes: 66 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 25,000–100,000 mi); 2011 (high-risk ownership — electrical system: 55 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 48,000–119,000 mi); 2008 (high-risk ownership — electrical system: 58 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 55,000–91,000 mi). The cleaner years on the data are 2026, 2024, 2021, 2009, 2025, 2023. This is our read of the federal data, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection of the specific vehicle.
How many years of the Chevrolet Equinox are tracked?
22 model years (2005 through 2026) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 24 recalls and 9,001 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Chevrolet Equinox?
engine is the most-reported category — 2,131 complaints across 22 model years. Average shop repair runs about $3,100.