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Chevrolet · Compact SUV

2021 Chevrolet Equinox

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA91
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA28 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Chevrolet Equinox is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Equinox FWD, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 91 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Equinox FWDGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo263128$2,250
Equinox AWDGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo253027$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43200, 43397.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Chevrolet Equinox is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Child Seat

N232403240
668,187 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."RiskThe inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.FixOwners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. 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 N232403240.
NHTSA campaign 23V339000reported May 11, 2023General Motors, LLC
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

N222372310
23,323 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles. The fuel pump module may not consistently provide sufficient fuel to the engine, resulting in an engine stall.RiskAn engine stall increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2023. 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 N222372310.
NHTSA campaign 23V013000reported Jan 19, 2023General Motors, LLC
▲high

Tires

N212343560
9,597 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.RiskTread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.
NHTSA campaign 21V612000reported Aug 5, 2021General Motors, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

N202322230
470 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.RiskIf a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
NHTSA campaign 20V811000reported Dec 23, 2020General Motors, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
91complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 6 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 15 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 22

Most-cited components

Power Train17
Electrical System17
Unspecified16
Engine15
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Service Brakes7

What owners describe

“On 2/18/23 our equinox failed to go into park. We couldn’t shut the car off, nor start it back up. Everything electrical was on basically idle mode. ESC - brake control module came across the dash. The dash also kept saying to put the car in park. It wouldn’t go into park. We called for a tow truck to have it taken…”Feb 24, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Chevy Equinox turned off while in the turn lane. Car would not turn back on. No warning was shown prior to the incident but now there is a solid check engine light. upon googling it seems other chevy's have a fuel pump flow issue causing cars to stall and not turn on. chevy upon inquiring if our equinox has a recall th…”Feb 10, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“I've had to replace the brake booster sensor & the part by the vacuum to brake booster this is second time I'm have to replace it . So dangerous to be driving a vehicle on highway and you loose your brakes makes pedal hard . I also have to replace exhaust crankshaft position sensor, oil pressure sensor, engine underfoo…”Feb 3, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Compare the 2021 Equinox with

2021 Toyota RAV4 →2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime →2021 Tesla Model Y →2021 Honda CR-V →2021 Nissan Rogue →2021 Hyundai Tucson →

Other Equinox model years

A

2027 Chevrolet Equinox

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2026 Chevrolet Equinox

3 recalls · 80 complaints

D

2025 Chevrolet Equinox

6 recalls · 384 complaints

B

2024 Chevrolet Equinox

2 recalls · 182 complaints

C

2023 Chevrolet Equinox

3 recalls · 95 complaints

D

2022 Chevrolet Equinox

5 recalls · 165 complaints

F

2020 Chevrolet Equinox

4 recalls · 304 complaints

F

2019 Chevrolet Equinox

4 recalls · 301 complaints

F

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

5 recalls · 403 complaints

A

2017 Chevrolet Equinox

0 recalls · 272 complaints

A

2016 Chevrolet Equinox

1 recalls · 395 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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