2012 Chevrolet Equinox: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 941 complaints
941
Total Complaints
79,000mi
Median Mileage
Engine
Top Issue
22
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
50,800
25th Percentile
79,000
Median Mileage
109,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Engine
354
Visibility/Wiper
120
Power Train
82
Electrical System
66
Unknown Or Other
53
Fuel/Propulsion System
53
Steering
36
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
26
Body
22
Air Bags
18
Severity Assessment
22
Crashes
8
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACTS ERRONEOUSLY BRUSHED AGAINST THE ROLLER BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AND WAS..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACTS ERRONEOUSLY BRUSHED AGAINST THE ROLLER BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AND WAS..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWE..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Engine
354 complaints
25th: 65,000 mi
Median: 88,913 mi
75th: 111,000 mi
Visibility/Wiper
120 complaints
25th: 70,000 mi
Median: 94,000 mi
75th: 115,000 mi
Power Train
82 complaints
25th: 49,929 mi
Median: 75,340 mi
75th: 113,000 mi
Electrical System
66 complaints
25th: 29,000 mi
Median: 66,265 mi
75th: 105,000 mi
Unknown Or Other
53 complaints
25th: 61,091 mi
Median: 83,298 mi
75th: 114,896 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
MI: 85
OH: 66
PA: 59
NY: 57
IL: 57
TX: 55
MO: 49
IN: 34
GA: 33
CA: 33
Who Files Complaints?
1.2%
Original Owners
98.8%
Second+ Owners
Chevrolet Equinox — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (3)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Ignition
Campaign 16V502000 | 05/07/2016
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall
Power Adjust
Campaign 14V447000 | 23/07/2014
If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006
Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Campaign 11V511000 | 19/10/2011
UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH. THE RESULTING CRASH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN ALSO RESULT IN PREMATURE OR IRREGULAR WEAR, POOR HANDLING, AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.
GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Extend Your Engine Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change oil on schedule — this is the single most important thing you can do
- Use the manufacturer-recommended oil weight and type
- Replace the air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles
- Don't ignore the check engine light — small issues become expensive fast
- Let the engine warm up for 30 seconds before driving hard in cold weather
- Address coolant leaks immediately to prevent overheating damage
Compare Chevrolet Equinox
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28