Model Years

Chevrolet Equinox by Model Year: Problems, Recalls and MPG

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox drew the most (146; most-reported area: brakes) and the 2017 the fewest (31).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 32 mpg combined, arrived in 2018. Excludes the Equinox EV.

Most and fewest complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and partial first years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model yearFirst 3 yearsAll complaintsRecalls
Most reported: brakes
1464085
Most reported: engine
1113014
Most reported: fuel and propulsion system
911745
Most reported: brakes
903084
Most reported: fuel and propulsion system
70953
Most reported: engine
463961
Most reported: electrical system
35944
Most reported: engine
312730

Year by year

Model yearBest ratingRecallsComplaintsCrash test
2026
27 mpg
Gas
171 Not rated
2025
27 mpg
Gas
0227 Not rated
2024
28 mpg
Gas
179 Not rated
2023
28 mpg
Gas
395
2022
28 mpg
Gas
5174
2021
28 mpg
Gas
494
2020
28 mpg
Gas
4308
2019
32 mpg
Diesel
4301
2018
32 mpg
Diesel
5408 4 to 5 stars
2017
25 mpg
Gas
0273
2016
26 mpg
Gas
1396

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2018: 408 complaints

Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Equinox
Model yearComplaints
2016396
2017273
2018408
2019301
2020308
202194
2022174
202395
202479
2025227
202671

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 25 to 28 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2018. Diesel: 32 mpg (2018 to 2019).

  • Best gas version
  • Best diesel version

2026: gas 27 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table
Chevrolet Equinox best combined mpg by model year
Model yearBest gas versionBest diesel version
201626–
201725–
20182832
20192832
202028–
202128–
202228–
202328–
202428–
202527–
202627–

Sources and method

  • US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
  • NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.