NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 101 owner complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox.
Recalled components: child seats, fuel system, tires, and seat belts. Most-described problem: the check engine light coming on (17 complaints, 17%), then stalling or shutting off (16). Most-reported area: fuel and propulsion system (20 complaints, 20%).
One of the best Equinox years by owner complaints
The 2021 drew 35 owner complaints in its first three years, against 80 for a typical Equinox year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.
No Equinox year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2016, 2017, and 2021. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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."
Risk: The 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners 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.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles.
NHTSA listing: EQUINOX. Chevrolet campaign N232403240.
The fuel pump module may not consistently provide sufficient fuel to the engine, resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers 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.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles.
NHTSA listing: EQUINOX. Chevrolet campaign N222372310.
The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
Risk: Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers 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.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires.
NHTSA listing: EQUINOX. Components: Tires; Tires: tread/belt. Chevrolet campaign N212343560.
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.
Risk: If 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM 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.
General 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.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox.
What owners report
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Equinox. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Chevrolet Equinox recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2021 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Equinox drew the most (146) and the 2021 drew 35.
Owner complaints
2021: 101 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Equinox
Model year
Complaints
2010
784
2011
783
2012
685
2013
751
2014
550
2015
680
2016
400
2017
276
2018
410
2019
310
2020
320
2021
101
2022
188
2023
99
2024
84
2025
244
2026
86
Safety recalls
2021: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Equinox
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
3
2013
2
2014
1
2015
2
2016
1
2017
0
2018
5
2019
4
2020
4
2021
4
2022
5
2023
3
2024
1
2025
0
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, the problems described most are the check engine light coming on (17), stalling or shutting off (16), and loss of power or limp mode (9). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox.
How do I check if my Equinox has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: EQUINOX.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.