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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2021 Chevrolet Equinox

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 96 safety complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox with the US government. Of those, 6 describe a crash, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the fuel and propulsion system, named in 18 complaints, 19% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 57,686 miles, the median across the 24 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2021 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

96 complaints on file

96

Complaints

6

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints more than doubled year on year: 30 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 14 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17 · 18%
POWER TRAIN 17 · 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17 · 18%
ENGINE 16 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 · 8%
STRUCTURE 5 · 5%
AIR BAGS 4 · 4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 4 · 4%
SEAT BELTS 4 · 4%
STEERING 4 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 · 3%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 96.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 27.

32 24 16 8
21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2021 Chevrolet EQUINOX, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 18.5% 16.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR

23V339000 · May 11, 2023

The defect
General 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."
The 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 remedy
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 · up to 668,187 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE

23V013000 · January 19, 2023

The defect
General 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.
The risk
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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 · up to 23,323 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES

21V612000 · August 5, 2021

The defect
General 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.
The risk
Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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 · up to 9,597 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS

20V811000 · December 23, 2020

The defect
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. 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.
The 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 remedy
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 · up to 470 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

The contact stated he was driving a rented 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 20 mph and crossing an intersection when another vehicle t-bone crashed into his front driver's side door. The crash caused him to collide with a third vehicle. No air bags were deployed in his vehicle. The contact sustained multiple injuries and a type 3 AC joint separation on his left shoulder. The contact did seek medical attention at an Emergency Room. The contact also stated the driver in the third vehicle did sustain unknown injuries and was unaware if they seek medication attention for their injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to

NHTSA complaint 11448040, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · towed · 11,000 miles

The contact leased a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-35 mph, he made a right turn going across an intersection and collided with a 2012 Ford Focus. The brakes were applied, but the response was too slow. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags deployed. The vehicle was filled with smoke. The driver's side front door failed to open. The fire department was on the scene, but there were no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The air bag struck the driver in the chest. The contact sustained internal bruising, including bruising on her abdomen and on her arms. The driver was taken to the

NHTSA complaint 11543999, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · 88,365 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while approaching a stop light, the vehicle behind the contact was rear-ended by another vehicle causing the vehicle behind the contact to rear-end the contact’s vehicle, causing minor damages. The contact stated that the vehicle behind the contact had major damages. When the contact was rear-ended the seat belt on the driver's side did not retract at the point of impact, causing the contact to launch forward and struck a sun visor with his head. The contact had sought medical attention for neck pain and for headaches. The contact was unsure if anyone else was injured or if a police report was filed. The vehicle was not repaired.

NHTSA complaint 11524829, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · towed · 21,680 miles

The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the front driver's wheel detached from the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The air bags did not deploy. The insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The contact was injured; she had a concussion. The contact received medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, no failure was found. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,680. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint 11539391. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Vehicle suffered an intermittent, severe, and dangerous total loss of acceleration while driving in rainy conditions. Upon pressing the accelerator pedal from a stop, the vehicle rolled slowly for 5 to 10 seconds and completely ignored all gas pedal input before finally accelerating. The engine remained at a smooth, dead idle and failed to rev up entirely during the failure, creating an immediate traffic hazard. A scan revealed an active ABS system failure. This dangerous safety hazard occurred less than 4 weeks after a certified GM dealership (Grieco Chevrolet of Fort Lauderdale) performed the official GM Safety Recall N222372310 for Inadequate Fuel Pump Flow on September 4th. The fuel

NHTSA complaint 11767976, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On Friday, September 18, my wife was driving down I81 towards Knoxville when the car died on the highway. She pulled over and we had to have a tow truck flatbed the car to a nearby garage to diagnose. They had the car for 4 days and found that there was a low fuel pressure code. They were going to replace the fuel pump but told me that there was a recall on some 2021 Equinox's for faulty fuel pumps so I chose to pick up the car and have it taken to a local Chevy Dealer for their diagnostic as experts. That is where the car is as of the submission of this report.

NHTSA complaint 11766935. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle intermittently triggers steering control, brake assist, and parking brake warnings during both highway and city driving, particularly when coming to a complete stop. These alerts are associated with a slight jerk in the steering wheel upon acceleration and a transient locking sensation across the steering, accelerator, and brake systems before functionality is restored; additionally, the check engine light is now illuminated.

NHTSA complaint 11764564. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel pump power control module

NHTSA complaint 11764166. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

crash

I've been having issues since the beginning of 2026. It's saying my car has no recalls but I've found that is does on a part that's been complained about by others. I've had the car repaired multiple times updating the fuel injectors and spark plugs but still the same error codes. Yet and still the check engine light continues to come on. So I looked and found out it maybe the fuel pump after all . I'm constantly refueling at least 3 times a week and also the errors come up inside the chevrolet app as well. This has been frustrating to say the least I hope the dealership repairs this issue without me having to take it back for more repairs.

NHTSA complaint 11763928. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The fuel pump of my Chevy equinox failed while I was driving in the middle of a busy highway causing my engine to lose power putting myself and my passengers in danger along with everybody else on the highway because I could not accelerate and I had to push my vehicle off the highway. Shortly after the engine stalled, the display for the fuel went from reading 3/4 of a tank to empty in a matter of a second. When I tried to restart the engine it would not register that there was any fuel in a tank even though it was 3/4 of the way full. This problem has been identified under the recall number 23V-013 but for some reason my VIN number is not included in this recall, even though it's a

NHTSA complaint 11758331, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Equinox

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 71 1 —
2025 228 0 —
2024 79 1 —
2023 95 3 —
2022 177 5 —
2020 309 4 1
2019 302 4 —
2018 408 5 1
2017 273 0 —
2016 396 1 —
2015 680 2 —
2014 548 1 —
2013 751 2 —
2012 685 3 —
2011 782 3 2
2010 784 3 —

Other 2021 Chevrolet models

Silverado 1500 829 Tahoe 453 Suburban 198 Trailblazer 193 Blazer 134 Malibu 89 Traverse 89 Silverado 2500 87

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst