Chevrolet Equinox 2021

Car

Chevrolet Equinox 2021

12 source-linked failure reports. Most reported: Electrical system failure. Typical failure around 4.2 yr.

Reliability signal A · Early signal · data confidence Low

12 confirmed failure reports

Reliability summary

What is likely to go wrong, when it happens, and how expensive it can be — from source-linked failure reports. Counts are reports in our database, not a population failure rate.

Reliability signal

A

12 confirmed failure reports · Early signal · Data confidence: Low

Most common issue
Electrical system failure
Typical first failure
4.2 yr
Median of confirmed reports with timing
Median repair cost
—
Reported costs only · market varies
Highest reported repair
—
Not a quote · costs differ by country

What breaks?

Failure types

Click a type in the reports section below to filter.

  • Electrical system failure3 · 25%
  • Engine failure2 · 16.7%
  • Fuel system failure2 · 16.7%
  • Brake system failure2 · 16.7%
  • Airbag / restraint failure1 · 8.3%
  • Other1 · 8.3%
  • Structure / body failure1 · 8.3%

When does it break?

Failure timing

Months after purchase, using reports that included timing.

What does it cost?

Reported repair costs

Distribution of owner-reported repair costs— not a quote or guarantee. Labor and parts prices vary by country.

No reported repair costs yet for this model.

Median months to failure

50

Failure reports

12

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Median repair cost

—

Still recommend

—

% repaired

—

% mfr warranty

—

% extended warranty

—

% support helpful

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What breaks?

What breaks? · reports

Airbag / restraint failure

AIR BAGS

6 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11448040

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 towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

6 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

48 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11668584

I was driving my vehicle and went to make a left turn out of a parking lot into traffic and my engine shut off and my car rolled into traffic and the check engine light turned on. All of the other functions in the car stayed on i.e. radio, air and all the lights. I had to have the car towed to a mechanic the mechanic was unable to diagnose my car so it was then brought to a chevy dealership. The dealership stated my car worked fine with no issues and tried to return the vehicle back to me I insisted they keep testing the vehicle. They drove the vehicle around the parking lot again in circles and the cars engine shut off and is unable to be turned back on. GM and CHEVY are stating they have no idea why this is happening. I am very concerned about this considering they tried to return the vehicle to me stating their were no issues and ignoring my concerns at first, I had to insist that they keep checking the vehicle and now it will not even turn on.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

48 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

59 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11749103

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on a busy highway, the engine seized, and the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The local Police assisted in pushing the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a failed Camshaft position sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later towed to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed timing chain. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that a routine oil change was performed on the vehicle a couple of weeks prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

59 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Other

SEAT BELTS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

27 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11543999

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 hospital, where medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer body shop, where it was discovered that the failure was due to the seat belts not engaging. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

27 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Structure / body failure

STRUCTURE

50 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11686662

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, water accumulated on the front seats floor mats and on the second-row floor mats. Upon inspection, the contact found potential white mold under the seats. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The dealer informed the contact that the failure might be related to the water hose to the A/C, or the failure might be related to the moonroof. The vehicle remained at the dealer pending a repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was left in the sun for four days with the windows rolled up, and white mold spread through the vehicle. The contact had not notified the manufacturer of the failure; however, a representative from GM stopped by the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the insurance company had an adjuster inspect the vehicle at the dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

50 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Fuel system failure

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

56 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11718722

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH in traffic, the vehicle stalled, and the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted after a long while. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The mechanic replaced the fuel pump; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump module failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V013000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

56 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Fuel system failure

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

49 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11756705

I am reporting a severe mechanical failure involving the fuel pump module on my 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. My vehicle exhibits symptoms that match NHTSA Recall Campaign 23V-013 / GM Campaign N222372310 (Inadequate Fuel Pump Flow). However, when checking my VIN, GM indicates my vehicle is currently excluded from the official recall population. My car hesitates to accelerate on the highway, will randomly sputter when at a constant speed, I have had a checked engine light come on which was cleared after it being inspected but was not fixed. This creates an extreme hazard and risk of my car completely stalling, or the risk of an accident when trying to accelerate on the interstate or just merging with the traffic flow. Given that the symptoms and component failures on my vehicle are identical to those documented in NHTSA Campaign 23V-013, I request that NHTSA investigate an expansion of this recall to include additional 2021 Chevrolet Equinox models. Additionally, I request General Motors cover the cost of diagnosis and repair under safety recall warranty provisions.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

49 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Brake system failure

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

63 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11767976

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 pump recall requires lowering the fuel tank, which sits directly adjacent to the rear ABS wheel speed sensor wiring harnesses. Both GM Corporate and the local dealership have refused to safety-inspect the vehicle's rear wiring harness workmanship for post-recall damage or water intrusion without charging a diagnostic fee, despite the severe driving risk. There were no warning messages or other symptoms prior to this occurring.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

63 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

9 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11457275

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH, the messages "Fuel System Needs Service", "Front Detection System Needs Service", and "Side Detection System Needs Service" and other unknown messages illuminated. The contact exited the highway and veered to the side of the road. The contact called OnStar, who assisted her to run a diagnostic test on the vehicle. OnStar informed the contact that two unknown codes were found. OnStar advised the contact to take the vehicle to the nearest dealer for repair. The contact turned off the vehicle for a while. Upon attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Body Control Module (BCM) had failed and the part to repair the vehicle would not be available for 1-3 weeks. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and expedited the repair of the vehicle by shipping the part to the dealer within a week. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the side detection system was still inoperable. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

9 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Electrical system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

62 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11758041

While driving on the interstate, the moonroof glass began opening without any input from the moonroof controls. The power sunshade was still closed at the time. I opened the sunshade manually so it would not interfere with the glass. After the glass opened, I was unable to get it to remain fully closed. When I was able to close the glass, it would reopen on its own several more times. I also heard a clicking sound during the repeated opening and closing. After this occurred, the power sunshade also stopped operating correctly. It would open fully, but when closing, it would stop approximately halfway and leave the front portion of the moonroof uncovered. It would not close completely. There were no warning lights or other dashboard indications during the incident. The only way I was eventually able to get both the moonroof glass and the sunshade to close completely was to leave the vehicle turned off for approximately two hours and then perform the moonroof reset/initialization procedure. After the reset, both the glass and sunshade returned to normal operation. The most concerning part of the incident was that the moonroof glass opened by itself while the vehicle was being driven, without anyone touching the controls.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

62 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Engine failure

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

58 months

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11742151

I was driving in GA and my low engine power light came on and I lost complete ability to brake. The brake pedal was hard and would not go down. I towed my car to Jim Ellis Chevrolet in Atlanta. They called a few days later and told me I needed extensive engine repairs that would cost over $5,000 but GM would take care of some of it. I paid $1980.00. I went to pick up my car and was nervous because I lost brakes on a highway and was afraid. I asked them if they were sure everything was repaired and I would be safe and they told me it was tested extensively and driven and all was good. I drove around 2 hours after leaving and my engine light came on and my brakes failed again going 70 miles an hour surrounded by semis. I called Jim Ellis and they told me to tow it to Walter Jackson who told me it was a vacuum pump that they would have had to remove during the repairs. In addition there is a class action against GM about these pumps for my year and make of car. I have asked for a refund from Jim Ellis contacting ownership, GM, Service Team and no one will respond to my calls or emails. I filed a customer complaint with GM and they are accepting zero responsibility as well. I paid thousands of dollars between both repairs and rental cars and the least I would like for them putting my life and others around me at risk on a freeway is my money back.

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

58 months

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

Brake system failure

SERVICE BRAKES

Government / agencyIndexed Oct 9, 2026Source-linkedVerify source — NHTSA complaint #11413352

We bought a new Chevy Equinox. One day later, while I was driving 70 MPH in the center lane on I-75, my wife engaged the Electric parking brake thinking it was a console latch. The vehicle violently swerved to the right, and only because I had both hands on the wheel, did we avoid a roll over. Still we ended up partly in the right-hand lane. Thankfully, there were no vehicles beside us at the time. Adrenaline shot through both of us as we realized that any vehicle in the lane next to us could have hit us or we hit them and serious injuries or death could have occurred. We firmly believe that having the emergence parking brake control in the center console next to the cup holders and in a space where other things might be stored, is a hazard. Online we found several similar instances where someone did this same thing either accidentally or even on purpose. This control does not belong in a space where someone other than the driver could accidentally enable it. Curiosity or simple ignorance could cost a life. Chevy made it easy with this hazardous design! Rick hendrick Chevrolet in naples, fl would not let us cancel the purchase; they said we "took delivery even thought the saleman called because we had not signed the title paperwork in the correct place. I should like to know if they would have to take it back since we never completed that particular piece of paperwork. Any chance you could tell me if we can or can't make them return our trade-in and cancel the purchase of this car that "buy" another older, used Model that doesn't have that Equinox feature. We are leary now. Help!

VerifiedEvidence ★★★★☆
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Months until failure

Not stated

Repair cost

Not stated

Repaired

Not stated

Manufacturer warranty

Not stated

Extended warranty

Not stated

Support helpful

Not stated

Would recommend

Not stated

AI extraction confidence

90%

Verification status

Verified

Evidence quality

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Discussion

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