2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 681 complaints · 3 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (261 complaints · 38.3%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 16
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 13
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2011 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 261 of 681 owner complaints (38.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 261 complaints, 38.3% of reports ENGINE 261 · 38.3% · 1 crash reports 2 fire reports VISIBILITY: 123 complaints, 18.1% of reports VISIBILITY 123 · 18.1% POWER TRAIN: 61 complaints, 9.0% of reports POWER TRAIN 61 · 9.0% · 1 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 35 complaints, 5.1% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 35 · 5.1% · 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 23 complaints, 3.4% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 · 3.4% · 1 fire reports STEERING: 22 complaints, 3.2% of reports STEERING 22 · 3.2% STRUCTURE: 19 complaints, 2.8% of reports STRUCTURE 19 · 2.8% · 2 crash reports AIR BAGS: 15 complaints, 2.2% of reports AIR BAGS 15 · 2.2% · 8 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 14 complaints, 2.1% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14 · 2.1% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 102 complaints, 15.0% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 102 · 15.0% · 3 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 261 38.3% 1 crashes · 2 fires
VISIBILITY 123 18.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 61 9.0% 0 crashes · 1 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 35 5.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 3.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
STEERING 22 3.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 19 2.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 15 2.2% 8 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14 2.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 102 15.0% 3 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2011; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2011. 2011-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2012-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2014-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2015-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2017-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2017-Q2: 30 owner reports 30 2017-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2017-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2018-Q1: 31 owner reports 31 2018-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2018-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2018-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2019-Q1: 39 owner reports 39 2019-Q2: 26 owner reports 26 2019-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2019-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2020-Q1: 32 owner reports 32 2020-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2020-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2020-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2021-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2021-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2021-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2022-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2022-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2022-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2023-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2023-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2024-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2025-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2011 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 11V511000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V511000 Recall campaign 14V447000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V447000 Recall campaign 16V502000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V502000 Investigation RQ18002 ● Investigation RQ18002 Investigation EA19005 ● Investigation EA19005 Investigation PE20009 ● Investigation PE20009
  • Campaign 14V447000 was reported 867 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V502000 was reported 1,429 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q4 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 8
2012-Q4 Owner reports 3
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 5
2013-Q4 Owner reports 5
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 13
2014-Q3 Owner reports 10
2014-Q4 Owner reports 6
2015-Q1 Owner reports 7
2015-Q2 Owner reports 9
2015-Q3 Owner reports 12
2015-Q4 Owner reports 10
2016-Q1 Owner reports 8
2016-Q2 Owner reports 6
2016-Q3 Owner reports 8
2016-Q4 Owner reports 17
2017-Q1 Owner reports 26
2017-Q2 Owner reports 30
2017-Q3 Owner reports 12
2017-Q4 Owner reports 18
2018-Q1 Owner reports 31
2018-Q2 Owner reports 28
2018-Q3 Owner reports 25
2018-Q4 Owner reports 33
2019-Q1 Owner reports 39
2019-Q2 Owner reports 26
2019-Q3 Owner reports 26
2019-Q4 Owner reports 21
2020-Q1 Owner reports 32
2020-Q2 Owner reports 17
2020-Q3 Owner reports 17
2020-Q4 Owner reports 17
2021-Q1 Owner reports 15
2021-Q2 Owner reports 19
2021-Q3 Owner reports 11
2021-Q4 Owner reports 9
2022-Q1 Owner reports 8
2022-Q2 Owner reports 7
2022-Q3 Owner reports 9
2022-Q4 Owner reports 6
2023-Q1 Owner reports 4
2023-Q2 Owner reports 7
2023-Q3 Owner reports 5
2023-Q4 Owner reports 3
2024-Q1 Owner reports 7
2024-Q2 Owner reports 2
2024-Q3 Owner reports 6
2024-Q4 Owner reports 6
2025-Q1 Owner reports 5
2025-Q2 Owner reports 3
2025-Q3 Owner reports 1
2025-Q4 Owner reports 5
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 11V511000
Recall campaign 1 14V447000
Recall campaign 1 16V502000
Defect investigation 1 RQ18002
Defect investigation 1 EA19005
Defect investigation 1 PE20009
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (3)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 11V511000

    Report date
    Component:
    TIRES
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V447000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEATS
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    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 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V502000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    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 is 50490 and 50491.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 681 complaints · page 1 of 28

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources