Owner complaints
94NHTSA recordsUSED VEHICLE RESEARCH
2021 Chevrolet Equinox
Research the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox using available NHTSA owner complaints, safety recalls, manufacturer communications, defect investigations, and CarIQ data-coverage analysis.
DATA CONFIDENCE: ModerateChevrolet Equinox2021 · RESEARCH CATALOG
Recall campaigns
4Year, make and model lookupManufacturer communications
0Matched NHTSA recordsInvestigations
0Matched NHTSA recordsSUBJECTIVE OWNER FEEDBACK
OWNER EXPERIENCE
What it is like to live with the vehicle—kept clearly separate from official NHTSA evidence.
THE FIRST USEFUL PERSPECTIVE COULD BE YOURS
No approved owner experiences yet.
Contributions are collected carefully and only appear here after moderation. No placeholders, sample testimonials, or invented sentiment.OWNED THIS CAR?
Help the next buyer understand the real ownership experience.
Share what you liked, what could be better, and whether you would choose it again. Every contribution is moderated before publication.NHTSA owner complaint records remain part of Official Vehicle Data. Subjective review contributions remain in Owner Experience. One does not validate or prove the other. Read the methodology.
EVIDENCE, NOT A SCORE
WHAT THIS DATA CAN TELL YOU ABOUT RELIABILITY
Official records can provide useful research context, but each source has a different meaning. Complaint counts are not failure rates; recalls are formal safety campaigns; manufacturer communications are technical or service documentation; and investigations reflect formal NHTSA activity. Data Confidence measures evidence availability, not vehicle quality. CarIQ does not publish a composite Reliability Score.
Available evidence summary: 94 NHTSA owner complaint records; 4 safety recall campaigns; 0 manufacturer communications; 0 applicable NHTSA defect investigations.
EVIDENCE AVAILABILITY — NOT VEHICLE RELIABILITY
DATA CONFIDENCE
ModerateData Confidence measures how much usable evidence CarIQ has for this vehicle. It does not measure how reliable the vehicle is.
Why this rating?
- Owner complaint data
- Available
- Manufacturer communications
- Available
- Recall data
- Available
- Investigation data
- Available
- Production denominator
- Unavailable
- Complaint component completeness
- 100%
- Mileage completeness
- 0%
- Incident-date completeness
- 100%
DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS
DATA INSIGHTS
Derived from official NHTSA source records. These statistics are descriptive and are not a reliability score.
- Complaint records analyzed
- 94 NHTSA complaints
- Most reported component
- Electrical System 18% of categorized complaint records
- Top-three component concentration
- 47% Records mentioning at least one top-three component
- Median reported incident mileage
- Not available from current source 0 valid mileage observations
- Recall campaigns
- 4 NHTSA recalls
- Most recent recall report
- May 11, 2023 NHTSA recalls
- Manufacturer communications
- 0 NHTSA manufacturer communications
- Most documented component
- Not available NHTSA manufacturer communications
- Top-three communication concentration
- Not available Share of categorized manufacturer communications
SOURCE COMPLETENESS
DATA QUALITY
- Complaint records analyzed
- 94
- Component classification available
- 100%
- Incident date available
- 100%
- Mileage available
- 0%
- Structured outcome fields available
- 100%
Completeness describes fields present in the retrieved complaint records. It is not a data-quality grade or a vehicle assessment.
Learn about CarIQ methodologyPRODUCTION-ADJUSTED DESCRIPTIVE METRIC
NORMALIZED COMPLAINT CONTEXT
Production-normalized complaint data is not currently available for this vehicle.
This metric compares the number of NHTSA owner complaint records retrieved by CarIQ with NHTSA-reported production volume for the corresponding vehicle population.
It is not a vehicle failure rate. Complaint reporting behavior, vehicle age, time on the road, production definitions, and other factors can affect the result.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Warning Reporting, Light Vehicle Production Data. Read the methodology.
OFFICIAL NHTSA OWNER COMPLAINT DATA
PROBLEMS REPORTED IN NHTSA RECORDS
CarIQ groups available NHTSA owner complaint records for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox by vehicle system to make recurring documentation easier to research. Most represented complaint categories describe the retrieved records—not failure frequency.
MOST REPRESENTED COMPLAINT CATEGORIES
A complaint may list more than one component and therefore contribute to multiple categories. Percentages show the share of categorized complaint records that mention each component—not the percentage of vehicles affected. Category percentages may overlap.
INCIDENT REPORTS BY YEAR
Grouped from complaint records with a valid incident date.
RECENT OWNER COMPLAINTS
Unknown or Other
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11764564Read complaint narrative
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.
Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11764166Read complaint narrative
Fuel pump power control module
Engine · Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11763928Read complaint narrative
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.
Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11758331Read complaint narrative
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 well-known issue for this year, make and model. Just before the engine stalled the check engine light came on.
Electrical System · Unknown or Other
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11758041Read complaint narrative
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.
Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11756705Read complaint narrative
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.
Power Train · Engine · Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11751317Read complaint narrative
The high pressure fuel pump seized, shattering the camshaft, dropping metal fragments into the cylinders causing total engine failure. GM issued a safety recall for certain 2021-2022 Chevy equinox due to a defective fuel pump modules but it was not accurate. GM is currently facing major class action lawsuits alleging that their equinox fuel pumps are fundamentally defective. The lawsuits highlight that the component fails, causing catastrophic damage and GMs initial recall fixes were inadequate.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11749103Read complaint narrative
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.
NHTSA complaints are reports submitted by vehicle owners and other consumers. Complaint counts do not represent the percentage of vehicles affected and do not by themselves establish that a safety defect exists.
A higher complaint count can partly reflect how many vehicles were sold, vehicle age, and other factors. CarIQ does not yet normalize complaint counts by vehicles sold.
Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This site is not endorsed by NHTSA.
OFFICIAL NHTSA SAFETY RECALL DATA
SAFETY RECALLS
4 recall campaigns found
01CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORCampaign 23V339000May 11, 2023
Summary
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."
Safety Consequence
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.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
02FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULECampaign 23V013000January 19, 2023
Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
03TIRESCampaign 21V612000August 5, 2021
Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
04SEAT BELTSCampaign 20V811000December 23, 2020
Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
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.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Recall results shown here are based on year, make, and model. A specific vehicle may or may not be affected. Check the vehicle's VIN with NHTSA to confirm open recalls before purchasing. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
OFFICIAL NHTSA MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION DATA
MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS
No NHTSA manufacturer communication records were returned for this year, make, and model.
Manufacturer communications include service bulletins and other technical information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA. The existence or number of communications does not establish how often a condition occurs or whether an individual vehicle will experience it.
Some manufacturers may issue more detailed service documentation than others, so communication counts should not be used alone to compare vehicle reliability.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manufacturer communicationsNATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS
No applicable NHTSA defect investigation records were returned for this year, make, and model.
NHTSA investigations evaluate potential motor-vehicle safety defects. The existence of an investigation does not by itself establish that a safety defect exists, and the absence of an investigation does not establish that a vehicle is problem-free.
Open and closed describe NHTSA's process status, not a CarIQ reliability judgment.
View official NHTSA investigation data ↗DESCRIPTIVE SOURCE OVERLAP
CROSS-SOURCE VEHICLE DATA
CarIQ compares categories appearing across independent NHTSA datasets. Overlap can help identify areas with more available documentation, but it does not establish defect frequency or prove that an individual vehicle will experience a problem.
| Component | Owner complaints | Manufacturer communications | Recall campaigns | NHTSA investigations | Official sources containing records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Power Train | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Unknown or Other | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Engine | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
Displayed first by the number of source categories containing the component, then by owner complaint count, then alphabetically. This is a presentation rule, not a vehicle ranking. Complaint reports, manufacturer communications, recalls, and investigations describe different events and are never added into a combined total.
- complaint
- Available
- communication
- Available
- recall
- Available
- investigation
- Available
- production
- Unavailable
COMMON RESEARCH QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2021 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
CarIQ does not currently assign a reliability score to the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. Available evidence is shown as separate official-source records with a Data Confidence classification of Moderate.
What problems are reported for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?
94 NHTSA owner complaint records. When complaint data is available, the page groups records by the NHTSA component categories they identify without treating those categories as verified failure rates.
Are there recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?
4 safety recall campaigns. Year, make, and model results do not confirm whether a specific VIN is affected or whether a remedy has been completed.
USED-CAR CANDIDATE RESEARCH
Considering buying a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?
Enter the mileage and asking price to review Is This A Good Car?'s available evidence for the specific candidate. No buy/no-buy or pricing judgment is produced. Open the full research tool.