The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 118 of 319 complaints (37%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 310 in 2019 to 319 in 2020.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 319
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$3,200
- Combined MPG
- 24–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,200–3,200 | 2,200–3,200 | 2,200–3,200 | 2,200–2,300 | 2,200–2,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–32 | 24–32 | 24–28 | 27–28 | 27–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–28 / 28–39 | 22–28 / 28–39 | 22–26 / 28–31 | 25–26 / 30–31 | 25–26 / 30–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 314–367 | 315–367 | 315–367 | 318–330 | 318–327 | |
| Complaints filed | 410 | 310 | 319 | 100 | 188 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 23 | 23 | 22 | 6 | 14 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 30 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
Brakes: 118 of 319 NHTSA complaints (37%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox get?
EPA rates it 24–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA estimates $2,200–$3,200 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 26 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 315 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 9-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg (low) | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 350 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 1.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 324 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 9-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $3,200 (high) | 367 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 103 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 58 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 118 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 13 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 31 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 45 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR
- 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."
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- Consequence
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.
- Consequence
- Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.