2026 Chevrolet Equinox
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 35 of 80 complaints (44%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 384 in 2025 to 80 in 2026.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,250–2,400 | 700–800 | 700–800 | 2,300–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG/MPGe | 26–28 | 96–109 | 96–108 | 26–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG/MPGe | 24–26 / 30–31 | 103–117 / 88–100 | 103–117 / 88–100 | 25 / 29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 310–339 | 0 | 0 | 333–342 | |
| Complaints filed | 182 | 384 | 80 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 13 | 5 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 2 | 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 2026 Chevrolet Equinox have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 35 of 80 NHTSA complaints (44%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox get?
EPA rates it 96–108 MPGe combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA estimates $700–$800 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 26 mpg | 29 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 8-spd | 4 | 1.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg | 29 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 117 MPGe (high) | 100 MPGe (high) | 108 MPGe (high) | $700 (low) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 112 MPGe | 95 MPGe | 103 MPGe | $750 | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 103 MPGe (low) | 88 MPGe (low) | 96 MPGe (low) | $800 (high) | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 21 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 35 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 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 (3)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL · Campaign 26V114000 · Mar 2, 2026
Defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT · Campaign 25V878000 · Dec 18, 2025
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Equinox EV vehicles. The pedestrian alert sound system may not produce a sufficient change in volume between the vehicle being stopped and moving at low speeds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Consequence: A vehicle that does not emit sufficient sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a moving vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252530690. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 18, 2025.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT · Campaign 25V704000 · Oct 16, 2025
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Cadillac Optic and 2025-2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles equipped with 21-inch Continental all-season tires. One or more of these tires may experience partial or full tread detachment.
Consequence: Tire tread detachment increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect all four tires and replace those manufactured during DOT week 4024, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252525030. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 16, 2025.