2010 Chevrolet Equinox: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 784 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (27% of complaints); the 2008 and 2009 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2016
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 784 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Vehicle looses power and can very easily cause a bad wreck I've replaced multiple thing and it still does it I'm not sure what it is possibly the timing or something to do with camshaft”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2026
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light or stop sign, the vehicle experienced severely rough idling before it stalled. The contact believed that the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) was the cause of the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Feb 2026
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the engine was consuming one quart of oil every 1,000 miles driven. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had remained illuminated since becoming aware of the oil consumption issue. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“I have a 2.4 ltr Chevy equinox and the engine went out at 140000miles, no warning symbol. Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere, two days after being stuck in a rain storm, when I found out my wipers died.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2024
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield wipers became inoperable. The contact's wife was driving at night while it was raining. The contact stated that after inspecting and researching the cause of the failure, he discovered that a failure with the windshield wiper transmission assembly. The contact became aware that the windshield wiper transmission assembly needed to be replaced. The contact stated that he would repair the vehicle himself. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,011.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Dec 2023
“We were unaware of the oil consumption issue related to the 2010 Equinox. As a result we purchased one with less then 100 k miles, changed the oil, and sent my college bound daughter off with it. After driving just 4-5k miles in about 3-4 months the oil was very low and ruined the engine! Now we are facing an engine replacement if the vehicles is even worth investing that much more money.”Owner report · Engine · Nov 2023
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while slowing to stop the vehicle, the side curtain air bags erroneously deployed. The contact stated that the front and rear driver's side and passenger's side curtain air bags deployed without a crash. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2023
“Horrible oil consumption issue. Piston rings are bad and the car doesn't have that many miles. A huge issue with the equinox.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2023
“When I turn off my Chevrolet Equinox and leave the key in the ignition the vehicle attempts to restart itself numerous times. The lights on the dash all come on for a brief moment and you can hear it act like it's going to start but then everything cuts off a second later. This has occurred everytime I turn my vehicle off and do not remove the key. I am always sitting in the vehicle when the key is in the ignition.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2023
“High oil consumption. Low oil pressure and reduced engine power light activated. Car could not go more than 2 RPM. Issue continues to persist despite on time oil changes, adding oil as needed, etc.”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2023
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 23 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
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.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS". THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN CAUSE THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS WELL AS THE PANEL ILLUMINATION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Equinox by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
NHTSA has 784 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The most complained-about area is engine (27% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Equinox problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 80,063 miles or less.
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm). Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.