Problems · NHTSA complaints

2021 Chevrolet Equinox problems

Owners filed 100 complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA between Feb 2021 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (20).

Complaints
100
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system20
  2. Electrical system18
  3. Power train17
  4. Engine16
  5. Service brakes8
  6. Fuel system, gasoline5
  7. Structure5
  8. Seat belts4
  9. Air bags4
  10. Steering4
  11. Tires3
  12. Exterior lighting3
  13. Lane departure3
  14. Engine and engine cooling2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20216
202215
202314
202415
202519
202631

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel/propulsion system

20 reports1 crash
“Vehicle engine "sputtered" last night on the roadway, made it home then car would not restart. Repair engine light warning came on at time vehicle engine "sputtered". Vehicle will be at Dyer Chevrolet in Vero Beach, Florida on 10/19/2026. Fuel pump module is not providing fuel to engine resulting in engine not starting - See NHTSA Campaign Number 23V013000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11771811

Electrical system

18 reports
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2026Electrical systemODI 11769863

Power train

17 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11751317

Engine

16 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11763928

Service brakes

8 reports
“Vehicle suffered an intermittent, severe, and dangerous total loss of acceleration while driving in rainy conditions. Upon pressing the accelerator pedal from a stop, the vehicle rolled slowly for 5 to 10 seconds and completely ignored all gas pedal input before finally accelerating. The engine remained at a smooth, dead idle and failed to rev up entirely during the failure, creating an immediate traffic hazard. A scan revealed an active ABS system failure. This dangerous safety hazard occurred less than 4 weeks after a certified GM dealership (Grieco Chevrolet of Fort Lauderdale) performed the official GM Safety Recall N222372310 for Inadequate Fuel Pump Flow on September 4th. The fuel pump recall requires lowering the fuel tank, which sits directly adjacent to the rear ABS wheel speed sensor wiring harnesses. Both GM Corporate and the local dealership have refused to safety-inspect the vehicle's rear wiring harness workmanship for post-recall damage or water intrusion without charging a diagnostic fee, despite the severe driving risk. There were no warning messages or other symptoms prior to this occurring.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2026Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11767976

Fuel system, gasoline

5 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started bucking and then stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump power control module failure. The contact associated the failure with GM Recall: N252516900. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,800.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2026Fuel system, gasolineODI 11769348
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.