Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2023 Chevrolet EquinoxRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 99 owner complaints for the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox. Most complaints involve fuel/propulsion system (46) and engine (18). The EPA rates it 26–28 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
26–28mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest May 2023
Owner complaints
99
Top: fuel/propulsion system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,300est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Child seat: vehicle latch anchor

Free remedy

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."

Child seatReported May 11, 2023NHTSA 23V339000

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with ventilated front passenger seats. The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.

Air bagsReported Dec 15, 2022NHTSA 22V929000

Seats

Free remedy

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles. The driver's seat may have a stripped or loose bolt at the seat frame height-adjust pivot.

SeatsReported Sep 29, 2022NHTSA 22V724000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

99 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2023 – Oct 2026
  1. Fuel/propulsion system46
  2. Engine18
  3. Service brakes14
  4. Electrical system13
  5. Steering8
  6. Power train6
  7. Forward collision avoidance6
  8. Fuel system, gasoline5
  9. Vehicle speed control3

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

By model year

Complaints for each Equinox model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2005638
2006695
2007685
2008370
200994
2010784
2011783
2012685
2013751
2014549
2015680
2016399
2017276
2018410
2019310
2020318
2021100
2022182
202399
2024192
2025407
202679
20271
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Fuel/propulsion system

46 reports
“Fuel pump was recalled from what I was told. I got it towed into the shop because it stopped in the middle of me driving down the road with my children, from the doctor, July 2026, they then said it was fixed. September 2026, I was going to pick up my son from work and it stopped again, with my children in the car, again, this time on the expressway in the middle of rush hour traffic. I got it towed to the same shop (dealership) for the same problem and now they're trying to charge me for a repair that wasn't fixed in the first place.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11770676

Engine

18 reports
“Vehicle Safety Complaint — 2023 Chevrolet Equinox LT I am reporting a potentially dangerous safety defect involving my 2023 Chevrolet Equinox LT equipped with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. While operating my vehicle on a public roadway, it suddenly lost power and stopped functioning without advance warning, creating a dangerous situation for myself and other motorists. The vehicle had to be towed to an authorized Chevrolet dealership. I received no prior recall notification, and my VIN did not indicate an applicable recall. The dealership informed me that the fuel pump recall applied only to 2.5-liter engines. I am concerned because General Motors has published fuel pump control module recall campaign N262558690 and technical service bulletin 24-NA-139, both of which list the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox. The service bulletin specifically describes engine stalling and loss of power. I request that NHTSA investigate whether my vehicle experienced a related defect and whether the affected vehicle population should be reviewed. I can provide the dealership’s diagnostic findings, repair records, towing documentation and any additional information requested. Also…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11771568

Service brakes

14 reports1 crash
“Entering a freeway off-ramp at about 65 mph, I depressed the brakes and the brake pedal went to the floor with little resistance. Two error messages were displayed on the dashboard: "Brake System Failure - 62 MPH Top Speed" and "Service ESC". The following dashboard lights came on: Check Engine, Brake, ESC, ABS. I held the brake pedal to the floor and coasted to a complete stop at the intersection, then proceeded slowly into a nearby parking lot and stopped. Braking effort did not become difficult, rather it was reduced to a small fraction of normal braking power. An online search indicated that disconnecting/reconnecting the negative battery terminal might resolve the problem, and it did, allowing me to carefully drive home with full braking. The local Chevrolet dealer replaced the brake system control module based on GM document 5081450.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2024Service brakesODI 11631695
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 4, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Equinox FWD
Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263128$2,300317
Equinox AWD
Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
243026$2,450340
  • Equinox FWD
    Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    26 city · 31 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Equinox AWD
    Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo
    24 city · 30 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 4, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Chevrolet Equinox SUV AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.4%
Overall
5 / 5
Chevrolet Equinox SUV FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
18.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 4, 2026Vehicle 18225Vehicle 18224
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2023 Equinox questions

How many recalls does the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 4, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2023 Chevrolet Equinox problems?

Owners filed 99 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are fuel/propulsion system (46), engine (18), service brakes (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox get?

The EPA rates the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox at 26–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 4, 2026