Chevy Equinox Years to Avoid — watch the oil on the 2010–2017.
The second-generation Equinox (2010–2017) drew 4,909 NHTSA complaints, and 841 describe the engine burning or losing oil. The 2010 through 2013 drew the most complaints of any Equinox. The 2018 and later are quieter, though owners report brake-assist failures on the 2018–2020.
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Quick Answer
- What Chevy Equinox years should you avoid?
- The 2010–2013 first: they drew the most complaints of any Equinox, led by the engine, and 558 of them describe oil burning or loss. The 2014–2017 have the same engine complaints at a lower level, and the 2014–2015 add failed wipers. On the first generation, 313 of the 2006's 695 complaints describe the heater or defroster quitting.
- What is the best year for a used Equinox?
- Leaving out the thin 2009 and years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints, 2021 (101), 2017 (276), 2019 (310) drew the fewest from 2005 to 2021. The 2018 and later dropped the oil-burning complaints almost entirely: 9 on the 2018–2020 against 841 on the 2010–2017.
- Did Chevy recall the Equinox for oil consumption?
- Not according to NHTSA's recall list: no campaign for the 2010–2017 Equinox covers the engine. Owners below describe topping up between oil changes, and a mechanic replacing the valve cover, where the PCV valve sits, instead of the engine.
Five checks for a used Equinox, by year
The Equinox's faults moved around from generation to generation, so what to check depends on the year.
- 1Read the year from the VINCharacter 10 is the model year; the first three tell you Canada (2CN, 2GN) or Mexico (3GN).
- 22010–2017: check the oil levelPull the dipstick; a low level between changes is what owners describe.
- 32010–2016: run the wipersRecalls 16V582000 and 22V165000 cover wiper ball joints that corrode.
- 42018–2020: press the brake hardA hard pedal or a 'Service Brake Assist' message is the warning owners report.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA salvage brand or a mileage gap shows up by VIN; oil use does not.
Avoid (or Check Carefully): the 2010–2017 Equinox and Its Oil
The engine is the component owners name most on every 2010–2017 Equinox except the 2015, where the wipers take over. 841 of the 4,909 complaints on those years describe the engine burning or losing oil, and the count peaks on the 2013 at 178 of 751.
Owners describe adding oil between changes, low-oil warnings and, in the worst cases, engines that seized. 353 complaints on the same years mention the timing chain. No recall on NHTSA's list covers the engine on these years.
Not every one burns oil: owners below report a 2016 at 240,000 miles with none. On an Equinox from these years, ask for oil-change records and check the level before you buy.
The 2010–2013 by the numbers
- 784 · 783 complaints on the 2010 and 2011.
- 685 · 751 on the 2012 and 2013.
- 558 of them describe oil burning or loss.
- 226 mention the timing chain.
Every Chevy Equinox Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Equinox from 2005 to 2026, read on 12 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1st | 638 | 56 · 13 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2006 | 1st | 695 | 16 · 9 | 0 | Visibility |
| 2007 | 1st | 685 | 11 · 6 | 4 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2008 | 1st | 370 | 9 · 1 | 0 | Air Bags |
| 2009 | 1st | 94 | 5 · 1 | 0 | Air Bags |
| 2010 | 2nd | 784 | 15 · 9 | 3 | Engine |
| 2011 | 2nd | 783 | 30 · 3 | 3 | Engine |
| 2012 | 2nd | 685 | 16 · 6 | 3 | Engine |
| 2013 | 2nd | 751 | 20 · 5 | 2 | Engine |
| 2014 | 2nd | 550 | 23 · 4 | 1 | Engine |
| 2015 | 2nd | 680 | 24 · 6 | 2 | Visibility/Wiper |
| 2016 | 2nd | 400 | 14 · 3 | 1 | Engine |
| 2017 | 2nd | 276 | 18 · 4 | 0 | Engine |
| 2018 | 3rd | 410 | 23 · 4 | 5 | Service Brakes |
| 2019 | 3rd | 310 | 23 · 7 | 4 | Engine |
| 2020 | 3rd | 320 | 22 · 7 | 4 | Service Brakes |
| 2021 | 3rd | 101 | 6 · 0 | 4 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2022 | 3rd | 184 | 13 · 3 | 5 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2023 | 3rd | 99 | 5 · 0 | 3 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2024 | 3rd | 84 | 6 · 1 | 1 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2025 | 4th | 244 | 11 · 0 | 0 | Electrical System |
| 2026 | 4th | 86 | 5 · 1 | 1 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. The electric Equinox EV is filed under its own name and is not included.
Other Equinox Years With a Known Weak Spot
Smaller clusters in NHTSA's records, and the recalls behind them.
2006: the heater
313 of 695 complaints describe no heat or no defrost, often a broken blend door.
2007: fuel leaks
134 complaints mention the fuel pump; recall 12V459000 covers some sold in hot-weather states.
2007–2008: passenger airbag
92 and 81 complaints describe the passenger airbag or its warning; recall 07V344000 covers the 2007's passenger sensing system.
2014–2015: wipers
176 and 279 complaints; recall 22V165000 covers corroding wiper ball joints.
2018–2020: brake assist
224 complaints describe a hard brake pedal or lost brake assist.
2021–2022: fuel pump module
Recall 23V013000: the pump module can starve the engine and stall it; 86 complaints on the 2022.
What Equinox Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Equinox comment threads are full of owners who top up the oil and keep going. The ones who gave up describe the timing chain or a long list of repairs.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/MechanicAdvice, 2014 2.4: an owner who knows the earlier ones burned oil asks whether to sell their 2014 at 71,000 miles or keep paying it off.
- r/Chevy, used Equinox: a commenter says the 2019 and 2020 rate well for reliability in Consumer Reports' owner survey, unlike the years either side.
- YouTube, 2010 4-cylinder: at 185,000 miles, the owner adds about a quarter quart every 3,000 miles.
- YouTube, 2014 2.4: it burned oil and blew a rear seal; a mechanic replaced the valve cover, where the PCV valve sits, for $400 instead of an engine, and that seems to have fixed it.
- YouTube, 2013 bought at 150,000: within nine months it needed brakes, a flex pipe, a radiator and a timing chain tensioner.
- YouTube, 2016 2.4: an owner reports 240,000 miles and no oil burning.
- YouTube, 2018: at 131,000 miles, the owner says it has never had any problem.
- YouTube, 2020 1.5 turbo: at 97,000 miles it shows a 'shift to park' message and won't run.
Checking an Equinox for Sale?
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Fewest vs. Most Equinox Complaints
Fewest is limited to 2005–2021 and leaves out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints (2006 and 2014–2016). It also leaves out the 2009: its 94 complaints are far below the 2008 (370) and 2010 (784), which looks like a thin record rather than a better SUV.
Fewest complaints
- 2021: 101 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2017: 276 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2019: 310 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2020: 320 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2008: 370 complaints, 0 recalls
Most complaints
- 2010: 784 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2011: 783 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2013: 751 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2006: 695 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2007: 685 complaints, 4 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
The Equinoxes Our Visitors Check, and Where They Were Built
Between 11 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 1,073 different Chevy Equinox VINs through our free preview. By the first three characters, 611 (57%) were built in Canada and 462 (43%) in Mexico.
355 (33%) were 2010–2017 models, the oil-burning years, and 552 (51%) 2018–2024. The single most-checked year was the 2019, at 120 VINs.
Equinox Complaints by Generation
The second generation (2010–2017) carries 4,909 complaints, more than the first (2,482) and third (1,508) combined. The newest, from 2025, drew 244 in its first year.
What to Check on a Used Equinox
By year, the faults to look for.
2005–2009: heat and defrost
Run the heater on hot and the defroster; listen for a clicking blend door.
2010–2017: oil level and records
Check the dipstick and ask how often oil was added.
2010–2017: timing chain
Listen for a rattle or noise; owners describe both before timing-chain repairs.
2010–2016: wipers
Confirm recalls 16V582000 or 22V165000 if they apply.
2018–2020: brake pedal
Press hard at a stop; watch for brake-assist warnings.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Equinox Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. The brake recalls on these years, 18V576000 and 19V704000, concern rear brake calipers, not the vacuum pump and brake assist that owners describe; no recall on NHTSA's list covers those.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so they are a minimum. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints: the 2022 has 184 so far, 86 of them about the fuel pump.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Equinox's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Chevrolet.
Chevy Equinox Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Oil burning, wipers and the newer Equinoxes.
What is the worst year for the Chevy Equinox?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2010 (784), then the 2011 (783) and the 2013 (751).
Which Equinox years burn oil?+
The 2010–2017, most of all the 2011–2013 (142, 151 and 178 complaints). The 2018 and later drew 9 oil complaints in three years.
Is the 2018 Equinox a good used buy?+
It drew 410 complaints, about half the 2013's, with brakes named most: 87 describe a hard pedal or lost brake assist. Test the brakes hard before you buy.
What about the 2025 Equinox?+
It's new, so its total is still growing: 244 complaints so far, with the electrical system named most.
Is a high-mileage Equinox worth buying?+
It can be: owners report a 2007 at 287,000 miles and a 2016 at 240,000. On a 2010–2017, the oil records matter more than the odometer.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can tell you an engine burns oil. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Check the Oil, Then the Records
On a 2010–2017 Equinox, the dipstick tells you more than the brochure. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Chevrolet. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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