Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2021 Chevrolet Equinox — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2024 to Dec 2024
The most reported issue is unknown or other problems (10 complaints). 5 complaints involved crashes.
Open Safety Recalls (4)
NHTSA Campaign: 20V811000
Component: SEAT BELTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V612000
Component: TIRES
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
Risk: Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.
NHTSA Campaign: 23V013000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles. The fuel pump module may not consistently provide sufficient fuel to the engine, resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372310.
NHTSA Campaign: 23V339000
Component: CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR
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."
Risk: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 78)
Fuel System, Gasoline →3 issues
Your 2021 Equinox stalled while driving at 35-40 MPH, causing power steering and brakes to stop working and triggering a check engine light. The vehicle restarted after a delay but the stalling happened repeatedly. An independent mechanic initially diagnosed a fuel pump failure and replaced it, but the problem continued; a second mechanic identified a fuel pump module failure instead. Your VIN was not covered under the related recall, and the dealer did not repair it. Fixing this will likely require replacing the fuel pump module.
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Your 2021 Chevrolet Equinox shuddered and stalled twice while idling or coming to a stop, with no warning lights appearing. The vehicle restarted normally both times. This issue hasn't been diagnosed or repaired yet, and may be related to a fuel system recall, though your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in that recall.
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Your car lost power while driving at various speeds without any warning lights appearing, and it hesitated when you tried to restart it. A mechanic diagnosed the problem as inadequate fuel pump flow, meaning your fuel pump isn't delivering enough gasoline to the engine. This issue would typically require fuel pump inspection or replacement to restore normal power and performance.
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Electrical System →3 issues
You purchased a used 2021 Chevrolet Equinox that showed about 72,170 miles when you bought it, but when you went to register it, the odometer reading was discovered to be around 206,352 miles — a major discrepancy suggesting the mileage may have been rolled back or tampered with. This is odometer fraud, which is illegal. You should contact your state's consumer protection agency and consider consulting an attorney about your purchase.
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Your liftgate has opened on its own while driving at various speeds without any warning light appearing on your dashboard. The dealer diagnosed this as a radio frequency failure, which means your vehicle's wireless signals may be interfering with the liftgate's electronic controls. This could be a safety concern if it happens unexpectedly on the highway. A repair would likely involve replacing or reprogramming the liftgate's electronic control module or addressing the radio frequency interference issue.
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Your car's audio system has stopped working completely — you can't hear warning sounds, radio audio, or OnStar communications. When you use the phone system, the other person can hear you, but you can't hear them speaking back to you. This suggests an issue with the audio output rather than the microphone.
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Power Train →3 issues
Your driveshaft was replaced at 59,000 miles for $859, which you later learned may have been covered under warranty. Six months later, both your mechanic and the Chevrolet dealer recommended replacing the body control module and possibly the rear differential, with repair costs estimated between $1,500-$3,500—all before your vehicle reached 69,000 miles. These significant powertrain failures early in the vehicle's life have created unexpected financial hardship. The repairs may involve replacing the body control module (which manages various engine and transmission functions) and inspecting or replacing the rear differential assembly.
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Your car experienced severe wobbling and vibration in the front end while driving at speeds between 30 and 50 mph. Your dealer diagnosed the problem as a faulty front half shaft that needs replacement. Chevrolet is aware of this issue and has issued a technical service bulletin about it, but no assistance has been offered yet. Fixing this will involve replacing the front half shaft.
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Your car's driveshaft spline has worn out and disconnected from the differential, which could affect power delivery to your wheels. This is a serious mechanical issue that needs immediate attention. The repair will likely involve replacing the driveshaft or having the spline re-engaged and secured by a mechanic.
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Engine →2 issues
Your check engine light came on and your engine lost power because the intercooler froze and cracked. Chevrolet had a service update available to prevent this problem, but you weren't notified about it—you only learned about the update after the failure occurred. The repair will likely involve replacing the cracked intercooler and applying the preventive service update.
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Your check engine light came on and your car automatically reduced speed. The dealership diagnosed an ice buildup problem in the engine and said this is a design flaw that's common in this model and should be recalled. They estimated the repair would cost around $1,000, which you believe the manufacturer should cover due to the design defect.
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Fuel/propulsion System →2 issues
Your car is jerking, stalling, and choking while driving. A diagnostic scan found two fuel system issues: a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor and a large leak in the evaporative emission (EVAP) system that controls fuel vapor. These problems are likely causing the rough running and stalling you're experiencing. Fixing this will involve replacing the fuel tank pressure sensor and locating and sealing the leak in the EVAP system.
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Your fuel pump, which is located inside your fuel tank, has a known recall issue affecting other 2021 Equinoxes. However, not all affected vehicles are covered by the recall, and you believe yours should be included. You're concerned this could create a safety risk for you and other drivers on the road.
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Visibility/wiper →1 issue
Your windshield wipers stopped working while you were driving in snowy conditions, leaving you with no visibility. This is a serious safety issue that requires immediate attention. The problem could involve the wiper motor, wiper blades, or the electrical connections controlling them.
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Air Bags →1 issue
Your car was involved in a front-end collision with significant damage, but the airbags failed to deploy despite the severity of the impact. The state trooper who responded also questioned why the airbags didn't activate. While your seat belts protected you, the airbags—which should have provided additional protection in a crash of this magnitude—did not function as expected. A full inspection at the body shop may be needed to determine why the airbag system failed to trigger.
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Fuel System, Gasoline,engine →1 issue
Your engine suddenly seized while driving at normal speeds. After the initial seizure, the engine restarted and you were able to drive about 500 feet before parking. Your check engine light came on, and when you tried to restart the vehicle later, it wouldn't start at all. Based on your research, you believe this is related to a known fuel system failure. The issue may require inspection of the fuel system components and engine diagnostics to determine the root cause of the seizure.
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Engine And Engine Cooling →1 issue
Your check engine light came on while driving at highway speed, and your vehicle suddenly lost power and wouldn't go faster than 55 MPH afterward. You were able to restart it, but the dealer found that the turbo wastegate solenoid, charge air cooler, and turbo control valve wrap all needed replacement due to a factory defect. The repair will involve replacing these turbocharger and cooling system components with new parts.
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Unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your car is hesitating or stuttering while driving, and the check engine light has come on. This happened multiple times over the course of a day, with the engine feeling like it might stall but continuing to run. Your manual suggests this could be a fuel system issue, and you'll need to have the car diagnosed with a scan tool to read the check engine code and determine the exact cause.
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Structure →1 issue
Water accumulated on your front and rear floor mats while the vehicle was parked, and white mold grew under the seats. The dealer couldn't identify the exact cause but suspects it may be related to the air conditioning water hose or the moonroof. When the vehicle sat in the sun for four days with windows closed, the mold spread throughout the interior. Addressing this will likely involve identifying the water leak source (A/C hose or moonroof seal) and replacing damaged components along with professional mold remediation.
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Power Train,engine,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your transmission is malfunctioning — the engine stalls randomly, the vehicle jumps during acceleration, and it's not shifting gears properly. This appears to be a known issue affecting multiple Equinox models. Your transmission will likely need diagnostic testing and potentially rebuilding or replacement.
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Related Vehicles
Other Chevrolet Equinox years: