2019 Chevrolet Equinox problems, complaints & recalls
TypicalWithin ±30% year on year
NHTSA has received 305 owner complaints about the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, or 39.2 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (complaint index 0.97, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 78 model-year 2019 vehicles we track, it ranks #50 of 78 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Chevrolet models its rate is 15% lower; against other Compact SUVs it is 35% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2018-09-26 and 2026-10-12. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
305Complaints
39.2Complaints per year on the road
0.97Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
4Recalls
8.9%Share involving a crash or fire
50Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2018) drew 46.5 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2020) drew 46.1 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2019 model collected 87 complaints, 10% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (34.4% of complaints), followed by Brakes (19.0%) and Electrical (10.8%). Engine complaints are 1.5 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 27 reports (8.9%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 9 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 52 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (41% of incidents). In the last 12 months 50 new complaints were filed, versus 45 in the 12 months before — up 11%.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.97
vs. other Chevrolet models0.85
vs. other 2019 models0.87
vs. other Compact SUVs0.65
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (87)1.1
1- brakes failed entering garage they were applied, it screeched and hit the wall 2- there was a safety risk, but fortunately no injuries, just vehicle and property damage 3 - not reproduce, dealer who had performed rear brake job 4 weeks prior looked at it…
Brakes · 2026-10-12 · ODI 11770556 · Crash
While driving and turning on a flashing yellow arrow, I was hit by a truck and upon impact, my seatbelt came unbuckled and my body was thrusted into the dash, my Left knee took the impact from next to the steering wheel and my thigh was slammed into the…
SAFETY VEHICLE COMPLAINT / DEFECT REPORT Vehicle: 2019 Chevrolet Equinox Complaint Type: Brake Failure / Loss of Braking Ability / Vehicle Malfunction Incident Date: XXX Location: [XXX] Request: Safety defect investigation Description of Incident On XXX…
Electrical · 2026-10-06 · ODI 11769359
While driving my 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, the brake pedal suddenly became extremely hard to press while the vehicle was being driven. The problem occurred unexpectedly while the driver was slowing down.
Brakes · 2026-10-03 · ODI 11768774
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, but the vehicle hesitated to accelerate before lurching forward.
Engine · 2026-09-24 · ODI 11766711
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Campaign 20V668000 · 2020-10-29
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. 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 N192209550.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Campaign 18V576000 · 2018-08-30
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
