2020 Chevrolet Equinox problems, complaints & recalls
TypicalRising
NHTSA has received 313 owner complaints about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, or 46.1 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (complaint index 1.14, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 83 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #61 of 83 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Chevrolet models its rate is about the same; against other Compact SUVs it is 24% 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 2019-12-05 and 2026-10-13. Median delay from incident to filing: 8 days.
313Complaints
46.1Complaints per year on the road
1.14Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
4Recalls
8.3%Share involving a crash or fire
80Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2019) drew 39.2 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 17.1 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 63 complaints, 12% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (31.9% of complaints), followed by Brakes (22.7%) and Electrical (10.5%). 26 reports (8.3%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 12 injuries and 1 death.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 51 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (37% of incidents). In the last 12 months 80 new complaints were filed, versus 60 in the 12 months before — up 33%.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles1.14
vs. other Chevrolet models1.0
vs. other 2020 models1.22
vs. other Compact SUVs0.76
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (63)1.12
None of the airbags deployed in an accident. The right front end of the car hit a utility trailer and nothing went off. The car has been deemed a total loss after being trailered to the lot and assessed by the insurance inspector.
The vehicle was taken to College Chevrolet for body work. . When the vehicle was at the body shop, the shop informed me that a turbo light was on but I am unsure when it appeared because it wasn't on when I took it to the dealer.
Unspecified or other · 2026-06-11 · ODI 11743540 · Fire
Vacuum Pump failed, Camshaft is broken. When vacuum pump failed there were no brakes and no warning. Almost flew off a bridge.
Engine · 2026-10-13 · ODI 11770910
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there were persistent electrical issues with both side-view mirrors independently adjusting after the vehicle was turned off.
Electrical · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769073
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 - 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes locked up. The contact turned into a nearby parking lot and coasted to a stop and shifted into park(P).
Brakes · 2026-09-28 · ODI 11767327
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Campaign 19V704000 · 2019-10-03
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.
Risk: Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.
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.
