Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 403 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 63 | 16% |
| Power train | 30 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 27 | 7% |
| Engine | 25 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 3% |
| Wheels | 11 | 3% |
| Air bags | 10 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Back wiper stopped working while it was on. Wiper arm is stuck straight up on back window. Back wiper motor got extremely hot still trying to work with the car ON or OFF. Would make a clicking sound every 30secounds 24/7
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service restraint error message was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assist
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I am an investigator w/ the Medical Examiner's office in Dallas, TX. We are investigating the death of an individual who was inside a 2018 Chevy Equinox that was "rebuilt." During the minor accident, the steering wheel a
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
In my chevy equinox 2018 my vacuum pump and brake booster failed when I was driving and I could not brake. I slid into the gravel side of the road on the 138, luckily there were not alot of traffic at the time cause I wo
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
While I was getting off the freeway, my vehicle displayed the “Service Brake Assist” warning. When I attempted to brake, the brake pedal became extremely hard and would not respond normally. The vehicle would not stop no
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of engine power accompanied by severe engine shaking, reduced acceleration, and a lit Check Engine / ESC light. The vehicle was towed to a technician who
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The car had a engine code of P171d my safety and others was put at risk because of the vehicle malfunction while not able to drive after the light turn green or keeping maintaining a searching speed. The engine code was
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I own a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving at highway speed, the brake pedal suddenly became completely rigid and could not be depressed. The engine continued running normally, there were no warning lights, and I had
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 insuf
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 cus
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials.
Risk: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's nu
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
Risk: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, with
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-
| Reliability | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 68 | good |
| Performance | 58 | average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
| Safety | 56 | average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 403 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 63 of them (16%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2018 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 60/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.