2021 Chevrolet Equinox problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
97
Recalls
4
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
5
Median mileage
55,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion is the most-reported problem area, named in 23 of 97 complaints (24%).
  • Engine (18) and electrical system (17) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 55,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries.
  • The 2021 Chevrolet Equinox has 4 recalls on file.
  • It ranks 13th of 22 Chevrolet Equinox model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 68% fewer complaints than the 2020 model year (306).

2021 Chevrolet Equinox problems by category

  • 23 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    18 complaints
  • Engine · 1 crash
    18 complaints
  • Electrical System
    17 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    17 complaints
  • Brakes
    8 complaints
  • Body & Structure · 1 crash
    6 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts · 2 crashes
    5 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    4 complaints
  • Airbags · 3 crashes
    4 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    4 complaints
  • Steering
    4 complaints
  • Lighting
    3 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    2 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Fuel/propulsion system18
Power train17
Unknown or other17
Engine16
Electrical system15
Service brakes8
Air bags4
Seat belts4

When problems happen (mileage)

3Under 10k610k–30k430k–60k1060k–100k100k–150k2150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2021 Chevrolet Equinox complaints that list mileage.

2021 Chevrolet Equinox recalls (4)

  • Recall 23V339000May 11, 2023668,187 vehicles
    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.

    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.

  • Recall 23V013000Jan 19, 202323,323 vehicles
    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 21V612000Aug 5, 20219,597 vehicles
    TIRES · TIRES:TREAD/BELT

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 20V811000Dec 23, 2020470 vehicles
    SEAT BELTS · SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

Recent 2021 Chevrolet Equinox complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Oct 6, 202620,800 miFLTowedFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started bucking and then stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump power control module failure. The contact associated the failure with GM Recall: N252516900. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,800.
    NHTSA complaint #11769348 · source
  2. Filed Sep 30, 2026FLBrakesFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control
    Vehicle suffered an intermittent, severe, and dangerous total loss of acceleration while driving in rainy conditions. Upon pressing the accelerator pedal from a stop, the vehicle rolled slowly for 5 to 10 seconds and completely ignored all gas pedal input before finally accelerating. The engine remained at a smooth, dead idle and failed to rev up entirely during the failure, creating an immediate traffic hazard. A scan revealed an active ABS system failure. This dangerous…
    NHTSA complaint #11767976 · source
  3. Filed Sep 25, 2026TNFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    On Friday, September 18, my wife was driving down I81 towards Knoxville when the car died on the highway. She pulled over and we had to have a tow truck flatbed the car to a nearby garage to diagnose. They had the car for 4 days and found that there was a low fuel pressure code. They were going to replace the fuel pump but told me that there was a recall on some 2021 Equinox's for faulty fuel pumps so I chose to pick up the car and have it taken to a local Chevy Dealer for…
    NHTSA complaint #11766935 · source
  4. Filed Sep 15, 2026CAOther / Unknown
    The vehicle intermittently triggers steering control, brake assist, and parking brake warnings during both highway and city driving, particularly when coming to a complete stop. These alerts are associated with a slight jerk in the steering wheel upon acceleration and a transient locking sensation across the steering, accelerator, and brake systems before functionality is restored; additionally, the check engine light is now illuminated.
    NHTSA complaint #11764564 · source
  5. Filed Sep 13, 2026MDCrashEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    I've been having issues since the beginning of 2026. It's saying my car has no recalls but I've found that is does on a part that's been complained about by others. I've had the car repaired multiple times updating the fuel injectors and spark plugs but still the same error codes. Yet and still the check engine light continues to come on. So I looked and found out it maybe the fuel pump after all . I'm constantly refueling at least 3 times a week and also the errors come up…
    NHTSA complaint #11763928 · source
  6. Filed Aug 20, 2026TXFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The fuel pump of my Chevy equinox failed while I was driving in the middle of a busy highway causing my engine to lose power putting myself and my passengers in danger along with everybody else on the highway because I could not accelerate and I had to push my vehicle off the highway. Shortly after the engine stalled, the display for the fuel went from reading 3/4 of a tank to empty in a matter of a second. When I tried to restart the engine it would not register that there…
    NHTSA complaint #11758331 · source
  7. Filed Aug 19, 2026SDElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
    While driving on the interstate, the moonroof glass began opening without any input from the moonroof controls. The power sunshade was still closed at the time. I opened the sunshade manually so it would not interfere with the glass. After the glass opened, I was unable to get it to remain fully closed. When I was able to close the glass, it would reopen on its own several more times. I also heard a clicking sound during the repeated opening and closing. After this occurred,…
    NHTSA complaint #11758041 · source
  8. Filed Aug 13, 2026INFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    I am reporting a severe mechanical failure involving the fuel pump module on my 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. My vehicle exhibits symptoms that match NHTSA Recall Campaign 23V-013 / GM Campaign N222372310 (Inadequate Fuel Pump Flow). However, when checking my VIN, GM indicates my vehicle is currently excluded from the official recall population. My car hesitates to accelerate on the highway, will randomly sputter when at a constant speed, I have had a checked engine light come on…
    NHTSA complaint #11756705 · source

Compare the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox with another vehicle →

Other 2021 Chevrolet models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology