Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2010 Chevrolet Equinox: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 784 safety complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved September 7, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

784
Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Investigations

Complaints for this vehicle report 15 crashes, 9 fires, 23 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Engine & cooling leads the complaint list, cited in 300 of 784 complaints, followed by Power train / transmission.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 87 of the 784 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.
  3. Complaints peaked 9 years after the model year (107 filed in 2019) — a pattern consistent with wear-out failures rather than assembly defects.
  4. 3 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, here is how reports break down by system.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 784 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Engine & cooling
300
Power train / transmission
182
Visibility & lighting
162
Electrical
81
Brakes & stability
64
Other / unspecified
61
Airbags & restraints
60
Fuel & propulsion
48

"Vehicle looses power and can very easily cause a bad wreck I've replaced multiple thing and it still does it I'm not sure what it is possibly the timing or something to do with camshaft"

Owner complaint filed March 2026 · Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control,Engine · NHTSA ODI 11725985

"I have a 2.4 ltr Chevy equinox and the engine went out at 140000miles, no warning symbol. Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere, two days after being stuck in a rain storm, when I found out my wipers died."

Owner complaint filed September 2024 · Engine,Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA ODI 11613642

When complaints were filed

For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox peaked later than usual, in 2019.

Complaints filed per year — 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
2
43
31
22
40
88
64
90
90
88
107
56
20
10
17
10
3
3
091011121314151617181920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through September 7, 2026). A late peak is the signature of wear-out failures: parts that don't fail until the vehicle has years and miles on it.

How the 2010 compares with other model years

Across the Chevrolet Equinox model years we track, the 2010 has the most complaints on file.

Total complaints by model year — Chevrolet Equinox
All complaints on file per model year, as of September 7, 2026
2010
784
782
683
750
546
679
395
403
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 3 recalls

3 recalls apply to some or all 2010 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Dec 200909V-489
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS A…

Jul 201414V-447
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt th…

Jul 201616V-502
Electrical System:Ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-…

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox have?

As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 784 complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.

How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox have?

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has 3 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.