2021 Chevrolet EQUINOX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
57,686 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 91 complaints (18.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 12 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 13.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 13.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
Power Train: 17; Unknown Or Other: 16; Electrical System: 15; Engine: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Service Brakes: 7; Air Bags: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 22 |
2021: 6; 2022: 15; 2023: 14; 2024: 15; 2025: 19; 2026: 22
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11506709 · 2023-02-10 (February 10, 2023)
Chevy Equinox turned off while in the turn lane. Car would not turn back on. No warning was shown prior to the incident but now there is a solid check engine light. upon googling it seems other chevy's have a fuel pump flow issue causing cars to stall and not turn on. chevy upon inquiring if our equinox has a recall they said no even though other 2021 equinox's have this issue. i believe this is a safety issue, if it is a fuel pump issue how do we know it can't cause the engines to catch fire from improper fueling. this needs to be looked…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11518293 · 2023-04-21 (April 21, 2023)
Car would stall suddenly mid intersection or street. There is an active recall for a fuel pump module with no known date of resolution. Fuel Pump Module would not provide adequate gas to the engine. This happened twice to me as I was driving on April 4th 2023. After speaking to Chevy & Dealership, there is not yet a fix to this problem. This car is UNSAFE and needs to be removed from the roads. I traded this car in, because I felt unsafe since Chevy could not help me.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11518293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413352 · 2021-04-22 (April 22, 2021)
WE BOUGHT A NEW CHEVY EQUINOX. ONE DAY LATER, WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE ON I-75, MY WIFE ENGAGED THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE THINKING IT WAS A CONSOLE LATCH. THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, AND ONLY BECAUSE I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, DID WE AVOID A ROLL OVER. STILL WE ENDED UP PARTLY IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE. THANKFULLY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BESIDE US AT THE TIME. ADRENALINE SHOT THROUGH BOTH OF US AS WE REALIZED THAT ANY VEHICLE IN THE LANE NEXT TO US COULD HAVE HIT US OR WE HIT THEM AND SERIOUS INJURIES…
Owner-reported narrative. 315 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11473308 · 2022-07-11 (July 11, 2022)
Was driving 75mph on interstate and had to brake for car in front of me and had ZERO brake assist. Pedal was extremely hard to push and almost no braking power for vehicle. Vehicle has only 32,450 miles on it. Braking assist never returned and had to get vehicle in for service.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11473308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422780 · 2021-06-29 (June 29, 2021)
I feel the transmission is defective on this car. There are only 800+ miles on the car. In the morning I pulled the car out of the garage and the car did not feel smooth. I said that seemed awfully odd. I drove the car but nothing else happened. In the evening I parked the car in a parking lot up against a curb and a fence. I turned the engine off and placed it in park and I am positive about that. All of a sudden the car lurched forward jumped the curb knocked the fence down and stopped against a tree. Needless to say I was traumat…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448277 · 2022-01-20 (January 20, 2022)
I reported earlier in regards to the turbo going out in cold weather. The turbo was fixed finally (happened before Thanksgiving) on 1/13/22 by the dealer. RMPs are running high (65 MPH - RMPs are 2300) and it isnt shifting properly. wont shift to the next gear.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11448277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11435147 · 2021-10-01 (October 1, 2021)
When making a sharp turn left or right from a standstill the vehicles makes an audible grinding noise and vibration in the steering wheel. Feels like you're driving over rumble strips. Vehicle was taken to dealer on 7/28/21 and problem was recreated by technician on test drive. Cause of issue was determined to be the electric duel pinion rack and pinion steering gear. This part was replaced under warranty. On 9/30/21 the exact same issue with the same symptoms started happening again. Dealer was contacted and appointment was made for 10/4/21. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11435147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11581448 · 2024-04-05 (April 5, 2024)
The screen behind the steering wheel got all streaky and now I can not see anything on it. It won’t be able to show me a safety warning, mileage, and the digital speedometer.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11581448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11397643 · 2021-02-23 (February 23, 2021)
WE JUST PURCHASED/LEASED THE AFOREMENTIONED 2021 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IN DECEMBER OF 2020. ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CAR STARTING SWAYING TOWARDS THE LEFT. VERY DANGEROUS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY. **ALSO THERE IS A TECH SCREEN ISSUE. THE DASH SHOWS A CAR THAT WILL FLASH GREEN TO WARN YOU WHEN A CAR IS AHEAD, BUT IT IS FLASHING GREEN WHEN NOTHING IS AHEAD OR NO WHERE NEAR US. CONCERN THAT THIS COULD BE ELECTRICAL OR A FUSE. THANK YOU. AND BE BLESSED. PASTOR [XXX] C/O OF [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11508853 · 2023-02-24 (February 24, 2023)
On 2/18/23 our equinox failed to go into park. We couldn’t shut the car off, nor start it back up. Everything electrical was on basically idle mode. ESC - brake control module came across the dash. The dash also kept saying to put the car in park. It wouldn’t go into park. We called for a tow truck to have it taken back to the dealership. When it was taken to the dealership the car was ON. It still wouldn’t shut off. As of 2/21/23 they want $550 for a diagnostics and a dead battery. Of course my battery would die after 2 days of sitting and bei…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11508853 at NHTSA ↗