2021 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 12, 2026 · 99 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Equinox years
Far fewer complaints than other years 18th of 22 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. That ranks 18th out of 22 Equinox model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (19 complaints, 19%). Complaints mention 6 crashes, 5 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

Chevrolet Equinox
A 2025 Chevrolet Equinox photographed in Flushing, Queens , New York, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2021 Chevrolet Equinox problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Fuel/propulsion System19
Electrical System18 · ~55,000 mi
Power Train17 · ~64,500 mi
Unknown or Other17 · ~40 mi
Engine16 · ~119,433 mi
Service Brakes8 · ~10,998 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline5 · ~61,000 mi
Structure5 · ~25,000 mi
Air Bags4 · ~19,840 mi
Seat Belts4 · ~49,683 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Fuel/propulsion System1919%———
Electrical System1818%55,000——
Power Train1717%64,500——
Unknown or Other1717%40——
Engine1616%119,433——
Service Brakes88%10,998——
Fuel System, Gasoline55%61,000——
Structure55%25,000——
Air Bags44%19,840——
Seat Belts44%49,683——
Steering44%———
Exterior Lighting33%3,000——
Lane Departure33%———
Tires33%———
Engine and Engine Cooling22%69,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance22%———
Visibility/wiper22%———
Equipment Adaptive/mobility11%———
Latches/locks/linkages11%11,000——
Seats11%———
Vehicle Speed Control11%———
Wheels11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2026, with 30 complaints
2021: 6202162022: 152022152023: 142023142024: 152024152025: 192025192026: 30202630

n = 99 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2021 Chevrolet Equinox recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Child seat:vehicle latch anchorMay 11, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V339000 · 668,187 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump:control/drive moduleJan 19, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V013000 · 23,323 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Tires:tread/beltAug 5, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V612000 · 9,597 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Seat belts:critical fastenersDec 23, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V811000 · 470 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The fuel injector module had to be replaced. My car stall while driving and I was stuck at work for over 2 hours waiting to be towed home. I work 40 min from where I live, so there was no getting back home without a tow. The car would not start because it was showing that I had no gas, when in fact…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Oct 12, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770531

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was scheduled to be…

Electrical System · received Oct 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769863

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline · received Oct 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769348

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…

Service Brakes · received Sep 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11767976

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…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Sep 25, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766935

Other Chevrolet Equinox years

← 2020 Equinox · 2022 Equinox →

See all Chevrolet Equinox problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?

Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 19 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Equinox model years, the 2021 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.