Chevrolet Equinox Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 1,224 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Equinox across 22 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (159). The words owners use most often: “key ignition” (5% of reports).
- 1,224electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 25mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $890typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Key ignition: mentioned in 65 of 1,224 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Chevrolet Equinox at $890, and half of them between $530 and $1,700.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 771 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,224 complaints, 25 mention a crash, 30 a fire, 20 an injury.
Chevrolet Equinox electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox | 12 | 16% | 5,900 |
| 2025 Equinox | 78 | 33% | 4,333 |
| 2024 Equinox | 17 | 21% | 16,989 |
| 2023 Equinox | 12 | 12% | 5,161 |
| 2022 Equinox | 22 | 12% | — |
| 2021 Equinox | 18 | 18% | 55,000 |
| 2020 Equinox | 42 | 13% | 4,857 |
| 2019 Equinox | 44 | 14% | 8,500 |
| 2018 Equinox | 61 | 15% | 36,955 |
| 2017 Equinox | 19 | 7% | 61,500 |
| 2016 Equinox | 24 | 6% | 30,000 |
| 2015 Equinox | 45 | 7% | 38,929 |
| 2014 Equinox | 46 | 8% | 63,556 |
| 2013 Equinox | 69 | 9% | 35,264 |
| 2012 Equinox | 70 | 10% | 65,000 |
| 2011 Equinox | 74 | 9% | 60,500 |
| 2010 Equinox | 81 | 10% | 59,000 |
| 2009 Equinox | 23 | 24% | 85,600 |
| 2008 Equinox | 65 | 18% | 75,000 |
| 2007 Equinox | 102 | 15% | 62,000 |
| 2006 Equinox | 141 | 20% | 81,300 |
| 2005 Equinox | 159 | 25% | 67,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: 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, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Electric Drive Unit and 12V battery have failed 3 times in less than 6 months. The vehicle will not shift into drive, reverse, or neutral. It is stalled/stuck and can't be driven.
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…
SAFETY VEHICLE COMPLAINT / DEFECT REPORT Vehicle: 2019 Chevrolet Equinox Complaint Type: Brake Failure / Loss of Braking Ability / Vehicle Malfunction Incident Date: XXX Location: [XXX] Request: Safety defect investigation Description of Incident On XXX, while my 2019 Chevrolet Equinox was being…
1. The telematics control module failed and was replaced by the dealer under recall N262547330, along with the battery. The vehicle is available for inspection. The original module was kept by the dealer when it was replaced. 2. The vehicle went completely dead without warning â it could not be…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there were persistent electrical issues with both side-view mirrors independently adjusting after the vehicle was turned off. The driver was constantly manually readjusting the mirrors while operating the vehicle. The dealer…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Equinoxs have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,224 owner complaints about electrical system for the Chevrolet Equinox. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Equinox electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners report a typical cost of $890 (half paid between $530 and $1,700), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Equinox?
The most frequent phrase is “key ignition”, in 65 of 1,224 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Equinox problems
- Engine problems (2,840)
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,114)
- Power Train problems (1,093)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (832)
- Air Bags problems (630)
- Service Brakes problems (612)
- Steering problems (466)
- Visibility problems (444)
See all Chevrolet Equinox problems.