Most common 2021 Chevrolet Equinox problems
Share of the 100 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Equinox complaints by model year
Best Equinox years: 2021, 2017, 2016. Years to avoid: 2025. Compare all years →
2021 Chevrolet Equinox recalls (4)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
What 2021 Chevrolet Equinox owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 25 →
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH in traffic, the vehicle stalled, and the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted after a long while. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The mechanic replaced the fuel pump; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump module failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V013000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was driven approximately 500 feet and was parked. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact researched and stated that the vehicle had a known failure in the fuel system. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on a busy highway, the engine seized, and the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The local Police assisted in pushing the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a failed Camshaft position sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later towed to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed timing chain. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that a routine oil change was performed on the vehicle a couple of weeks prior to the failure. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was driven approximately 500 feet and was parked. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact researched and stated that the vehicle had a known failure in the fuel system. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH, the messages "Fuel System Needs Service", "Front Detection System Needs Service", and "Side Detection System Needs Service" and other unknown messages illuminated. The contact exited the highway and veered to the side of the road. The contact called OnStar, who assisted her to run a diagnostic test on the vehicle. OnStar informed the contact that two unknown codes were found. OnStar advised the contact to take the vehicle to the nearest dealer for repair. The contact turned off the vehicle for a while. Upon attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Body Control Module (BCM) had failed and the part to repair the vehicle would not be available for 1-3 weeks. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the horn was intermittently inoperable while driving. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened, causing the horn to become permanently inoperable. Additionally, the seat belt warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
2021 Chevrolet Equinox engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox a good car?
Based on 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Equinox rates better than average: 59% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Equinox at the same age. It is one of the best Equinox years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?
The fuel & propulsion system — 25 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › fuel pump › control/drive module. Next are the engine & cooling (18) and electrical system (18).
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, the most recent from May 11, 2023 (vehicle latch anchor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Equinox?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2017 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025. See the full Chevrolet Equinox years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Equinox problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 38% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.