5 Chevy Equinox Years to Avoid & Common Problems

You’d never guess it by just looking, but some attractive options for the Chevy Equinox actually hide paragons of reliability issues under the hood. 

Hence, knowing common Chevy Equinox problems by year could save you thousands in repairs and a whole lot of stress! Below are the worst models that have earned a spot on our must-avoid list for 2025.

What Year Equinox to Avoid: 5 Problematic Models

Buyers should avoid the following Chevy Equinox model years: 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2015. They are commonly flagged by owners and official recalls alike due to faulty airbags, surging engines, windshield wiper failures, excessive oil consumption issues, safety concerns, and more. 

2007 Chevy Equinox

Given 4 official recalls and 680+ complaints on NHTSA as of this writing, the 2007 model was clearly a bad year for Equinox.

The first issue is the airbag system, particularly on the front passenger side. More often than not, the dashboard displays a “Service Passenger Airbag” message, indicating the system isn’t detecting a person sitting in the seat (even when it’s a fully grown adult). To put it bluntly, the airbag might never deploy in the event of a crash. One of our members even reported that the airbag system kept switching on and off on the freeway.

Next, there’s the electrical nightmare, mostly centered around the Engine Control Module (ECM). The car often unexpectedly surges forward at red lights or in parking lots, to the point that you might even get rear-ended if your Equinox stalls in traffic out of nowhere. In the worst-case scenario, even a little bit of moisture can throw the whole car into “limp mode,” where the engine chokes itself down to a crawl at high speeds.

Likewise, let’s not forget about the danger coming from the electronic stability control (ESC) and traction systems. Some of the common signals include:

• The steering wheel locked up momentarily
• Doors locking and unlocking at random
• Uncontrolled headlight flashing
• Complete power loss while in motion. 

2010 Chevy Equinox

The model has currently racked up 3 official recalls and 778 complaints (not to mention 3 official NHTSA investigations) — a red-flag factory, to say the least.

Let’s start with vehicle speed control. When we pressed the gas while pulling out of the driveway or merging into traffic, the entire car jolted forward in an unpredictable surge. The accelerator sticks down, refusing to release even when the driver’s foot is off the pedal. You have to slam the brakes just to stop the car; indeed, several owners even reported crashing into their garage walls because of this mechanical issue. 

The dashboard melting issue (specifically the top layer) is another huge drawback to watch out for. It softens and warps under the sun and turns into a sticky, glossy surface. That melted plastic creates a mirror-like glare on the inside of your windshield (right in your line of sight) and emits noxious fumes in hotter climates. 

And here’s the worst part: since the dashboard is where the passenger airbag is stored, warping plastic could lead to airbag deployment hiccups. So now, what started as a “melting dashboard” becomes a legitimate safety risk in a crash.

2012 Chevy Equinox

Beneath the 2012 polished exterior lies dangerous design flaws that have led to 3 official recalls, 3 federal investigations, and over 670 complaints as of 2025, according to NHTSA.

Here’s one of the most shocking and annoying issues: you can remove the ignition key while the car is still in gear. This issue violates basic federal safety laws and, even worse, creates the “perfect” scenario for a rollover accident — with kids, pets, or pedestrians directly in harm’s way.

Another major problem is the seat height adjuster bolt falling out. Indeed, one of our members was cruising the freeway and suddenly felt his seat drop out from under him; a collision could have happened. The fact that over 400,000 vehicles were recalled because of this issue proved that it was a mass-scale failure rather than an isolated incident.

To make matters worse, there’s also the steering issue, which was serious enough to trigger a federal investigation. In certain vehicles, the steering gear could experience a momentary spike in effort, particularly after driving in a straight line at highway speeds for 30 minutes or more. 

The root cause is likely due to poor grease application during manufacturing. Though General Motors (GM) attempted to fix this with a special service program, it’s telling that the issue couldn’t even be corrected via software for older models like this 2012 year — simply because their systems couldn’t handle the upgrade.

2014 Chevy Equinox

Let us stop you right there if you’re considering a 2014 Chevy Equinox.

So far, its biggest issue is the windshield wiper failure. The ball joints are prone to rust and corrosion as water and debris can easily sneak into the mechanism, and over time, they wear down to the point that the wiper arms lose connection and stop moving altogether.

Our tests revealed that these wipers could completely fail while driving through snow, sleet, or heavy rain. In fact, General Motors had to recall over 681,000 units to get to the root of this defect.

The PCV system (Positive crankcase ventilation) is another headache for the 2.4L engine in this Equinox model. Its vent hole freezes shut when temperatures drop (especially in freezing conditions), and the pressure forces oil out through the rear main seal. 

If you don’t catch it in time, your engine will run dry and seize up, leaving you with unexpected repair bills! Even worse, many owners who had already paid thousands to fix the issue found it happened again later because the root cause wasn’t fixed.

2015 Chevy Equinox

A closer look under the hood reveals several persistent and potential issues that should make you think twice. 

Like the 2014 model, this 2015 SUV also faces major issues regarding the windshield wiper system. Specifically, GM had to issue a recall due to defective front wiper transmission assemblies that were prone to failure, especially during bad weather. 

More than once, our members reported that the wipers suddenly stopped while driving through rain or snow and left them blind on the road. The root cause was poor design: water and debris could enter the wiper mechanism and wear down critical ball joints, which eventually caused complete detachment. 

Then comes the issue with the engine and fuel system. The high-pressure fuel pump in the 2015 Equinox has a tendency to malfunction, which in some cases causes all the engine oil to leak out (Yes, all of it). The result is a chain reaction of mechanical failures, from fouled spark plugs to complete engine seizure.

And though not too widespread, some owners did report that their SUVs burn through oil at an alarming rate, sometimes without any warning lights ever coming on. By the time drivers notice something is wrong, the damage has already been done: warped cylinder heads, blown head gaskets, stretched or broken timing chains, and ultimately total engine failure. 

5 Common Issues with Chevy Equinox

As you can see, the following problems with Chevy Equinox occur in more than just one model in the entire lineup: 

• Engine Problems: A recurring complaint across multiple model years involves severe engine issues, particularly in the 2.4L models. Faulty components like the high-pressure fuel pump or a frozen PCV vent can cause the engine to lose oil rapidly, often without triggering any dashboard warning lights.
• Electrical Failures: A fair share of older Equinox vehicles, such as the 2007 model, are plagued by erratic electrical behavior. Problems often stem from a faulty Engine Control Module (ECM), causing sudden surges or stalls in busy road traffic.
• Airbag Malfunctions: Several years report chronic airbag system issues. A common complaint is the “Service Passenger Airbag” warning message, which appears even when someone is seated in the passenger seat. It indicates the system is failing to recognize occupancy and may not deploy in a collision.
• Windshield Wiper Defects: Corrosion-prone ball joints allow water and debris to compromise the wiper mechanism, causing it to fail completely while driving in rain or snow. The fact that GM recalled hundreds of thousands of units to address this issue further highlights how widespread and dangerous it is.
• Steering and Suspension Issues: Certain models suffer from inconsistent steering performance due to poor lubrication during manufacturing. Drivers report sudden stiffness or loss of steering control after extended highway driving. On top of that, loose or missing seat adjuster bolts cause the driver’s seat to shift unexpectedly, which is extremely hazardous at high speeds.

Still need help finding a reliable model for smooth rides while avoiding a fair share of issues? Contact us for more advice on Equinox performance, fuel economy, modern features, annual repair costs, and more!