repaired · 2018 Q1
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
2010 Chevrolet EquinoxProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 784 owner complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-447 the manufacturer reports only 75% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has problems
784 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
271Engine8 crash/fire/injury
182Power train2 crash/fire/injury
132Visibility/wiper
81Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
57Air bags
49Electronic stability control (ESC)
44Steering
32Fuel/propulsion system
32Vehicle speed control
17916 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 271 | 8 |
| Power train | 182 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 132 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 81 | 2 |
| Air bags | 57 | 13 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 49 | 0 |
| Steering | 44 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 32 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 2 |
| 16 other systems | 179 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Equinox recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q1
Front assembly: power adjust
Risk. If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
no report yet
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Risk. DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DEFROST SYSTEM CAN DECREASE YOUR VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
87kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 215 engine complaints. 63% were reported before 100,000 miles.
20under 30k miles136under 100k miles79100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
21 owners mentioned a cost$3,700median
Middle half: $1,600 – $6,000
Power train
14 owners mentioned a cost$4,075median
Middle half: $3,560 – $4,545
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other Equinox year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Equinox median. How we score
'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2010 Chevrolet Equinox safety ratings
2010 Chevrolet Equinox 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, and the recalls they led to.
- Front Wiper Transmission InoperativeLed to recall 22V-165
- Momentary Increased Steering EffortNo recall
- Windshield Wiper Transmission FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Equinox owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer for Technical Service Bulletin TSB #: 19-NA-065. While driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle lunged forward; the driver was able to pull over. While attempting to restart the vehicle, it…
Vehicle looses power and can very easily cause a bad wreck I've replaced multiple thing and it still does it I'm not sure what it is possibly the timing or something to do with camshaft
This 2010 Chevy Equinox has the 2.4 liter motor that is recalled in similar vehicles by Chevrolet due to the piston rings having “blow by”. We have had to carry a quart of oil because of the constant consumption of oil, which led to the catalytic converter getting clogged. Most recently while…
Own a 2010 Equinox?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.