What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?

The engine group has the most complaints at 361, then visibility and wipers at 121 and the power train at 84.

Has the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox been recalled?

Yes. The by-year fact shows 3 recalls for this model year. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

Owners filed 685 complaints with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show where owners ran into trouble and not a final grade.

What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?

See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.

Is the 2012 Equinox a good year compared with other years?

See the by-year comparison on this page, which lines up complaints and recalls for each year.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 685 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox^[1]. The engine group is named in 361 of them^[2].

685owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

19–26MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of this SUV. Here are the groups, biggest first.

Engine. 361 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the vehicle cutting out while driving or at a stop, rough idling, and the car starting on its own.
Visibility/Wiper. 121 complaints^[6]. Owners describe wipers that quit in heavy rain, a windshield that chips easily, and thick roof pillars that hide part of the view.
Power Train. 84 complaints^[7]. Owners describe sudden surges when pressing the gas, and gear changes that feel rough or drop into neutral.
Electrical System. 70 complaints^[8]. Owners describe flickering interior lights, a dim instrument panel, warning lights, and a car that restarts on its own.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 54 complaints^[9].
Unknown Or Other. 53 complaints^[10].
Steering. 36 complaints^[11].
Structure. 26 complaints^[12].

These are unverified reports sent by owners, and one complaint can name several parts.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2012 Equinox is necessarily included.

Electrical System › Ignition (16V502), July 2016. About 8,367 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust (14V447), July 2014. About 414,333 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems (11V511), October 2011. About 33,964 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Equinox FWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	17 / 24 / 20	$3,350
Equinox FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	22 / 31 / 26	$2,600
Equinox FWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	17 / 24 / 20	$3,350
Equinox AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive^[18]	20 / 28 / 23	$2,900
Equinox AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive^[19]	16 / 23 / 19	$3,550
Equinox AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[20]	16 / 23 / 19	$3,550
Equinox FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	22 / 31 / 26	$2,600
Equinox AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[22]	20 / 28 / 23	$2,900

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	4	4	5	4	17.4%
SUV FWD^[23]	4	4	5	4	19.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[24]	182 hp
2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 3.0L 6-cylinder^[25]	264 hp

How 2012 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Equinox model year. The 2012 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2005	638	1
2006	695	0
2007	685	4
2008	370	0
2009	94	0
2010	784	3
2011	782	3
2012	685	3
2013	751	2
2014	548	1
2015	680	2
2016	399	1
2017	276	0
2018	410	5
2019	306	4
2020	318	4
2021	100	4
2022	185	6
2023	99	3
2024	190	2
2025	400	6
2026	85	3
2027	1	0

NHTSA's counts for the Equinox show 685 complaints and 3 recalls for 2012^[3]. Among the 23 model years listed, 17 have fewer complaints than 2012 and 4 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (1) and the most are for 2010 (784)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2012 Equinox?

The complaint record for this model year is dominated by the engine group^[2]. Wiper and visibility trouble comes next^[6], followed by the power train^[7]. Some reports mention crashes and fires, so the safety side is worth a look before you buy^[1]. The counts are not adjusted for how many were sold, so treat them as a guide and not a score. A pre-purchase inspection that covers the engine and wipers is a smart step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?: The engine group has the most complaints at 361^[2], then visibility and wipers at 121^[6] and the power train at 84^[7].
Has the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox been recalled?: Yes. The by-year fact shows 3 recalls for this model year^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?: Owners filed 685 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show where owners ran into trouble and not a final grade.
What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?: See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.
Is the 2012 Equinox a good year compared with other years?: See the by-year comparison on this page, which lines up complaints and recalls for each year^[3].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Chevrolet Equinox

2010 784 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 782 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 this page
2013 751 complaints, 2 recalls
2014 548 complaints, 1 recall
2015 680 complaints, 2 recalls
2016 399 complaints, 1 recall
2017 276 complaints, 0 recalls
2018 410 complaints, 5 recalls

Compare all model years of the Chevrolet Equinox

Other Chevrolet models from 2012

2012 Chevrolet Colorado 42 complaints, 2 recalls
2012 Chevrolet Cruze 865 complaints, 7 recalls
2012 Chevrolet Malibu 907 complaints, 2 recalls
2012 Chevrolet Traverse 354 complaints, 5 recalls

All Chevrolet models

Similar cars from 2012: suvs

2012 BMW X6 32 complaints, 10 recalls
2012 Buick Enclave 132 complaints, 6 recalls
2012 Cadillac SRX 417 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 Ford Escape 619 complaints, 1 recall
2012 GMC Acadia 296 complaints, 5 recalls
2012 GMC Terrain 364 complaints, 4 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 685 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox (16 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 13 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
361 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 89,211). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Equinox model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Equinox FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
121 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 94,000). NHTSA vehicle records
84 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,340). NHTSA vehicle records
70 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
54 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 69,000). NHTSA vehicle records
53 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 83,298). NHTSA vehicle records
36 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,000). NHTSA vehicle records
26 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,875). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 16V502, filed July 5, 2016: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V447, filed July 23, 2014: Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust. NHTSA recall database
Recall 11V511, filed October 19, 2011: Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Equinox FWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Equinox FWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Equinox AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Equinox AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Equinox AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Equinox FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Equinox AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 19.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 182 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 3.0L 6-cylinder: rated 264 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox: problems, recalls and fuel economy