UsedScore

2019 Chevrolet Equinox: Solid

Owners filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox in its first five years on the road, about 47 for every 100,000 sold: 0.7× the rate of a typical Equinox year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (39% of complaints, median 2,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.7×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Equinox year
Rank
4th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
161
first five years; 47 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
3rd generation, 2018–2024 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD

Photo: 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Engine39% · 63 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  2. Brakes19% · 30 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  3. Fuel and propulsion17% · 28 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  4. Electrical16% · 25 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  5. Powertrain12% · 20 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  6. Air bags4% · 6 complaints
  7. Speed control7% · 11 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  8. Steering3% · 5 complaints
  9. Driver assistance4% · 6 complaints
  10. Body and structure1% · 2 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners describe the brake pedal suddenly becoming hard to press, often with a "Service Brake Assist" warning, tracing back to a failed vacuum pump that can also damage engine components. Many say this caused frightening near-misses or crashes and required costly repairs, with several noting their vehicle wasn't included in a related recall.

Warning signs:
Many describe a sudden hard or stiff brake pedal, a "Service Brake Assist" or check engine warning, grinding, sputtering, or engine stalling before or during the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers and independent mechanics often diagnosed a failed vacuum pump, sometimes with damage to the camshaft, timing chain, or engine, and replaced the pump or engine parts; some owners were told their VIN was not covered by any recall.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 80,000 miles, among 21 complaints that give it

“My brake pedal was hard as a rock, and it would push down only about 2 or 3 inches with little to no effect.”

Engine

Owners describe the turbo or charge-air hose disconnecting while driving, triggering a sudden loss of power and a check engine light, sometimes repeatedly despite repairs. Some also report vacuum pump or camshaft failures requiring bigger engine repairs.

Warning signs:
Owners often hear a loud pop or bang, see the check engine light, and get a reduced-power message with the car unable to go above 15-55 mph.
What shops did:
Dealers typically reconnected or re-clipped the hose, sometimes replacing the hose, clamp, turbo, vacuum pump or camshaft, though several say the problem recurred.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 35,000 miles, among 61 complaints that give it

“The turbo cooler tube pops off when you accelerate. This causes the check engine light to come on and the vehicle to go into engine reduce power mode.”

Fuel and propulsion

Owners describe fuel system problems ranging from fuel leaks and tank fires to sudden stalling, loss of power, or rough running tied to fuel pump or injector failures. Repairs are often repeated or inconclusive, with some owners reporting the same issue recurring after service.

Warning signs:
Owners report smelling fuel or seeing fuel pooling under the vehicle, check engine or reduced power warning lights, hesitation, jerking, misfires, or rough idling before failures.
What shops did:
Dealers and mechanics replaced fuel pumps, injectors, oxygen sensors, EVAP canisters, or throttle body hoses, though some could not find or permanently resolve the cause.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 45,000 miles, among 17 complaints that give it

“Had towed to mechanic who found the direct injection high pressure fuel pump snapped off.”

“Could smell gas, looked under car saw gas dripping on driveway, coming from area where fuel tank is located”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 20V668000October 2020194,105 vehicles

    Power train: automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V667000September 2019301 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V184000March 2019120 vehicles

    Seats

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V576000August 2018210,628 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Chevrolet sent NHTSA 1,004 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2019 Equinox. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 22-NA-244 · May 2024 · Warranty extensionThis service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
  • 00-06-01-026R · June 2025This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
  • 23-NA-153 · May 2025The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
  • 15-NA-010 · May 2025This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
  • 25-NA-100 · April 2025This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on vehicles outside of a California Emissions State who move to and register their vehicle in a California Emission State may be…
  • 25-NA-052 · March 2025This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
  • 25-NA-065 · March 2025This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
  • 21-NA-043 · January 2025This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.

All 2019 Equinox bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
Owners filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox in its first five years on the road, about 47 for every 100,000 sold: 0.7× the rate of a typical Equinox year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Equinox years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2019 Equinox problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (39%), the brakes (19%) and the fuel or propulsion system (17%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, the most recent in October 2020 (power train). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Chevrolet. The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox on NHTSA.gov · How we rate