RoadVitals

2015 Chevrolet Equinox

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
679
+1 complaint in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Mar 17, 2022
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
30
19 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 679 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, most frequently naming the visibility, engine and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1,578 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Mar 17, 2022
681,509 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
The risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.
General Motors, LLCManufacturer number N212352530View on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Oct 16, 2015
395 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 01320View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA19005ClosedEngineering Analysis

Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative

Opened Dec 13, 2019
Closed Nov 28, 2022

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

VISIBILITYLed to recall 22V165000
RQ18002ClosedRecall Query

Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure

Opened Nov 2, 2018
Closed Dec 19, 2019

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

VISIBILITY

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2026

1. High Pressure Fuel Pump, and yes. 2. Car will stall out unless I put it into neutral, shakes on shut down and sometimes starts scary fast. With the car caring my children in a busy town this is a HUGE safety hazard 3. No, but has been inspected by multiple mechanics. Got a tune up in May of 2026 problem subsided and back now. Numerous people have problems with this specific model of car and the HPFP. 4.PO0172 code, but that is the only code that has been persistent. No other known problems with the car. I have reached out to GM because there is no recall on my VIN number for the High Pressure Fuel Pump, but numerous Facebook groups for "Equinox Problems" have this issue and I would consider that a manufacturing problem of these Models (any year). Some people with the 2010 models had recalls, some newer but I have the same EXACT issue they are having but no Recall as of yet. I just want my issues to be known and addressed

NHTSA ID
11754559
Incident
Apr 4, 2026
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 2, 2026

Front turn indicator lights have gone out. Unfortunately, due to Chevy's vehicle design, the bulbs can only be replaced by pulling the bumper off in total and replacing bulbs. Then, putting entire bumper system back. This information was given to me by Chevrolet of Issaquah AND confirmed by Bonita Point Repair in Chula Vista California.

NHTSA ID
11741594
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Engine
Filed May 19, 2026

Rear main seal has blown three times since I purchased my vehicle from Carvana. I’ve pulled the engine out myself as I cannot afford another $3,500 at the shop. I’m a single income household that makes too much for financial assistance. The Chevy Equinox was the only vehicle in our price range. That was prior to the seal blowing, again.

NHTSA ID
11738827
Incident
May 18, 2026
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking abnormally before unintendedly decelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with excessive oil consumption; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ID
11734409
Incident
Feb 25, 2026
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 9, 2026

Burns Oil so bad I don't need to change oil. I put about a quart of oil in it a week. Car runs rough. Sometimes overheating and sounds loud when low on oil. This occurs on a consistent regular basis since aquiring in October 2024

NHTSA ID
11730208
Incident
Nov 1, 2024
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling and ticking sound coming from under the hood. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with excessive oil consumption, and the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the engine oil was topped off occasionally. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11728612
Incident
Apr 5, 2025
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2026

Car uses excessive amount of oil! We have had the timing replaced and now it’s stating the P0420 catalyst system efficiency below threshold bank 1.

NHTSA ID
11725242
Incident
Mar 13, 2026
Filed Feb 27, 2026

While driving my 2015 Chevrolet Equinox (2.4L Ecotec) in active traffic, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of oil pressure with no prior warning, displaying a 'Stop Vehicle' message. The sudden loss of engine power created an immediate collision risk. Independent diagnosis confirmed the engine lost all oil. This is a known defect (GM Special Coverage #14882) where a frozen/clogged PCV orifice causes excessive crankcase pressure, blowing out seals (like the rear main seal and VVT solenoids) and dumping the oil. I called GM, who told me I needed the vehicle to be towed to a local dealership (White Allen Chevrolet) refused to perform the GM-mandated Manometer Vacuum Test to confirm the PCV defect, attempting to conceal the root cause of the engine failure. This is the only test I asked them to perform, and I provide my GM case number and the TPS number. This known PCV design flaw creates a sudden, highly dangerous stalling condition at highway speeds. It had been very cold in Dayton for over a week, something known to cause this problem.

NHTSA ID
11720949
Incident
Jan 3, 2026

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT5099J

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

PIP6113

This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172. The diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump body markings to confirm it is an original manufacture part. If it is not an original manufacture part, they should install one and evaluate the vehicle.

PIT3271Q

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

PIP6104

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

PIP4902V

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIP4902U

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Equinox by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000
2026581049.0
20252120043.6
2024711051.1
2023913055.9
20221605062.9
2021884058.7
20202994060.9
20192954059.1
20183965058.7
20172710047.8
20163921252.1
2015Viewing6792255.4
20145451249.3
20137492047.6
20126823356.2
20117813357.1
20107843354.6
2009940036.9
20083700033.5
20076854046.3
20066950034.3
20056381043.2

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.