2010 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Part of Generation 2 — 2010–2017.

20092011
Complaints
1,118
per 10K Sold
74.5
US Sales
149,979
Crashes
24
Fires
13
Injuries
30
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2010 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1271 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:86,022 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:6
#2173 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:83,911 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#3132 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:115,570 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox.

Engine Problems
271
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Avg Miles
86,022
Transmission / Drivetrain
173
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
83,911
Wipers & Visibility
132
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
115,570
Electrical Faults
78
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
61,524
Airbags
54
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,985
Electronic Stability Control
49
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
93,009
Steering Defects
43
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
53,150
Fuel System
32
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
140,694
Unintended Acceleration
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
84,276
Brakes
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
91,487
Engine & Cooling
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,619
Gasoline Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,392
Body Structure
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
83,277
Visibility
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
37,694
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,567
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
83,394
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,341
Suspension Failures
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,515
Wheel Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,171
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
46,276
Seat Belt Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
103,010
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
10,840
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,197
Latches / Locks
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~422,700 vehicles.

16V502000Electrical System:ignition · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~8,367 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

14V447000Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust
~414,333 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Other Chevrolet Equinox Years

2010 Chevrolet Equinox — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has 1,118 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 271 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (271 complaints, avg 86,022 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (173 complaints, avg 83,911 mi); Wipers & Visibility (132 complaints, avg 115,570 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,350 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox include 24 crash-related reports, 13 fire reports, 30 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 422,700 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Equinox reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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