Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain
Head-to-head reliability comparison from 16,470real NHTSA consumer complaints. Year-by-year breakdown, shared problems, crash & fire rates.
Which is more reliable, Chevrolet Equinox or GMC Terrain?
Verdict from 16,470 NHTSA complaints
GMC Terrain wins this comparison overall. GMC Terrain comes out ahead on 1 of 4 reliability metrics — including a 17% lower complaint rate. The Chevrolet Equinox edges ahead on overall severity score. Both models share the same most-reported issue: engine problems.
Head-to-Head Metrics
Lower is better on every metric. Bar length = relative magnitude. ✓ = winner.
GMC Terrain wins by 17%
Within 5% — statistical tie
Within 5% — statistical tie
Chevrolet Equinox wins by 1653%
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Official NCAP star ratings — government crash test data. Most recent rated model year.
Chevrolet Equinox
2026 model yearGMC Terrain
2026 model yearSource: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Lower star = higher injury risk in that crash type.
Complaint Volume — Year by Year
Sales-volume data not available for both models — showing raw complaint counts. Higher-volume models will appear higher even when reliability is comparable.
Most Reported Problems
Top component complaints for each model. Identical bar lengths = both have the same recurring issue.
Year-by-Year Head-to-Head
Lower is better. Click either model column to see that year's full breakdown.
| Year | Chevrolet Equinox | GMC Terrain | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,118 | 425 | Terrain |
| 2011 | 1,133 | 556 | Terrain |
| 2012 | 941 | 498 | Terrain |
| 2013 | 980 | 483 | Terrain |
| 2014 | 691 | 385 | Terrain |
| 2015 | 840 | 380 | Terrain |
| 2016 | 485 | 174 | Terrain |
| 2017 | 363 | 179 | Terrain |
| 2018 | 547 | 312 | Terrain |
| 2019 | 396 | 277 | Terrain |
| 2020 | 429 | 261 | Terrain |
| 2021 | 107 | 49 | Terrain |
| 2022 | 198 | 54 | Terrain |
| 2023 | 114 | 50 | Terrain |
| 2024 | 86 | 59 | Terrain |
| 2025 | 274 | 19 | Terrain |
| 2026 | 58 | 17 | Terrain |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain — the most common buyer questions, answered from NHTSA data.
Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Equinox or the GMC Terrain?
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GMC Terrain wins this comparison overall. GMC Terrain comes out ahead on 1 of 4 reliability metrics — including a 17% lower complaint rate. The Chevrolet Equinox edges ahead on overall severity score. Both models share the same most-reported issue: engine problems. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Should I buy a Chevrolet Equinox or a GMC Terrain?
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On reliability data alone, the GMC Terrain is the safer bet — but the actual condition of the specific car matters far more than the model average. Check the VIN of any vehicle you're considering for accident history, title issues, and odometer rollbacks.
What problems do the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain share?
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Top complaints for the Chevrolet Equinox: Engine Problems, Wipers & Visibility, Electrical Faults. Top complaints for the GMC Terrain: Engine Problems, Transmission / Drivetrain, Wipers & Visibility. Both models share engine problems as their top reported issue. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
Which has fewer NHTSA complaints, the Chevrolet Equinox or the GMC Terrain?
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Across all model years, the Chevrolet Equinox has 12,292 NHTSA complaints and the GMC Terrain has 4,178. Normalized for sales volume (complaints per 10,000 vehicles sold), the Chevrolet Equinox has the lower complaint rate. Raw counts can mislead — a 2× more popular model will naturally collect 2× more complaints. Detailed normalized comparison: vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/compare/chevrolet/equinox/vs/gmc/terrain
Which is safer in a crash, the Chevrolet Equinox or the GMC Terrain?
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Crash-involvement rate from NHTSA complaints: Chevrolet Equinox 4.5% vs GMC Terrain 4.5% — the GMC Terrain has the lower crash rate. NHTSA NCAP star ratings (frontal, side, rollover) for both models are also shown on the comparison page. Note: the per-VIN history matters more than the model average — a salvage-title car of any model carries higher crash exposure than the median.
Does the Chevrolet Equinox or the GMC Terrain have more fires?
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Fire-involvement rate based on NHTSA complaints: Chevrolet Equinox 1.10% vs GMC Terrain 1.10%. The GMC Terrain has the lower reported fire rate. Fire complaints are a relatively rare but important safety signal — they often correlate with electrical-system or fuel-system defects. Check specific recall campaigns at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/chevrolet/equinox and vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/gmc/terrain
What years of the Chevrolet Equinox are worse than the GMC Terrain?
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The comparison page renders a year-by-year head-to-head table — for each model year (where both models have data), it shows complaint count or per-10K rate side by side and marks which model fares better that year. Buyers cross-shopping a specific model year should always check the year-level VinItel pages: vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/chevrolet/equinox/{year} and vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/gmc/terrain/{year}.
Where does this Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain comparison data come from?
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All complaint, crash, fire, and fatality data comes from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) consumer-complaint database — the same source insurance regulators and the federal government use. NCAP star ratings come from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. Sales-volume normalization (per 10K sold) uses US annual vehicle sales. Data refreshes every 6 hours. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
Related Reliability Comparisons
Other head-to-head matchups buyers cross-shopping the Equinox or Terrain also look at:
Comparison data refreshed 2026-05-04 from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.·Source: NHTSA ODI
A model average can't see the car you're buying.
Even the GMC Terrain has cars with hidden accidents, salvage titles, and odometer rollbacks. Check the VIN before you buy — full report $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Deep-dive into either model: