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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 685 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 Chevrolet Equinox owner complaints

Owners have filed 685 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, describing incidents dated August 17, 2011 to September 20, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 361 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 127 complaints
  • Power Train 84 complaints
  • Electrical System 70 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 54 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 53 complaints

Of the 685 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 685 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11765702 · Filed

    We would like to know what kind of Airbag is mounted in the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox ? pertaining to the Detroit News Article ,September 5 2026 Page 3B = 11th Death tied to Chinese Air Bag made by Jillin Province Detiannuo Automotive System Co Ltd, known as DTN . 3 People were killed in a Hyundai ,10…

  • ODI #11765306 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. While the contact's daughter was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine shut off. The contact's daughter attempted to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle started. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle with several…

  • ODI #11761255 · Filed

    See attached document for complaint.

Read all 685 complaints

Owner-reported

2012 Chevrolet Equinox mileage at failure

494 of the 685 complaints on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
EngineMedian 95,000 milesMiddle half 70,000–120,000 milesBased on 247 complaints
Visibility/WiperMedian 90,000 milesMiddle half 70,000–115,000 milesBased on 100 complaints
Power TrainMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–115,000 milesBased on 57 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion SystemMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–90,000 milesBased on 35 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114

NHTSA #16V502000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported July 5, 2016 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 8,367 vehicles

Repair completion: 97.87% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 50490, 50491 · Owners notified October 14, 2016 · Vehicles built September 28, 2009 – May 31, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Height Adjuster Bolt may Fall out

NHTSA #14V447000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Power Adjust · NHTSA notice

Reported July 23, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 414,333 vehicles

Repair completion: 75.49% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14271 · Owners notified December 26, 2014 · Vehicles built April 26, 2011 – August 1, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM/FMVSS 138

NHTSA #11V511000 · Tires — Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems · NHTSA notice

Reported October 19, 2011 · GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Potentially affected: 33,964 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 11261 · Owners notified November 9, 2011 · Vehicles built July 18, 2011 – September 6, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM" (TPMS). THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.

Safety consequence

UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH. THE RESULTING CRASH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN ALSO RESULT IN PREMATURE OR IRREGULAR WEAR, POOR HANDLING, AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.

Manufacturer remedy

GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Notes

GM'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 11261.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Chevrolet Equinox model years

Check your 2012 Chevrolet Equinox VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Equinox at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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