Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 685 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V502000 Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V447000 Seat Height Adjuster Bolt may Fall out NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V511000 TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM/FMVSS 138 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 355 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 121 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has a relatively high number of complaints, especially concerning engine issues, and a few recall campaigns. This suggests a below-average reliability. The existing data is limited, making predictions somewhat uncertain.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 70,000–110,000 miles | $1,200–$4,000 | very common |
| Visibility/Wiper | 30,000–60,000 miles | $100–$400 | common |
| Power Train | 60,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$3,500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
- Cabin air filter replacement
- Coolant replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light
- Unusual engine noises
- Transmission slipping
- Wiper motor failures
- Dimming or flickering lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.