2021 Chevrolet Equinox Reliability Report

Fuel pump failures make the car stall, refuse to start or drop into limp mode with little warning. Complaints name both the in-tank fuel pump module and the high-pressure fuel pump. One high-pressure pump failure started with a whine under acceleration at about 39,113 miles. Owners say a fuel pump recall covers some of these vehicles but not all, so others pay for the repair themselves. A separate report describes jerking and choking, traced to a large EVAP leak and the fuel tank pressure sensor.

Vibration and wobble under acceleration is linked to the front axles, which have a service bulletin. New tires do not fix it. Sharp turns from a stop can produce a grinding noise and a rumble-strip feel through the wheel. Dealers traced this to the electric steering gear, and the problem came back within months of a warranty replacement. Other complaints filed here describe the engine shutting off on highways, plus forward collision alert, lane assist and automatic high beams that stop working and resist dealer repairs.

Losing power brake assist is the most serious pattern. The pedal turns hard and stopping power nearly disappears, even at highway speed. Owners report replacing the brake booster vacuum parts more than once. Another complaint describes brakes that vibrate because the front rotors warped at about 21,000 miles, even though the pads looked almost new, and the dealer could not explain the overheating. A separate report says pulling the electric parking brake at highway speed made the car swerve hard. That owner blames the switch's spot next to the cupholders.

Airbags that did not deploy in a crash account for all 3 complaints, and every one involves a collision. The crashes include a driver's side impact at an intersection, a heavy front-end hit into the back of a pickup, and a passenger-side impact in a traffic circle. Owners say no warning light came on beforehand. Two people were hurt across these reports, one with a shoulder separation. None of the excerpts includes a dealer finding that explains why the airbags did not go off.

Water leaking into the cabin is the repeat problem. Owners find puddles on the front and rear floor mats after the car sits parked, and then white mold under the seats. Suspected sources include the moonroof, an A/C water hose and a failed luggage rack seal, the last found at about 68,000 miles. Dealers often cannot find the cause or offer no help. A separate report describes a front wheel coming off at 40 mph. The brakes could not stop the car, and the driver suffered a concussion.

A burst front tire and a large bubble on a rear tire account for two nearly identical reports. The blowout happened at low speed while pulling into a driveway. The third complaint is about an aftermarket replacement tire that turned out to be defective, and the seller would not help. Nothing in these reports points to a defect in the factory tires or wheels. With so few complaints, tires are a minor concern for this model year.

Poor protection in a crash is the concern in both reports, and each involves a collision and an injury. In a rear-end impact, the driver's seat belt did not hold, and the driver was thrown forward into the sun visor and later treated for neck pain and headaches. The other report focuses on slow brake response, chest bruising from the deploying airbag and a driver's door that would not open after the crash. Neither excerpt includes a diagnosis or repair.