Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?

No, the two are effectively tied. Both rate good. The Equinox has fewer owner complaints for the number sold, at 3.7 per 10,000 against 8.9 for the Tucson. The Tucson has lower repair costs and fewer major repairs. Neither has a clear overall edge.

Which has more recalls, the Equinox or the Tucson?

The Equinox has more. Federal recall records show 32 recalls across nine model years for the Equinox and 23 for the Tucson. Recall counts do not show severity, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Which costs less to repair, the Equinox or the Tucson?

The Tucson costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $426 a year against $537 for the Equinox, roughly $555 less over five years. A Tucson repair is also less likely to be major, at 10% versus 18%.

What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Tucson?

Engine trouble leads the Tucson's complaints. Owners report oil disappearing between changes, often around 70,000 to 85,000 miles, and some dipsticks come up dry. Catalytic converters clog, and several engines fail outright. Dealers typically run an oil consumption test before considering a replacement engine.

What goes wrong with the Chevrolet Equinox brakes?

Owners describe a brake pedal that sinks to the floor while driving, with stopping power dropping sharply and brake, ABS, and ESC warnings lighting up. This area has 24 crash-linked complaints. One dealer traced a case to a defective ABS valve kit, and owners report weeks of waiting on parts.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Equinox

Good

Hyundai Tucson

Good

Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Tucson come out effectively tied on reliability. The Tucson is cheaper to repair, with fewer major repairs, but it draws far more complaints for the number sold. The Equinox has the reverse profile, plus serious brake complaints. Pick based on which risks you can accept.

How Do the Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Tucson Generations Compare?

Most used Equinox shoppers are looking at the third generation, which ran from the 2018 model year through 2024. It received a refresh for 2022, so the years before and after that update are not identical cars. The two weakest years, 2018 and 2020, both fall in this generation, and 2023 is one of the strongest. The fourth generation began with the 2025 model year. Cars that new have had little time to collect complaints, so their short record says less than the longer history behind the 2018 to 2024 cars.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Tucson are evenly matched with a reliability score of 73/100.

Effectively tied. Both sit in good standing, and each wins on something different. The Tucson costs less per year to keep running and its repairs are less likely to be major. The Equinox draws far fewer complaints for the number sold, though it carries more recalls. Shop visits are identical at 0.3 per year. With no clear edge either way, the choice comes down to which failure you would rather risk: Equinox brake and fuel pump trouble, or Tucson oil loss and engine failure.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Tucson costs $111 less per year to repair
2Hyundai Tucson has 9 fewer total recalls
3Hyundai Tucson has 8% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

1Chevrolet Equinox

—

3Hyundai Tucson

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Equinox	Hyundai Tucson
Reliability Score	73/100	73/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	32	23
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.7	8.9
Annual Repair Cost	$537/yr	$426/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	10%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Tucson?

Brakes and engines mark the split. On the Equinox, the brake pedal sinks to the floor and warnings light up. That area has 24 crash-linked reports, the most of any problem on either car. Fuel pump failures that send the car into limp mode come next, along with dashboard glare on the windshield. Tucson complaints center on the engine: oil vanishing between changes, clogged catalytic converters, and outright engine failure. The Tucson also has a forward collision area with 12 crash-linked reports, where the system brakes hard with nothing ahead. The Equinox has no matching area.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Equinox	Hyundai Tucson
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	1.9Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.6Very Low	1.1Low
POWER TRAIN	0.4Very Low	1.3Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	1.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.3Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.3Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Equinox or Hyundai Tucson?

Repair costs favor the Tucson. Its estimated annual repair cost is $426, against $537 for the Equinox. That gap is $111 a year, or about $555 over five years. Both cars average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits per year, so neither sends you to the shop more often. The bigger difference is severity. An Equinox repair has an 18% chance of being major, while a Tucson repair has a 10% chance.

How Does Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Equinox	Hyundai Tucson	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	80/1004R / 3C	Chevrolet Equinox
2025	72/1005R / 288C	75/1006R / 251C	Hyundai Tucson
2024	76/1002R / 143C	77/1004R / 87C	Hyundai Tucson
2023	76/1003R / 70C	75/1002R / 142C	Chevrolet Equinox
2022	71/1005R / 137C	66/1003R / 433C	Chevrolet Equinox
2021	74/1004R / 75C	78/1001R / 58C	Hyundai Tucson
2020	70/1004R / 255C	73/1001R / 153C	Hyundai Tucson
2019	71/1004R / 273C	68/1001R / 349C	Chevrolet Equinox
2018	69/1005R / 382C	68/1001R / 362C	Chevrolet Equinox

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox scored 76/100 and the 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Equinox vs the Hyundai Tucson?

Pick the Tucson if you want lower running costs. Its estimated annual repair cost is lower and a repair is less likely to be major. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2022 and 2019, its weakest. Check the oil level and ask for service records before you buy, since oil use tends to show up around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. Pick the Equinox if you want fewer owner complaints for the number sold and can live with a higher repair bill. Target 2023, and avoid 2018 and 2020, its weakest years. Test the brakes on a long drive and look for power loss at highway speed, because the brake and fuel pump reports are the serious ones. Drive any Equinox in strong afternoon sun to see whether dashboard glare bothers you. Treat 2025 and 2026 cars cautiously on either model. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so a clean record there proves little.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?: No, the two are effectively tied. Both rate good. The Equinox has fewer owner complaints for the number sold, at 3.7 per 10,000 against 8.9 for the Tucson. The Tucson has lower repair costs and fewer major repairs. Neither has a clear overall edge.
Which has more recalls, the Equinox or the Tucson?: The Equinox has more. Federal recall records show 32 recalls across nine model years for the Equinox and 23 for the Tucson. Recall counts do not show severity, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which costs less to repair, the Equinox or the Tucson?: The Tucson costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $426 a year against $537 for the Equinox, roughly $555 less over five years. A Tucson repair is also less likely to be major, at 10% versus 18%.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Tucson?: Engine trouble leads the Tucson's complaints. Owners report oil disappearing between changes, often around 70,000 to 85,000 miles, and some dipsticks come up dry. Catalytic converters clog, and several engines fail outright. Dealers typically run an oil consumption test before considering a replacement engine.
What goes wrong with the Chevrolet Equinox brakes?: Owners describe a brake pedal that sinks to the floor while driving, with stopping power dropping sharply and brake, ABS, and ESC warnings lighting up. This area has 24 crash-linked complaints. One dealer traced a case to a defective ABS valve kit, and owners report weeks of waiting on parts.

More Chevrolet Equinox comparisons

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More Hyundai Tucson comparisons

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Decided between Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Tucson? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Chevrolet Equinox and Hyundai Tucson

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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