Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Subaru Forester?

No, the two are effectively tied. The Equinox has a lower yearly repair cost and fewer shop visits. The Forester has far fewer recalls and a smaller share of major repairs. Neither has a clear advantage, so the choice comes down to which known problems you would rather avoid.

Which has more recalls, the Equinox or the Forester?

The Equinox has more. Federal recall records show 32 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 13 for the Forester over the same span. That is a real gap, but it does not make the Equinox less reliable, since its repair costs run lower.

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

The Equinox costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $537 a year, against $632 for the Forester. That adds up to roughly $475 over five years. The Forester is less likely to need a major repair, at 13% versus 18%.

Do Subaru Foresters have windshield problems?

Yes, it is their biggest complaint area. Owners report cracks that appear with no impact, sometimes while parked and within the first few thousand miles. Some owners are on a second or third windshield. A cracked windshield can also disable the EyeSight system, and replacement is often quoted at over $1000.

What is the most serious Equinox problem?

Brake complaints are the most serious. Owners describe the pedal sinking to the floor with sharply reduced stopping power, and 24 of the brake complaints are crash-linked. Fuel pump failures are also notable, since they can send the car into limp mode at highway speed or leave it stalled.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Equinox

Good

More Reliable

Subaru Forester

Good

Reliability is effectively tied between the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester. The Equinox costs less to repair; the Forester has fewer recalls. The deciding factor is which risk you prefer: Equinox fuel pump and brake complaints, or Forester windshield cracking and start/stop stalling.

How Do the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester Generations Compare?

Most used Equinox shopping happens in the third generation, which ran from 2018 to 2024 with a refresh in 2022. Within it, 2018 and 2020 were weak and 2023 was strong. The fourth generation arrived in 2025, so 2025 and 2026 cars are new designs with little complaint history. On the Subaru side, the fifth generation covered 2019 to 2025 and was refreshed in 2022. Most used Foresters fall there, with 2019 weak and 2023 strong. A sixth generation also began in 2025. The 2018 Forester belonged to the older fourth generation, which was facelifted in 2017.

Verdict

The Subaru Forester is more reliable than the Chevrolet Equinox, scoring 74/100 vs 73/100.

Reliability is effectively tied, and neither car earns a clear edge. The Equinox is cheaper to keep running and has fewer unscheduled shop visits. The Forester has far fewer recalls and a lower chance that a repair turns major. Each carries a distinct weak spot: fuel pump and brake complaints on the Equinox, cracking windshields and start/stop stalling on the Forester. Pick based on which of those risks you can live with, not on a reliability gap.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Equinox costs $95 less per year to repair
2Subaru Forester has 19 fewer total recalls
3Subaru Forester has 5% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

3Chevrolet Equinox

—

3Subaru Forester

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Equinox	Subaru Forester
Reliability Score	73/100	74/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	32	13
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.7	8.7
Annual Repair Cost	$537/yr	$632/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	18%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester?

Safety systems and drivability drive the Equinox complaints. Brake pedals sink to the floor, and that area has 24 crash-linked complaints. Fuel pump trouble drops the car into limp mode at highway speed, and infotainment faults freeze the screen. The Forester's biggest problem is glass: windshields crack with no impact, sometimes within a few thousand miles, and a crack can disable EyeSight. Next comes the engine shutting off at stops when start/stop fails to restart. The Forester also shows 22 crash-linked air bag complaints, though the narratives describe unintended acceleration, not an air bag failure.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Equinox	Subaru Forester
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.3Very Low	3.1Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	1.2Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1.2Low
POWER TRAIN	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.5Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.2Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—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 Subaru Forester?

Repair bills run lower on the Equinox, at about $537 a year against $632 for the Forester. Over five years, that gap comes to roughly $475. The Equinox also needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, at 0.3 a year versus 0.4. The Forester wins on severity: 13% of its repairs are major, compared with 18% for the Equinox. Expect smaller, less frequent bills from the Equinox, but a higher chance that any single bill is a big one.

How Does Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Equinox	Subaru Forester	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	77/1001R / 0C	Chevrolet Equinox
2025	72/1005R / 288C	79/1002R / 48C	Subaru Forester
2024	76/1002R / 143C	78/1002R / 26C	Subaru Forester
2023	76/1003R / 70C	79/1001R / 61C	Subaru Forester
2022	71/1005R / 137C	77/1001R / 86C	Subaru Forester
2021	74/1004R / 75C	76/1000R / 196C	Subaru Forester
2020	70/1004R / 255C	71/1000R / 584C	Subaru Forester
2019	71/1004R / 273C	63/1003R / 825C	Chevrolet Equinox
2018	69/1005R / 382C	66/1003R / 475C	Chevrolet Equinox

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox scored 76/100 and the 2023 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 — 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 Subaru Forester?

Choose the Equinox if you want the lower repair bill and fewer shop visits. Target 2023, one of its strongest years, and be wary of 2018 and 2020, its weakest. Test the brakes carefully and ask whether the high-pressure fuel pump has been replaced, since owners report failures between roughly 28,000 and 60,000 miles. If you drive in strong afternoon sun, check the dash glare on a test drive. Choose the Forester if you want fewer recalls and less risk of a costly repair. Target 2023, also one of its strongest years. The 2025 model ranks well too, but it has had less time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Budget for a possible windshield replacement, quoted at over $1000 in owner reports. Ask about battery history as well, because start/stop stalling often traces back to a weak battery.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Subaru Forester?: No, the two are effectively tied. The Equinox has a lower yearly repair cost and fewer shop visits. The Forester has far fewer recalls and a smaller share of major repairs. Neither has a clear advantage, so the choice comes down to which known problems you would rather avoid.
Which has more recalls, the Equinox or the Forester?: The Equinox has more. Federal recall records show 32 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 13 for the Forester over the same span. That is a real gap, but it does not make the Equinox less reliable, since its repair costs run lower.
Which costs less to repair, the Equinox or the Forester?: The Equinox costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $537 a year, against $632 for the Forester. That adds up to roughly $475 over five years. The Forester is less likely to need a major repair, at 13% versus 18%.
Do Subaru Foresters have windshield problems?: Yes, it is their biggest complaint area. Owners report cracks that appear with no impact, sometimes while parked and within the first few thousand miles. Some owners are on a second or third windshield. A cracked windshield can also disable the EyeSight system, and replacement is often quoted at over $1000.
What is the most serious Equinox problem?: Brake complaints are the most serious. Owners describe the pedal sinking to the floor with sharply reduced stopping power, and 24 of the brake complaints are crash-linked. Fuel pump failures are also notable, since they can send the car into limp mode at highway speed or leave it stalled.

More Chevrolet Equinox comparisons

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Decided between Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester? 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 Subaru Forester

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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