Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Subaru Forester?

Based on our data, the Subaru Forester is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?

The Chevrolet Equinox has more recalls (32) compared to the Subaru Forester (13). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Equinox has a lower complaint rate at 3.7 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 8.7 for the Subaru Forester. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Chevrolet Equinox is cheaper to maintain at $537/year versus $632/year for the Subaru Forester.

Is the Chevrolet Equinox or Subaru Forester safer?

Both the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-05-15

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Equinox

Good

More Reliable

Subaru Forester

Good

Choosing between the Chevrolet Equinox and the Subaru Forester? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Subaru Forester currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 72/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester Generations Compare?

As of 2023, the Chevrolet Equinox is in its third generation, which began in 2018 and received a facelift in 2022. This generation is approaching the end of its cycle, suggesting that any initial reliability issues have likely been addressed, making it a more stable choice for buyers. The Subaru Forester, meanwhile, is in its fifth generation, which started in 2019 and was refreshed in 2022. Like the Equinox, the Forester is in the latter part of its generation, indicating that its platform is mature and potentially more reliable. Both vehicles, having gone through mid-cycle updates, offer improved features and resolved early-generation issues, making them solid options for those prioritizing reliability.

Verdict

The Subaru Forester is more reliable than the Chevrolet Equinox, scoring 74/100 vs 72/100.

The Subaru Forester edges out the Chevrolet Equinox in reliability with a slightly higher average score of 77/100 compared to the Equinox's 76/100. Despite the Forester's higher owner complaints rate of 8.7 per 10,000 sold, it has a significantly lower recall count of 13 over nine years, indicating fewer widespread issues. The Equinox, with a lower complaint rate of 3.7 per 10,000 sold, faces more recalls at 32 total, suggesting potential long-term reliability concerns. Additionally, the Equinox offers a lower estimated annual repair cost of $537, compared to the Forester's $632, making it a more budget-friendly option for maintenance.

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	72/100	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	2	6

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

The Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester both experience significant reliability issues, but they differ in the areas most affected. The Equinox has a notable number of complaints related to its service brakes, with 250 complaints and 24 crash-linked incidents, indicating a potential safety concern. Meanwhile, the Forester's most frequent issue lies in its visibility/wiper system, accumulating 819 complaints, though these are less frequently linked to crashes. However, the Forester exhibits a higher number of crash-linked complaints in its vehicle speed control and air bags categories, with 26 and 22 incidents respectively, suggesting these may be critical safety concerns.

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	0.4Very 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
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.2Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—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?

Based on industry estimates, the Chevrolet Equinox offers a lower annual repair cost of $537 compared to the Subaru Forester's $632, translating to a $95 difference each year, or $475 over five years. However, the Equinox has a slightly lower repair frequency at 0.3 visits per year compared to the Forester's 0.4 visits, suggesting that the Forester might require more frequent attention. Additionally, the Equinox carries an 18% risk of major repairs, higher than the Forester's 13%. For cost-conscious buyers, the Equinox presents a lower upfront cost, but the Forester's reduced risk of major repairs might offer better long-term peace of mind.

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
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
2026(predicted)	75/100(predicted)	79/100(predicted)	Subaru Forester

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox scored 76/100 and the 2025 Subaru Forester scored 79/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Equinox vs the Subaru Forester?

If you prioritize minimal recalls and a slightly lower risk of major repairs, the Subaru Forester might be the better option for you. With a reliability score of 77/100, it has experienced only 13 recalls compared to the Chevrolet Equinox's 32. The Forester also boasts a lower major repair risk at 13%, which could provide peace of mind if long-term reliability is a key concern. On the other hand, if you are looking for a vehicle with lower annual repair costs and fewer owner complaints, consider the Chevrolet Equinox. It has an estimated annual repair cost of $537, which is lower than the Forester's $632. Additionally, the Equinox experiences fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold (3.7 compared to the Forester's 8.7), indicating a more satisfactory ownership experience for many drivers.

Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable than the Subaru Forester?: Based on our data, the Subaru Forester is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?: The Chevrolet Equinox has more recalls (32) compared to the Subaru Forester (13). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Equinox has a lower complaint rate at 3.7 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 8.7 for the Subaru Forester. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Chevrolet Equinox is cheaper to maintain at $537/year versus $632/year for the Subaru Forester.
Is the Chevrolet Equinox or Subaru Forester safer?: Both the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Chevrolet Equinox comparisons

Chevrolet Equinox vs GMC Terrain reliability Chevrolet Equinox vs Mazda CX-50 reliability Chevrolet Equinox vs KIA Sportage reliability Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Chevrolet Equinox reliability by year Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid

More Subaru Forester comparisons

Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4 reliability Subaru Forester vs Honda CR-V reliability Subaru Forester vs Mazda CX-50 reliability Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Tucson reliability Subaru Forester reliability by year Subaru Forester years to avoid

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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