YearToAvoid

2009 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#21 most-complained of 21 Equinox years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Chevrolet Equinox has 94 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #21 highest of 21 Equinox model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is airbags (26 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 6 injuries.

Complaints
94
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17 city / 24 hwy

Top 2009 Chevy Equinox problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags26 (28%)
  2. Electrical System24 (26%)
  3. Engine23 (24%)
  4. Brakes15 (16%)
  5. Fuel System12 (13%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain10 (11%)
  7. Other7 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers6 (6%)
  10. Steering5 (5%)
2009 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter122009 Q42012 Q22013 Q42015 Q12016 Q22017 Q42019 Q12020 Q4
138 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q1 (12).

2009 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Equinox years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Caution50685419.5
2008Best20370019
2009Best094019.5
2010Avoid90784321.5
2011Avoid95782319.5

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #21 of 21 among Equinox model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 94 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (26 complaints), electrical system (24 complaints), and engine (23 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 79,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA rates the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox at 19.5 MPG combined (17 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.