2010 Chevrolet Equinox Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 83 electrical system complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 11% of that year's 784 total complaints. Owners report failures at a median 59,000 miles, including two fires and one crash. The related recall on file (16V502000) actually covers 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Malibu key cylinder issues, not this Equinox directly.
- Electrical System complaints
- 83
- 11% of 784
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 59,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Center console controls for radio, heater/AC, defroster, and door locks intermittently go dead or lock up, sometimes returning to normal after restart.
- Vehicle loses radio and heater function briefly on startup, then works again after the engine is turned off and restarted.
- Doors fail to unlock using the key fob, interior switch, or manual attempt after the vehicle is parked and shut off.
- Instrument panel gauges and lighting go dark or flicker, with a transport mode warning appearing on startup in some cases.
- Airbag warning light and radio flashing recur repeatedly even after dealers say the issue has been fixed and parts replaced.
- One owner reported the vehicle made noise, lost power while driving, and then caught fire after pulling over.
When 2010 Chevrolet Equinox electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 14, 2010, latest Dec 11, 2024.
Electrical System recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
- NHTSA 16V502000Jul 5, 2016Electrical System8,367 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Electrical System complaints by Equinox model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
- NHTSA lists 83 electrical system complaints for the 2010 model year, which is 11% of the 784 total complaints filed for that year.
- At what mileage do 2010 Equinox electrical problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints is 59,000 miles.
- Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
- The related recall on file, campaign 16V502000, covers the electronic park lock lever on 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, not the 2010 Equinox specifically.
- Did the 2010 Equinox electrical problems cause any crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data tied to this component shows 1 crash, 2 fires, and 1 injury among the reported complaints.
- What kinds of electrical failures do owners describe most on the 2010 Equinox?
- Owners most often describe center console and instrument panel malfunctions, radio/heater dropouts on startup, and door lock or unlock failures using the key fob or interior switches.