YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#6 most-complained of 16 Equinox years

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox ranks 6th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 67 and 685 complaints logged. Engine problems dominate at 54% of complaints, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Equinox years.

Complaints
685
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
16 / 6
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
18.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2012 Chevrolet Equinox problems

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

  1. Engine372 (54%)
  2. Visibility & Wipers127 (19%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain84 (12%)
  4. Electrical System74 (11%)
  5. Other58 (8%)
  6. Fuel System54 (8%)
  7. Brakes38 (6%)
  8. Steering36 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body31 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires25 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end and turning collisions, leaving drivers to hit the steering wheel or dashboard.
  • The front suspension reportedly dropped suddenly at low speed, causing loss of brake and steering response and a crash into another vehicle.
  • Owners describe a fire breaking out under the vehicle, in one case starting near the front and producing black smoke and flames while driving on the highway.
  • The fuel pump failed at 90,000 miles, causing the check engine light to come on and the engine to stall at low speed.
  • Brakes reportedly stiffened and failed to stop the vehicle in time during a slow approach to a stop, resulting in a collision.
  • Seats broke loose from their floor brackets during a rear-impact crash, according to one report.
2012 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter542011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q42019 Q42021 Q42023 Q42025 Q4
926 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (54).

2012 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 14V447000Jul 23, 2014Structure & Body414,333 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:power adjust

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

    Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

  3. NHTSA 11V511000Oct 19, 2011Suspension, Wheels & Tires33,964 vehicles

    Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

    General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles, manufactured from july 18, 2011, through september 6, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 138, "tire pressure monitoring system" (tpms). The tire pressure monitoring system is designed to illuminate the tire pressure warning light when the pressure in a tire is 25% below the recommended cold tire pressure. On these vehicles, the light will not illuminate until the tire pressure is more than 25% below the recommended cold tire pressure.

    Risk: Underinflated tires can result in tire overloading and overheating, which could lead to a blowout and possible crash. The resulting crash could cause serious injury. Underinflated tires can also result in premature or irregular wear, poor handling, and poor fuel economy.

    Remedy: Gm dealers will update the body control module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 9, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,025
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.

2012 compared with other Equinox years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid87782221.5
2011Avoid93782319.5
2012Caution67685321.5
2013Avoid80751221.5
2014Caution53548121.5

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
Compared with other Equinox model years, 2012 ranks 6th worst out of 16 with a complaint index of 67 and 685 NHTSA complaints, earning a Caution verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 54% of complaints (372 of 685), with a median failure mileage of 87,263.5 miles.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Equinox, covering the electrical system, structure and body (power height adjuster), and suspension/wheels/tires.
How does the 2012 Equinox compare to other years?
The 2012 Equinox's complaint index of 67 is lower than 2010 (87), 2011 (93), and 2013 (80), but higher than most years from 2014 onward, such as 2017 (20) and 2021 (0).
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
The 2012 Equinox gets 21.5 mpg combined (18.5 city, 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025.

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.