YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 38 brake complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, about 6% of its 685 total complaints for the year. Two crashes and one injury were reported, with a median failure mileage of 67,000 miles. No brake-related recalls are on file for this year. 7 of the 38 brakes complaints for this model year mention the “Service ESC / StabiliTrak” warning.

Brakes complaints
38
6% of 685
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
67,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Some owners report the brake pedal feeling hard to press and unresponsive during low-speed stops, in one case leading to a collision.
  • Stabilitrak warnings paired with ABS light activation are reported, sometimes accompanied by loss of vehicle control.
  • Owners describe intermittent illumination of the ABS, airbag, and stabilitrak lights along with a reduction in engine power until the vehicle is restarted.
  • At least one owner reported the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly while parked, resulting in injury.
  • A separate report describes brakes failing to respond at highway speed with no dealer-confirmed cause found.

When 2012 Chevrolet Equinox brake complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 13, 2012, latest Mar 14, 2026.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2012Jun 2015May 2017Jul 2018Nov 2018May 2019Sep 2020Mar 2026
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2012 to Mar 2026; peak May 2014 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Equinox model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005112 (18%)
  2. 200698 (14%)
  3. 200785 (12%)
  4. 200858 (16%)
  5. 200915 (16%)
  6. 201065 (8%)
  7. 201177 (10%)
  8. 201238 (6%)
  9. 201332 (4%)
  10. 201426 (5%)
  11. 201530 (4%)
  12. 201612 (3%)
  13. 201711 (4%)
  14. 2018139 (34%)
  15. 201983 (28%)
  16. 2020112 (36%)
  17. 20217 (7%)
  18. 20226 (3%)
  19. 202315 (16%)
  20. 202413 (16%)
  21. 202527 (12%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA lists 38 brake-related complaints for the 2012 Equinox, which is about 6% of the 685 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
No related recalls are listed in the data for brakes on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2012 Equinox?
The median mileage at failure for brake-related complaints is 67,000 miles.
Have brake issues caused crashes or injuries on the 2012 Equinox?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 1 injury linked to brake complaints on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, with no fires reported.
Is the 2012 Equinox worse for brake complaints than other years?
The 2012 model's 6% brake complaint share is lower than 2010 (8%) and 2011 (10%), but higher than several later years like 2016 and 2017, and far below the 2018-2020 spike.

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.