YearToAvoid

2015 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

85/100

#4 most-complained of 21 Equinox years

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

The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox has 679 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 85 out of 100 — #4 highest of 21 Equinox model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is visibility & wipers (277 complaints, 41% of the total). Complaints report 24 crashes, 6 fires, and 19 injuries.

Complaints
679
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
24 / 6
Injuries / deaths
19 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy

Top 2015 Chevy Equinox problems

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

  1. Visibility & Wipers277 (41%)
  2. Engine239 (35%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain63 (9%)
  4. Other55 (8%)
  5. Electrical System46 (7%)
  6. Airbags37 (5%)
  7. Fuel System35 (5%)
  8. Brakes30 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (2%)
  10. Steering14 (2%)
2015 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter532015 Q32017 Q12018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12024 Q32026 Q1
833 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q2 (53).

2015 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V165000Mar 17, 2022Visibility & Wipers681,509 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.

    Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.

  2. NHTSA 15V666000Oct 16, 2015Airbags395 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.

2015 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
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.

2015 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
2013Avoid80751221.5
2014Caution55548121.5
2015Avoid85679223
2016Good40396123
2017Good25273023

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #4 of 21 among Equinox model years (Complaint Index 85/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 679 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most reported problem areas are visibility & wipers (277 complaints), engine (239 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (63 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, most recently reported 2022, covering visibility & wipers and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA rates the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800. 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.