YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

70/100

#7 most-complained of 21 Equinox years

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

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox has 308 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 70 out of 100 — #7 highest of 21 Equinox model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is brakes (112 complaints, 36% of the total). Complaints report 20 crashes, 7 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
308
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
20 / 7
Injuries / deaths
12 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2020 Chevy Equinox problems

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

  1. Brakes112 (36%)
  2. Engine107 (35%)
  3. Fuel System57 (19%)
  4. Other46 (15%)
  5. Electrical System45 (15%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain39 (13%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras17 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (6%)
  9. Steering13 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body9 (3%)
2020 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter382019 Q42020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
477 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (38).

2020 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V339000May 11, 2023Other668,187 vehicles

    Child seat:vehicle latch anchor

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    Risk: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.

  2. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  3. NHTSA 19V704000Oct 3, 2019Brakes166 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.

    Risk: Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.

See all 4 recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox →

2020 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
26 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.

2020 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
2018Caution65408527
2019Good35301427.5
2020Caution70308426
2021Best594427.5
2022Good30174627.5

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #7 of 21 among Equinox model years (Complaint Index 70/100, verdict: Caution). It has 308 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (112 complaints), engine (107 complaints), and fuel system (57 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 13,395 miles.
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, most recently reported 2023, covering other, transmission & powertrain, brakes, and fuel system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA rates the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox at 26 MPG combined (23.5 city / 29.5 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.