YearToAvoid

2021 Chevrolet Equinox Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, 18% of its 94 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure is 64,500, and no related recall is on file.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
17
18% of 94
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
64,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power with an engine-power-reduced warning, causing the vehicle to drop from highway speed to around 30 mph or fail to accelerate past 25 mph.
  • Several drivers describe shuddering or hesitation when accelerating at low speeds, such as around 20 mph, sometimes linked by an independent mechanic to a service bulletin.
  • Multiple complaints describe severe wobbling or vibration at speeds between 30 and 50 mph, traced to a faulty front half shaft or propeller shaft.
  • One owner reported the transmission stalling and jumping gears randomly, with the vehicle failing to shift correctly.
  • A newly purchased vehicle reportedly felt rough right out of the garage at just over 800 miles, before further issues developed.
  • One driver reported the vehicle turning off unexpectedly while in a turn lane and being unable to restart, with a check engine light staying on.

When 2021 Chevrolet Equinox transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 29, 2021, latest Jul 18, 2026.

2021 Chevrolet Equinox transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2021Nov 2022Feb 2023Aug 2024Aug 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2023 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Equinox model year

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

  1. 2010182 (23%)
  2. 2011145 (19%)
  3. 201284 (12%)
  4. 201380 (11%)
  5. 201440 (7%)
  6. 201563 (9%)
  7. 201626 (7%)
  8. 201732 (12%)
  9. 201866 (16%)
  10. 201936 (12%)
  11. 202039 (13%)
  12. 202117 (18%)
  13. 202210 (6%)
  14. 20235 (5%)
  15. 202411 (14%)
  16. 202534 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Equinox, which is 18% of the 94 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2021 Equinox transmission issues?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2021 Equinox.
At what mileage do 2021 Equinox transmission problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 64,500 miles.
What kind of transmission symptoms do owners report?
Owners describe shuddering during acceleration, sudden power loss with a reduced-power warning, and severe wobbling or vibration linked to faulty half shafts or propeller shafts.
Have these transmission issues caused crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to this problem area for the 2021 Equinox.

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.