Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has 685 owner complaints filed with NHTSA; the most, 355, concern the engine. Its fuel economy is 19 to 26 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $12,490 to $17,100 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall. There are 3 recall campaigns, covering the electrical system, transmission and drivetrain, seats, and others, which may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
19–26 mpgcombined; city 16–22, highway 23–31; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,490–$17,100U.S. average; Ohio $11,160–$15,280 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2012 Equinox. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 685 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Equinox. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
355
3
3
0
Visibility/wiper
121
0
0
2
Power train
84
1
1
1
Electrical system
70
1
1
1
Fuel/propulsion system
54
0
1
0
Unknown or other
53
0
1
0
Steering
36
0
1
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
26
1
0
0
Structure
26
2
0
2
Air bags
19
9
0
6
Vehicle speed control
18
0
0
0
Service brakes
12
1
0
1
17 more parts
Suspension
12
2
0
0
Wheels
11
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
8
0
0
0
Visibility
7
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
6
1
0
1
Seats
5
1
0
0
Tires
4
0
0
0
Seat belts
3
0
0
0
Back over prevention
2
0
0
0
Equipment
2
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
2
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
0
0
0
Child seat
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Parking brake
1
0
0
1
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Equinox over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Electrical system: ignition; Power train: automatic transmission
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.
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.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,847 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 Equinox, the latest on Sep 4, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (759), electrical system (352), engine and engine cooling (228), engine (164), power train (121).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 Equinox.
See used 2012 Chevrolet Equinoxs for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax
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Specs
EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Equinox Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
22 / 31 / 26
Equinox Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 26
Equinox All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
20 / 28 / 23
Equinox All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
20 / 28 / 23
Equinox Front-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 24 / 20
Equinox Front-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
17 / 24 / 20
Equinox All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
16 / 23 / 19
Equinox All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data