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FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has 5 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 399 owner complaints, and gets about 28 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.

FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

  • Engine 4-cyl 1.5L
  • Drive Front-Wheel Drive
  • Fuel Regular
  • Body Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

Should you worry?

Be careful

Serious flags in the public record. Read below, and verify recall work was done.

Caution

Are there open safety recalls?

5 open

Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.

Serious

What do owners report?

27 injuries reported

27 of 399 reports (~7%). On a high-volume model that alone isn’t unusual — look for patterns below.

Good

How did it score in crash tests?

5 out of 5 stars

5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.

Open recalls · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2018.

  • 20161recall
  • 20170recalls
  • 2018 · this car5recalls
  • 20194recalls

Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 27, 2026.

SAFETY

Will it protect people in a crash?

These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.

Overall
5 / 5 stars
Frontal
5 / 5 stars
Side
5 / 5 stars
Side pole
5 / 5 stars
Rollover
4 / 5 stars

Factory safety & driver-assist equipment

Stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Optional
Lane-departure warning
Optional
Government crash-test photo
Photo from a government crash test of this model

Tested as: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV FWD Later Release · 4 versions tested

Open safety recalls

5 open

A recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.

  1. Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    30/08/2018

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    How they fix it: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

  2. Fuel System, Gasoline

    31/05/2018

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

    How they fix it: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

  3. Visibility

    19/04/2018

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

    How they fix it: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

  4. Power Train

    22/08/2017

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.

    How they fix it: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

  5. Power Train

    29/10/2020

    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.

    How they fix it: 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.

The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.

From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 27, 2026.

OWNERS

What problems do owners report?

People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.

Owner reports · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2018.

  • 2016395reports
  • 2017271reports
  • 2018 · this car399reports
  • 2019298reports

399 owner reports on file

22 crash mentions 4 fire mentions 27 injury mentions

Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 399 total reports.

  • SERVICE BRAKES 95 of 399

    While I was getting off the freeway, my vehicle displayed the “Service Brake Assist” warning. When I attempted to brake, the brake pedal became extremely hard and would not respond normally. The vehicle would not stop normally when I presse

  • POWER TRAIN 62 of 399

    The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping and shifted hard. Additionally, while on an incline, the vehicle failed to get up to speed. The contact

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 47 of 399

    About 3 weeks ago my battery completely died and I had to get 3 jump starts in one day. Upon replacing my battery I continued to experience a drained battery. Then my in-car wifi stopped working. I contacted onstar and they attempted to res

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 38 of 399

    The car had a engine code of P171d my safety and others was put at risk because of the vehicle malfunction while not able to drive after the light turn green or keeping maintaining a searching speed. The engine code was confirm at the deale

  • ENGINE 32 of 399

    While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of engine power accompanied by severe engine shaking, reduced acceleration, and a lit Check Engine / ESC light. The vehicle was towed to a technician who diagnosed a complet

  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 17 of 399

    The fuel management system leaked from car causing fuel to pour out of 2018 chevy equinox d2

Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.

From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 27, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.

FUEL COST

What does it cost to drive?

EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.

Showing

Figures below are for the FWD version.

Combined MPG · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2018.

  • 201623mpg
  • 201723mpg
  • 2018 · this car28mpg
  • 201927mpg

$2,200

estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles

Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.

City driving 26 mpg
Highway driving 32 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 28 mpg

Over 5 years, compared to an average new car

About the same fuel cost as an average new car over 5 years.

Passenger space
104 cubic feet
Cargo space
30 cubic feet

From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 27, 2026.

HOW IT WAS BUILT

Factory details

What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.

Engine

4-cyl 1.5L

Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Transmission

Automatic 6-spd

Fuel

Regular

See all factory details (7)
Engine
4-cyl 1.5L
Cylinders
4
Displacement
1.5 L
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic 6-spd
Body
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel
Regular

From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 27, 2026.

What this free check does not include

We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.

BEFORE YOU BUY

What to check on this car

Confirm the recalls were fixed

This model has 5 open NHTSA recalls (including the service brakes, hydraulic). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.

Have a mechanic check the service brakes

Owners report problems with the service brakes more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.

Watch for a pending investigation

NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.

  • Test-drive the basics

    Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.

  • Check the title and the VIN

    Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.

  • Ask the seller the right questions

    Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.

See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.

FOR SALE NEAR YOU

2018 Chevrolet Equinox listings

    Quick answers

    What is recalled on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox? +

    NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, including the service brakes, hydraulic. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.

    What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox get? +

    The EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox at 28 mpg combined (26 city / 32 highway), about $2,200 a year in fuel.

    How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox? +

    NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.

    What do owners complain about on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox? +

    Owners have filed 399 complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, including 22 involving a crash. The most-reported area is service brakes.

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