The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Equinox · 2010

2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index84100 = average car
Complaints138NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold149,979U.S. model year
Per 100K sold92complaints
Year rank#14 of 17#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 4

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.4L 4-cylAuto 6-spdFWD22 / 32 / 26Regular$2,400
2.4L 4-cylAuto 6-spdAWD20 / 29 / 23Regular$2,700
3.0L 6-cylAuto 6-spdFWD17 / 25 / 20Regular$3,100
3.0L 6-cylAuto 6-spdAWD17 / 24 / 20Regular$3,100

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 48,000 and 109,000 miles. Median 80,000, from 646 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine87,00059,900–112,400215
Transmission & drivetrain83,50055,800–106,000162
Wipers & visibility100,00070,000–122,200116
Electrical59,00015,500–95,00059
Airbags61,00028,500–123,00044

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine23%
Transmission & drivetrain22%
Engine15%
Steering14%
Electrical13%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
78415920033

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 3

  • 16V502000 Jul 2016 Electrical System / Ignition

    Defect. 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 Sta

    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.

  • 14V447000 Jul 2014 Seats / Front Assembly / Power Adjust

    Defect. 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 14

  • 09V489000 Dec 2009 Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System

    Defect. GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS". THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN CAUSE THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS WELL AS THE PANEL ILLUMINATION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

    Risk. DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DEFROST SYSTEM CAN DECREASE YOUR VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedMomentary increased steering effort20202022
ClosedFront wiper transmission inoperative20192022
ClosedWindshield wiper transmission failure20182019

Manufacturer communications 1689

Chevy filed 1689 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Gmc/chevrolet/cadillac/buick: a door may not open, intermittently, w/the outside handle and/or…
  • Engineering information-chemical damage on inner surfaces of fuel tank
  • Buick/chevrolet/gmc/pontiac/saturn/suzuki: all wheel drive system inoperative and dtc c0550 set

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

YouTube repair topics

100 videos about the 2010–2017 Chevy Equinox, 12.3M views.

TopicVideosViews
Infotainment, battery & electrical8924K
Gauges, lights & wiring4637K
Heat, A/C & blend door7625K
Intake, EGR & engine sensors4472K
No-start: theft light, key & ignition1434K
Oil dilution & oil burning2409K
Steering & suspension4395K
Oil changes & service4392K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20071059089,552Airbags
2008624367,447Airbags
2009–1186,148Speed control
201084138149,979Engine
201176170193,274Engine
201244104218,621Engine
201354157238,192Wipers & visibility

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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