Model year 2018 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2018 Chevrolet Equinox: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox at 24–32 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 410 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
5
EPA combined mpg
24–32
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Chevrolet dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 5 safety recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, newest first.
Power train: Automatic transmission
NHTSA 20V668000Reported Oct 29, 2020
Filed by
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N202313440)
Units affected
194,105 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components: Disc: Caliper
NHTSA 18V576000Reported Aug 30, 2018
Filed by
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 18279)
Units affected
210,628 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 18188 18268)
Units affected
895 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
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."
Risk
If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 17329)
Units affected
2,905 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.
Remedy
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2018 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV AWD Early Release
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
4 stars
16.5%
Optional
2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV AWD Later Release
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
16.4%
Optional
2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV FWD Early Release
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
4 stars
18.8%
Optional
2018 Chevrolet Equinox SUV FWD Later Release
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
18.5%
Optional
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2018 Chevrolet Equinox owner complaints
Owners have filed 410 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, most recently on Oct 15, 2026. 23 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 30 injured people and 1 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2018 Chevrolet Equinox complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Service brakes
118
Engine
86
Power train
66
Electrical system
57
Unknown or other
56
Fuel/propulsion system
33
Structure: Body
16
Air bags
15
Steering
15
Service brakes, hydraulic
13
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
