Model year report

2010 Chevrolet Equinox: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

On the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 82,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other steering problem, reported by a median of 32,500 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, high risk for a 2010.

High risk for a 2010 — 54th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. 1,118 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

What owners report breaking

Owners have reported 66 named failure modes on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, and the three most-reported carry 27% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.

Other engine problem leads with 107 reports, about 5.2 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 61k to 112,500 miles.

Excessive oil consumption follows with 103 reports, usually reported between 57k to 115,000 miles.

Other visibility problem follows with 96 reports, usually reported between 61k to 115,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (368), glass (140) and transmission (139).

The mileage the reports cluster at

897 of the reports on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 80,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 27% by 50,000 miles, 65% by 100,000 miles and 92% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 7 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 100,000 and 110,000 miles, which alone holds 9% of the dated reports.

19% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.

In the order they tend to show up: other steering problem around 34k, other body or interior problem around 47k, airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault around 48k and fuel pump failure around 56k.

Median

Other engine problem

82k
Excessive oil consumption

97k
Other visibility problem

90k
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure

63k
Other powertrain problem

89k
Other electrical problem

56k
Wiper or washer failure

95k
Complete transmission failure

84k
Other steering problem

34k
Fuel pump failure

56k
Other body or interior problem

47k
Misfire or rough idle

73k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 66. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 80k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 7 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

Severity, and what it costs

Across the named modes, 19 mention a crash, 10 a fire and 17 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.15, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, excessive oil consumption at $900–$6,500, other visibility problem at $150–$1,400 and timing chain, belt or tensioner failure at $1,200–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

47% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other engine problem	engine	107	92	61k	82k	112k	5.2	$300–$4,000	High
Excessive oil consumption	engine	103	70	57k	97k	115k	5.0	$900–$6,500	High
Other visibility problem	glass	96	81	61k	90k	115k	4.6	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	92	73	41k	63k	103k	4.4	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Other powertrain problem	transmission	83	77	57k	89k	109k	4.0	$400–$4,500	High
Other electrical problem	electrical	52	35	16k	56k	91k	2.5	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Wiper or washer failure	glass	44	41	74k	95k	126k	2.1	$120–$800	Moderate
Complete transmission failure	transmission	40	38	64k	84k	100k	1.9	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Other steering problem	steering	31	28	8k	34k	78k	1.5	$350–$2,400	High
Fuel pump failure	fuel	29	18	27k	56k	88k	1.4	$600–$2,600	High
Other body or interior problem	body	25	16	21k	47k	73k	1.2	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Misfire or rough idle	engine	23	21	46k	73k	99k	1.1	$250–$1,600	Moderate
Other driver assistance problem	adas	22	18	60k	79k	112k	1.1	$250–$1,800	High
Oil leak	engine	19	16	45k	92k	115k	0.9	$250–$2,200	Moderate
Other speed control problem	adas	18	16	45k	89k	145k	0.9	$250–$2,000	Critical
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	16	13	70k	77k	150k	0.8	$200–$1,800	Moderate
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	13	11	21k	48k	70k	0.6	$300–$1,600	High
Other brake problem	brakes	13	13	77k	100k	116k	0.6	$300–$1,800	High
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	12	6	—	94k	—	0.6	$250–$2,000	High
Catalytic converter failure	emissions	11	6	—	77k	—	0.5	$900–$3,500	Moderate
Other fuel system problem	fuel	11	7	—	45k	—	0.5	$300–$2,200	High
Transmission will not engage a gear	transmission	10	6	—	84k	—	0.5	$1,500–$6,000	Critical
ABS module or sensor failure	brakes	10	7	—	120k	—	0.5	$500–$2,400	High
Air conditioning failure	hvac	10	6	—	20k	—	0.5	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	9	9	76k	89k	109k	0.4	$450–$1,600	High
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure	electrical	9	5	—	89k	—	0.4	$700–$3,000	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	9	7	—	103k	—	0.4	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	9	7	—	48k	—	0.4	$200–$1,500	High
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	8	5	—	99k	—	0.4	$200–$900	High
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure	steering	8	5	—	51k	—	0.4	$700–$2,600	High
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	7	5	—	85k	—	0.3	$0–$0	Critical
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	7	4	—	120k	—	0.3	$400–$2,200	High
CV axle or driveshaft failure	drivetrain	6	0	—	—	—	0.3	$450–$2,200	High
Harsh or jerky shifting	transmission	5	5	—	11k	—	0.2	$600–$4,000	Moderate
Engine sensor failure	electrical	5	5	—	120k	—	0.2	$180–$900	Moderate
Blower motor or climate control failure	hvac	5	5	—	79k	—	0.2	$250–$1,200	Moderate
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	5	5	—	140k	—	0.2	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Other suspension problem	suspension	5	5	—	3k	—	0.2	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Water pump failure	cooling	4	4	—	13k	—	0.2	$500–$2,200	High
Fuel leak or fuel odor	fuel	4	4	—	192k	—	0.2	$300–$2,500	Critical
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	4	4	—	12k	—	0.2	$250–$1,500	High
Loss of power steering	steering	4	4	—	70k	—	0.2	$600–$2,800	Critical
Power steering pump or fluid leak	steering	4	4	—	129k	—	0.2	$350–$1,600	Moderate
Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage	engine	3	2	—	110k	—	0.1	$3,000–$9,500	Critical
Differential or transfer case failure	drivetrain	3	3	—	138k	—	0.1	$900–$4,200	High
Wheel bearing or hub failure	drivetrain	3	3	—	116k	—	0.1	$350–$1,200	Moderate
Master cylinder or brake booster failure	brakes	3	3	—	63k	—	0.1	$450–$2,200	Critical
Tire pressure monitor failure	wheels	3	3	—	80k	—	0.1	$80–$600	Low
Rust or structural corrosion	body	3	2	—	99k	—	0.1	$500–$6,000	High
Tail light, brake light or signal failure	lighting	3	3	—	76k	—	0.1	$100–$900	Moderate
Complete engine failure or seizure	engine	2	2	—	111k	—	0.1	$4,500–$12,000	Critical
Stalling while driving	engine	2	2	—	83k	—	0.1	$300–$2,500	Critical
Overheating	cooling	2	2	—	54k	—	0.1	$400–$3,500	High
Heater core failure	cooling	2	1	—	49k	—	0.1	$700–$2,400	Moderate
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	2	2	—	38k	—	0.1	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Brake line, hose or caliper failure	brakes	2	2	—	25k	—	0.1	$250–$1,600	Critical
Cruise control failure	adas	2	2	—	8k	—	0.1	$200–$1,400	High
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	2	2	—	90k	—	0.1	$200–$1,500	Critical
Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure	body	2	1	—	15k	—	0.1	$250–$1,500	Moderate
Other lighting problem	lighting	2	2	—	58k	—	0.1	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Engine knock or bearing noise	engine	1	1	—	400	—	0.0	$2,500–$9,000	High
Transmission slipping	transmission	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$1,200–$5,500	High
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	1	1	—	60k	—	0.0	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Infotainment screen failure	infotainment	1	1	—	185k	—	0.0	$400–$2,600	Low
Loss of braking	brakes	1	1	—	66k	—	0.0	$400–$3,000	Critical
Airbag deployed without a crash	airbag	1	1	—	101k	—	0.0	$2,500–$8,000	Critical
Unclassified problem	other	64	48	42k	72k	122k	3.1	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox draws about 54 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 97th percentile of complaint rates among 2010 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 20,716 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2010 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Excessive oil consumption

During idle from stop light to stop light in city traffic, vehicle began to idle very rough during stops and had reduced power while moving. Eventually it died out at a stop light. General motors reference pip5025 for excessive oil consumption and cylinder damage per dealer repair report. Car has been "repaired" but is still running somewhat rough and is giving off a strong gasoline odor and engine oil smells like gasoline - have another appointment with dealer to have checked out - has not stalled out again since repair though. *tr

44,500 miles NHTSA complaint 929626 filed 2012-07-23

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was abnormally consuming two quarts of oil per month. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the oil rings were replaced. The dealer asked the contact to wait until their next oil change to see if the vehicle was still consuming oil. The contact stated that the vehicle was out of oil less then 500 miles after the oil rings were replaced. The contact also stated that the oil warning light did not illuminate to indicate that that the oil level was low. The failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 60,000.

30,000 miles NHTSA complaint 952622 filed 2012-12-06

Recalls on the 2010 model year

NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, affecting an estimated 40,619 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/t, seats:front assembly:power adjust and visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.

16V502000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

8,367 vehicles 2016-07-05

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…
Consequence: 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

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

414,333 vehicles 2014-07-23

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.
Consequence: 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.

09V489000

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

59,031 vehicles 2009-12-23

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.
Consequence: 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.

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 2010 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2010 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

Where 2010 sits in the model line

High risk for a 2010 — 54th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.

Across the 22 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 65 and 2019 worst at 83, with 2010 itself at 75.

If the model year is negotiable, 2008, 2014, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2007, 2025, 2021, 2013 and 2023 score lower than 2010 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.

Within the 2010–2017 generation specifically, 2014 is the strongest year at 66 and 2011 the weakest at 77.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 2010-2017 generation, 2014 Chevrolet Equinox scores best at 66 and 2011 Chevrolet Equinox worst at 77.

Where to spend the inspection money

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other steering problem from about 8k, other electrical problem from about 16k, airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault from about 21k and other body or interior problem from about 21k.

On a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other steering problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.

The limits of complaint data

1,118 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 1,118 reports, 897 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 80% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?

The most-reported failures are other engine problem (107 reports, median 82,500 miles), excessive oil consumption (103 reports, median 97,500 miles) and other visibility problem (96 reports, median 90,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Equinox problems start?

Other steering problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 32,500 miles and a quarter of reports before 7,500 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 80,000 miles.

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 54th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2010 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Chevrolet Equinox is best?

Within the 2010–2017 generation, 2014 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2011 worst at 77. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 30 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed