Model year report

2015 Chevrolet Equinox: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox

On the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, the failure owners report most often is other visibility problem, and the reports cluster around 77,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other electrical problem, reported by a median of 20,000 miles. Overall it scores 67 out of 100, high risk for a 2015.

High risk for a 2015 — 219th riskiest of the 273 2015 vehicles we can rate. 845 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

What owners report breaking

Owners have reported 63 named failure modes on the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, and the three most-reported carry 39% of everything filed.

Other visibility problem leads with 130 reports, about 1.1 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 61k to 100,000 miles.

Wiper or washer failure follows with 116 reports, usually reported between 58k to 95,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.

Other engine problem follows with 81 reports, usually reported between 50k to 102,500 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.

By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (278), glass (246) and electrical (39).

When these failures get reported

519 of the reports on the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 73,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 24% by 50,000 miles, 75% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 70,000 and 80,000 miles, which alone holds 12% of the dated reports.

17% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.

In the order they tend to show up: other electrical problem around 21k, other driver assistance problem around 35k, control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure around 50k and other powertrain problem around 62k.

Median

Other visibility problem

77k
Wiper or washer failure

74k
Other engine problem

77k
Excessive oil consumption

106k
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure

95k
Oil leak

101k
Other powertrain problem

62k
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure

79k
Other electrical problem

21k
No-start or intermittent start failure

92k
Other body or interior problem

77k
Complete engine failure or seizure

97k

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 63. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 73k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report 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, 27 mention a crash, 8 a fire and 14 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 3.83, 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 visibility problem at $150–$1,400, wiper or washer failure at $120–$800, other engine problem at $300–$4,000 and excessive oil consumption at $900–$6,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

39% 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 visibility problem	glass	130	93	61k	77k	99k	1.1	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Wiper or washer failure	glass	116	97	58k	74k	96k	1.0	$120–$800	Moderate
Other engine problem	engine	81	51	50k	77k	103k	0.7	$300–$4,000	High
Excessive oil consumption	engine	70	24	59k	106k	116k	0.6	$900–$6,500	High
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	54	13	79k	95k	99k	0.5	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Oil leak	engine	32	18	76k	101k	109k	0.3	$250–$2,200	Moderate
Other powertrain problem	transmission	26	13	50k	62k	81k	0.2	$400–$4,500	High
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	24	18	70k	79k	98k	0.2	$400–$2,200	High
Other electrical problem	electrical	22	16	4k	21k	36k	0.2	$250–$2,000	Moderate
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	14	7	—	92k	—	0.1	$200–$1,800	Moderate
Other body or interior problem	body	14	8	55k	77k	100k	0.1	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Complete engine failure or seizure	engine	12	3	—	97k	—	0.1	$4,500–$12,000	Critical
Other fuel system problem	fuel	11	8	48k	64k	106k	0.1	$300–$2,200	High
Other driver assistance problem	adas	11	11	21k	35k	97k	0.1	$250–$1,800	High
Complete transmission failure	transmission	9	8	40k	63k	92k	0.1	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure	electrical	9	9	39k	50k	100k	0.1	$700–$3,000	High
Other brake problem	brakes	9	6	—	19k	—	0.1	$300–$1,800	High
Other steering problem	steering	9	6	—	21k	—	0.1	$350–$2,400	High
Stalling while driving	engine	8	8	69k	81k	88k	0.1	$300–$2,500	Critical
Fuel pump failure	fuel	7	4	—	70k	—	0.1	$600–$2,600	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	7	7	—	13k	—	0.1	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	7	6	—	56k	—	0.1	$0–$0	Critical
Sunroof failure or glass breakage	body	6	2	—	50k	—	0.1	$700–$4,500	High
Other speed control problem	adas	6	3	—	27k	—	0.1	$250–$2,000	Critical
Head gasket failure	engine	5	5	—	107k	—	0.0	$1,400–$4,000	Critical
Backup camera failure	infotainment	5	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	Moderate
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	5	4	—	70k	—	0.0	$300–$1,600	High
Cruise control failure	adas	5	5	—	6k	—	0.0	$200–$1,400	High
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	5	2	—	17k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	High
Engine sensor failure	electrical	4	0	—	—	—	0.0	$180–$900	Moderate
ABS module or sensor failure	brakes	4	4	—	120k	—	0.0	$500–$2,400	High
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	4	4	—	33k	—	0.0	$200–$900	High
Blower motor or climate control failure	hvac	4	2	—	70k	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	Moderate
Other suspension problem	suspension	4	1	—	40k	—	0.0	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Radiator or coolant leak	cooling	3	3	—	65k	—	0.0	$350–$1,900	High
Heater core failure	cooling	3	2	—	61k	—	0.0	$700–$2,400	Moderate
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	3	0	—	—	—	0.0	$450–$1,600	High
Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure	body	3	3	—	54k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	Moderate
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	3	1	—	94k	—	0.0	$250–$2,000	High
Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure	transmission	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,400	High
Differential or transfer case failure	drivetrain	2	1	—	140k	—	0.0	$900–$4,200	High
Wheel bearing or hub failure	drivetrain	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$350–$1,200	Moderate
Loss of braking	brakes	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$400–$3,000	Critical
Tire pressure monitor failure	wheels	2	1	—	60k	—	0.0	$80–$600	Low
Air conditioning failure	hvac	2	1	—	67k	—	0.0	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Tail light, brake light or signal failure	lighting	2	1	—	75k	—	0.0	$100–$900	Moderate
Misfire or rough idle	engine	1	1	—	120k	—	0.0	$250–$1,600	Moderate
Engine knock or bearing noise	engine	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$2,500–$9,000	High
Overheating	cooling	1	1	—	151k	—	0.0	$400–$3,500	High
Torque converter failure	transmission	1	1	—	8k	—	0.0	$1,100–$3,200	High
Fuel gauge or level sensor failure	fuel	1	1	—	57k	—	0.0	$300–$1,200	Moderate
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	1	1	—	106k	—	0.0	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Wiring harness or short circuit	electrical	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$400–$3,500	High
Infotainment screen failure	infotainment	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$400–$2,600	Low
Audio or connectivity failure	infotainment	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$150–$900	Low
Premature brake pad or rotor wear	brakes	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$300–$1,400	Moderate
Parking brake failure	brakes	1	1	—	74k	—	0.0	$250–$1,300	Moderate
Lane keep or steering assist fault	adas	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$200–$1,600	High
Loss of power steering	steering	1	1	—	40k	—	0.0	$600–$2,800	Critical
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	1	1	—	57k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	Critical
Rust or structural corrosion	body	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$500–$6,000	High
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	1	1	—	53k	—	0.0	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Other lighting problem	lighting	1	1	—	88k	—	0.0	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Unclassified problem	other	60	30	28k	60k	87k	0.5	—	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 2015 Chevrolet Equinox draws about 7.4 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 88th percentile of complaint rates among 2015 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 113,584 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2015 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.

Wiper or washer failure

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet equinox. While driving approximately 50 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers stopped working without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. The dealer was contacted (matthews chevrolet in bucyrus, oh) and stated that there were no parts available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

32,000 miles NHTSA complaint 1390962 filed 2017-07-11

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet equinox. While driving approximately 50 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers stopped working without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. The dealer was contacted (matthews chevrolet in bucyrus, oh) and stated that there were no parts available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

32,000 miles NHTSA complaint 1390963 filed 2017-07-11

Recalls on the 2015 model year

NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, affecting an estimated 113,627 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 visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor and air bags:side/window. 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.

22V165000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

681,509 vehicles 2022-03-17

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.

15V666000

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

395 vehicles 2015-10-16

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.

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 2015 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 2015 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 2015 sits in the model line

High risk for a 2015 — 219th riskiest of the 273 2015 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 2015 itself at 67.

No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2015, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.

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 electrical problem from about 4k, other driver assistance problem from about 21k, control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure from about 39k and complete transmission failure from about 40k.

On a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical 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.

What this page cannot tell you

845 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 845 reports, 519 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 61% 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 2015 Chevrolet Equinox?

The most-reported failures are other visibility problem (130 reports, median 77,500 miles), wiper or washer failure (116 reports, median 75,000 miles) and other engine problem (81 reports, median 77,500 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 2015 Chevrolet Equinox problems start?

Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 20,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 5,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 73,000 miles.

Is the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

It scores 67 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 219th riskiest of the 273 2015 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2015 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