Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114
- Summary
- 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 Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- 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.
Seat Height Adjuster Bolt may Fall out
- Summary
- 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.
SOFTWARE INSTRUMENT PANEL/FMVSS 103 & 101
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (784)
784 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 784 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 271 | 34.6% |
| Power train | 182 | 23.2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 132 | 16.8% |
| Electrical system | 81 | 10.3% |
| Air bags | 57 | 7.3% |
| Unknown or other | 52 | 6.6% |
| Electronic stability control | 49 | 6.3% |
| Steering | 44 | 5.6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 32 | 4.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 4.1% |
How 2010 compares with other Equinox years
Best and worst Equinox years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 695 | 0 |
| 2007 | 685 | 4 |
| 2008 | 370 | 0 |
| 2009 | 94 | 0 |
| 2010 | 784 | 3 |
| 2011 | 782 | 3 |
| 2012 | 685 | 3 |
| 2013 | 751 | 2 |
| 2014 | 548 | 1 |
| 2015 | 680 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 342 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2010 Equinox for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2010 Chevrolet Equinox FAQ
How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 16V502000 (electrical), 14V447000 (seat), 09V489000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2010 Chevrolet Equinox problems?
Owners filed 784 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (271), Power train (182), Visibility/wiper (132) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 22 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2010 Equinox compare with other years?
Among the 2006–2015 Chevrolet Equinox model years at least five years old, the 2009 drew the fewest complaints (94) and the 2010 the most (784). The 2010 drew 784. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Summary reviewed on Oct 6, 2026.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.