CarRecallWatchThe 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 685 complaints with NHTSA, including 16 crashes, 6 fires, 13 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (355 reports).
NHTSA rates it up to 4 stars overall for crash safety, depending on the version.
2012 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
Key Can Be Removed Before Park Is Engaged, Risking Rollaway
The electronic park lock lever on these vehicles may allow the ignition key to be removed while the transmission is not in PARK.
Most common 2012 Chevrolet Equinox problems
Problem areas named in the 685 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 355 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 121 |
| Power Train | 84 |
| Electrical System | 70 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 54 |
| Unknown Or Other | 53 |
| Steering | 36 |
| Structure | 26 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 26 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
What owners report
We would like to know what kind of Airbag is mounted in the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox ? pertaining to the Detroit News Article ,September 5 2026 Page 3B = 11th Death tied to Chinese Air Bag made by Jillin Province Detiannuo Automotive System Co Ltd, known as DTN . 3 People were killed in a Hyundai ,10 faital General Motors Crashes. General Motors did not comment on the Crashes . The Airbag sending large Fragments into Driver's Chest Necks ,Eyes and Faces . The Chevrolet Dealer in Rochester would not and could not respond to the Incidents ! We are concerned to drive the Equinox ,because we like it and wand to keep it for a long Time . Your Respond is very much appr
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. While the contact's daughter was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine shut off. The contact's daughter attempted to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle started. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact stated that the oil was topped off every two days. The failure occurred while minor children were inside the vehicle. The failure was a persistent failure. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed
See attached document for complaint.
Wipers do not work Seems to not recognize when idling and starts to shake if stopped at a red light. Randomly will go through 2 quarts of oil in one day
The abs braking and stability control light came on and has stayed on and took to mechanic shop and was told to repair would be $4000 .that's more than what the car is worth!changed motor oil many times since I owned the car and it uses oil quite much.ihe oil gauge can say I have 70 percent oil and the dipstick reads no oil so I must put 2 -3 quarts of oil in car because I can hear lifters rattle due to lack of oil.the abs stability control keeps car steady especially in i snow or rain weather and can lose control of the 2012 Chevy equinox.if I was to drive vehicle on long trip the motor could freeze up while driving and shut down and cause dangerous situation in traffic.
2012 Chevrolet Equinox safety rating
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV AWD | ★★★★ 4-star | 4 | 5 | 4 (17.4% rollover risk) |
| 2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV FWD | ★★★★ 4-star | 4 | 5 | 4 (19.1% rollover risk) |
2012 Chevrolet Equinox questions
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox: Key Can Be Removed Before Park Is Engaged, Risking Rollaway; Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust; Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
Based on 685 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (355), Visibility/Wiper (121), Power Train (84).
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program gives the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox up to 4 out of 5 stars overall; ratings vary by version, see the table above.
How do I check if a recall on my 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.