ChevroletEquinox2026Overview/chevrolet/equinox/2026/base/

2026 Chevrolet Equinox

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 Equinox.

Transmission Automatic 8-spd

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox pairs an eight-speed automatic transmission with EPA ratings of 25 city, 29 highway, and 26 combined mpg, framing its efficiency around a conventional powertrain layout. Its first model-year reliability footprint shows just 58 owner complaints — the lowest total across the Equinox’s 2005–2026 history and a sharp drop from the 784 complaints that peaked in 2010 — with a single recall and forward collision avoidance emerging as the leading complaint category. That historically low complaint volume suggests the redesign has avoided the early-build issues that have plagued past generations, though the concentration in advanced safety systems warrants attention as more units reach the road.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy25/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 8-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume104 cu ft
Cargo volume30 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Equinox of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.6–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.60 sec — 2025 RS
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2025RS 1.5L Turbo I-48.60 sec16.60 sec175 hpAWD
2025RS 1.5L Turbo I-48.90 sec16.70 sec175 hpAWD
2025RS 1.5L Turbo I-49.20 sec16.90 sec175 hpAWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record for the Chevrolet Equinox shows a significant long-term decline in consumer complaints and technical service bulletins (TSBs), dropping from peaks in the 2010-2013 era to much lower levels in recent years. The 2026 model year continues this downward trajectory, recording 58 complaints and 154 TSBs, a notable decrease from the 208 complaints and 371 TSBs seen in 2025. Primary complaint areas for 2026 include Forward Collision Avoidance (6) and Power Train (4), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. Safety reports for this year are minimal, consisting of one recall, two crash complaints, and one fire complaint. Positioned at the lowest end of the historical complaint and TSB arc, the 2026 model represents the most stable year in the provided dataset. Given the record-low volume of complaints and TSBs, this is a good year to buy.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
154
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
55
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 55 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Forward Collision Avoidance6
Power Train4
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance3
Engine2
Visibility2
Seat Belts2
Unknown Or Other2
Electrical System,Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

26V114000Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other ManualReported 26/02/2026

General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ… Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 154 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT5966F2026-06-23Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still…
662.202026-06-22Unknown Or Other• Improvements to the performance of driver assistance features • Fixes to help ensure…
PIT6503B2026-06-17Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information is to inform technicians that GM is placing the B174W Front…
N25-2523322026-06-16Unknown Or Other• Fixes to help prevent loss of functionality for connectivity features such as OnStar…
PIP61212026-06-10Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates a possible speedometer and/or odometer error due to an error in the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Equinox. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 Equinox have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Equinox get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.