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2020 Chevrolet Equinox problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
53% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 50%).
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 156 of 297 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (53%), and the largest group is filed under engine (89). For comparison, the 2019 scores 55% and the 2021 scores 49%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Chevrolet Equinox years
Of the 14 Chevrolet Equinox years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (53%). The worst is the 2017 (83%), the best the 2015 (41%). By volume, the 2020 drew 309 complaints (156 drivetrain), against 302 for the 2019 and 96 for the 2021.
Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid and best years →
2010 Equinox problems · 2011 Equinox problems · 2012 Equinox problems · 2013 Equinox problems · 2014 Equinox problems · 2015 Equinox problems · 2016 Equinox problems · 2017 Equinox problems · 2018 Equinox problems · 2019 Equinox problems · 2020 · 2021 Equinox problems · 2022 Equinox problems · 2023 Equinox problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 156 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Chevrolet Equinox transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Chevrolet Equinox? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 156 of 297 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (53%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox is service brakes: 110 of 309 complaints (36%) name it, followed by engine (89) and fuel/propulsion system (50). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 53% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 53% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Chevrolet Equinox years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 20V668000 (power train: automatic transmission), 19V667000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Equinox years are better?
Among the Chevrolet Equinox years we track, the 2015 (41%), the 2018 (43%) and the 2021 (49%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (53%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-equinox
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.