Is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox a bad year?
410 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 66, 3.9× a quiet Equinox year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 3.9× the complaints of a quiet Equinox year, spread over 5k–74k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Equinox owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 20,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 66 (16%) | 5k–74k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 132 (32%) | 41k–109k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 91 (22%) | 13k–109k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 61 (15%) | 10k–69k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 41 (10%) | 5k–86k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 18 (4%) | 20k–55k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 15 (4%) | 8k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 17 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 16 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 13 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 20,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 410 complaints: 23 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 31 say the car was towed.
65 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I had stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green depressed accelerator. The car moved forward but did not process through the gears staying in first gear only.
Car will not shift out of first gear. Goes up to 5000+rpms and will only go about 25 mph. Then it will randomly accelerate without you having any control of the speed.
When accelerating it will create a hard shift or not fully engage into 2nd or 3rd gear. Also, when auto stop/start engages it jolts the car when stopped.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 20,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox: 5
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. 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.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line. A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving. If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 504
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Correct a customer concern of Vehicle Will Not Lock and Unlock (Loss of Active Functions) Crank or Start (Loss of Passive Functions) with DTC P0513 Set
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Rotational Clicking Noise Heard After Engine Shut Down may be normal characteristics of the vehicle
Neighbouring years
2017 Equinox: 276 complaints, consider selling · 2019 Equinox: 310 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chevrolet Equinox year
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Equinox years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Traverse · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox a bad year?
410 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 66, 3.9× a quiet Equinox year. At 20,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 3.9× the complaints of a quiet Equinox year, spread over 5k–74k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (66), brakes (132), engine (91), electrical system (61), fuel system (41). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 5k–74k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-668), Brakes (NHTSA 18V-576), Fuel system (NHTSA 18V-358), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 18V-252) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.