Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2014 to 2024

Ford Escape vs Chevrolet Equinox: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Equinox looks better on 3 and the Escape on 2, with 2 too close to call.

Ford Escape

Ford Escape

11,658 complaints · 61 recalls

Chevrolet Equinox

Chevrolet Equinox

3,337 complaints · 19 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2024EscapeEquinox
Complaints that report a crash2.1%5.2%
Complaints that report a fire1.5%1.1%
Complaints that report an injury1.7%2.7%
Median miles when problems are reported70,00065,000
Recall campaigns per model year5.51.7
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations52

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system Escape owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the Equinox. Complaints citing engine and engine cooling make up 11% of all Escape complaints, against 2.1% on the Equinox. The Equinox leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 17% of its complaints, against 1.0% for the Escape.

Ford EscapeChevrolet Equinox

Engine38%35%
Transmission and drivetrain19%10%
Electrical8.2%10%
Windshield and wipers1.0%17%
Fuel and propulsion4.3%11%
Engine and Engine Cooling11%2.1%
Brakes2.2%11%
Structure8.7%2.0%
Steering3.6%2.8%
Airbags1.1%4.2%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the Escape is overheating (34% of its complaints). On the Equinox it is stalling (17% of its complaints), against 11% on the Escape.

ProblemEscapeEquinox
Check engine light or misfire27% 3,196most in 2017 · 80k mi12% 389most in 2015 · 68k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant34% 3,910most in 2017 · 80k mi0.6% 19
Engine stalls or loses power while driving11% 1,281most in 2014 · 75k mi17% 554most in 2015 · 68k mi
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing13% 1,476most in 2017 · 74k mi9.4% 314most in 2016 · 89k mi
Windshield wipers stop working0.3% 3845k mi15% 512most in 2015 · 79k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early2.5% 289most in 2017 · 28k mi12% 400most in 2018 · 62k mi
Windshield cracks or distorts0.9% 103most in 2017 · 45k mi11% 374most in 2015 · 78k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails7.1% 824most in 2016 · 75k mi4.0% 13544k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the Escape complaints that give a mileage come before 70,000 miles, and half the Equinox complaints before 65,000. 29% of Escape reports and 37% of Equinox reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Ford EscapeChevrolet Equinox

Under 25k12%22%
25k to 50k17%14%
50k to 75k25%22%
75k to 100k23%20%
100k to 150k20%18%
Over 150k3.3%3.6%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 6,311 for the Escape and 1,724 for the Equinox.

Worst and best years

The 2017 Escape draws 2.9 times the complaints of a typical Escape year for its age. The 2015 Equinox draws 1.6 times the complaints of a typical Equinox year for its age.

Ford Escape

Every Escape model year

Chevrolet Equinox

Every Equinox model year

Ford EscapeChevrolet Equinox

Each model year against its own model's median. Escape: 2014 1.7, 2015 1.0, 2016 1.1, 2017 2.9, 2018 2.2, 2019 0.8, 2020 2.5, 2021 0.6, 2022 0.5, 2023 0.3, 2024 0.3. Equinox: 2014 1.1, 2015 1.6, 2016 1.0, 2017 0.8, 2018 1.3, 2019 1.0, 2020 1.2, 2021 0.4, 2022 1.0, 2023 0.7, 2024 0.7.2014 Escape: 1.7 times its median2014 Equinox: 1.1 times its median'142015 Escape: 1.0 times its median2015 Equinox: 1.6 times its median'152016 Escape: 1.1 times its median2016 Equinox: 1.0 times its median'162017 Escape: 2.9 times its median2017 Equinox: 0.8 times its median'172018 Escape: 2.2 times its median2018 Equinox: 1.3 times its median'182019 Escape: 0.8 times its median2019 Equinox: 1.0 times its median'192020 Escape: 2.5 times its median2020 Equinox: 1.2 times its median'202021 Escape: 0.6 times its median2021 Equinox: 0.4 times its median'212022 Escape: 0.5 times its median2022 Equinox: 1.0 times its median'222023 Escape: 0.3 times its median2023 Equinox: 0.7 times its median'232024 Escape: 0.3 times its median2024 Equinox: 0.7 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The Escape draws more recalls: 5.5 campaigns per model year against 1.7 for the Equinox. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Ford Escape

61 recall campaigns and 5 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (11), fuel system (8) and transmission and drivetrain (7).

  • 22V-413 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 6 model years
  • 26V-011 (equipment) covers 6 model years

Investigations

  • RQ24008: Underhood fires caused by fuel leak (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE23013: Failed door check arm attachment point (closed)
  • RQ21002: Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance (open)

Chevrolet Equinox

19 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (3), seats (3) and visibility (2).

  • 23V-339 (child seat) covers 4 model years
  • 20V-668 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • EA19005: Front wiper transmission inoperative (closed, led to a recall)
  • RQ18002: Windshield wiper transmission failure (closed)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of Equinox complaints report a crash: 5.2%, against 2.1% for the Escape. Fire reports: 175 for the Escape and 37 for the Equinox. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the Escape and 2 in the Equinox for these model years.

Ford EscapeChevrolet Equinox

Report a crash2.1%5.2%
Report a fire1.5%1.1%
Report someone hurt1.7%2.7%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Ford Escape or the Chevrolet Equinox more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Equinox looks better on 3 and the Escape on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Escape has 11,658 complaints and the Equinox 3,337 for model years 2014 to 2024, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the Escape or the Equinox?

The Escape has 61 recall campaigns and the Equinox 19 across model years 2014 to 2024. The Escape draws more recalls: 5.5 campaigns per model year against 1.7 for the Equinox.

What are the most common problems on the Escape and the Equinox?

The most reported problem on the Escape is overheating (34% of its complaints). On the Equinox it is stalling (17% of its complaints), against 11% on the Escape.

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