2009 Chevy Equinox MPG
Across its 4 EPA-rated versions, the 2009 Chevy Equinox returns 16–17 mpg city, 24 highway and 19–20 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 20 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive manages 19 mpg combined, 1 mpg less. That is 1 mpg better than the best gasoline 2008 version (19 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox FWD | 3.4 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular · 444 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 3.4 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular · 444 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular · 468 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | Regular · 468 g CO₂/mi |
2009 Chevy Equinox fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2009 Chevy Equinox costs about $3,270 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (20 mpg combined), or roughly 22 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (19 mpg combined) comes to about $3,440 a year, $170 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2009 Chevy Equinox specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2009 Chevy Equinox: 3.4 L 6-cyl and 3.6 L 6-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 L | 6 | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 3.6 L | 6 | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2009 Chevy Equinox problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 94 owner complaints about the 2009 Chevy Equinox.
Air bags are the most-reported area (17% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (16%) and engine (12%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 5.2 complaints a year: fewer than the 2008 (19 a year) and the 2010 (46 a year).
It has the fewest complaints per year on sale of any Chevy Equinox model year from 2008 to 2024.
Of the 94, 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 4 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 26 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 24 | 16% |
| Engine | 18 | 12% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 12 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 7% |
| Power train | 10 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 7 | 5% |
| Tires | 6 | 4% |
| Steering | 5 | 3% |
| Visibility | 5 | 3% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 4 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 2% |
| Structure | 3 | 2% |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SAYS "OFF" AND NOTIFICATION MESSAGE SAYS "SERVICE PASSENGER AIRBAG". …
Odometer Fraud - The contact purchased a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 186,425 as stated on the contract. …
WHEN YOU DRIVE IT THE TRANSMISSON WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. IT MAKES IT HARD TO GET ANYWHERE. …
2009 Chevy Equinox recalls
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2009 Chevy Equinox as of October 2026.
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2009 Chevy Equinox, without an overall score.
These ratings use NHTSA's pre-2011 test method, so they can't be compared with stars for 2011 and later models.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door with side air bags | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Chevy Equinoxes can be compared fairly. Among other 2009 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2009 Honda Pilot (19 mpg), 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee (18 mpg) and 2009 Subaru Forester (22 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 19 | 370 | 19 | 0 |
| 2009 | 20 | 94 | 5.2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 26 | 784 | 46 | 3 |
| 2011 | 26 | 782 | 49 | 3 |
| 2012 | 26 | 685 | 45 | 3 |
Every Chevy Equinox model year compared →
Similar 2009 models
FAQ
Is the 2009 Equinox a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2009 Chevy Equinox has 5.2 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (the fewest of its 17 model years), no recall campaigns and up to 20 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2009 Equinox problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (26), electrical system (24) and engine (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2009 Equinox have?
None as of October 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Equinox get?
The EPA rates the versions at 19–20 mpg combined (16–17 city, 24 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Equinox per year?
About $3,270 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $3,440 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).