2011 Chevy Equinox MPG
Across its 6 EPA-rated versions, the 2011 Chevy Equinox returns 16–22 mpg city, 23–31 highway and 19–26 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 26 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive and is rated 19 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2010 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox FWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular · 342 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular · 386 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 · 444 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox FWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular · 468 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular · 468 g CO₂/mi |
| Equinox AWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 · 468 g CO₂/mi |
2011 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 2011 Chevy Equinox costs about $2,510 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (26 mpg combined), or roughly 17 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (19 mpg combined) comes to about $3,440 a year, $930 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.
2011 Chevy Equinox specs
2011 Chevy Equinox buyers could choose between 2 engines, according to EPA records: 3.0 L 6-cyl and 2.4 L 4-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. The EPA classes it as a sport utility vehicle.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L | 6 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 2.4 L | 4 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2011 Chevy Equinox problems
Owners have filed 782 complaints about the 2011 Chevy Equinox with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Engine is the most-reported area (34% of component mentions), followed by power train (13%) and electrical system (6%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 49 complaints a year: about as many as the 2010 (46 a year) and the 2012 (45 a year).
That ranks 3rd of 17 Chevy Equinox model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 782, 30 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 26 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 386 | 34% |
| Power train | 145 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 74 | 6% |
| Visibility/wiper | 69 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 61 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 57 | 5% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 55 | 5% |
| Air bags | 52 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 50 | 4% |
| Steering | 43 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 34 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 24 | 2% |
| Structure | 15 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 13 | 1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 12 | 1% |
| Seats | 9 | <1% |
| Visibility | 9 | <1% |
| Equipment | 6 | <1% |
| Suspension | 6 | <1% |
| Wheels | 6 | <1% |
| Tires | 4 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 3 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | <1% |
| Diesel fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Other fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle, and the engine was rattling and vibrating abnormally. …
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. …
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. …
2011 Chevy Equinox recalls
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 Chevy Equinox.
The most recent, campaign 16V502000 from July 2016, concerns electrical system and power train.
10V623000 · December 15, 2010 · Seat belts
Problem: THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE NEAR THE SEAT ATTACHMENT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT(S) AS DESIGNED AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PASSENGER AND/OR THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AS NECESSARY.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Equinox years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V502000 | July 5, 2016 | Electrical system, Power train | 2010–2013 |
| 14V447000 | July 23, 2014 | Seats | 2010–2012 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2011 Chevy Equinox; the best overall score is 4 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
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 2011 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2011 Ford Escape (25 mpg), 2011 Honda CR-V (24 mpg) and 2011 Nissan Rogue (24 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 |
| 2013 | 26 | 751 | 53 | 2 |
| 2014 | 26 | 549 | 42 | 1 |
Every Chevy Equinox model year compared →
Similar 2011 models
FAQ
Is the 2011 Equinox a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2011 Chevy Equinox has 49 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (3rd most of 17 model years), 3 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 4 stars and up to 26 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2011 Equinox problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (386), power train (145) and electrical system (74). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2011 Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Equinox get?
The EPA rates the versions at 19–26 mpg combined (16–22 city, 23–31 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Equinox per year?
About $2,510 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).