2012 Chevy Equinox MPG
EPA ratings for the 2012 Chevy Equinox run from 16–22 mpg in town to 23–31 on the highway, or 19–26 combined, depending on which of its 8 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 26 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive manages 19 mpg combined, 7 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2011 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 | Gasoline or E85 · 342 g CO₂/mi |
| 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 | Gasoline or E85 · 386 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 | Regular · 444 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 AWD | 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 · 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 |
2012 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 2012 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.
2012 Chevy Equinox specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2012 Chevy Equinox: 2.4 L 4-cyl and 3.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L | 4 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 3.0 L | 6 | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 4 |
2012 Chevy Equinox problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 685 owner complaints about the 2012 Chevy Equinox.
Engine is the most-reported area (37% of component mentions), followed by visibility/wiper (13%) and power train (9%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 45 complaints a year: about as many as the 2011 (49 a year) and fewer than the 2013 (53 a year).
That ranks 5th of 17 Chevy Equinox model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 685, 16 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 11 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 355 | 37% |
| Visibility/wiper | 121 | 13% |
| Power train | 84 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 70 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 54 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 53 | 6% |
| Steering | 36 | 4% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 26 | 3% |
| Structure | 26 | 3% |
| Air bags | 19 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 1% |
| Suspension | 12 | 1% |
| Wheels | 11 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | <1% |
| Visibility | 7 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | <1% |
| Seats | 5 | <1% |
| Tires | 5 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 3 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 3 | <1% |
| Equipment | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 2 | <1% |
| Child seat | 1 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
| Parking brake | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. While the contact's daughter was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine shut off. The contact's daughter attempted to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle started. …
Wipers do not work Seems to not recognize when idling and starts to shake if stopped at a red light. …
2012 Chevrolet equinox burns/leaks oil which cause the serpentine belt to pop off & I had to replace it. Having problems with the MAT & IAT codes, just replaced the fuel pump, crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor, & spark plugs... …
2012 Chevy Equinox recalls
The 2012 Chevy Equinox has been the subject of 3 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 16V502000 from July 2016, concerns electrical system and power train.
11V511000 · October 19, 2011 · Tires
Problem: THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.
Risk: UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.
Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE.
| 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 2012 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 2012 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2012 Honda CR-V (26 mpg), 2012 Ford Escape (25 mpg) and 2012 Nissan Rogue (25 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2015 | 26 | 680 | 56 | 2 |
Every Chevy Equinox model year compared →
Similar 2012 models
FAQ
Is the 2012 Equinox a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2012 Chevy Equinox has 45 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (5th 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 2012 Equinox problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (355), visibility/wiper (121) and power train (84). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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).