Used car safety, rank #131 of 181
Chevrolet Equinox 2WD Safety Rating (2020)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox 2WD, a small SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 49 per million registered vehicle years against a small SUVs average of 42.6, which is 15% above the class average. That places it #131 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 31.9/100.
What the Chevrolet Equinox death rate means
At 49 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD is 15% worse than the small SUVs average of 42.6. The 95% confidence interval is 17 to 80, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 77 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Chevrolet Equinox. It is higher than the Chevrolet Equinox's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest small SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota C-HR at a death rate of 2.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 7) | 79.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda CR-V 4WD | 2020 | 14 (0 to 36) | 66.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD | 2019-20 | 17 (0 to 39) | 63.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD | 2019-20 | 19 (0 to 37) | 62.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota RAV4 hybrid 4WD | 2019-20 | 20 (0 to 40) | 61.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Compass 2WD | 2017-20 | 27 (6 to 48) | 52.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4WD | 2017-20 | 28 (3 to 53) | 50.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Equinox 4WD | 2020 | 30 (0 to 62) | 48.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Equinox 2WD (this page) | 2020 | 49 (17 to 80) | 31.9 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small SUVs: 42.6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Chevrolet Equinox
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Chevrolet Equinox we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Chevrolet Equinox | No award | 85.8 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 31.9 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
4 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering child seat, power train, service brakes, hydraulic, fuel system, gasoline.
-
Child seat: vehicle latch anchor
Risk: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge.
-
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: 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. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020.
-
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, disc, caliper
Risk: Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019.
-
Fuel system, gasoline: storage, tank assembly
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Chevrolet Equinox 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 49 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox 2WD, 15% above the class average (42.6 for small SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 31.9 out of 100 and rank #131 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD driver death rate?
49 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 17 to 80. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Chevrolet Equinox died at a rate of 77 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020 models.
How does the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD compare with other small SUVs?
The small SUVs class averages 42.6 driver deaths per million; the Chevrolet Equinox 2WD sits at 49. Among the 9 small SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota C-HR with a death rate of 2.