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Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 409 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Equinox and 262 about the Subaru Forester.

Side by side

Chevrolet EquinoxSubaru Forester
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints8,5955,510
Complaints per model year409262
Recalls3140
Years to avoidNone stand out201520162017201820192020
Best years200920212022200720082013
Most common problemEngineVisibility
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-27 mpg combined (2026)26-35 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Chevrolet Equinox: 6952006 Subaru Forester: 8820062007 Chevrolet Equinox: 6852007 Subaru Forester: 742008 Chevrolet Equinox: 3702008 Subaru Forester: 5020082009 Chevrolet Equinox: 942009 Subaru Forester: 1782010 Chevrolet Equinox: 7842010 Subaru Forester: 26220102011 Chevrolet Equinox: 7832011 Subaru Forester: 1472012 Chevrolet Equinox: 6852012 Subaru Forester: 10720122013 Chevrolet Equinox: 7512013 Subaru Forester: 782014 Chevrolet Equinox: 5502014 Subaru Forester: 40320142015 Chevrolet Equinox: 6802015 Subaru Forester: 6172016 Chevrolet Equinox: 4002016 Subaru Forester: 41620162017 Chevrolet Equinox: 2762017 Subaru Forester: 5942018 Chevrolet Equinox: 4102018 Subaru Forester: 49920182019 Chevrolet Equinox: 3102019 Subaru Forester: 8342020 Chevrolet Equinox: 3202020 Subaru Forester: 60420202021 Chevrolet Equinox: 1012021 Subaru Forester: 2152022 Chevrolet Equinox: 1882022 Subaru Forester: 10020222023 Chevrolet Equinox: 992023 Subaru Forester: 762024 Chevrolet Equinox: 842024 Subaru Forester: 3120242025 Chevrolet Equinox: 2442025 Subaru Forester: 1022026 Chevrolet Equinox: 862026 Subaru Forester: 352026
Chevrolet EquinoxSubaru Forester

Problems compared

EquinoxForester
Engine3,019851
Visibility1,5181,237
Electrical1,080783
Fuel system1,045273
Transmission983418
Brakes669303
Airbags593739
Acceleration270412

Questions about the Chevrolet Equinox vs Subaru Forester

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Chevrolet Equinox has 0 years to avoid and the Subaru Forester 6. The Chevrolet Equinox has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Subaru Forester drew fewer complaints per model year (262 vs 409), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Equinox or the Subaru Forester?

From 2006 to 2026, the Chevrolet Equinox was covered by 31 recalls and the Subaru Forester by 40.

What years of the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Forester should you avoid?

Chevrolet Equinox: no year stands out. Subaru Forester: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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