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2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

187 reports with mileage · 220 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports4 fire reports17 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

61 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2022
Electrical SystemStructure

rear liftgate will only open most of the time it will not close when using the buttons on vehicle or on key fob, ongoing issue since

NHTSA ODI #11462595

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2022
Electrical SystemStructure

The vehicle first started having a cigarette residual smoke smell in it during the summer of 2019. It was right after a good rainfall, but we didn't know what to attribute it to. We called the local Chevrolet dealership and they weren't sure what it might be either. The odor would come and go over the last couple of years, bu…

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The vehicle first started having a cigarette residual smoke smell in it during the summer of 2019. It was right after a good rainfall, but we didn't know what to attribute it to. We called the local Chevrolet dealership and they weren't sure what it might be either. The odor would come and go over the last couple of years, but we couldn't figure out what it was from as none of my family members smoke. Then my husband went to run errands in my vehicle during a heavy downpour and heard water running inside of the car. He found water coming out of the fuse panel on the driver's side in the rear hatch (video available). He started removing the wet stuff in the rear hatch & when he got down to the spare tire compartment, he found it was filled with water. He also smelled the cigarette smoke-like odor like 10 times stronger than before & realized that it was due to the felt-like pad in the spare tire compartment being soaked in water. We again called the local dealership & they weren't sure what the problem might have been. My husband & stepfather did research and found out a lot of Equinox owners were experiencing the same issue & it had been determined that it was due to the sunroof water drainage system being clogged. The provided solution was to run air through the water drainage pipes, which my husband did. However, the vehicle still had some water appearing behind the driver's side seat during the lighter rainfalls afterwards. As well, the odor that smelled like cigarette smoke had now been replaced with a strong mildew/mold smell. This poses two major safety issues - water going into fuse boxes (water & electrical don't mix), as well as the mold/mildew being inhaled - especially of concern since we have two toddlers sitting in the backseat of this family vehicle. One dealership was unable to duplicate water inside the vehicle, but found the water drain pipes partially clogged. Other dealership noted mold/mildew smell and did an ozone detailing.

NHTSA ODI #11459857

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2022
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

After auto stop/ start system engages messages on dash appear “ service brake assist”, “service steering assist”, “service parking brake”, “service stibilitrac”, Failure at 55,400 miles Dealership found a loss communication error to the muddles due to low battery voltage. Fix: replaced battery at 55,436 miles Battery has been …

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After auto stop/ start system engages messages on dash appear “ service brake assist”, “service steering assist”, “service parking brake”, “service stibilitrac”, Failure at 55,400 miles Dealership found a loss communication error to the muddles due to low battery voltage. Fix: replaced battery at 55,436 miles Battery has been replaced 3 times in 4 years starting at 18, 500 miles, then at 32,562 miles, now at 55,436 miles due to the same issue with the auto stop start operation. Car is out of warranty as of 58,300 miles or October 2022

NHTSA ODI #11458742

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2022
Electrical SystemSeatsUnknown Or Other

We were driving at night I had turned on the overhead cabin light and when I turned on the overhead cabin light so my wife could hand food to our are sun and behind us the At the same time that I push the button the sunshade started to go and so I let it go but then it got jammed and it started to crank so I pushed the button in…

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We were driving at night I had turned on the overhead cabin light and when I turned on the overhead cabin light so my wife could hand food to our are sun and behind us the At the same time that I push the button the sunshade started to go and so I let it go but then it got jammed and it started to crank so I pushed the button in it started to go and reverse and then it like Jim in it aint like you know the motor growing sound and like there's a big shatter we thought that it was the glass from the moon roof shuttering turned out it was just like the plastic piece it was like holding the shade in place and so And so then to get that repaired they had to take the roof off take the rails out to get to the little plastic piece to call that plastic piece an external trim fastener so if it was an internal fastener it would be covered if it was because it was a fascinary if it was because it was a fascinator if it was because it's trim I don't know what trim you have to pull a roof off and pull rails out to it to find but that is why they didn't call it cover it

NHTSA ODI #11450605

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2022
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

When I lift my foot off brake the car Stop/Start feature engage causing lurching jerks forward or roll backwardson hill I fear the roll back on inclines praying vehicles are to close behind and rolling backwards into another vehicle, censors lights take turns coming on each time I lift my foot off the brake pedal. All of the fol…

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When I lift my foot off brake the car Stop/Start feature engage causing lurching jerks forward or roll backwardson hill I fear the roll back on inclines praying vehicles are to close behind and rolling backwards into another vehicle, censors lights take turns coming on each time I lift my foot off the brake pedal. All of the following, service brake assist, service stabilittrak, park brake released, service hill start assist action not working, car locks unlock and relock by themselves. I have had these issues since. These issues have been occurring since around 16,000 miles and keep getting worst everyday. GM claim not to have a fix for these issues. They offered a few thousand to buy back the vehicle claiming drastic depreciation for milage and wear. At that time owed over $25,000 balance for the vehicle. No one stood to benefit but the lemon law attorneys.They did not consider the milage when these issues started and this is my only source of transportation to use which I told the lemon law attorneys. The lemon law attorneys were going to charge their fee from me if GM refused to pay their fees. I told them I felt in my best interest I should wait for GM's recall for this vehicle as I'm sure I wasn't the only consumer that was having these same issues. My problem is my vehicle is becoming dangerous to drive due to the rolling back and, jerking of the steering wheel, engine cutting off, locks unlocking and relocking and unstable steering. These issues were hit and miss now happens every time I drive which is daily. These issues started 2020. Last correspondence with GM they still claim they did not know how to fix these issues. I question why they are making vehicles and are not able to fix these issues. I have given my family a list of these issues because they create a safety hazard and in case I, a passenger or someone in another vehicle is injured or killed due to GM's negligence, lack of concern and greed.

NHTSA ODI #11447517

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

While driving the traction and stability lights came on along with the ESC service light. Also my Lane assist stopped working. It stayed on for at Least 30 mins until I turned off the car and restarted. Stopped at the closest garage and they checked the battery and used a scan tool to identify that it had a fault code U0121 Los…

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While driving the traction and stability lights came on along with the ESC service light. Also my Lane assist stopped working. It stayed on for at Least 30 mins until I turned off the car and restarted. Stopped at the closest garage and they checked the battery and used a scan tool to identify that it had a fault code U0121 Lost Communication with Anti-lock Brake System Module.

NHTSA ODI #11438665

34,000 miles · Apr 3, 2021
Electrical SystemSeats

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SLIDE SUDDENLY FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO DO SO EVEN AFTER THE POWER SEAT WAS REVERSED. IN SOME INSTANCES THE SEAT WASHED PUSHED SO FAR FORWARD I COULD NOT CONTINUE SAFELY AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. USUALLY AFTER A SHORT WAIT I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. TH…

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THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SLIDE SUDDENLY FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO DO SO EVEN AFTER THE POWER SEAT WAS REVERSED. IN SOME INSTANCES THE SEAT WASHED PUSHED SO FAR FORWARD I COULD NOT CONTINUE SAFELY AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. USUALLY AFTER A SHORT WAIT I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DRIVING SITUATIONS, HIGHWAYS, CITY STREETS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I FOUND AT LEAST 5 BULLETINS ISSUED BY GM REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM DESCRIBED THE BULLETIN NUMBER IS PIT5608D. THE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021.

NHTSA ODI #11406239

40,000 miles · Mar 3, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WHEN USING THE BLUETOOTH/HANDSFREE WITH MY PHONE WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY, THE RADIO UNIT WITH DIAL OUT A CALL, BUT WHEN THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END PICKS UP THAT PERSON CAN NOT HEAR ME. THE PERSON WILL SAY HELLO SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HANGING UP. THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND COULDN'T GET AHOLD OF SOMEONE TO …

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WHEN USING THE BLUETOOTH/HANDSFREE WITH MY PHONE WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY, THE RADIO UNIT WITH DIAL OUT A CALL, BUT WHEN THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END PICKS UP THAT PERSON CAN NOT HEAR ME. THE PERSON WILL SAY HELLO SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HANGING UP. THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND COULDN'T GET AHOLD OF SOMEONE TO TALK TO IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY 3 YEARS/36000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11399042

55,000 miles · Mar 1, 2021
Electrical System

AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS PERIODICALLY NO LONGER FUNCTION. DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK FUNCTION CANNOT BE USED EITHER WITH THE KEY FOB OR WITH DIRECT PRESS OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AT ONE POINT HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE OUTSI…

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AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS PERIODICALLY NO LONGER FUNCTION. DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK FUNCTION CANNOT BE USED EITHER WITH THE KEY FOB OR WITH DIRECT PRESS OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AT ONE POINT HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE IS TO REMOVE THE COVER FROM THE DOOR LOCK AND USE THE EMBEDDED KEY IN THE KEY FOB. ISSUE WILL LAST ANYWHERE FROM 1 HOUR TO 24 HOURS AFTER THE CAR GETS WET. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THERE WERE EVER TO BE AN ISSUE ARISING WHERE YOU HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE OCCURRING.

NHTSA ODI #11398547

27,450 miles · Jan 8, 2021
Electrical SystemSteering

MESSAGE: I OWN A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, 4 CYLINDER WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING, THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 27500 MILES RECORDED. WHILE DRIVING I SENSED A SLIGHT DELAY IN THE STEERING, IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY A MILLISECOND DELAY AND DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IN ADDITION THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WONDER LEFT OR RIGHT…

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MESSAGE: I OWN A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, 4 CYLINDER WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING, THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 27500 MILES RECORDED. WHILE DRIVING I SENSED A SLIGHT DELAY IN THE STEERING, IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY A MILLISECOND DELAY AND DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IN ADDITION THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WONDER LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS NOT HELD FIRMLY. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BLAIZE ALEXANDER PHILLIPSBURG PA SERVICE MGR. AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A REPORTED ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THEIR RESPONSE WAS NO. BUT SUGGESTED TO SCHEDULE AN APT. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I SEARCHED THE ISSUES ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS WITH 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX CAUSING NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FAILURES. AFTER CONSULT WITH INDEPENDENT GM CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN IT WAS LEARNED THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER THIS DAY, THE RESULTS OF THE INSPECTION WAS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS ALL PARAMETERS WERE WITHIN SPEC. THIS CONDITION SO FAR HAS BEEN SPORADIC IN NATURE,HOWEVER DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS DESERVES MORE ATTENTION DIRECTED TO IT.

NHTSA ODI #11387232

Official recalls

5

20V668000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 29, 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Aug 30, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

18V252000 · Structure:emergency:escape/egress/exit; Visibility

Apr 19, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure:emergency:escape/egress/exit

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

Consequence: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

Visibility

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

Consequence: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

17V516000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Aug 22, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems