I BOUGHT A DEMO WITH 7,000 MILES ON IT IN MAY 2018. 41,000 THE SUNROOF AND SHADE STOPPED WORKING. 42,500 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. CHEVY WAS NO HELP BECAUSE MY WARRANTY ENDED AT 39,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Equinox years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Electrical System complaints
61 reportsTHE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS RANDOMLY GIVE OFF SERVICE SIGNAL FOR THE STABILITRAK, HILL START ASSIST, AND BRAKE ASSIST. THIS CAUSES MY DOORS TO UNLOCK AND LOCK WHILE HE CAR IS IN MOTION AND GIVES SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED VIA REMOTE OR C…
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THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS RANDOMLY GIVE OFF SERVICE SIGNAL FOR THE STABILITRAK, HILL START ASSIST, AND BRAKE ASSIST. THIS CAUSES MY DOORS TO UNLOCK AND LOCK WHILE HE CAR IS IN MOTION AND GIVES SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED VIA REMOTE OR CHEVROLET APP BUT RECENTLY, IT IS HAPPENING DAILY WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES TO AUTO STOP AND CONTINUES AS THE VEHICLE RESTARTS FOR DRIVING ON CITY STREETS.
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/17/2020. CHECK BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE'S ALERT MESSAGE INDICATED THE CAR WAS IN 'BATTERY SAVING MODE'. NO PREVIOUS INDICATORS HAD APPEARED TO INFORM THAT THERE WAS A BATTERY ISSUE. A SHORT WHILE LATER, ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE DRIVER WAS ON A HIGHWAY. THE ALTERNATOR IN THE VEHICLE…
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DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/17/2020. CHECK BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE'S ALERT MESSAGE INDICATED THE CAR WAS IN 'BATTERY SAVING MODE'. NO PREVIOUS INDICATORS HAD APPEARED TO INFORM THAT THERE WAS A BATTERY ISSUE. A SHORT WHILE LATER, ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE DRIVER WAS ON A HIGHWAY. THE ALTERNATOR IN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ENOUGH VEHICLES WITH THIS ALTERNATOR MODEL THAT ALL PARTS STORES IN DULUTH, MN AND SUPERIOR, WI WERE OUT OF PARTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS ALSO BEEN OUT OF STOCK WITH THIS ALTERNATOR, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A FLAW WITH THIS PART. WITH SUCH LITTLE (AND INACCURATE) WARNING, THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN.
BACKUP CAMERA FREEZES INTERMITTENTLY ON START UP
WHILE IN MOTION, SEAT STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. SIDE MIRRORS STARTED TO MOVE AS WELL MAKING DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I COULDN'T REACH PEDALS AT ONE POINT AND COULDN'T SEE BLIND SPOT. I HAD TO RE ARRANGE THE SEAT AND SIDE MIRROR POSITION WHILE DRIVING SINCE I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY. THE SEAT SETTINGS DOESN'T WORK AS WELL.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AREA AND ALL I COULD SMELL WAS BURNED PLASTIC. PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT. NOT EVEN A MINUTE LATER THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I JUNE 28TH OF 2018. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITH COMPLAINTS OF SQUEAKING FROM BRAKES MIRROR ALERT PROBLEMS TRUNK STICKING AND THE SUSPENSION HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE I FIRST STARTED DRIVING IT I'M NOTICING IT. EVERY TIME I COMPLAIN THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG EXCEPT FOR …
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I JUNE 28TH OF 2018. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITH COMPLAINTS OF SQUEAKING FROM BRAKES MIRROR ALERT PROBLEMS TRUNK STICKING AND THE SUSPENSION HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE I FIRST STARTED DRIVING IT I'M NOTICING IT. EVERY TIME I COMPLAIN THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG EXCEPT FOR AT THE BEGINNING OF MY LEASE IT HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAKING IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WAS RECOMMEND TO CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS AND IN THE SAME CONVERSATION WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKES WERE FINE. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AT BALISE CHEVY BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THIS VEICHELE WAS A LEMON. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO KEEP TAKING THIS BRAND NEW VEICHELE BECAUSE IT WAS A LEASE SO THEY DID NOTHING. BALISE CHEVY IN WARWICK SHOULD HAVE NOTES OF COMPLAINTS. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HURD AUTO MALL IN JOHNSTON. THERE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN ONE OF MY TIRES AND BALISE COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK SO I WAS TOLD IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WOULD SUBMERGE THE TIRE AND CHECK THAT WAY. THEY SENT ME HOME THE TIRE CONTINUED TO LEAK AIR MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS DONE AT HURD AUTOMALL IN JOHNSTON WHERE THEY DID AN OIL CHANGE FOUND THE TIRE LEAK NO PROBLEM AND FIXED IT.
TL* THE CONTACT'S PARENTS OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JEFF GORDON CHEVROLET (228 S COLLEGE RD, WILMINGTON, NC 28403) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT'S PARENTS OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JEFF GORDON CHEVROLET (228 S COLLEGE RD, WILMINGTON, NC 28403) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO WESTGATE CHEVROLET OF BURGAW (1320 US-117, ST HELENA, NC 28425) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FLORIDA, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I CAME TO A STOP AND THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. THIS IS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT RESTART. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE ENTIRE CAR WENT DEAD. I COULD NOT TURN ON THE HAZZARD SIGNAL, I COULD NOT LOCK O…
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WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FLORIDA, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I CAME TO A STOP AND THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. THIS IS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT RESTART. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE ENTIRE CAR WENT DEAD. I COULD NOT TURN ON THE HAZZARD SIGNAL, I COULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS, ONSTAR WOULD NOT WORK. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. NOTHING AT ALL HAPPENED. I THEN TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. I THEN TRIED ONSTAR AGAIN, BUT EVEN THOUGH THE GREEN LIGHT WAS ON, NOTHING HAPPENED. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR SO THAT IF IT GOT HIT, I WOULD NOT BE HURT. THE CAR WAS IN THE RIGHT DRIVING LANE OF AN EXTREMELY BUSY HIGHWAY AND I COULD NOT GET IT OFF THE ROAD.
WINDSHIELD WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED FROM THE MANUFACTURE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, SEATS AND MIRRORS RANDOMLY MOVED. AT ONE POINT THE SEAT WAS SO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING HUSBAND'S STOMACH TO TOUCH THE WHEEL. THUS CAUSING THE INABILITY TO TURN AND CONTROL THE STEERING OF VEHICLE. MIRRORS MOVED RANDOMLY OUT OF …
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WINDSHIELD WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED FROM THE MANUFACTURE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, SEATS AND MIRRORS RANDOMLY MOVED. AT ONE POINT THE SEAT WAS SO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING HUSBAND'S STOMACH TO TOUCH THE WHEEL. THUS CAUSING THE INABILITY TO TURN AND CONTROL THE STEERING OF VEHICLE. MIRRORS MOVED RANDOMLY OUT OF POSITION, CAUSING INABILITY TO SEE BLIND SPOTS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 5-15. THIS FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED 5-24. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED 6-10 AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THE RAIN INSIDE THE UNSEALED WINDSHIELD CAUSED CORROSION ON ELECTRICAL WIRING AND CONNECTIONS. THERE IS CORROSION ALSO INSIDE THE BODY. THIS BRAND NEW VEHICLE IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR EITHER ELECTRICAL OR BODY.
Official recalls
520V668000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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