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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

Power Train complaints

65 reports
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32,000 miles · Dec 31, 2019
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

JUST FINSHED MY SECOND YEAR INTO MY 3 YEAR 2018 CHEVY EQUINOX LEASE AND FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST HAS APPEARED AND DISSAPEARED DOZENS OF TIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS. ORGINALLY MAD AN APPOINTMENT BUT THE DEA…

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JUST FINSHED MY SECOND YEAR INTO MY 3 YEAR 2018 CHEVY EQUINOX LEASE AND FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST HAS APPEARED AND DISSAPEARED DOZENS OF TIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS. ORGINALLY MAD AN APPOINTMENT BUT THE DEALER SHIP CANCLLED IT AND THEN MY CAR SUDDENLY HAD REDUCED POWER THE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD. NOT A HIGHWAY. GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SAY A VACUM PUMP SEIZED? NOW ARE SAYING THERE IS METAL IN THE ENGINE AMD THEY DONT KNOW WHY. TRYING TO GET ME TO PAY FOR COST. HAVE TAKEN CAR OF VEHCHILE AND DONE THE REQUIRED MATINENCE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A 2 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ON 32000 MILES. VERY CONCERNED THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTED WITH THE CAR. AS NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR ISSUES TO MINE BY GM.

NHTSA ODI #11292216

43,000 miles · Dec 11, 2019
Power Train

VEHICLE SUDDENLY POWERED DOWN WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN MORNING TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND SLOW TO AN UNSAFE SPEED. I EASED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF BIG TRUCKS, ETC., AND WAS SCARED TO TURN OFF THE EXIT FOR FEAR THAT IT WOULD STALL AGAIN AND I WOULD BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE 3RD…

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VEHICLE SUDDENLY POWERED DOWN WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN MORNING TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND SLOW TO AN UNSAFE SPEED. I EASED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF BIG TRUCKS, ETC., AND WAS SCARED TO TURN OFF THE EXIT FOR FEAR THAT IT WOULD STALL AGAIN AND I WOULD BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, EACH TIME THEY REPLACE SOMETHING ELSE. YOU NEED TO FORCE CHEVROLET TO MAKE A RECALL ON THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES!

NHTSA ODI #11288441

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2019
Power Train

CAR HESITATED TO MOVE WHEN GAS APPLIED WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOPLIGHT.IT MADE A QUICK JERKING FORWARD, AND BACKWARD MOVEMENT AS IF TO GO, OR SHUT DOWN,THEN TOOK OFF. POSSIBLELY RELATED TO POWERTRAIN? .

NHTSA ODI #11259041

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2019
Power TrainService Brakes

BRAKES GRABS,MAKES LOUD SCRUBBING NOISE WHEN APPLIED TO SLOW DOWN,STOP,OR TURN.SOUND LIKE RIGHT FRONT END RODS GOING TO BREAK, AND FEELS LIKE BRAKES SLIPPING, AND NOT WANTING TO STOP AT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11259023

4,500 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

ON TWO OCCASIONS MY TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T ENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED IT FROM "PARK" TO "DRIVE." MY CAR STARTED ROLLING LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND AFTER ABOUT 3 - 5 SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AS NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11232777

9,500 miles · May 24, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WHICH ARE INTERRELATED 1) WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REPOND WHEN THE GAS IS APPLIED TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN. THEN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHES INTO GEAR. 2) THE "D" FOR DRIVE ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES INDICATING AN ERROR CODE HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO THE TRANSMISSION…

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THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WHICH ARE INTERRELATED 1) WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REPOND WHEN THE GAS IS APPLIED TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN. THEN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHES INTO GEAR. 2) THE "D" FOR DRIVE ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES INDICATING AN ERROR CODE HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THIS WAS HAPPENING THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE ON THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE SO THEY DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO DIAGNOIS WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND WERE ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THAT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE MANUFACTURER FELT THIS MAY BE DUE TO A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND MAY NEED TO COMPLETE A SOFTWARE UPDATE AT SOME FUTURE POINT IN TIME. HOWEVER, I'VE SEEN POSTS FROM OTHER CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS WITH MODELS DATING BACK TO 2014 WITH THIS SAME HESITANCY AND JERKING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11209682

14,600 miles · Mar 15, 2019
Power Train

WAS DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. CONTACTED GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT AND HOUR AND A HALF OF WAITING FOR A TOW I TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT DID START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS IN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHIC…

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WAS DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. CONTACTED GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT AND HOUR AND A HALF OF WAITING FOR A TOW I TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT DID START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS IN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP OVERNIGHT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER AND THEY FIXED IT.

NHTSA ODI #11187170

4,000 miles · Jan 16, 2019
Power Train

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (AS IN TURNING FROM A STOP SIGN INTO A LANE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC) TO MERGE INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP NORMALLY BUT THEN SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION CREATING A SITUATION THAT MAY CAUSE SOMEONE TO HIT THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS …

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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (AS IN TURNING FROM A STOP SIGN INTO A LANE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC) TO MERGE INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP NORMALLY BUT THEN SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION CREATING A SITUATION THAT MAY CAUSE SOMEONE TO HIT THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SO FAR. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS ALSO A CHECK ENGINE CODE AND THE DEALER REPLACED A TRANSMISSION SENSOR. SINCE THE 1ST TIME (WITH JUST OVER 100 MILES ON THE BRAND NEW CAR) IT HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AFTER SHUTDOWN AND RESTARTED IT WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE 5TH TIME (2 DAYS AGO) IT HAPPENED AGAIN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, I WENT SLOWLY STRAIGHT 2 THE DEALER (1 MILE AWAY AT THE TIME). IT IS STILL AT THE DEALER. THIS HAS ALL BEEN ON CITY STREETS. WHEN THIS OCCURS I TIED THE MANUAL FUNCTION ON THE SHIFTER AND IT STILL WOULDN'T SHIFT

NHTSA ODI #11170291

5,100 miles · Nov 28, 2018
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. GOES UP TO 5000+RPMS AND WILL ONLY GO ABOUT 25 MPH. THEN IT WILL RANDOMLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT YOU HAVING ANY CONTROL OF THE SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR D FLASHED. DEALERSHIP CLEARED THE CODE AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ACTIONS. WE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 30 MILES AND…

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CAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. GOES UP TO 5000+RPMS AND WILL ONLY GO ABOUT 25 MPH. THEN IT WILL RANDOMLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT YOU HAVING ANY CONTROL OF THE SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR D FLASHED. DEALERSHIP CLEARED THE CODE AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ACTIONS. WE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 30 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. WE VIDEOED WHAT HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE AGAIN BUT STILL ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY HAVE CALLED CHEVY IN TEXAS AND THERE MAY BE AN ONGOING TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. GM TECH ASSIST SITED SIMILAR ISSUES HAVING DEBRIS IN TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. DEBRIS WILL CLEAR AND GET TRAPPED IN FILTER AS DESIGNED. THIS OCCURRED DRIVING ON A COMBINATION OF HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS,AND COUNTRY ROADS. VEHICLE HAS 5100 MILES TO DATE.

NHTSA ODI #11154629

1,173 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Power Train

WHEN PARKING THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, DIDN'T NOTICE I HAD NOT PUT CAR IN PARK AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THANKFULLY I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I WAS SHOCKED THAT …

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WHEN PARKING THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, DIDN'T NOTICE I HAD NOT PUT CAR IN PARK AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THANKFULLY I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A NORMAL. AFTER LOOKING AT RECALLS ON PREVIOUS MODELS, I SAW A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SOME 2015-2017 CHEVROLET VEHICLES. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I THOUGHT I IMAGINED IT. SO I TRIED IT YESTERDAY IN THE DRIVEWAY AND SURE ENOUGH IF THE CAR ISN'T IN PARK AND YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF THE CAR WILL ROLL.

NHTSA ODI #11081035

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