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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

55 reports
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10,000 miles · Jan 26, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringUnknown Or Other

I WAS ALMOST IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON OCT 7, 2019. I WAS TRAVELLING ON STATE HIGHWAYS FROM AUBURN, PA TO HERSHEY, PA AT APPRX 930AM. ROADS WERE DAMP/WET BUT RAIN HAD STOPPED. SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, I HAD ALWAYS ENGAGED ALL SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDING LANE KEEP ASSIST (LKA), COLLISION ALERTS, ETC. THIS WAS MAIN REASON I UPG…

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I WAS ALMOST IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON OCT 7, 2019. I WAS TRAVELLING ON STATE HIGHWAYS FROM AUBURN, PA TO HERSHEY, PA AT APPRX 930AM. ROADS WERE DAMP/WET BUT RAIN HAD STOPPED. SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, I HAD ALWAYS ENGAGED ALL SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDING LANE KEEP ASSIST (LKA), COLLISION ALERTS, ETC. THIS WAS MAIN REASON I UPGRADED FROM MY 2014 EQUINOX. ON RT 183, HEADING UP A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES, DESPITE DRIVING WELL UNDER SPEED LIMIT. **NOTE: MY BF AND I HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED TO DEALER, AND EVEN HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE, BC WE BOTH FELT CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN. WE ARE BOTH EXTREMELY SAFE, EXPERIENCED, NON-DISTRACTED DRIVERS AND THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS QUITE ODD/OFF. DEALER FOUND NOTHING. CLOSER TO HERSHEY, I WAS COMING AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD ON I BELIEVE RT 743 WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR PULLED ME SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT AND ALMOST OVER AN EMBANKMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE LED TO A ROLLOVER CRASH AND POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AND GREAT DRIVING, I JUST MISSED A STONE WALL, AND MY ?1/4 MILE SWERVING SKID BACK AND FORTH PING-PONGED ME ALL OVER THE ROADWAY, BARELY AVOIDING MAILBOXES, FENCES, AND A HOUSE. LUCKILY ONCOMING TRAFFIC DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL I STRAIGHTENED OUT OF MY SKID. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SAID "MY CAR JUST TRIED TO KILL ME." AFTER RESEARCH, THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID TO TURN OFF THE LKA. I HAVE, AND CAR NO LONGER PULLS TO THE RIGHT, EVER. I READ THE MANUAL, AND BURIED AROUND PAGE 254 IS A SMALL BLACK BOX WARNING THAT SAYS TO DISENGAGE LKA ON WET, CURVING ROADS OR COLLISIONS MAY OCCUR. REALLY???? PEOPLE CAN DIE, AND THE WARNING IS BURIED ON PAGE 254??? I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER NEWER CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES IN OTHER CARS/BRANDS. I THINK THESE "SAFETY FEATURES" ARE A DOUBLE EDGE SWORD AND NEED FURTHER RESEARCH. I ALMOST DIED.

NHTSA ODI #11302110

24,500 miles · Jan 1, 2020
Unknown Or Other

SINCE PICKING UP THIS VEHICLE ON 5/29/18 I HAVE NOTICED (OCCASIONALLY) THAT THERE IS A "GRAB OR PULL" ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALIGNMENT APPEARS TO BE OKAY, AND WHEN I HAD THE OIL CHANGED I WAS TOLD I HAD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS CHECKED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT I NEEDED A NEW SET OF TIRES! THIS WAS CONCERNING TO…

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SINCE PICKING UP THIS VEHICLE ON 5/29/18 I HAVE NOTICED (OCCASIONALLY) THAT THERE IS A "GRAB OR PULL" ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALIGNMENT APPEARS TO BE OKAY, AND WHEN I HAD THE OIL CHANGED I WAS TOLD I HAD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS CHECKED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT I NEEDED A NEW SET OF TIRES! THIS WAS CONCERNING TO ME AS I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OKAY. I AGAIN MENTIONED THE "GRAB/PULL" SITUATION AND WAS TOLD IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE TIRES. AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVING TWO OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE SAME, THE SITUATION STILL EXISTS. WE HAVE ALL DRIVEN OTHER CARS OVER THE SAME ROADS AND HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME RESULTS. I AM WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE A FAULTY SENSOR? I HAVE NOTICED THIS GOING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11292445

9,185 miles · Oct 17, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED. I HAD JUST ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED. I DIDN'T FIND AN OBJECT IN THE CAR THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT.

NHTSA ODI #11269244

2,000 miles · Aug 2, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I AM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I GET A STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL IN MY AIR CONDITIONER. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY "COULD NOT SMELL IT" . MY EYES WATER,AND I GET A HEADACHE IF I DRIVE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME I HAVE TO PUT MY WINDOWS DOWN. TWO TECH DID SAY THEY SMELLED IT FAINTLY. I GAVE UP TAKING IT IN BUT I DO S…

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WHEN I AM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I GET A STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL IN MY AIR CONDITIONER. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY "COULD NOT SMELL IT" . MY EYES WATER,AND I GET A HEADACHE IF I DRIVE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME I HAVE TO PUT MY WINDOWS DOWN. TWO TECH DID SAY THEY SMELLED IT FAINTLY. I GAVE UP TAKING IT IN BUT I DO STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 18000 MILES ON IT AND DRIVE MOSTLY SHORT TRIPS.

NHTSA ODI #11241243

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

10 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other

VIBRATION IN DASH THE MORE YOU PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR THE LOUDER THE VIBRATION GETS WHILE DRIVING OR MOVING

NHTSA ODI #11190163

18,000 miles · Mar 8, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I TOOK MY CAR THROUGH A AUTOMATIC CAR WASH AND AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WASH..MY DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I HAD TO CRAWL OUT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I WENT THROUGH THE CAR WASH AT 4PM AND AT 630AM THE NEXT DAY, IT FINALLY UNLOCKED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS …

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I TOOK MY CAR THROUGH A AUTOMATIC CAR WASH AND AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WASH..MY DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I HAD TO CRAWL OUT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I WENT THROUGH THE CAR WASH AT 4PM AND AT 630AM THE NEXT DAY, IT FINALLY UNLOCKED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTERS 2018 EQUINOX AS WELL. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. WHAT IF HER OR I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT....

NHTSA ODI #11185051

400 miles · Dec 24, 2018
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON,A TWO LANED HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I JUST HEAR AN EXPLPSION. THE SOUND OF WHAT I FOUND WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION MY CAR WENT INTO OMCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. I BROKE MY PELVIS AMD THE SEAT BELT CUT ME OPEN. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAVE …

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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON,A TWO LANED HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I JUST HEAR AN EXPLPSION. THE SOUND OF WHAT I FOUND WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION MY CAR WENT INTO OMCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. I BROKE MY PELVIS AMD THE SEAT BELT CUT ME OPEN. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAVE A SLIGHT BRAIN INJURY. I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. RIGHT BEFORE THE EXPLPSION SOUND MY CAR VEARED TO THE RIGHT AND I HEARD THE ROAD SAFETY BUMPS. I CORRECTED MYSELF AS I ALWAYS WOULD AND NEXT THING I KNOW IM IN A SEVERE HEAD ON COLLISION LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. TRANSMISSIOMS AND ENGINES DONT JUST FLY OUT DURING AN ACCIDENT EXCEPT AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS... I BELIEVE THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AS I DID NOT DRIVE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON.

NHTSA ODI #11163296

900 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

2018 EQUINOX PREMIER SUNROOF GAVE OUT ON ME 5 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING BRAND NEW. GM HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAS NOT FOUND A FIX. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR WAS STATIONARY OR MOTION. THE SUNROOF AND THE PRIVACY SCREEN WILL STOP OPENING/CLOSING. THEY HAVE REPLACED ALL THE WIRES AND THE ENTIRE SUNROOF AND NEW MOTORS AND …

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2018 EQUINOX PREMIER SUNROOF GAVE OUT ON ME 5 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING BRAND NEW. GM HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAS NOT FOUND A FIX. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR WAS STATIONARY OR MOTION. THE SUNROOF AND THE PRIVACY SCREEN WILL STOP OPENING/CLOSING. THEY HAVE REPLACED ALL THE WIRES AND THE ENTIRE SUNROOF AND NEW MOTORS AND IT STILL DOESNT WORK. GM CUSTOMER CARE IS NOT WORKING WITH ME AND SAYS THAT BASICALLY THEY WON'T HAVE A TIME WHEN I WILL GET MY CAR BACK. THEY AREN'T HELPING ME WITH A TRADE IN EITHER. THE DEALERSHIP IS HELPING ME (BRAVO AT LAS CRUCES NM). BUT GM THEMSELVES AREN'T TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT SOLELY IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE HEARD OF ATLEAST 8 OTHER CASES ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SOME WERE FIXED WITH A COMPUTER REBOOT BUT MINE CANNOT GET FIXED WHATSOEVER.

NHTSA ODI #11121035

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