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2019 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 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

128 reports with mileage · 173 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.

  • Engine. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

36 reports
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10,650 miles · Mar 18, 2020
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RPM. INTERMITTENT HARD OR ROUGH SHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 MPH IT HAS A SHUDDER AND SLIGHT SURGE. ANOTHER INCIDENT WHILE STOPPED, FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI #11318545

3,000 miles · Jan 28, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

PURCHASED NEW CAR ON SEPTEMBER 7 2019. STARTED HAVING CAR ISSUES ON 9/25/2019 TOOK CAR IN ON 9/27/2019. CAR WAS MAKING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GET HARD. WAS HARD TO BREAK. WHEN REVERSING SCREECHING NOISE WOULD GET LOUDER AND LOUDER. WAS TOLD BY A CHEVROLET TECHNICIAN CAR WAS FINE IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. TOOK…

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PURCHASED NEW CAR ON SEPTEMBER 7 2019. STARTED HAVING CAR ISSUES ON 9/25/2019 TOOK CAR IN ON 9/27/2019. CAR WAS MAKING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GET HARD. WAS HARD TO BREAK. WHEN REVERSING SCREECHING NOISE WOULD GET LOUDER AND LOUDER. WAS TOLD BY A CHEVROLET TECHNICIAN CAR WAS FINE IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. TOOK CAR IN ONCE AGAIN ON 12/26/2019 VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY NOT TURN ON, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GET HARD, CAR WOULD SCREECH. CAME TO THE POINT WERE I WAS SCARED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE GROCERY STORE BECAUSE I WAS UNSURE ON WHETHER THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY NOT START. INFORM CHEVROLET OF EVERETT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS 3 BOLTS, AND WAS GIVEN THE CAR BACK. TOOK CAR TO CALIFORNIA AFTER THE DEALER TOLD ME CAR WAS COMPLETELY SAFE. 1/14/2020 CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. CALLED CHEVROLET THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT TURNS OFF AND WHY IT WON'T TURN ON. CALLED GM MOTORS THEY SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP BUT I CAN START A CASE IN WHICH I DID. WENT TO CHEVROLET ON 1/24/2020 THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA ON WHY THE VEHICLE IS HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS, TRIED MAKING ME TAKE THE VEHICLE HOME KNOWING IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN SHOP NOW FOR 14 DAYS AND NO ONE HAS INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP ME, NOR HAS ANYONE CONTACTED ME, I HAVE CALLING RECORDS ON HOW MANY CALLS I'VE MADE TO GM MOTORS TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME BUT THEY ALWAYS STATE NO ONE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP ME. GM MOTORS ALSO DID 'ADVICE'ME TO NOT SEEK ANY LEGAL HELP IF I WANTED TO BE HELPED.

NHTSA ODI #11302696

1,301 miles · Aug 30, 2019
EnginePower Train

CAR WOULD START BUCKING, STUTTERING AND JERKING. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. A/C COMPRESSOR FROZE, HAD TO BE REBUILT. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED TWICE. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM ON THE LAST TWO TIMES. THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS WHILE IN MOTION AND FROM A STOP.

NHTSA ODI #11252390

213 miles · May 31, 2019
EnginePower Train

BOUGHT EQUINOX WITH 9 MILES O IT ON MONDAY 05/27/2019 AND ON FRIDAY 5/31/2019 ON THE WAY HOME FROM GOING TO DINNER, WITH ONLY 213 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LOOKED UP THE ERROR CODE ON LINE, BECAUSE THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS NOT THAT EASY. CODE DISPLAYE…

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BOUGHT EQUINOX WITH 9 MILES O IT ON MONDAY 05/27/2019 AND ON FRIDAY 5/31/2019 ON THE WAY HOME FROM GOING TO DINNER, WITH ONLY 213 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LOOKED UP THE ERROR CODE ON LINE, BECAUSE THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS NOT THAT EASY. CODE DISPLAYED COULD SHUT ENGINE OFF AT ANY TIME TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. THANK GOD WE WERE A 2 MILES FROM HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11217195

500 miles · Apr 29, 2019
Power Train

AUTO STOP / START IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. HESITATION FROM BRAKE TO GAS CAUSES A WHIPLASH EFFECT TO EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC IS A TOTAL CRAP SHOOT AS TO WEATHER THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO START, HESITATE OR GO AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #11204355

1,100 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Power Train

THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MOD…

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THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MODEL ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH I AM SURE IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED FOR CERTAIN OWNER DRIVING STYLES AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER DISABLE THE FEATURE PERMANENTLY BY OWNER REQUEST OR HAVE A METHOD FOR THE OWNER TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM. WITH LESS THAN 250 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 INCIDENTS OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FROM A STOP AND 1 OF ALMOST BEING HIT PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. I SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOPE THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE DUE TO IT. WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING WITH AUTO STOP THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED AS A/C COMPRESSOR TURNED ON CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD TOWARD THE MOVING TRAIN. ALMOST A MAJOR NEAR DEATH ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11163917

Official recalls

4

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.

19V667000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 19, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.

19V184000 · Seats

Mar 7, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192209550.

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.

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