2023 Chevrolet Equinox

**NHTSA Complaint Summary: 2023 Chevrolet Equinox Warranty & Safety Failure** * **First Stall & Initial Negligence:** After a factory engine replacement, the vehicle suffered a fuel system failure. Castle Rock Chevrolet falsely claimed it was repaired, leading to a catastrophic stall on a high-speed highway with raw gasoline and burning plastic odors. * **Second Stall & False Diagnosis:** Following a tow, the dealership cleared the car, claiming "no errors". Within 24 hours, it stalled again in live traffic. Castle Rock then refused emergency warranty service and hung up on you. * **Critical Safety Hazard:** The vehicle experiences a severe electrical voltage drop (triggering **"Engine Power Is Reduced"** and **"Battery Saver Active"** warnings). This causes a sudden, dangerous **loss of Electric Power Steering (steering locks up)** and **fuel injection failure** while driving in traffic, creating an extreme crash risk. This recurring hazard stems from improperly reassembled or melted wiring harnesses following dealership repairs.

Electronics continually work in a “muted” manor. Not enough heat from the seat, steering wheel etc. Park assist and cruise control disengage on their own. Infotainment screen fails to recognize key fob and reboots radio. Entire camera system frequently goes out with an error that no cameras are even hooked up. HVAC system runs way too cold. Blower cuts out. Random vents will work, others don’t or struggle. Zero airflow out of the rear vents. Excessive water drips out of vehicle from several spots while either minimal or no exhaust coming from tailpipe. Sometimes exhaust comes from under the hood. Transmission shifts when it shouldn’t and doesn’t when it should. Grinding sensation from gas pedal upon accelerating. Very sluggish. No power. Rpms reach 3000-4000 trying to accelerate down steep inclines. Gravity is no match for this vehicle. Long shifts cause vehicle to remain in a state of constant braking. Getting only 18 mpg. Can’t maintain speed. Every shift is felt in pedals and steering wheel. Pulls to different sides after each shift. Power steering much too tight and difficult to turn. Numerous times fuel has failed to reach the engine. Not having control of acceleration, steering and no winter warmth is dangerous. At best. It’s downright deadly. DePaula Chevrolet will do absolutely nothing. GM corporate was also no help. This vehicle is destroying me financially and cost me my job. These problems have been happening daily since two miles after I left the lot on the date of purchase.

While Dinghy Towing the vehicle behind a motor home the tires lock up, skid and screech when going through tight turns such as cloverleaf on or off-ramps. After turns are made the vehicle handling returns to normal. Posted/suggested speeds or less are followed for the turns. The issue has occurred on numerous occasions and could be easily reproduced under actual towing conditions. The written Owners Manual that came with the vehicle when purchased new states clearly the that dinghy towing is allowed. We purchased specifically with that in mind and talked to the dealer at length about our intention of dinghy towing it. A case has been opened with GM and the vehicle has been assessed by 2 different Chevrolet dealers. No obvious defects have been found by the dealers. The issue is unresolved and offers to reproduce the problem under actual towing conditions has not been accepted by the dealers or GM. This should be viewed a significant safety issue with possible damage risks to the tow and towed vehicles, towing equipment as well as safety of those driving/riding in the RV and also for other drivers around us.

We bought a 2023 Chevy Equinox AWD specifically because it said it can be flat towed behind an RV. When towing it, we have noticed that when going around certain turns such as a cloverleaf on or off ramp, as you are in the turn, the tires start screeching loudly, you can smell burning rubber, and the RV feels like it's being tugged on by the car. As soon as the RV goes straight again, the screeching and tugging stop. This does not happen when turning a corner at a stop sign or stop light. We did not notice any warning lights on in the car after stopping to check on the vehicle. I feel this is a big safety issue for those driving/riding in the RV and also for other drivers around us as we do not know the stress this is putting on our Equinox tow connection setup, the frame of the Equinox or the RV hitch system. This issue is happening to other 2023 Equinox owners and we all have different RV's and various tow equipment setups. The common factor is the Equinox. I have not reported this to the dealer yet but plan to do so today.

The 2023 Equinox owner's manual states that the Equinox can be flat towed behind a motorhome with all four wheels on the ground. I bought the vehicle based on this representation for towing behind our motorhome. When towing thorough turns at certain speeds and of certain radius and duration, the Equinox tires make a loud screeching noise and the smell of burning rubber is noticed. This condition begins shortly after the Equinox enters the turn and ends once the Equinox completes the turn. A video camera inside the Equinox shows the steering wheel vibrating strongly left/right accompanied by the screeching noise, and the degree to which the steering wheel rotates during the turn is LESS than when the Equinox is driven through the same turn. (See video at https://youtu.be/vEMAQiKWW64?t=14). The driver of the motorhome feels a lagging or pulling sensation against the motorhome, as if the Equinox is applying its brakes throughout the turn. I am concerned that a vehicle that applies its brakes while being towed through a turn is a safety hazard to those in the motorhome and to other drivers on the road. It may be causing unknown damage to components of the Equinox, its towing base plate, as well as to the motorhome towing equipment, tow hitch, and chassis. I brought this issue to GM's attention and there has been no fix to date.

While four wheel down towing my 2023 Equinox behind my motorhome, under certain road conditions, the tires can be heard squealing and burnt rubber can be seen and smelt. I put a camera in the car to record the event and during the described events the steering wheel can be seen shaking violently. This type of event occurs consistently on cloverleaf type on and off ramps and other roads that have somewhat tight turns that are banked. I am correctly towing the car per GM's published dingy towing instructions for the 2023 Equinox. I have ten years experience towing a 2011 Equinox with the same set up that have been trouble free. In May of 2023 I reported the issue to my dealer and sent the videos. GM opened a case, 9-9951144997, but to date no resolution for the problem. This is a serious safety concern for me and my family travelling in the motorhome and my concern extends to others on the highway. When you can hear the tires squealing from inside a diesel pusher motorhome and view on video how violent the event is, the safety of towing the 2023 Equinox has to be questioned.

While towing my equinox behind my motorhome, with properly installed equipment, I experience tire screeching when taking off ramps from the highway. From extensive research, I've found that many 2023 Equinox owners are having the same issue and many have started GM case numbers. This issue is happening with many different tow systems installed and the only constant denominator is the 2023 Equinox. I've read that GM is fully aware of the issue and is working on a fix. I just wanted to get my involvement documented to potentially show the scope of this problem.