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2026 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 12 of 70 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

70 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2026
Electrical System

I am reporting a serious safety issue involving my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. While I was driving on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shut down and became completely immobilized in a travel lane. I was unable to move the vehicle out of the lane or shift the transmission into Neutral. This created an extremely dangerous situation,…

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I am reporting a serious safety issue involving my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. While I was driving on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shut down and became completely immobilized in a travel lane. I was unable to move the vehicle out of the lane or shift the transmission into Neutral. This created an extremely dangerous situation, and a truck nearly struck my vehicle while I was stopped in the roadway. The vehicle had to be towed to a Chevrolet dealership. It has now been at the dealership for three days, and as of this complaint, the dealership has not been able to determine the cause of the failure. I am extremely concerned that the vehicle suddenly lost power while being driven and could not be moved to a safe location. I believe this presents a serious safety risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists if the failure occurs again. I have also opened a case with Chevrolet/General Motors regarding this incident. I am requesting that NHTSA document and review this incident as a potential vehicle safety defect.

NHTSA ODI #11759591

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2026
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrash

I was on the way back home from the office driving [XXX]. Speed limit of the road was 45mph and I was driving around 40 mph. There was a traffice light and it changed to yellow. The card in front of me stopped but the brake was slipping and my vehicle couldn't stop, ended up hitting vehicle in front of me. My vehecle equipped wi…

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I was on the way back home from the office driving [XXX]. Speed limit of the road was 45mph and I was driving around 40 mph. There was a traffice light and it changed to yellow. The card in front of me stopped but the brake was slipping and my vehicle couldn't stop, ended up hitting vehicle in front of me. My vehecle equipped with Automatic Emegency Brake and Front collison warning but no warning popped up and automatic brake didn't work. I pushed brake so hard but it was slipping. I was holding steering wheel with both hand and stepping on the brake. and triied to avoid crash by turning vehicle to the right. But couldn't avoid crash and hit the passenger side of the vehicle in front of me with my driver side corner. Brake did not work and none of the emergency features equiped in the vehicle responded, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11759542

10,500 miles · Jul 28, 2026
Vehicle Speed Control

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving with the cruise control activated, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated from 50 MPH to 80 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. During the failure, three minor occupants were seated inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or indep…

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The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving with the cruise control activated, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated from 50 MPH to 80 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. During the failure, three minor occupants were seated inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,500.

NHTSA ODI #11753238

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2026
Service Brakes

This has happened 5 times since purchasing this 2026 Chevy Equinox RS. While driving, all of a sudden, without any notice, the dashboard lights up with warnings about "BRAKES"...Not exactly sure what is said because it doesn't stay on the screen very long. Next it says, STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED..DRIVE WITH CARE....and a smal…

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This has happened 5 times since purchasing this 2026 Chevy Equinox RS. While driving, all of a sudden, without any notice, the dashboard lights up with warnings about "BRAKES"...Not exactly sure what is said because it doesn't stay on the screen very long. Next it says, STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED..DRIVE WITH CARE....and a small area under, "Mileage till empty" says....BRAKE...in red, while still being in DRIVE. When pressing on the brakes to slow down to pull over, there ARE NO BRAKES.!!! The brake pedal goes to the floor and Equinox very slowly comes to a stop, so I can pull off the road and stop. Now if I turn off the engine, turn it back on, it seems to reset itself and I start driving again, not knowing when I might die because of the brakes going out again when someone pulls out in front of me. HOW CAN A VEHICLE THAT SPORADICALLY LOSES THE BRAKES, BE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD ON THE MARKET ??? This vehicle now has 13,147 miles on it and had very few when it first happened. We are now at 5 times, not knowing if the 6th time there will be death for my family to deal with. My dealer said they would let us know as soon as they learn about this issue, as they know nothing the 1st time..Several cases have been reported and our dealer failed to notify us about anything...Do I drive the Equinox until someone is killed or do I demand my dealership to furnish me a SAFE Equinox to drive until they fix mine. ? It's obvious that I will eventually be injured or killed in this Chevy Equinox caused by General Motors' incompetence..I am going to demand my dealer to furnish me with an equivalent vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11751307

700 miles · Jul 15, 2026
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard, and the vehicle gradually came to a stop. The service brake and service…

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The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard, and the vehicle gradually came to a stop. The service brake and service power steering warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with ECM failure. The contact was informed that the ECM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with brake control module failure. The contact was informed that the brake control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired again; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with brake master cylinder failure. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder needed to be repaired. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 700.

NHTSA ODI #11750550

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2026
Power Train

Possible O2 sensor. Engine misfired, bucking under acceleration, engine light flashing and auto hold system shutdown. Upon pulling out into traffic, I hit the gas and this happened, which was a risk to me and other drivers as I could not accelerate properly. I am taking my car to Reedman Toll on July 13. I can reproduce the prob…

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Possible O2 sensor. Engine misfired, bucking under acceleration, engine light flashing and auto hold system shutdown. Upon pulling out into traffic, I hit the gas and this happened, which was a risk to me and other drivers as I could not accelerate properly. I am taking my car to Reedman Toll on July 13. I can reproduce the problem every time I heavy accelerate.

NHTSA ODI #11749865

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2026
Electrical SystemSeats

My name is [XXX], I live at [XXX]. I own a 2021 Honda Passport, VIN ending in [XXX]. Two serious safety issues: 1. The multifunction camera behind the windshield has failed with codes [XXX] and U0416-F8. This is the same known defect that is the subject of a class action lawsuit. The dealer quoted me $1700 to fix it. I have onl…

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My name is [XXX], I live at [XXX]. I own a 2021 Honda Passport, VIN ending in [XXX]. Two serious safety issues: 1. The multifunction camera behind the windshield has failed with codes [XXX] and U0416-F8. This is the same known defect that is the subject of a class action lawsuit. The dealer quoted me $1700 to fix it. I have only had the car for two years and I should not have to pay this much for a major safety failure. 2. The front passenger power seat moves backwards on its own and does not stop. On one occasion it trapped my young nonverbal autistic son in the car seat. I had to physically intervene to stop it from crushing him. I reported this issue to Honda USA customer service, and they told me to take it to the dealer. Both of these are serious safety defects. The seat issue especially is extremely dangerous for a child who cannot speak or scream for help. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate these defects immediately. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11749643

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2026
EngineService BrakesVisibility/wiper

No warning messages or check engine lights. However, I am concerned for my safety as my 2026 equinox I bought last year in may of 2025 from motion chevy in hackettstown NJ with 21k miles (as of now, bought it brand new last year) has a windshield distortion that when looking to the passenger side of the windshield, it’s very wav…

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No warning messages or check engine lights. However, I am concerned for my safety as my 2026 equinox I bought last year in may of 2025 from motion chevy in hackettstown NJ with 21k miles (as of now, bought it brand new last year) has a windshield distortion that when looking to the passenger side of the windshield, it’s very wavy and distorted and I already had a Chevy dealership named Mcguire’s Chevy in newton dismiss it saying others on the lot had the same issue (which they did as I saw but still unacceptable!!) I also noticed many other owners of my vehicle have the same complaint via online forums and even after several replacements from GM the issue persists which is unacceptable. The next issue are the rotors. They most likely are warped as when I step on the brakes the steering wheel vibrates slightly and the car shakes slightly which is not safe. Again, McGuire Chevy in newton dismissed it saying normal. And lastly, the front end of the car shakes when starting vehicle with or without the air conditioner on. It shakes for 10-30 seconds and you can feel it strongly in the brake pedal area as well as rest of the front end of vehicle before going away which seems unsafe, yet the first dealer Mcguire’s said it’s normal. I am having these issues looked at by a local GMC dealer and hope they rectify the issue or else GM may need to do a buyback if they can’t fix the issues and keep saying it’s “normal”. They opened a case with GM for the shaking so far not the other issues yet so we will see. Honorable mention is the blend door actuator making a noise (another known issue) on this car via online forums making a noise every time you go from hot to cold and vice versa. Mine is affected to just not severely but enough to where it’s very irritating and it’s had this issue since new and the McGuire dealer said it’s normal….. at this point GM needs to issue recalls instead of dismissing customers.

NHTSA ODI #11748677

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2026
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

The interior trim has many problems affecting safety. 1. Plastic chrome trim reflects blinding sun in my eyes. 2. Dash finish reflects severely onto the windshield, cannot see clearly. These are extreme safety issues. I believe GM should provide fix kits in a recall before someone is killed. And required design standards for t…

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The interior trim has many problems affecting safety. 1. Plastic chrome trim reflects blinding sun in my eyes. 2. Dash finish reflects severely onto the windshield, cannot see clearly. These are extreme safety issues. I believe GM should provide fix kits in a recall before someone is killed. And required design standards for this. Note: the camera lessens the glare in the attached pictures

NHTSA ODI #11748606

1,100 miles · Jun 25, 2026
Parking BrakeService BrakesCrashFire

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. During the crash, the parking braking activated, and smoke and flames were coming from both the rear wheels. The contact used a bottle of water to extinguish the flames. Dur…

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The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. During the crash, the parking braking activated, and smoke and flames were coming from both the rear wheels. The contact used a bottle of water to extinguish the flames. During the failure, the maintenance icon was displayed. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was advised to notify the insurance company of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,100.

NHTSA ODI #11746399

Official recalls

1

26V114000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Feb 26, 2026

General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.

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