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2026 Chevrolet Equinox ICE

Recalls, consumer complaints and crash ratings from NHTSA

Recalls1

  • EquipmentOther, owners/service/other manualFeb 26, 2026, Campaign 26V114000

    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.”

    Risk

    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.

All recalls issued for this model year. To see whether any are still unrepaired on a specific vehicle, check its VIN at NHTSA.

Recent complaints72 total

Most reported, across all 72 complaints

  • Forward collision avoidance26%
  • Service brakes24%
  • Power train22%
  • Exterior lighting, lane departureFiled Oct 5, 2026

    After a large rain storm the Blindspot warning detector was malfunctioning. It was saying there was something in your blind spot on the driver side when nothing was there. The light was flashing on and off. Also, when it does that your automatic lights will not turn to bright as it assumes something is coming up on your side. You then had to take your lights to manual to get the brights to work. There are technical bulletins from GM out on this. I called the dealership at the location I was at, and they said that it may take up to a week if they have to get parts and then I would need to probably wait till I got home. I called the dealership when I got home and made an appointment the very next business day. I am being told since they can’t reduplicate the error or error code that there’s nothing they can do. The parts dried out and it should be functioning properly now. I contacted GM customer care corporate and I’m trying to get them to do something about this with the dealership, but they’re saying there’s nothing they can do. They can’t force the dealership to do something so I’m waiting to figure out what’s gonna come of this, if I have to go to executive leadership or higher. The car is still under the original three year 36,000 mile warranty. The blindside detection system is sold as a safety feature to the Chevy Equinox. I am shocked at the fight I am receiving to get this fixed, especially since it is a known issue with GM technical bulletins.

    Incident Oct 1, 2026

  • Electrical system, lane departureFiled Sep 19, 2026

    I have owned my Chevy since 6/30/25 when I bought it new. Since then, the blind spot warning system has activated many times when there hasn’t been anything there or remotely nearby. It’s like a ghost. It’s usually the driver’s side mirror that gets activated. I have cleaned the sensors too and it still occurs, making me think I’m going to get hit, or hit a person, pedestrian etc. i have read of other owners on social media experiencing same issue & thought I should report it.

    Incident Sep 18, 2026

  • Service brakes, forward collision avoidance1 injuredFiled Sep 16, 2026

    While pulling forward out of a parking lot at a low speed, the vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system suddenly and aggressively engaged without warning. There were no vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles whatsoever in the vehicle's path. The deceleration was extremely severe and violent, mimicking the sensation of hitting a brick wall. This unprompted, false-positive system activation subjected my body to intense, sudden forces, resulting in a painful back injury that requires medical attention. The system completely failed to accurately evaluate the path of travel, creating an immediate and unexpected hazard to my physical safety and that of anyone following behind me.

    Incident Sep 16, 2026

  • Electrical system, service brakesFiled Sep 8, 2026

    Breaks failed almost crashed on a highway

    Incident Sep 8, 2026

  • Unknown or otherFiled Sep 5, 2026

    When you accelerate from a stop, the car wobbles and shimmy’s until you reach about 15mph and then it stops and drives normally.

    Incident Jul 1, 2026

  • Power trainFiled Sep 5, 2026

    I am driving a rental Chevrolet Equinox with the steering-column-mounted electronic gear selector. I believe this shifter design creates a serious safety hazard. The gear selector is a stalk on the steering column positioned and operated similarly to controls commonly used for windshield wipers in other vehicles. While driving, pulling back on this stalk can immediately shift the transmission into Neutral, even at highway speeds. My wife and I have unintentionally shifted this vehicle into Neutral approximately a dozen times because of this control arrangement. Once the vehicle is in Neutral while moving, we have been unable to shift it back into Drive until coming to a complete stop. This creates a dangerous situation: the vehicle suddenly loses propulsion in moving traffic, and the driver cannot simply restore Drive. The driver must coast, find a safe place to stop, come to a complete stop, and then select Drive. This is particularly dangerous while merging, crossing an intersection, driving on a highway, or anywhere that maintaining acceleration may be necessary to avoid a collision. This is not a complaint that the controls are merely unfamiliar. The vehicle accepts a Neutral command at road speed from a simple movement of a steering-column stalk, while preventing the driver from immediately restoring Drive. Because the stalk’s location and operation can conflict with established driver muscle memory for steering-column controls, I believe this represents a foreseeable human-factors safety hazard. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this design and determine whether it presents an unreasonable risk to drivers and other road users.

    Incident Sep 5, 2026

  • Service brakes, back over preventionCrash1 injuredFiled Sep 4, 2026

    At approximately 5pm EST, my wife stopped the EV vehicle after backing out of the garage and put the vehicle in park. After exiting the driver's seat, she was outside the open driver's door, had both feet on the ground and cleared the door enough that she was preparing to close it, when the vehicle began moving with no one in the driver's seat. The vehicle traveled down our inclined driveway, across the street and striking my neighbor's house. A [XXX] neighboring child was in the vehicle's path. My wife believed the vehicle would strike the child and screamed for her to move. The child moved clear before the vehicle reached her, and no contact occurred. The vehicle stopped when it hit the left side of the neighbor’s garage causing damage to the stone siding and framing of the garage. The vehicle then started to move forward over the lawn and into the street. At some point after it started moving forward the neighbor, an adult male, was attempted to stop the vehicle physically but was unable to. I came out of the house and saw what was going on and was able to help stop the vehicle, entered it and apply the brakes. My wife also tried to enter the vehicle to stop it during these events causing her to get ran over, substantial scraps, bruising and other injuries. We are reporting unintended movement after driver exit and request investigation of park engagement, the shift-by-wire system, electric parking brake, Automatic Vehicle Hold/driver-exit functions, reverse automatic braking and propulsion/brake controls. 2 GM EV Concierge agents separately were unable to retrieve remote diagnostic information. The vehicle was towed to [XXX] in [XXX] with very specific instructions. I opened a case with GM EV Concierge and they escalated it to "the executive team". Despite multiple calls and emails the executive team has not reached out. The case was even closed once and I had it reopened. I opened ticket # XXX but can't find it so I'm opening this one. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Incident Aug 30, 2026

  • Lane departure, back over preventionFiled Sep 3, 2026

    my 2026 equinox is having an issue with the blind spot warning on my driver side mirror will either say on or flash. this is regardless of driving, or being parking. i have washed my car, checked my sensor, and i am still having issues. the dealership does not see any issue with the car, however, while driving at night, this is such a distraction because i'm constantly checking my mirror to make sure there's nobody there. there was one day, i had open my trunk from my keyfob, in the house, and when i walked up on the driver side of my car (the car was turned off) it beeped and when i looked over, the blindspot light was on and flashing.

    Incident Jun 30, 2026

  • Power trainFiled Sep 1, 2026

    Under light-moderate acceleration, a feeling of the transmission slipping is felt. From my understanding, this is a known issue with the newest generation of Equinox & Terrain. I previously owned a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD and it had the exact same issue. My local GM Dealership replaced the CV Axle and Axle and the issue was corrected temporarily, but soon after the issue returned. I then recently purchased a brand new 2026 Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD and the issue started with mine around 300 miles, but worse than my previous 2025 model. I am not sure if this an issue with only the AWD models or not, but an investigation needs to be conducted because I am concerned about the safety and longevity of the the axles and or other affected components on the vehicle that is causing the persistent issue.

    Incident Jul 22, 2026

  • Power train, forward collision avoidanceCrash1 injuredFiled Sep 1, 2026

    On XXX, at approximately 5pm EST, my wife stopped our 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV after backing out of the garage and put the vehicle in park. After exiting the driver's seat, she was outside the open driver's door, had both feet on the ground and cleared the door enough that she was preparing to close it, when the vehicle began moving with no one in the driver's seat. The vehicle traveled down our inclined driveway, continued onto neighboring property, and continued through grass. A [XXX] neighboring child was in the vehicle's path. My wife believed the vehicle would strike the child and screamed for her to move. The child moved clear before the vehicle reached her, and no contact occurred. The vehicle stopped when it hit the left side of the neighbor’s garage causing damage to the stone siding and framing of the garage. The vehicle then started to move forward over the lawn and into the street. At some point after it started moving forward the neighbor, an adult male, was attempted to stop the vehicle physically but was unable to. I came out of the house and saw what was going on at this point and was able to help stop the vehicle, entered it and apply the brakes. My wife also tried to enter the vehicle and stop it during these events which ended in substantial scraps, bruising and other injuries. We are reporting unintended movement after driver exit and request investigation of park engagement, the shift-by-wire system, electric parking brake, Automatic Vehicle Hold/driver-exit functions, reverse automatic braking and propulsion/brake controls. Two Chevrolet EV Concierge agents separately were unable to retrieve remote diagnostic information. The vehicle is currently at my house and has only been driven to secure it in the garage since the incident. Opened a case with GM EV Concierge and they escalated it to "the executive team". It should be towed to a dealer today. Police report submitted but I do not current know the report number. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    Incident Aug 30, 2026

  • Show the 50 most recent
    • Unknown or otherFiled Aug 30, 2026

      Had problewith the gas pedal being to close to the brake pedal found later from the head mechanic after we had a problem with it. He taught us this problem with big people and big feet their shoe catching on the brake pedal which causes your foot to hold down the gas pedal. We should have been told about this when we brought car

      Incident Aug 8, 2026

    • SuspensionFiled Aug 26, 2026

      The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with wheel bearings failure on the shaft. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 343.

      Incident Jun 4, 2026

    • Service brakes, forward collision avoidanceCrashFiled Aug 25, 2026

      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)

      Incident Aug 17, 2026

    • Electrical systemFiled Aug 25, 2026

      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.

      Incident Aug 24, 2026

    • Vehicle speed controlFiled Jul 28, 2026

      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.

      Incident Jul 27, 2026

    • Service brakesFiled Jul 18, 2026

      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.

      Incident Jul 10, 2025

    • Steering, service brakes, hydraulicFiled Jul 15, 2026

      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.

      Incident May 13, 2026

    • Power trainFiled Jul 12, 2026

      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.

      Incident Jul 3, 2026

    • Electrical system, seatsFiled Jul 10, 2026

      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)

      Incident May 20, 2026

    • Service brakes, engine, visibility/wiperFiled Jul 7, 2026

      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.

      Incident May 20, 2025

    • Visibility/wiperFiled Jul 6, 2026

      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

      Incident Jul 5, 2026

    • Parking brake, service brakesCrashFireFiled Jun 25, 2026

      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.

      Incident Jun 12, 2026

    • EngineFiled Jun 22, 2026

      The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil gauge fluctuated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. An appointment was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,678.

      Incident Jun 20, 2026

    • Electrical system, service brakesFiled Jun 18, 2026

      Walked out of the car into the gas station came back out the brake pedal was locked up literally didn’t even wiggle at all couldn’t start the car I tapped it a couple times and then it made a horrible snap/pop sound and works fine for now

      Incident Jun 18, 2026

    • Forward collision avoidanceFiled Jun 12, 2026

      While cruise control was active, the vehicle initiated un-commanded physical acceleration and deceleration in unpredictable 5 mph increments (up or down), forcing the vehicle to change speeds without driver input. This required me to immediately deactivate the system and override the accelerator/brakes to maintain control of the vehicle in while driving, creating a severe and direct safety hazard. With cruise off I could see the erratic jumping of the set-speed number on the digital display. This issue has occurred on two separate instances. In both cases, pulling over, turning the vehicle completely off, and turning back on completely cleared the glitch and restored normal operation of this feature.

      Incident Jun 12, 2026

    • Service brakes, back over preventionFiled Jun 12, 2026

      Driving towards direct light/sunlight is damn near impossible with this vehicle die to the extreme amount of glare from the dashboard. It makes me worried especially now that summer is approaching, feels like it can be catastrophic. Rear brake assist is horrible on more than one occasion the car will stop as if it has just been hit by a semi. Leaving the vehicle unable to proceed in reverse(one has to shift to drive or put in park before continuing to reverse). This is not only a nuisance but can lead to an accident especially during the mad rush of drop off at the elementary.

      Incident Jun 11, 2026

    • SuspensionFiled Jun 9, 2026

      Front end suspension creaking and a moderate vibration under the gas pedal that gets worse over time

      Incident Jun 9, 2026

    • Power train, engineFiled Jun 9, 2026

      I was heading home from my vacation with my lady and had cruise control on and then all of a sudden my Rpms shot through the roof and then a flashing check engine light showed up and a message that said “acceleration reduced drive with care” when I took it to the dealer they told me it was due to the side object detection system malfunctioned and caused that issue then today I felt the car idle weird so I hooked up a scanner and it’s got a misfire on cylinder 2 and 4

      Incident Jun 8, 2026

    • Steering, service brakes, forward collision avoidanceFiled Jun 3, 2026

      At around 7k miles while driving the brakes and steering suddenly stopped working and all warning lights came on including check engine light. The dealership said it was the main brain and the fixed it. Then last Thursday night while driving on the highway my brakes stopped working suddenly and all warning lights came on again. It is at the dealership now and they are now saying the problem is the BCM. I’m honestly scared to drive on the highway now. I’m really scared someone will get hurt or killed from this vehicle if it happens again.

      Incident May 28, 2026

    • Power train, electrical systemFiled Jun 2, 2026

      The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the automatic engine Start/Stop system engaged, and the vehicle shut off completely. The message "Please Hit The Start Button Again" was displayed, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact press the start button, but the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P), forcing the tow agency to drag the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,900.

      Incident Jun 2, 2026

    • Fuel/propulsion systemFiled May 29, 2026

      This vehicle has been repaired (4) times for the same issue (vehicle turns off while driving and won’t immediately re-start and check engine light comes on) The First incident happened on or about 3/25/2026 (1083 mileage) and the fuel pump power control module was replaced at the dealership. The Second incident happened on or about 4/8/2026 (1347 mileage) and again the fuel pump power control module was replaced at the dealership. The Third incident happened on or about 5/6/2026 (2249 mileage) to which the dealership opened a TAC case #95864465 and was told a software update was available and updated the software. The Fourth incident happened on or about 5/18/2026 (2625 mileage) and the fuel pump power control module was once again replaced at the dealership. Every incident occurred while I was in traffic with my minor child and dog

      Incident Mar 25, 2026

    • VisibilityFiled May 28, 2026

      See attached document for complaint.

      Incident May 1, 2026

    • Electrical system, engineFiled May 28, 2026

      The starter on a new 2026 Chevrolet Equinox RS failed at approximately 6,500 miles. While the vehicle was being driven home during evening rush hour, it shut off at a red light and would not restart. The vehicle was stranded in the left lane of a four-lane highway. It could not be moved because the engine would not start, and the vehicle would not even roll in neutral, as the wheels were locked and would not turn. The disabled vehicle blocked a live travel lane in heavy traffic. The driver was a [XXX] new driver. Being stranded in a moving traffic lane during rush hour created a serious risk of a rear-end collision to the occupant and to surrounding vehicles forced to maneuver around the disabled car. Police responded because the vehicle was creating an active roadway hazard and arranged for a tow. The tow operator had to drag the immobilized vehicle onto the flatbed because the wheels would not turn. The failure was confirmed by an authorized Chevrolet dealer, which diagnosed a failed starter and replaced it under the manufacturer's warranty. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The vehicle shut off and failed to restart without any advance indication. The vehicle has been repaired and is available for inspection. The failed starter was replaced by the dealer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

      Incident May 6, 2026

    • Power trainFiled May 19, 2026

      The contact owns a 2026 CHEVROLET Equinox. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at 63 MPH and above, he notices that the vehicle is not able to go into the 8th gear. The contact stated that for the vehicle to reach 8th gear, he would have to slow down to between 62 MPH and 55 MPH while driving on a 75 MPH highway, causing serious safety concerns while merging into traffic. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not able to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.

      Incident May 19, 2026

    • Forward collision avoidanceFiled May 18, 2026

      Sign recognition in advanced cruise control fails to slow prior to slower speed limit signs. Fails to decelerate in accordance with traffic regulations.

      Incident May 17, 2026

    • Power trainFiled May 14, 2026

      At approximately 75 mph on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shifted into Neutral after the Park button was accidentally pressed. Once in Neutral, the vehicle would not re‑engage Drive or any gear. The vehicle lost propulsion in fast‑moving traffic. I had to coast to the shoulder, stop completely, and shut the vehicle off. Only after restarting did the transmission respond again. No warnings appeared before the incident, and no software updates were pending. Loss of propulsion at highway speed is a serious safety hazard and indicates a possible failure of the shift‑by‑wire system or transmission control module to prevent unsafe gear changes. A transmission error did show up when coming to a complete stop.

      Incident Apr 25, 2026

    • Fuel/propulsion system, forward collision avoidanceFiled May 8, 2026

      The vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral if the vehicle runs out of gas. There is no way to shift to neutral and roll it to the side of the road. The vehicle ran out of gas on the interstate, automatically braked and could not be moved out of the middle of the interstate. To make matters worse, this was in a construction zone.

      Incident May 8, 2026

    • Service brakes, forward collision avoidanceFiled May 6, 2026

      I was driving down my neighborhood road about 20mph there were no other cars around on the road at all only mailboxes and cars parked in driveways. The car suddenly slams the brakes hard enough the tires were squealing and threw us forward thankfully me and my child had our seat belts on. It scared the heck out of us cause there was no warning and definitely not expected.

      Incident May 6, 2026

    • Suspension, power train, service brakesFiled Apr 28, 2026

      I am experiencing multiple unresolved defects with my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox affecting drivability, braking behavior, and vehicle structure/fit and finish. The primary issue is a persistent vibration, shimmy, or wobble during moderate acceleration from a stop. This condition is felt through the steering wheel, seat, and floor, and occurs consistently during low‑speed launch and normal acceleration. In addition, the vehicle produces a snapping or grunting noise during hard braking, as well as rough and loud movement noises from underneath the vehicle during normal operation, which raises concerns about braking and drivetrain integrity. There are also body and interior fitment defects. The front passenger door does not sit flush with the rear door panel and appears slightly open when closed. The dealership service manager stated that correcting this condition would require removing and pulling the rear door panel outward so both doors align. The glove box door also does not sit flush when closed, and the service manager advised that replacement might make the condition worse. These concerns were reported to an authorized Chevrolet dealer. The dealer confirmed that General Motors has acknowledged the acceleration vibration condition in a Preliminary Information service bulletin (PIT6466) affecting 2025–2026 Equinox vehicles and advised that GM engineering is investigating the issue and that no repair is currently available. The combination of drivability issues, abnormal noises during braking, underbody movement sensations, and body misalignment affects the use, value, and safety perception of the vehicle. The vehicle has very low mileage, and several of these issues have been present since early ownership. I am submitting this complaint to document these conditions and request that NHTSA monitor potential powertrain, braking, suspension, and vehicle structure concerns if a defect trend exists. All of these defects have been acknowledged by the Dealership Service Dept

      Incident Dec 8, 2025

    • Seat beltsFiled Apr 22, 2026

      Front seat passenger side seat belt. Does not have a height adjustment for the shoulder strap. Belt comes across the neck of shorter individuals.

      Incident Apr 17, 2026

    • Engine, fuel/propulsion systemFiled Apr 20, 2026

      I felt ill for a few months. Started to smell gasoline in my garage and inside the car. When I sent in, the Fuel Feed Hose was leaking and not attached and damaged. My car could have blown up at any time, and I inhaled fumes probably for months

      Incident Apr 18, 2026

    • Lane departureFiled Apr 19, 2026

      Vehicle will detect objects in the blind spot when there are none there. I will look back and see that nothing is in the blind spot. Turn my turn signal on to indicate a lane change. I get half-way through the lane change and the light on the mirror starts to flash indicating that something is in my blind spot. I react and return to my original lane. I look back again and ther is nothing there. This is the classic false positive. It is dangerous because I am learning that the system is unreliable and an unreliable system eventually gets ignored. This is the classic "Boy Who Cried Wolf." GM is aware of the problem but it is not getting the urgent attention that it needs. This is a bad situation. I would prefer it the system were turned OFF. This happens quite regularly in the drivers side blind spot.

      Incident Apr 18, 2026

    • Service brakes, fuel/propulsion system, forward collision avoidanceFiled Apr 10, 2026

      Vehicle went into Brake Assist Failure and would roll in neutral but no drivetrain power or brakes. Dealer took 3 months to find part. Acceleration jerky at stop or while driving. Pedal too sensitive. Constant traction loss from stop at lights and stop signs if not careful on dry pavement. Mode selection to Rain/Snow helps by restricting power, if it is remembered to be turned on. With rain and snow on the road it becomes challenging. Aggressive safety features that include the automatic braking and alerts. Brakes and alerts on double turn lanes and going forward near passing objects on the side.

      Incident Dec 30, 2025

    • SteeringFiled Mar 31, 2026

      Loss of power steering

      Incident Mar 31, 2026

    • Unknown or otherFiled Mar 29, 2026

      The Chevrolet Equinox EV emits an unusual and loud sound while in "Drive" or "Reverse" and stopped or at low speed. The sound has widely been described as "angelic" - it is a higher pitched sound which does not sound similar to any other vehicle or even a "white noise" sound. This sound is played both inside and outside the vehicle, but only up to a specific speed threshold. I believe that the unnatural tone and volume of this sound is not reminiscent of an approaching vehicle, limiting its utility as a safety feature for the blind or particularly children who are more likely to be attracted to the unusual sound if they do not recognize it as a vehicle. Moreover, the sound is played separately by a speaker inside this vehicle. This serves no useful safety purpose. It starts and stops abruptly as you move above and below the speed threshold, potentially distracting or disturbing the driver. Moreover, drivers who are seeking to avoid hearing this sound inside the vehicle or disturbing neighbors with the unnatural sound may be subconsciously learning to maintain a speed above the threshold (around 22 mph), even when it is unsafe to do so. I believe this vehicle should be recalled to shift to a more natural white noise sound, reduce the exterior volume, and restore the ability to disable the interior sound.

      Incident Mar 29, 2026

    • Power train, electrical system, fuel/propulsion systemFiled Mar 28, 2026

      Incident Date: February 10, 2026 Mileage: 1,260 On the morning of February 10, 2026, my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV (1,260 miles) would not start. The instrument cluster simultaneously displayed three warning messages: 1)“Service Battery Fault — Vehicle Won’t Restart,” 2)“Charging is unavailable,” and 3)“Charge Vehicle Soon.” The vehicle could not be placed in neutral and required dolly tow from my garage, as the front wheels were locked and could not roll freely. AAA and I measured the 12V battery at 11.8 volts. AAA technician made attempt to jump 12 volt battery with no success. He made the observation that it was very rare for an EV not to start once the 12 volt battery was jumped. The vehicle was towed to Folsom Chevrolet (Repair Order #558923, opened February 10, 2026). The technician performed a global reset, BECM reprogramming, standalone radio programming, and a manual reset procedure. The repair order was closed with “confirmed no further concerns,” however the root cause — identified in the repair notes as a possible HV module communication fault — was never confirmed diagnosed or repaired. Seven days later (February 17, 2026, RO #559167), the vehicle returned to the dealer with overnight 12V voltage loss, starting at 12.12V and continuing to drop. A parasitic draw test found an 11mA draw. After a second overnight test the dealer closed the repair order as “no concerns found” without identifying or repairing a root cause. Safety concern: A vehicle that cannot be started, cannot be charged, and cannot be placed in neutral poses a serious safety risk — particularly if such a failure occurs on a roadway rather than in a driveway. The inability to shift to neutral prevents the driver from clearing the vehicle from traffic. The root cause of this dual electrical failure has never been confirmed repaired despite two repair attempts.

      Incident Feb 10, 2026

    • Forward collision avoidanceFiled Mar 27, 2026

      The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking engaged, with the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure due to an ongoing Lemon Law case against the manufacturer. The approximate failure mileage was 17,280.

      Incident Mar 27, 2026

    • Electrical system, engineFiled Mar 23, 2026

      On Friday March 20, 2026, we traded in a Chevy Equinox to get a newer model which is the VIN number we listed in this complaint. Driving home from the dealership the vehicle went from drive to park on its own (driving at 65 miles/hr) and my husband had to immediately put the car physically back into drive. Once we finally got the vehicle to our house, I went out to check it, and the vehicle would not even start. Every single light came on yet it would not start up. We called On-Star and they couldn't do anything and told us we'd have to take it to the dealership. We finally got it to start up again, but the check engine light never went off. The next day my husband was able to get it started and immediately took it back to the dealership it was bought from, which it was actually transferred to from another dealership within the state, but on the way to the dealership we bought it from the car went into park on its own 5 more times, very dangerous and unacceptable. Once the car made it to the dealership, they could not even get the vehicle to shut off once they pulled in into the service area. My husband luckily is a professional driver, but is this was someone not as familiar or calm, this could have been a horrible catastrophe.

      Incident Mar 20, 2026

    • Electrical system, lane departureFiled Mar 17, 2026

      While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle’s blind spot monitoring / side object detection system frequently activates alert warnings when no vehicle is present. These false alerts occur intermittently and are more common during rain or wet road conditions. Over time, the repeated false warnings create a “boy who cried wolf” condition, where the driver becomes conditioned to ignore or discount blind spot alerts. This undermines the effectiveness of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and increases the risk that a real blind spot warning may be ignored during an actual lane change. The alerts activate without any adjacent vehicles visible, causing confusion and distraction. This results in hesitation, aborted lane changes, and reduced driver trust in the system. The issue has occurred multiple times and is not an isolated event. The dealer has acknowledged the concern but advised that no repair or software update is currently available. The manufacturer has acknowledged the issue but has not provided a fix. I believe this represents a safety concern because a safety warning system that generates frequent false alerts can condition drivers to disregard legitimate warnings.

      Incident Nov 24, 2025

    • Air bagsCrash1 injuredFiled Feb 26, 2026

      The contact rented a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, a deer ran in front of the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into the deer. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe damage to the passenger-side front end, but no air bags deployed. During the incident, the contact sustained a lower abdomen injury, but no medical treatment was sought at this time. The dear sustained fatal injuries. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the incident. The vehicle was later returned to the rental company. The failure mileage was unknown.

      Incident Feb 18, 2026

NHTSA crash ratings

2026 Chevrolet Equinox SUV N/a AWD

Overall
Not Rated
Front crash
Not Rated
Side crash
5 out of 5 stars
Rollover
4 out of 5 stars

2026 Chevrolet Equinox SUV N/a FWD

Overall
Not Rated
Front crash
Not Rated
Side crash
5 out of 5 stars
Rollover
4 out of 5 stars

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