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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2021
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

After being in a severe accident w/ another 2018 equinox I purchased a used 2018 equinox w/ 10k miles on it . saved my life 1x - i was happy with the car. In Dec 2019 my front passenger headlight went out. Still under warranty I had the dealer replace the bulb. In late December 2020 my front passenger headlight went out …

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After being in a severe accident w/ another 2018 equinox I purchased a used 2018 equinox w/ 10k miles on it . saved my life 1x - i was happy with the car. In Dec 2019 my front passenger headlight went out. Still under warranty I had the dealer replace the bulb. In late December 2020 my front passenger headlight went out again. I was told it was over $400 to fix. This was "replacing the lightbulb". I decided to purchase my own lightbulb from a reputable source. The problem is not the lightbulb but instead the ballast or the wiring. I have NEVER had to replace a lightbulb in any of my cars before let alone 2 in two years. Chevy told me that I was out of luck because I was 2 weeks after the bulb under warranty was replaced... REALLY? So now I am without a front headlight and not willing to pay to have this repaired since it is obviously a manufacturers defect. Chevy has NOT been helpful and neither has my local dealership. My safety is being put at risk because I can not see 1/2 of the road with 1 headlight. Cars can only see 1/2 of my car oncoming. There have been no warning lights etc.

NHTSA ODI #11428176

80 miles · Jan 4, 2020
Exterior Lighting

THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS WAY TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT, MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT AND DISTRACTING. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AT NIGHT THE BRIGHTNESS IS NORMAL BUT AFTER USING REVERSE IT BRIGHTENS TO DAYTIME LEVEL AND CANNOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT DIMMING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CONSIDERABLY. MANY OTHER 2018 EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME…

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THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS WAY TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT, MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT AND DISTRACTING. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AT NIGHT THE BRIGHTNESS IS NORMAL BUT AFTER USING REVERSE IT BRIGHTENS TO DAYTIME LEVEL AND CANNOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT DIMMING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CONSIDERABLY. MANY OTHER 2018 EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS WEB FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI #11297165

6,000 miles · Jul 10, 2019
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

USING NAVIGATION WITH PHONE THROUGH INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY CAN SWITCH TO BLINDING BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. USING PHONE NAVIGATION (BOTH GOOGLE MAPS AND WAZE) AT NIGHT WILL START WITH NORMAL BRIGHTNESS WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE DIMMING KNOB. IF A PHONE CALL OR TEXT IS RECEIVED THE DISPLAY GOES TO FULL BRIGHTNESS AND CANNOT BE …

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USING NAVIGATION WITH PHONE THROUGH INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY CAN SWITCH TO BLINDING BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. USING PHONE NAVIGATION (BOTH GOOGLE MAPS AND WAZE) AT NIGHT WILL START WITH NORMAL BRIGHTNESS WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE DIMMING KNOB. IF A PHONE CALL OR TEXT IS RECEIVED THE DISPLAY GOES TO FULL BRIGHTNESS AND CANNOT BE DIMMED THIS CAUSED ME TO SWERVE OFF OF THE ROAD IT WAS SO BLINDING THE CONDITION CAN ALSO BE SIMULATED BY ENGAGING THE BACKUP CAMERA AT NIGHT THIS WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALER OVER A YEAR AGO IN THE CASE OF THE PHONE CALL THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN MENTIONED ON MULTIPLE FORUMS SO I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE SOFTWARE AND NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #11230836

185 miles · May 5, 2018
Exterior Lighting

THE 7 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE LIGHT DIMMER DIAL, REMAINING AT FULL, BLINDING DAYTIME BRIGHTNESS EVEN AT NIGHT. THE SCREEN CAN BE TURNED OFF BY SCROLLING THROUGH MENUS, A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING, HOWEVER IT HAS TO BE DONE BECAUSE ANY ADJUSTMENT TO THE HEATER CONTROLS, RADIO, PHONE, ON STAR OR BACK UP CAMERA …

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THE 7 INCH INFOTAINMENT SCREEN DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE LIGHT DIMMER DIAL, REMAINING AT FULL, BLINDING DAYTIME BRIGHTNESS EVEN AT NIGHT. THE SCREEN CAN BE TURNED OFF BY SCROLLING THROUGH MENUS, A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING, HOWEVER IT HAS TO BE DONE BECAUSE ANY ADJUSTMENT TO THE HEATER CONTROLS, RADIO, PHONE, ON STAR OR BACK UP CAMERA TURNS THE DISPLAY BACK ON. GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS PUT A 'SERVICE NOTE' IN THE SYSTEM STATING THAT THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY IN CERTAIN 2018 EQUINOX MODELS MAY NOT RESPOND TO OR RESPOND VERY LITTLE TO THE INTERIOR LIGHT DIMMER OR THE AUTOMATED NIGHT SENSOR. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO KNOW THE DISPLAYS AREN'T FUNCTIONING AS DETAILED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DO NOTHING. THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH A 7 INCH LED SCREEN GLARING AT FULL BRIGHTNESS IN YOUR FACE! I SPOKE TO A SECOND DEALER AND THEY SAID GM WILL NOT ISSUE A SOFTWARE UPDATE OR TSB TO FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL 'SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ENOUGH TIMES TO HAVE DEALER SERVICE CALLS TO GM INITIATED.'

NHTSA ODI #11092055

4,000 miles · Mar 19, 2018
Exterior Lighting

2018 EQUINOX LCD SCREEN GETS STUCK IN BRIGHT MODE. UPON INITIATION OF THE BACKUP CAMERA THE LCD STAYS BRIGHT FOR AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. NIGHTTIME DRIVING IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. IF THE RADIO IS RESET (HOLD DOWN HOME AND FAST FORWARD, OR TURNING OFF VEHICLE FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME IT TAKES TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN R…

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2018 EQUINOX LCD SCREEN GETS STUCK IN BRIGHT MODE. UPON INITIATION OF THE BACKUP CAMERA THE LCD STAYS BRIGHT FOR AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. NIGHTTIME DRIVING IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. IF THE RADIO IS RESET (HOLD DOWN HOME AND FAST FORWARD, OR TURNING OFF VEHICLE FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME IT TAKES TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN RADIO) IT WILL STAY IN THE PROPER DIM SETTING UNTIL THE BACKUP CAMERA IS INITIATED AGAIN. I HAVE TESTED THIS ON SEVERAL 2018 EQUINOX CARS AND FOUND THIS TO BE A MALFUNCTION. MUST VIEW PROBLEM AT NIGHT TO SEE HAZARD. I HAD A SERVICE CALL TO MARK PORTER CHEVROLET, POMEROY, OH, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND INSTRUCTED ME TO WAIT FOR A FIX FROM CHEVROLET ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI #11080102

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2017
Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SCREEN IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT. ESPECIALLY IN CELL PHONE SCREEN PROJECTION MODE. NIGHT TIME DRIVING IS HINDERED. DIMMING IS AVAILABLE FROM THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DIMMING SWITCH. THIS SIMS DASH LIGHTING ALSO WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SEE THE DASH. INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS STILL TOO BRIGHT WHEN DIMMED AT THE LOWE…

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VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SCREEN IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT. ESPECIALLY IN CELL PHONE SCREEN PROJECTION MODE. NIGHT TIME DRIVING IS HINDERED. DIMMING IS AVAILABLE FROM THE INTERIOR LIGHTING DIMMING SWITCH. THIS SIMS DASH LIGHTING ALSO WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SEE THE DASH. INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS STILL TOO BRIGHT WHEN DIMMED AT THE LOWEST SETTING.

NHTSA ODI #11053645

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