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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

What owners actually said

407 reports
67,000 miles · Feb 14, 2021
Service Brakes

WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING ON RT 73 HEADED NORTH IN A STRAIT DRIVING DIRECTION. BREAK PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN. STUCK IN UP POSITION ENABLING THE VEHICLE TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI #11396176

61,000 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HIS DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. N…

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TL* THE CONTACT WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HIS DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIORITY CHEVROLET (1495 S MILITARY HWY, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320 757) 424-1811) WHERE IT WAS PENDING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT GRILL AND BUMPER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE NUMBER WAS PROVIDED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V576000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) WAS MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11395282

56,395 miles · Feb 4, 2021
Visibility/wiper

THE WIPERS ON THIS CAR HAVE NEVER BEEN RIGHT. I HAD THEM LOOKED AT OCT 2018. NOW THEY STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. IF YOU GOOGLE IT, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE SINCE 2000. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!

NHTSA ODI #11394620

21,500 miles · Jan 26, 2021
Air BagsSeat Belts

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON WHEN FRONT PASSENGER BUCKLES UP, IF PASSENGER UNBUCKLES LIGHT DISAPPEARS, IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, BACKING UP, ALL SPEED, ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, ANY ROADS. IT LOOKS THE SEATBELT ACTIVATE THAT SERVICE LIGHT . I BOUGHT THE CAR USED 11/28/20 AND STILL HAVE DMV WARRANTY 60 DAYS, HOWEVER…

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AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON WHEN FRONT PASSENGER BUCKLES UP, IF PASSENGER UNBUCKLES LIGHT DISAPPEARS, IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, BACKING UP, ALL SPEED, ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, ANY ROADS. IT LOOKS THE SEATBELT ACTIVATE THAT SERVICE LIGHT . I BOUGHT THE CAR USED 11/28/20 AND STILL HAVE DMV WARRANTY 60 DAYS, HOWEVER STEPHEN AUTOMALL CENTRE, BRISTOL CT DOESN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY!

NHTSA ODI #11390074

41,000 miles · Jan 19, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINGE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CODE SAYS DEALER SPECIFIC, WENT TO GO TO DEALER, LIGHT WENT OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER, LIGHT COMES BACK ON FOR A FEW DAYS, GOES BACK OFF. HAD THE DIESEL SYSTEM CLEANED BY DEALER, LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND OFF. CAR HAS 42K MILES, EXPERTLY MAINTAINED. DEALER WANTS $135 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT TH…

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CHECK ENGINGE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CODE SAYS DEALER SPECIFIC, WENT TO GO TO DEALER, LIGHT WENT OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER, LIGHT COMES BACK ON FOR A FEW DAYS, GOES BACK OFF. HAD THE DIESEL SYSTEM CLEANED BY DEALER, LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND OFF. CAR HAS 42K MILES, EXPERTLY MAINTAINED. DEALER WANTS $135 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT THEIR OWN DOCUMENTS SAY THERE IS NO SOLUTION FOR. ON STAR DIAGNOSES FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T EVEN SHOW THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' AS BEING ON. SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHERS ONLINE INVOLVING THE 1.6L DIESEL. NO PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THE LIGHT ON, BUT CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE - EVEN IF THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. A TWO YEAR OLD CAR SHOULDN'T BE HAVING RANDOM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11388786

86,000 miles · Jan 12, 2021
Service Brakes

WAS DRIVING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC - ABOUT 35-40 MPH. WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PAD WOULDN'T MOVE. I PUMPED AND NOTHING HAPPENED. NO LIGHTS/WARNINGS ON THE DASH, AND THE CAR HAD FUNCTIONED FINE PRIOR TO THEN. I HAD TO THROW THE CAR TO NEUTRAL, TRY TO VEER INTO ANOTHER LANE, THEN PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP FROM HITTING …

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WAS DRIVING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC - ABOUT 35-40 MPH. WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PAD WOULDN'T MOVE. I PUMPED AND NOTHING HAPPENED. NO LIGHTS/WARNINGS ON THE DASH, AND THE CAR HAD FUNCTIONED FINE PRIOR TO THEN. I HAD TO THROW THE CAR TO NEUTRAL, TRY TO VEER INTO ANOTHER LANE, THEN PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANOTHER CAR. WARNING THEN CAME ACROSS THE DASH SAYING "BRAKE ASSIST SERVICE NEEDED" (OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT). THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP- WAS TOLD THAT THE VACUMN PUMP FAILED, THE GEAR INSIDE BROKE APART AND THE PIECES HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO THE ENGINE, SO THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND GET THE PIECES OUT OF THE ENGINE. NO ABS WARNING PRIOR, NO OTHER ENGINE TROUBLE OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. 86K MILES, 2018 EQUINOX.

NHTSA ODI #11387747

62,144 miles · Jan 10, 2021
Service Brakes

BRAKES FAILED FOLLOWING A VACUUM PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT FASTER SPEEDS ON A BUSY CITY STREET (45MPH). "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WAS DISPLAYED AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL FELT SOLID AND DID NOT DEPRESS. USING THE NEUTRAL GEAR AND PARKING BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL FAILURE IN A…

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BRAKES FAILED FOLLOWING A VACUUM PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT FASTER SPEEDS ON A BUSY CITY STREET (45MPH). "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WAS DISPLAYED AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL FELT SOLID AND DID NOT DEPRESS. USING THE NEUTRAL GEAR AND PARKING BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL FAILURE IN A DIFFERENT SCENARIO WITH A LESSER DRIVER

NHTSA ODI #11387419

27,450 miles · Jan 8, 2021
Electrical SystemSteering

MESSAGE: I OWN A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, 4 CYLINDER WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING, THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 27500 MILES RECORDED. WHILE DRIVING I SENSED A SLIGHT DELAY IN THE STEERING, IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY A MILLISECOND DELAY AND DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IN ADDITION THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WONDER LEFT OR RIGHT…

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MESSAGE: I OWN A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, 4 CYLINDER WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING, THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 27500 MILES RECORDED. WHILE DRIVING I SENSED A SLIGHT DELAY IN THE STEERING, IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY A MILLISECOND DELAY AND DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IN ADDITION THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WONDER LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS NOT HELD FIRMLY. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BLAIZE ALEXANDER PHILLIPSBURG PA SERVICE MGR. AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A REPORTED ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THEIR RESPONSE WAS NO. BUT SUGGESTED TO SCHEDULE AN APT. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I SEARCHED THE ISSUES ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF STEERING PROBLEMS WITH 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX CAUSING NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FAILURES. AFTER CONSULT WITH INDEPENDENT GM CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN IT WAS LEARNED THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER THIS DAY, THE RESULTS OF THE INSPECTION WAS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS ALL PARAMETERS WERE WITHIN SPEC. THIS CONDITION SO FAR HAS BEEN SPORADIC IN NATURE,HOWEVER DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS DESERVES MORE ATTENTION DIRECTED TO IT.

NHTSA ODI #11387232

71,000 miles · Jan 5, 2021
SeatsInjury

I NOTICED THAT MY LEGS KEPT HURTING ME AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. IT FELT LIKE I COULDN'T WALK FOR ABOUT A MONTH. AFTER NOT DRIVING FOR THREE DAYS I FOUND OUT THAT CAUSE OF THE PAIN COMING FROM MY 2018 EQUINOX DRIVERS SEAT. I PUT A PILLOW IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND THE PAIN WENT AWAY. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH TH…

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I NOTICED THAT MY LEGS KEPT HURTING ME AND DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. IT FELT LIKE I COULDN'T WALK FOR ABOUT A MONTH. AFTER NOT DRIVING FOR THREE DAYS I FOUND OUT THAT CAUSE OF THE PAIN COMING FROM MY 2018 EQUINOX DRIVERS SEAT. I PUT A PILLOW IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND THE PAIN WENT AWAY. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE PILLOW BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS SLIDING AND MY FOOT KEEPS SLIDING OFF THE PEDALS. GM NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEATS. GM SHOULD HAVE REPLACEMENT SEAT FOR THESE VEHICLES INSTEAD OF DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP. [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ODI #11386715

41,000 miles · Jan 4, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I BOUGHT A DEMO WITH 7,000 MILES ON IT IN MAY 2018. 41,000 THE SUNROOF AND SHADE STOPPED WORKING. 42,500 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. CHEVY WAS NO HELP BECAUSE MY WARRANTY ENDED AT 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #11386355

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