2019 Chevrolet Equinox

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO FENCE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE - THRU FRONT DOOR & OUT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH CENTRAL CLAIMS CASE (XXX) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CW

THE VECHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE STOPPED FOR A VERY SHORT TIME ON ROADS IN TRAFFIC. IT CAN BE A MAJOR HIGHWAY, OR INTERSTATE AND EVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS. IT CAN BE HAZARDOUS AS THE VEHICLE TAKES A MINUTE TO START BACK UP AND GET GOING. I HAD NO IDEA THIS FEATURE EVEN EXISTED, BEFORE I EXPERIENCED IT AFTER PURCHASING. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILGATE/TRUNK LOCKING. I LOCK THE VEHICLE, AND ALL DOORS LOCK EXCEPT THE TRUNK. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE DEC 31,2018 AND AM VERY SURPRISED TO BE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES SO SOON.

THE AUTO STOP ENGINE FEATURE HAS NO CONTROL DEVICE TO DISABLE THE FEATURE. AUTO ENGINE STOP CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN RESTARTING FROM THE AUTO STOP CONDITION AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED HESITATION OF THE RESTART CONDITION WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERESECTION CAUSING MYSELF SLIGHT PANIC WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING. VERY DANGEROUS! THIS FEATURE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE TURNED OFF BY THE OWNER ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FUEL CONSUMPTION.

THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MODEL ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH I AM SURE IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED FOR CERTAIN OWNER DRIVING STYLES AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER DISABLE THE FEATURE PERMANENTLY BY OWNER REQUEST OR HAVE A METHOD FOR THE OWNER TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM.

I AM UNABLE TO GAUGE THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AFTER "AUTOSTOP" SHUTS THE MOTOR AT A HARD STOP. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL DRIVERS AS EVEN WHEN LIFTING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AS IT SHOULD IN "DRIVE." INSTEAD, PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS REQUIRED. THIS CAUSES UNEXPECTED DELAYS IN BEGINNING TO DRIVE THAT COULD HAVE SEVERE AND LONG LASTING CONSEQUENCES. I DO NOT AT ALL FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS BOTH DURING CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, I.E. WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC. OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE A SWITCH TO DEACTIVATE "AUTOSTOP." CHEVROLET DOES NOT. I BELIEVE A MANDATORY RECALL IS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THIS CLEAR SAFETY OVER SITE.

THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MODEL ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH I AM SURE IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED FOR CERTAIN OWNER DRIVING STYLES AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER DISABLE THE FEATURE PERMANENTLY BY OWNER REQUEST OR HAVE A METHOD FOR THE OWNER TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM. WITH LESS THAN 250 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 INCIDENTS OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FROM A STOP AND 1 OF ALMOST BEING HIT PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. I SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOPE THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE DUE TO IT. WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING WITH AUTO STOP THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED AS A/C COMPRESSOR TURNED ON CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD TOWARD THE MOVING TRAIN. ALMOST A MAJOR NEAR DEATH ISSUE.