Complaint volume
385 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Chevrolet Equinox Complaints
385 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, grouped by component category.
385 Total complaints
22 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
16 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are service brakes, power train, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 22 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 16 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 184 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 42,366 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to service brakes, power train, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox complaints?
22 Crash
4 Fire
16 Injury
0 Fatality
30 Towed
10 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Equinox complaint categories?
SERVICE BRAKES 60
POWER TRAIN 29
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26
ENGINE 24
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 14
WHEELS 11
AIR BAGS 8
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 8
385 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS | WHILE IN MOTION, SEAT STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. SIDE MIRRORS STARTED TO MOVE AS WELL MAKING DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I COULDN'T REACH PEDALS AT ONE POINT AND COULDN'T SEE BLIND SPOT. I HAD TO RE ARRANGE THE SEAT AND SIDE MIRROR POSITION WHILE DRIVING SINCE I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY. THE SEAT SETTINGS DOESN'T WORK AS WELL. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY, THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST LIGHT APPEARED. UPON BRAKING, BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HARD (LIKE PUSHING ON A BRICK) TO STOP. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY GETTING STOPPED, I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, CAR FAILED TO START. TOWED FROM HOLSTEIN IOWA TO MILFORD, IOWA LATE ON A FRIDAY. NEXT MORNING, DEALER IN SPIRIT LAKE IOWA WAS CONTACTED. A 2ND TOW TO THE DEALER HAPPENED ON SATURDAY. DEALER BRIEFLY LOOKED AT IT AND STATED IT WAS A CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR OR SENSOR AND THEY WOULD GET TO IT AFTER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THE GAVE ME A RENTAL TO GET HOME (5 HRS SOUTH) HOWEVER, I AM STILL PAYING ON A UHAUL TRAILER RENTAL AS THE RENTAL VAN DID NOT HAVE TOWING CAPABILITIES. TOW 1 WAS $250 AND TOW 2 WAS $125. RENTAL IS $50 PER DAY. PARTS/LABOR IS EXPECTED TO BE A LITTLE OVER $2200 PLUS THE VAN RENTAL, PLUS THE UHAUL TRAILER EXTRA DAYS RENTAL, PLUS THE GAS TO GO BACK AND GET THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT HOME WITH THE UHAUL TRAILER. DEALER WAS ADVISED BY ME TO LOOK AT THE VACUUM PUMP ON TUE A.M. TUE P.M. DEALER CALLED BACK. VERIFIED VACUUM PUMP ISSUE AND STATED IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IT DISINTEGRATED. IT WAS ALSO SITTING ON THE FRONT DUAL OVERHEAD EXHAUST AND THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE CAMSHAFT EXHAUST. BOTH OF THOSE BROKE AWAY AS WELL. NEED TO REPLACE THOSE AND THE TIMING CHAIN WITH AN OIL CHANGE TO ENSURE NO METAL REMAINS IN THE ENGINE. GM/CHEVY SHOULD BE FIXING THIS AT NO COST PLUS PAYING FOR THE TOWING CHARGES, EXTRA RENTALS, AND GAS. NOT HAVING BRAKES IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND PUTTING MY LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIFE AND THE LIFE OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AROUND US IS NOT WHAT I CONSIDER A GOOD PRODUCT. PHOTOS FROM THE DEALER WILL BE ASKED FOR, ESPECIALLY THE VACUUM PUMP. I WILL PROMPTLY FORWARD BILLS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,000 |
| Sep 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | 10/2019 - WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, COMING INTO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, I WENT TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I PUSHED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THEY WERE VERY HARD AND WAS UNABLE TO PUSH THEM DOWN. ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION. VACCUM PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE IN MY BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM. IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. 9/2020 - DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. AGAIN HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION. THIS TIME WHEN THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED, IT BROKE A GEAR CAUSING METAL PIECES TO BE SUCKED IN THE ENGINE AND NOW MY ENGINE IS NEEDING REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR BASED ON THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAPPEN TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR WHILE TRAVELING HIGH SPEEDS AND BEING UNABLE TO STOP. I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN THAT I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE PUTTING IN THIS VEHICLE | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,000 |
| Sep 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN IDLING OR AT A STOPPED LIGHT MY CAR JERKS WHEN I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. IT HAS DONE THIS 4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG. I THINK THEY ARE WAITING UNTIL MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE THEY ADDRESS IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Aug 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | WINDSHIELD BECOMES FOGGY EASILY WHEN TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE CHANGES (TOO COLD) BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT CLEAR | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AREA AND ALL I COULD SMELL WAS BURNED PLASTIC. PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT. NOT EVEN A MINUTE LATER THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | 65,000 |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS SHATTERED COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO CRACKS, OR CHIPS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE SUNSHADE IN THE EQUINOX 2018 PREMIER EDITION HAS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS. IT HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE I AM DRIVING AND SENT PLASTIC PIECES FLYING AND I ALMOST CRASHED THE CAR! | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE SUNROOF OPENED TWICE BY ITSELF , ONE IT SAT FOR AWHILE I GOT IT CLOSED AND IT HAS NEVER OPENED AGAIN. NO POWER AS IF THE FUSE IS BLOWN NOW. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Jul 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT WAS FIRM CAUSING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED. THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. RADLEY CHEVROLET (3670 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540)898-4000) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Jul 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | 9 MONTHS AGA, COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DASH SAID SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST. TURNER CHEVROLET IN CROSBY, TX REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP MAKING THE BRAKES WORK. NOW WE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN BOTH CASES, WE INSTANTLY LOST ALL BRAKING, BUT WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BY LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE TO SLOW DOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 105,000 |
| Jun 2020 | WHEELS | DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE HEARD A LOUD BANG DRIVER FRONT .FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL 6 TIMES UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY POLICE AND MECHANIC FRONT RIM EXPLODED AND DETACHED FROM VEHICLE LUG NUTS ARE THERE AND CENTER OF RIM IS THERE TIRES ARE ALL NEW BUT RIM WAS GONE | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 3 Towed | 43,000 |
| Jun 2020 | TIRES | 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED 3 OF THE 4 HANKOOK TIRES WEAR BADLY WORN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | WHEN I NEED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE OR SPEED UP FROM A OFF OR ON RAMP, ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, CHECK ESC LIGHT, ALL COME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT ABLE TO BE USED. ENGINE HAS TO BE SHUT DOWN. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AS WELL. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| May 2020 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES | I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING. WHEN I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT AND HIT A CAR ALMOST HEAD ON. AS MY TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED RED I STARTED TO BREAK BUT MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME. WHICH FELT LIKE A BRICK. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES BUT IT WOULD NOT PUMP IT JUST STAYED VERY HARD LIKE A BRICK. I START TO SLIDE WHILE NOT REALLY REDUCING SPEED I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE BIT TRYING TO AVOID THE ON COMING TRAFFIC WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS WELL CAUSING ME SLIDE RIGHT INTO A CAR. *TR | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 4,000 |
| May 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES | I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I JUNE 28TH OF 2018. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITH COMPLAINTS OF SQUEAKING FROM BRAKES MIRROR ALERT PROBLEMS TRUNK STICKING AND THE SUSPENSION HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE I FIRST STARTED DRIVING IT I'M NOTICING IT. EVERY TIME I COMPLAIN THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG EXCEPT FOR AT THE BEGINNING OF MY LEASE IT HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAKING IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WAS RECOMMEND TO CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS AND IN THE SAME CONVERSATION WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKES WERE FINE. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AT BALISE CHEVY BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THIS VEICHELE WAS A LEMON. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO KEEP TAKING THIS BRAND NEW VEICHELE BECAUSE IT WAS A LEASE SO THEY DID NOTHING. BALISE CHEVY IN WARWICK SHOULD HAVE NOTES OF COMPLAINTS. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HURD AUTO MALL IN JOHNSTON. THERE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN ONE OF MY TIRES AND BALISE COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK SO I WAS TOLD IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WOULD SUBMERGE THE TIRE AND CHECK THAT WAY. THEY SENT ME HOME THE TIRE CONTINUED TO LEAK AIR MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS DONE AT HURD AUTOMALL IN JOHNSTON WHERE THEY DID AN OIL CHANGE FOUND THE TIRE LEAK NO PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 800 |
| Apr 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | VEHICLE DEALERSHIP DID GENERAL SERVICE ON 04/08/2020 AND REPORTED THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE NEAR 2/32" WITH ONLY 12,580 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A MICHELIN RECALL FOR THESE TIRES. I COULD NOT FIND ONE LISTED, THE TIRES INVOLVED ARE MICHELIN LTX 225/60R 18 100H DOT B5 14 016X 2317. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,580 |
| Mar 2020 | TIRES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EQUIPPED WITH MICHELINE TIRES, TIRE LINE: PREMIERE LTX TIRES, TIRE SIZE: 225/65/R17 N/A, DOT NUMBER UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MORAN CHEVROLET CLINTON TWP LOCATED AT (35500 GRATIOT AVE, CLINTON TWP, MI 48035, (866) 774-3206) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE ON BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRES WERE 15,800. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,800 |
| Mar 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | MY CAR LITERALLY DIED OUT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPMS WENT UP HIGH AND IT STARTED TO SPUTTER. AT ONE POINT HAD TO PUSH FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON GAS PEDDLE | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SERVICE, I REPORTED TO THEM A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH CAR HESITATING TO ACCELERATE ANDJERKS AT SPEED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH ALSO PASSSENGER CAN FEEL THIS RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID NOTHING SHOWED ON COMPUTER BUT GM HAS SOFTWARE ISSUE. FOR THE PRICE OF CARS FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE TO HAVE TO DRIVE AN OTHERWISE NICE CAR I NOTICES SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,800 |
| Mar 2020 | WHEELS | EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, 17,700 MILES, TREAD DEPTH ACCORDING TO LEASE INSPECTION REPORT DEPTH 2.5/32. TIRES WERE ROTATED 2X. BRAND OF TIRE IS MICHELIN 225//65/17 PREMIER LTX. WAS TOLD BY LEASE COMPANY INSPECTOR TIRES ARE NOT SAFE. DOT M3 3T 02VX 4817 | Crash: No Fire: No | 17,700 |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN | I HAD STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR. THE CAR MOVED FORWARD BUT DID NOT PROCESS THROUGH THE GEARS STAYING IN FIRST GEAR ONLY. PULLED OVER AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN IT WORKED FINE. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY. WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. IT WAS AS IF INSTEAD OF SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR IT SOMEHOW SHIFTED INTO 3RD WHICH LEFT ME WITH NO ACCELERATION AS I PULLED OUT TO MAKE A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. I IMMEDIATELY TO THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 2/4/2020 BUT DEALER SERVICE GARAGE DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. FILED A CLAIM #9-5847192733 WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY SAID THAT IF THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THEN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I REVIEWED WITH THEM THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY PERFORM THE WORK THE MANUFACTURED ALLOWED THEM TO WHICH WAS TO CHECK THE BATTERY CABLES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE TIGHT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,074 |
| Mar 2020 | ENGINE | THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND AT TIMES DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, PRIMARILY NOTED IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. HESITATIONS HAVE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR INPUT, ONCE OCCURRING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION AND ONE TIME OCCURRING WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WITH BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRING ON CITY STREETS WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEFECT APPARENTLY IS WITH THE CHARGE AIR COOLER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Mar 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT'S PARENTS OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JEFF GORDON CHEVROLET (228 S COLLEGE RD, WILMINGTON, NC 28403) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO WESTGATE CHEVROLET OF BURGAW (1320 US-117, ST HELENA, NC 28425) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | STRUCTURE | WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 71,000 |