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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2022 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | When I lift my foot off brake the car Stop/Start feature engage causing lurching jerks forward or roll backwardson hill I fear the roll back on inclines praying vehicles are to close behind and rolling backwards into another vehicle, censors lights take turns coming on each time I lift my foot off the brake pedal. All of the following, service brake assist, service stabilittrak, park brake released, service hill start assist action not working, car locks unlock and relock by themselves. I have had these issues since. These issues have been occurring since around 16,000 miles and keep getting worst everyday. GM claim not to have a fix for these issues. They offered a few thousand to buy back the vehicle claiming drastic depreciation for milage and wear. At that time owed over $25,000 balance for the vehicle. No one stood to benefit but the lemon law attorneys.They did not consider the milage when these issues started and this is my only source of transportation to use which I told the lemon law attorneys. The lemon law attorneys were going to charge their fee from me if GM refused to pay their fees. I told them I felt in my best interest I should wait for GM's recall for this vehicle as I'm sure I wasn't the only consumer that was having these same issues. My problem is my vehicle is becoming dangerous to drive due to the rolling back and, jerking of the steering wheel, engine cutting off, locks unlocking and relocking and unstable steering. These issues were hit and miss now happens every time I drive which is daily. These issues started 2020. Last correspondence with GM they still claim they did not know how to fix these issues. I question why they are making vehicles and are not able to fix these issues. I have given my family a list of these issues because they create a safety hazard and in case I, a passenger or someone in another vehicle is injured or killed due to GM's negligence, lack of concern and greed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2022 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Winter 2020/2021 I had to replace my exhaust manifold and now winter 2021/2022 I am having issues with my turbo/super charger but same code of P0299 for both incidents. Wondering what is going on with my vehicle. I bought it at 42,000 miles and now has 88,000 on it | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | While attempting to apply the brakes to slow down a message appeared on the instrument panel that said Service Brake Assist.. My safety was put at risk by not having proper breaking. The problen was addressed at a gm dealer and I was told there are no recalls for this type of problem for my vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | engine problems | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | ENGINE | On approximately 11/18/21 3:30 pm I drove my car and the engine just died. Busy street. It took me 30 minutes to restart and pull safely into the first parking lot I could get to. every time I went to start vehicle it would take 3-4 minutes each time, I had to turn car completely to stop the car from trying to start. When it finally started it would only go 10 feet before the engine stopped running. I had to have my car towed to the dealership. On 12/8/21 the dealership called me and said the the pump which is inside the engine failed and that the engine would have to be replaced for $8,500.00 HELP! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | The power booster brake assist vacuum pump, without any warning, failed while exiting the freeway. My wife couldn't stop the vehicle. Replaced unit for $750.00. Now Fine SCARED the crap out of her. Approximately 84,000 miles. This is a sealed unit. I am a highly skilled machinist and I have made braking components for auto and aircraft and disassembled and reassembled for evaluation to determine cause and to remedy problem. What happened? DEFECTIVE PARTS OR POOR DESIGN. I request all replaced damaged parts so I have the part here. I did my research and have seen this is an ongoing problem with GMC and yet NO recall. HELP! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | 1. The brake component that failed was the vacuum pump. It has been repaired and is not available for inspection. 2. I lost braking ability(the ability to brake normally) on a major interstate in Georgia while driving 74 mph. By stomping on the brakes with full body weight, I was able to drop back in traffic, eventually find an exit to pull off the road. 3. The service report from the dealership that fixed it stated, "Customer states the vehicle has very limited brakes. You have to apply brake pedal extremely hard to stop.....Customer concern verified. No brake vacuum present." 4. Do not know. 5. Right before the incident occurred a light signaling something about the brakes came on. That was wile the car was moving at 74 mph. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | For about a month the Traction Control Light comes on, the Service Brakes Assist Light comes on, the Alternator Symbol comes on. Yesterday, Monday, November 22, 2021, the vehicle stopped while driving on the street and it required a jump to get it started again. It has been very slow when starting back when at the red/green light. Very sluggish to slow motion to get speed. The system was showing low oil percentage at 53% but oil was changed three months ago and is not due for change until January, 2022 at 47281 miles. Current mileage is 45740/50. Took car back to Art Moran last Friday to have system reset since it had not been done at the time of oil change. Please respond ASAP. My father is 80+ and he was very frightened when the car stopped on him. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | While driving on an interstate I had to brake suddenly and the brakes were extremely difficult to engage. I was able to get to the shoulder and down shift the transmission in order to stop. The vehilces brake booster had failed. There were no warning lights to inform me. Fortunately, I had a repair warranty to fix the brake booster. However, I feel this may be a problem that GM should be made aware of. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | While driving the traction and stability lights came on along with the ESC service light. Also my Lane assist stopped working. It stayed on for at Least 30 mins until I turned off the car and restarted. Stopped at the closest garage and they checked the battery and used a scan tool to identify that it had a fault code U0121 Lost Communication with Anti-lock Brake System Module. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle began to sputter with the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 41,400. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,400 |
| Oct 2021 | POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES | Was heading to run some errands and when I parked my car I try to release my seat belt buckle and it was not releasing. So I had a knife and I tried wiggling it so the buckle would release and it did not so I was frustrated and broke the seatbelt for driver as well as my rear seat belt. My transmission has been acting weird since 2019 and it happen every morning when it starts running my car shakes for a little then it would run fine. And for brakes my brakes would hesitate and shake as is braking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The ac went out on the 2018 equinox and the dealership replaced and ac line citing it was the wrong line and a bolt from the fan shroud rubbed a hole in the line. I have the pictures the dealership took prior to repairs. the hose and we line it up with the bolt on the fan shroud and we do not see how the bolt would rub the hose. It has to be a factory defect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | The electronic parking brake unexpectedly and automatically engaged while I was driving. The car would jerk and instantly slow down. It didn't matter if I was on a freeway going 55 mph or on a side street going 20 mph. In the course of 24 hours, it got worse and worse. It was extremely dangerous, because I would slow and / or stop unexpectedly in front of cars behind me. I could disengage it with the button, but in just a matter of minutes it would engage again. Finally, I could not disengage it anymore, and I had to park it on the side of the road and get it towed. This was a car rented from Hertz in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/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 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I was driving 55 mph heading to a friends for the weekend with another one of my friends and my dog. It started raining and it was scaring my dog to see the rain drops on the sunroof so I closed the shade. About 15 minutes later there was a loud constant sound almost like a warning so I looked at my dash, radio ect to see what was going on and about 3-5 minutes after the loud constant whining sound started there was a loud boom!! sounded like a bomb or gunshot. I pulled over and got out to look and found a hole in my sunroof. By looking at it you can totally see that the pressure or blast was from the inside as the glass on the sunroof was pushed outward. I took this to a GM dealer and the service manager was rude and kept saying it was from something in the roadway which it was NOT!! The road was clear and it was still light out. Besides what was that sound from then??? This is unsafe and the outcome could have turned out way worse. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 62 k Miles car completely shut down and power steering became useless making it extremely hard to even move out of traffic. There were no warning lights Car has always been fully serviced at dealership. Vac pump failed causing camshaft to break , bending pistons New engine required. Car at dealership going into 3 weeks now | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The emission testing message was displayed. Additionally, the vehicle was shaking. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump was leaking fuel into the oil causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA campaign number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was 80,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 80,000 |
| Jul 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Panoramic Sunroof buckled and shattered. (thank goodness we weren't driving it at the time). Police were notified as we weren't sure if it was vandalism but seeing the way the frame buckled and the glass concave it's a defect | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | VISIBILITY,SEATS | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side front seats were designed to be too low which caused a blind spot on the front passenger’s side when the contact was in the front driver’s seat. The contact drove over a flower bed at the park due to the front passenger’s side blind spot visibility issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| May 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | Dealership stated that it is an internal failure of the vacuum pump. Have had the Vacuum pump fail 2 times since I got it and now it just occurred for the 3rd time. Had it replaced by a dealership both times before and will be bringing it back there this afternoon. No warning light. Brakes just stop working while driving. They feel very hard and barely stop the car. Have to use the emergency brake to stop the car. First and second time it happened I was going about 45-50 mph, coming up to the red light and had no brakes. No previous issue or warning. This time I was in a parking lot so not that fast but had no brakes all of a sudden again. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | I waa getting off the highway on an exit ramp and my brake pedal started vibrating. Then I could not depress the brake pedal, it wouldn't budge. It was as hard as a rock. I then lost my breaks and almost had a major accident. I swerved and ended up on the grass shoulder near the woods. Then the “Service Brake Assist” message came on the dashboard, and the engine light came on. It was the most scariest experience I have encountered and now I no longer want to own this car. I had it towed to Apple Cheverolet in York Pa. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS | THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SLIDE SUDDENLY FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO DO SO EVEN AFTER THE POWER SEAT WAS REVERSED. IN SOME INSTANCES THE SEAT WASHED PUSHED SO FAR FORWARD I COULD NOT CONTINUE SAFELY AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. USUALLY AFTER A SHORT WAIT I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DRIVING SITUATIONS, HIGHWAYS, CITY STREETS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I FOUND AT LEAST 5 BULLETINS ISSUED BY GM REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM DESCRIBED THE BULLETIN NUMBER IS PIT5608D. THE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN ACCELERATING IT WILL CREATE A HARD SHIFT OR NOT FULLY ENGAGE INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. ALSO, WHEN AUTO STOP/START ENGAGES IT JOLTS THE CAR WHEN STOPPED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 92,000 |
| Mar 2021 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS EMITTING AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND SHE WAS HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO MOLD WHICH CAUSED HER CONGESTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CONTACT NHTSA SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFROSTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 30,000 |