Complaint volume
288 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
288 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
288 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are engine, service brakes, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 21 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 127 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 27,001 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
288 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | I was driving down a driveway with a slight incline. I pressed the brakes and they were very hard to press and vehicle would not stop until I collided with a wall. This is the fourth time that this has happened in the last two years. Each time it has been the brake booster vacuum pump which my mechanics have said is a common problem with this vehicle. One of the previous times my daughter was driving on the highway when the brakes failed and she ended up in a ditch off the shoulder. This is very dangerous and someone is going to get killed if it hasn't happened already. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My wife started noticing issues with our 2019 Equinox. We got several error mesaages: service brakes, service sylteering, enigine light and abs. I did some digging online and found similar issues with other Equinox owners. The fix is to replace the battery. We did and after leaving the shop the car won't move. It will go into differnt gears but wont move and is currently at home in our driveway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I have had my vehicle in for repair three times for an EVAP code. The first visit they found nothing wrong. The second visit they placed the EVAP canister. The third visit they said if the light comes on again it's a faulty part. The light is on again. Since the first occurence, I have noticed the some of the same issues that were reported for the 2020 Equinox fuel pump issues, e.g. hesitation, choking, | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | SEAT BELTS | The driver's side seat belt would only extend a few inches so I was not able to pull it across my body and latch it. Until this happened, there was no prior indication that the seat belt was about to fail. Fortunately, this happened at home so I was not stranded. Although the vehicle is a 2019 model year, it has barely been used and is in excellent, clean condition. I tried to free the mechanism myself, but was unable to do so. I ended up calling a mobile mechanic who also tried freeing up the mechanism and was unable to do so. The entire seat belt mechanism had to be replaced. I was very surprised that GM did not cover the cost of replacing this essential (and legally required) safety device, which I believe failed due to a manufacturing defect. (I have over 35 years experience as an automotive reliability/test engineer.) I have the original malfunctioning part in my possession if it is useful to your investigation. Thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at a traffic light, the engine Auto START/STOP feature engaged, and the engine turned off; however, upon depressing the brake pedal to resume driving, the vehicle failed to respond, rolled backward, and nearly struck another vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal several times and the vehicle stopped. There was a message indicating a power brake assist failure displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the dealer confirmed that the vehicle was not designed with a button or switch to manually deactivate the engine Auto START/STOP system. The contact was charged a fee for the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 88,000 |
| Oct 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an unintended opening and closing of the sunroof. The contact stated that the sunroof was opening and closing independently while driving and while the vehicle was parked and turned off with no keys nearby. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be replicated. The dealer contacted the manufacturer and was instructed on how to correct the failure. The dealer followed the manufacturer's instructions; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 57,500 |
| Sep 2024 | SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | originally system warning message to service brake system. had system checked by mechanic. nothing found. after a few weeks as i was merging on a highway i felt my engine start to stall. I immediately tried to make my way to the side of highway. brakes were very hard to press and car stalled with engine light immuninating, and no power steering. code P0017. engine will crank and sputter but will not start also has blowby present. cam and crankshaft sensors/actuator solenoids were replaced, then the vacuum pump cover was opened and found broken parts inside. upon removal of pump it was found broken. suspect broken parts are blocking crankshaft or either of the cams to not be able to rotate properly. this issue possibly has cause timing chain issues as well. parts in the vacuum caused it to seize. exhaust cam continued to spin shattering the end connected on the pump. I have done research and found that others have had the same thing occur with the warning for brake system and then weeks later the brakes do not work, which is due to the pump providing pressure for the brake boost system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the engine made an abnormal ticking sound. Additionally, the contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal felt firm and failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal two feet, the brake pedal travelled down as needed, causing the braking distance to be extended by 222 ft. approximately. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump had seized and shredded to parts inside the engine. The mechanic determined that the vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that two unknown dealers and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 74,000 |
| Sep 2024 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The same issue has occurred on my vehicle but the dealership is stating my vehicle is not covered even thought it states it has all the issues stated in this bulletin. N192271200 Charge Air Cooler Disconnect at Throttle Body. The car blows off the hose at the throttle body even after I replace the retainer clip myself. I am now having the dealership repair the hose and clip as it needs both they said. It obviously is a flaw in more vehicles than what they have disclosed. Very unfortunate they do not cover this for all owners in the same year as this series of vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | While driving the car cuts completely off while driving. Everything blacks out. No lights will come on, not even the emergency lights. It starts back up in about 15 to 20 minutes, lights come back on. And it starts back up. This has happened at least 3 times, almost causing me to get hit because when it shuts off it want roll or do anything else | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | Brakes locked up after turning off of an exit leading to an intersection and incident that could have killed myself and those around me. AAA towed my car to their garage and said it fits a safety recall according to the year make and model and I needed to take it to Chevy because the Brake Vacuum Pump has disintegrated despite my brakes, rotors, brake pads, fluids, etc all in brand new and phenomenal shape as well as a well maintenance’d vehicle which is proof this is a manufacturer issue, not my doing, nor is it “wear and tear”. The vehicle also smelled like fire which is another reason management at AAA and other local garages feel this is a safety issue beyond what they feel comfortable with. Chevy said that although they fixed many of my make and model for this same very DANGEROUS issue, nothing can be done because it doesn’t fit the vin. AAA advised me to reach out again explaining this is a danger on the road and needs fixed properly. Other garages will not feel comfortable fixing this issue knowing this recall by GM lists public litigation’s totaling millions of dollars worth of lawsuits for the SAME EXACT problem. I would appreciate urgent assistance on getting this extremely dangerous recall taken care of. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | Engine light came on. Said (reduced engine pressure). Started jerking then breaks went out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | I was traveling at expressway speeds (70 mph) when traffic in front of me hit the brakes quickly to avoid an object in the road. At this time, I hit my brakes relatively hard and fast in what I would describe as a panic brake. I avoided incident here. About a mile further up the road, traffic in front of me hit the brakes once again. At this time, I also hit my brakes, but I could not. My brake pedal was hard as a rock, and it would push down only about 2 or 3 inches with little to no effect. I was afraid I might break the pedal arm. I was able to maintain my lane until about 40 mph at which time I was forced to hit the shoulder to avoid colliding with the cars in front of me which were now stopped. I pressed the brake pedal hard and coasted along the shoulder of the expressway for about 40 or 50 yards, rolling past the stopped traffic. A few minutes after my car came to a complete stop, the information panel on my dashboard read "service brake assist". My car was towed to a GM dealership local to where I came to a stop. The documentation from the dealership, as well as what I was verbally told, indicates that there was an internal failure of the vacuum pump. According to the service manager, there was nothing I could have done to prevent this. Obviously, I was extremely lucky. If this would have happened in two-lane city traffic, or approaching a stop light I would have been forced to veer into oncoming traffic or simply barrel into those in front of me. I know this, because for the last month, as I'm driving, I constantly analyze what would happen if my brakes were to go out like that at various points along my drive. Often times, my only option would be to brace for a major accident or land my car in the front yard of a business. This catastrophic failure could have easily killed me, and/or other drivers on the road. Other people will not be so lucky, and I know this. For that reason, it's time for NHTSA to finally take action on this matter. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | I was driving on the highway in traffic when the brake pedal became hard as a rock I was unable to stop causing a major safety concern for myself and baby. Turns out the vacuum pump was faulty causing my brakes to fail. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The power liftgate (trunk) opens and then immediately closes, and tries to open again. I was in the back trying to get something out and the trunk started closing on me without me having pressed any buttons!! I tried to attach a video but it won’t let me. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | AIR BAGS | The contact owned a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a second vehicle and flipped over one and a half times. During the crash, the vehicle sustained front-end damage, and the bumper was partially separated from the vehicle but the front driver's air bag did not deploy. The driver sustained a head injury and was treated at the hospital. The occupant of the second vehicle sustained a shoulder injury but no further information was available. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 75,000 |
| Jul 2024 | TIRES | When driving and attempting to apply pressure to my brakes, there is no digital response for my wheels stopping/catching. My brakes are not giving a complete response when applying pressure. Also, the tire service monitoring system is not working properly. It only shows dashes. My tire information is as follows: Michelin Premier [XXX] TPCSPEC1467MS MAX LOAD 850 kg (1874 LBS) MAX PRESS300 kPa (44 PSI) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated the fuel system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fuel system failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000. The VIN was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 138,000 |
| Jun 2024 | ENGINE | Vacuum pump exploded and ended up breaking the cam shaft. Brakes wouldn't work for a minute completely seizing up in rush hour traffic. It did eventually stop. Got it to the auto shop close by and they inspected the vehicle. They stated this shouldn't have happened. Also, in their experience they have never seen someone able to drive their car with this issue. It typically locks up the engine by sending broken pieces inside and blows it. They said I was very lucky it didn't cause an accident, catch fire due to the oil, or explode the engine from the broken pieces. The techs stated they have seen this a lot in the Chevy Malibus and some in the equinox's but that they run on the same engine so that would make sense. There was no warning prior to this happening. The vehicle was inspected by the auto shop techs and report sent to me with photos of all damages. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle is having "shift to park" issue. The vehicle is in park and will not turn off or start. This is a commonly known issue on other Chevy and GM vehicles, but GM has not acknowledged the problem or will not fix unless paid out of pocket. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | I have 2019 chevy equinox I purchase the car last year with 61 miles. On March 12, 2024 I was 5 minutes away from home after driving an hour from work, try to stop at the stop sign the car didn't stop I tried several time to stop finally put it in neutral for the car to slow down to be able to pull over to stop thank God I wasn't hurt. After taking it to the dealership to get look at now the telling me my camshaft broke to pieces which will cost with the vacuum booster $24000 with only 70 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the "Service Brake Assist" message briefly flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle then independently downshifted and decelerated to 30 MPH, with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle but was able to coast the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle after the failure; however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where a mechanic informed the contact that the vacuum pump had failed and sent debris through the camshaft. The contact was informed that the vacuum pump, timing chain, cam shaft, and pistons all needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a reference number. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 100,000 |
| May 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | Our 2019 Chevrolet Equinox had a sudden Brake Vacuum Pump failure causing loss of braking power by about 80%. The only reason we did not have an accident is it was early morning and there was no traffic when we exited the highway. I was not happy to realize that GM has no recall on this. They apparently knew this was a problem and in more recent years have changed the design. The other flaw is this pump is attached to the wall of the engine and shrapnel can fall into the engine compartment and that debris could lead to total engine failure if it travels to the combustion area. This is not only dangerous but financially ruining. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | See attached document for complaint | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow the vehicle, she became aware that the brake pedal required excessive effort to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. Later, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the vacuum pump, resulting in damage to the timing chain. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 130,000 |