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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,666 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2018 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #28

Nov 212021

Equinox

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that after parking in the driveway and switching the shifter to the park position the driver exited and moments later the vehicle erroneously rolled backward down the driveway. The driver attempted to get back into the moving vehicle and fell causing the vehicle to roll over the driver's body and crash into a tree. During the incident, the contact experienced an injured hip which required medical treatment. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop for repair. The manufacturer was notified of the incident and a manufacturer's engineer examined the vehicle but no problem was found. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17v516000(Power train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recalls. The failure mileage was 42,000.

- Three Rivers, MI, USA

problem #27

Jan 022022

Equinox

  • miles
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

- Chisholm, MN, USA

problem #26

Oct 242021

Equinox

  • miles
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.

- Endwell, NY, USA

problem #25

Nov 292019

Equinox

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- New London, CT, USA

problem #24

Jul 092021

Equinox 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

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problem #23

Jul 092021

Equinox 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
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.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #22

Dec 302020

Equinox

  • 92,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Royse City, TX, USA

problem #21

Mar 022021

Equinox

  • 1,000 miles
Twice in two years my vehicle has experienced a problem with the differential. The first time, the vehicle was brand new. This time it has about 5300 miles on it. It makes a noise while driving it. It sounds kind of like a small plane is flying behinds you. It doesn't matter where you are driving, highway, small town driving, etc. And it doesn't matter if you are in all wheel drive or not.

- Alpena, MI, USA

problem #20

Nov 042020

Equinox

  • 49,500 miles
The car started going into auto stop and would not go forward one the brake was released on the highway or at stop signs. This caused us to almost have a wreck because the car wouldn't go when it needed to when pulling out onto a road when it was clear to go. It created a time lag that could cause an accident.we also almost rolled into the car behind us while stoped at an intersection on a hill that entered a highway. We took the car to the dealership. The first time they charged us for diagnostic and only cleared the code. The check engine light came on immediately when we picked it up. Then they changed a sensor, and we had to bring it back. Then they rebuilt the transmission. We have to bring it back the same day. Then they replaced the torque converter. We just picked it up today.

- Tahlequah, OK, USA

problem #19

Dec 082020

Equinox

  • 51,000 miles
My wife and I noticed this past week that our 2018 Chevy Equinox will accelerate all on its own without driver input. We feel this increase in speed without input is dangerous. We have an appointment at the dealer in anchorage, Alaska that sold us the vehicle.

- Palmer, AK, USA

problem #18

Feb 122019

Equinox 4-cyl

  • 16,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Trufant, MI, USA

problem #17

Feb 282019

Equinox

  • 1,800 miles
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

- North Vernon, IN, USA

problem #16

Feb 042020

Equinox

  • 20,074 miles
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.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #15

Dec 192019

Equinox

  • 32,000 miles
Just finshed my second year into my 3 year 2018 Chevy Equinox lease and for the last month or so the service brake assist has appeared and dissapeared dozens of times when starting the vehicle and while driving as well as the check engine light has come on and off for the last few weeks. Orginally mad an appointment but the dealer ship canclled it and then my car suddenly had reduced power the died in the middle of the road as I was driving on the road. Not a highway. Got it towed to the dealer and the say a vacum pump seized? now are saying there is metal in the engine amd they dont know why. Trying to get me to pay for cost. Have taken car of vehchile and done the required matinence. This should not be happening on a 2 year old car with on 32000 miles. Very concerned there is something defected with the car. As numerous vehicles have been recalled for similar issues to mine by GM.

- Forest Lake, MN, USA

problem #14

Dec 102019

Equinox

  • 43,000 miles
Vehicle suddenly powered down while on the expressway in morning traffic, causing the vehicle to shake and slow to an unsafe speed. I eased off the expressway to get out of the way of big trucks, etc., and was scared to turn off the exit for fear that it would stall again and I would be hit by oncoming traffic. This is the 3rd time this has happened, each time they replace something else. You need to force Chevrolet to make a recall on these unsafe vehicles!

- New Castle, KY, USA

problem #13

Sep 272019

Equinox

  • miles
Car hesitated to move when gas applied when taking off from stoplight.it made a quick jerking forward, and backward movement as if to go, or shut down, then took off. Possiblely related to powertrain?.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #12

Sep 272019

Equinox

  • miles
Brakes grabs, makes loud scrubbing noise when applied to slow down, stop, or turn.sound like right front end rods going to break, and feels like brakes slipping, and not wanting to stop at times.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #11

Jul 162019

Equinox

  • 4,500 miles
On two occasions my transmission wouldn't engage when I shifted it from "park" to "drive." My car started rolling like it was in neutral. I slammed on my brakes and after about 3 - 5 seconds the transmission engaged and I was able to accelerate as normal.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #10

May 222019

Equinox

  • 9,500 miles
There are 2 problems which are interrelated 1) when stopped at a stop light the vehicle does not repond when the gas is applied to move forward when the light turns green. Then, the vehicle suddenly lurches into gear. 2) the "D" for drive on the dashboard flashes indicating an error code has been written to the transmission control module. When I took my vehicle in for repair because this was happening the dealership told me that there was no error code on the transmission control module so they do not have a way to diagnois what is happening and that this is a known problem and were advised by the manufacturer to not make any repairs because that may not solve the problem. The dealership indicated the manufacturer felt this may be due to a software problem and may need to complete a software update at some future point in time. However, I've seen posts from other Chevy Equinox owners with models dating back to 2014 with this same hesitancy and jerking issue.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #9

Mar 142019

Equinox

  • 14,600 miles
Was driving in parking lot and vehicle shut down unexpectedly. It would not restart. Contacted GM roadside assistance to tow vehicle. After about and hour and a half of waiting for a tow I tried to start my vehicle again and it did start. The check engine light was in. I was able to drive the vehicle to the dealership. The vehicle was at the dealership overnight. When I picked up the vehicle I was told there was a problem with the vehicle computer and they fixed it.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

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