CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

397

Complaints

22

Crashes

4

Fires

27

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox have filed 397 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2017 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 115 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 21,500 miles, the median across the 186 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

20V668000 · October 29, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
The risk
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

General Motors LLC · up to 194,105 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

18V576000 · August 30, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
The risk
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

General Motors LLC · up to 210,628 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

18V358000 · May 31, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
The risk
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

General Motors LLC · up to 895 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY

18V252000 · April 19, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
The risk
If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

General Motors LLC · up to 379 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

17V516000 · August 22, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
The risk
If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,905 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 397.

SERVICE BRAKES 115 29%
ENGINE 84 21%
POWER TRAIN 65 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 58 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 54 14%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 32 8%
STRUCTURE 17 4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 15 4%
STEERING 15 4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14 4%
AIR BAGS 13 3%
WHEELS 13 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 48.

2017 2018 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 injured · crash · towed · 400 miles

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON,A TWO LANED HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I JUST HEAR AN EXPLPSION. THE SOUND OF WHAT I FOUND WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION MY CAR WENT INTO OMCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. I BROKE MY PELVIS AMD THE SEAT BELT CUT ME OPEN. I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAVE A SLIGHT BRAIN INJURY. I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. RIGHT BEFORE THE EXPLPSION SOUND MY CAR VEARED TO THE RIGHT AND I HEARD THE ROAD SAFETY BUMPS. I CORRECTED MYSELF AS I ALWAYS WOULD AND NEXT THING I KNOW IM IN A SEVERE HEAD ON COLLISION LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. TRANSMISSIOMS AND ENGINES DONT JUST FLY OUT DURING AN ACCIDENT EXCEPT AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS... I BELIEVE THE CAR

NHTSA complaint 11163296, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 7,000 miles

TAKATA RECALL, I WAS TURNING INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO STOP. I CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, BUT IT CONTINUED TO BE LOCKED. WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THE AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO BE LOCKED. WHEN THE OFFICERS ARRIVED THEY LOOKED AT THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND THEY WERE STILL LOCKED IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint 11078811. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS

3 injured · crash · towed · 43,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11331523. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 injured · fire

My wife and I were driving to Galveston on I-45 and were driving through La Marque when our car suddenly lost power. I started moving over to the outside lane and went to turn on the emergency lights. I realized the lights were already on. We heard a thump and thought that the serpentine belt had broken and that the engine would overheat, followed up by white smoke coming from the dash vents. My wife opened her window and leaned out the window while I tried to control the SUV without power. A truck pulled next to us and the passenger screamed that our car was on fire. I stepped on the brakes, but my foot went to the floor without effect. I hit the button for the emergency parking brake, but

NHTSA complaint 11708995, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car had a engine code of P171d my safety and others was put at risk because of the vehicle malfunction while not able to drive after the light turn green or keeping maintaining a searching speed. The engine code was confirm at the dealership while getting serviced. The engine light up here, two days before going to the dealership to get it serviced.

NHTSA complaint 11757428. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I own a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving at highway speed, the brake pedal suddenly became completely rigid and could not be depressed. The engine continued running normally, there were no warning lights, and I had to coast into a parking lot because I was unable to brake normally. The vehicle was towed to a Chevrolet dealership. The dealership diagnosed a failed vacuum brake booster and replaced the brake booster at my expense. After the repair, the exact same safety issue occurred again while I was driving at approximately 25 mph. The engine was running normally, there were again no warning lights, and the brake pedal instantly became rock hard and would not depress. The repair did

NHTSA complaint 11755192, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
My granddaughter was driving the vehicle and experienced a catastrophic engine failure while driving down the road. Warning messages and audible sounds began and said to turn off the vehicle immediately. The brakes completely stopped working at that point. She pulled over immediately and called to ask what she should do. She was approximately 1/2 mile from home and she drove approximately 10mph to her driveway, pumping the brakes helped get the vehicle to her driveway. The vehicle was then towed to the dealership.

NHTSA complaint 11754341. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

118,876 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake vacuum pump failed to operate as needed and caused the brake pedal to become firm. The message "Service Brake Assist" was displayed. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed and determined to have the brake vacuum pump had disintegrated, and a part had fallen into the engine. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,876.

NHTSA complaint 11753331. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

112,381 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping and shifted hard. Additionally, while on an incline, the vehicle failed to get up to speed. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The vehicle was driven in LIMP Mode back to the residence. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,381.

NHTSA complaint 11753336. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
On a steep gravel road in a remote area, I pressed the accelerator and the vehicle stopped climbing. I inferred that traction control had intervened, but there was no immediate, obvious indication explaining why the car wasn’t responding. The most frightening part was not knowing what the vehicle was doing. A clear, immediate indication that traction control was actively limiting power would have reduced uncertainty.

NHTSA complaint 11752810. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Equinox

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 60 1
2025 212 0
2024 71 1
2023 92 3
2022 160 5
2021 89 4
2020 299 4 1
2019 296 4
2017 271 0
2016 393 1
2015 679 2
2014 546 1
2013 749 2
2012 682 3
2011 781 3 2
2010 784 3

Other 2018 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst