2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV Owner Complaints

On numerous occasions, while driving either on highways or streets, vehicle would brake on its own or aggressive braking when this type of braking was unnecessary. I was hospitalized for whiplash in one incident. After braking for NO REASON!!! GM sent a tow truck to pick up my vehicle, and I have not heard back for more than 100 days. If GM cannot fix this issue as stated in [XXX] then I should be compensated for the lack of use and my medical bills as well as loss of use. Not having a recall does not mean DEFECTS are not occurring!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11751192

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced phantom braking on two separate occasions. The contact stated that while slowly reversing out of the garage, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and suddenly stopped. Additionally, while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and decelerated abruptly, causing the contact to sustain a mild neck injury. No medical assistance was required. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact stated that she had previously experienced the same failure with a company vehicle of the same make and model. The failure mileage was 7,861.

NHTSA ID

11742642

Incident

May 1, 2026

Mileage

7,861 mi

The Equinox EV has rear Automatic Emergency Braking. On multiple occasions while backing up the vehicle's AEB has activated by slamming on the parking brake. A check of the rear camera and sensor system shows the vehicle detected nothing. A visual check also shows nothing behind the vehicle that's outside the sensor system's.

NHTSA ID

11735367

Incident

Apr 7, 2026

Driving in the freeway at 70 miles per hour with adaptive cruise control on car went crazy with emergency lights and braking the vehicle In middle of freeway No accident Also lane Asíst is not working

NHTSA ID

11735179

Incident

May 1, 2026

The inability to permanently turn on the warning only option for front and rear emergency braking after the latest OTA update. Phantom braking conditions still exist for this model and occur at unexpected times causing potential rear end collisions with following vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11735025

Incident

Apr 30, 2026

On February 23, 2026, while driving my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV home from Folsom Chevrolet following a prior repair visit, the “Service Park Assist System” warning illuminated, first intermittently, then after a few miles, continuously for the remainder of the 11-mile drive home. During the same drive, while reversing with no objects present behind or around the vehicle, the automatic emergency braking system activated and applied the brakes with significant force without cause. The vehicle was returned to Folsom Chevrolet (Repair Order #559378, opened February 23, 2026). Diagnostic code U1126 was found — indicating the left rear short range radar sensor had lost communication on CAN Bus 8. The sensor module was on national backorder, keeping the vehicle out of service for approximately two weeks. The module was replaced and programmed on March 7, 2026. Safety concern: Unexpected activation of automatic emergency braking with no objects present creates a serious collision risk from following traffic. This failure occurred on public roads during normal driving. Additionally, the U1126 CAN bus communication fault is the same vehicle communication architecture implicated in the battery/electrical failure documented in Repair Orders #558923 and #559167, suggesting these failures share a common root cause in the vehicle’s electrical communication network rather than representing isolated component failures.

NHTSA ID

11727678

Incident

Feb 23, 2026

I was driving and slowed down to enter a small roundabout. upon trying to enter the roundabout the cars emergency braking slammed on the brakes to a sudden hard stop. No other cars were in the roundabout, but i believe it may have seen the curb. in any case, i was extremely lucky that nobody was behind me, or coming around the roundabout, as it took a bit to get the car to let me go again.

NHTSA ID

11723475

Incident

Feb 18, 2026

My wife was driving home after picking up my daughter from a nearby school around 3:30pm on Thursday 1/22/2026. She was driving down a road maybe at 35mph and while her foot was on the accelerator the car did a hard brake though there's nothing in front of her nor is the adaptive cruise on. She didn't hit any button and was taken by surprise along with my daughter. Luckily the car behind her was far away and didn't hit them. We haven't yet informed the dealer. This has happened before and the car has about 3900 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11713011

Incident

Jan 22, 2026