2025 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Complaints

My 2025 Chevrolet Equinox AWD would not start, and the wheels were locked, preventing the vehicle from being moved normally. Message on HUB screen stated "System Error. See dealership to restore operating system." The vehicle had a little over 14,000 miles at the time. Had to be towed in. When the vehicle first went to the dealership, they found that the battery had critically low voltage. After consulting with GM Technical Assistance, the dealership replaced the battery. Even with the new battery, the vehicle still would not start and the wheels remained locked. The dealership then replaced the brake control module per TAC guidance. The dealership told me the vehicle started after the module was replaced and the locked wheel issue was resolved. The vehicle was at the dealership for more than 30 days. In a separate earlier incident, while I was driving on the freeway at approximately 75mph with my young child in the vehicle, the Equinox downshifted extremely hard and lost all electronic functions. This incident happened twice in one trip. I am including this incident as a prior safety history. I am asking NHTSA to review the no-start and locked wheel incident and the dealership's repair findings for a possible safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11776888

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

when using adaptive cruse control the car senses a car coming at me and breaks. there was nothing ahead of me nor any oncoming traffic in the other lane. It was a straight road with clear and open lanes. this has happened two times. it takes the car down from 55 to 40 right now. Lucky there wasn't anyone behind me. My second issue the car breaks when backing out of the garage with no obstructions. no safety issue but frustrating.

NHTSA ID

11776225

Incident

Sep 15, 2026

Blindspot warning indicator (driver's side) sporadically lights up any where from a blink to approx. 10seconds along with corresponding seat vibrations. Also, forward obstruction light and seat vibration will also activate with nothing in sight. All occur while driving. Which can lead to anxiety about human error. I've had my vehicle to Auburn Chevrolet 4 times for this problem. They tell me that both modules connected to this problem have been replaced. And all software is up to date. Chevy admits this is a problem and states that they are working on a solution. When I asked the service manager if any other equinox's have this problem he stated that they did...but not as consistently as my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11775874

Incident

Nov 5, 2026

Steering wheel oscillates at higher speeds, most notably around 64 mph. This has been confirmed on roads of various types (concrete, asphalt, etc) by GM dealers. Manufacturer, so far, is not taking responsibility for this issue impacting numerous Equinox EVs.

NHTSA ID

11774070

Incident

Oct 27, 2026

Vehicle has been presented for service multiple times for a recurring P050D – Cold Start Rough Idle condition. Due to the repeat nature of the repair, Fleet is requesting that the concern be treated as an unresolved/repeat repair and that the underlying cause be fully diagnosed rather than clearing the code or repeatedly addressing symptoms. Please review prior repair history and document previous repairs, current diagnostic findings, root cause, corrective action, and cold-start verification before returning the vehicle to service. Repaired on 10/23/2026 at Chapman Chevy - Recall Campaign N262547330-02 Telematic Control Module Reprogramming

NHTSA ID

11773990

Incident

Oct 23, 2026

My 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV has a recurring rodent intrusion problem in the HVAC system. I first noticed a persistent foul odor from the vents. When I inspected the cabin air filter, I found evidence of mice. I replaced the filter, but the odor continued, and I later found fresh mouse droppings on the new filter. Live mice were also found in the system, and the HVAC blower fan has since become very noisy. A service technician at CARR Cheverolet in Oregon told me this is a known issue with this vehicle: the cabin air intake has no screen or mesh, which lets rodents reach the cabin air filter and HVAC housing. If accurate, this suggests a design issue that may affect other Equinox EV owners, not an isolated event. This creates a health risk for vehicle occupants. Rodent droppings and urine can carry hantavirus and other pathogens, which can become airborne and be blown into the cabin when the HVAC fan runs. I regularly drive my three children in this vehicle. Avoiding the HVAC system is not a practical solution, since the defroster is needed for safe visibility. I am asking NHTSA to review whether the cabin air intake design on the Chevrolet Equinox EV allows rodent entry into the HVAC system, and whether other owners have reported the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11773437

Incident

Oct 11, 2026

Roughly 6 months ago, the check engine light came on in my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS, which had under 20,000 miles on it at the time. I purchased an OBD scanner to run a diagnostic test, which came back with error code P04FB (Crankcase Ventilation Hose Connection Pressure Sensor Issue). I called the dealership that sold me the vehicle, and they ran their own diagnostics. They encountered the same error code, and ended up replacing the "faulty" crankcase ventilation pressure sensor, which was covered under warranty. Less than a week after they replaced the sensor, the check engine light came back on. I re-ran my OBD scanner, and it showed the same exact error code as before. Basically, the sensor was replaced, but the issue has not been resolved. I've been keeping tabs on GM's bulletin regarding this issue (which is apparently a known issue), and I'm concerned about the fact that there haven't been any recent updates regarding a fix. GM's own recommendation to dealerships is to simply clear the error code and return the vehicle to the customer... I can clear the code myself, but that certainly does not prevent it from coming back. At this point, the error code has been cleared at least 10 times, and it always comes back within a few days of clearing. This becomes a safety issue because we are quickly approaching the Winter months again, and the temperatures get very cold where I live. When the check engine light is on, my car fully prevents me from using the remote-start feature. I'm unable to remotely start the car from both my key FOB, and from the MyChevrolet app. Thank you for your attention to this matter. My hope is that GM's engineers find a real solution to this problem, and quickly! Because, as I said before, this has been an ongoing issue for many months, and I've yet to see any meaningful movement from GM on this issue.

NHTSA ID

11773279

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Multiple phantom braking events have occurred since we purchased this vehicle, but traveling forward and reverse. We have been forced to turn this automatic emergency braking off and set to alert only.

NHTSA ID

11773245

Incident

Aug 30, 2026

Evap switch / fuel system. Vehicle slowed in heavy traffic. The issue was diagnosed and repaired at the dealership. There were no warning lights prior to the issue.

NHTSA ID

11773212

Incident

Oct 12, 2026

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: On October 20, 2026, at approximately 11:15 AM, I was driving my Chevrolet Equinox EV and was stopped at a red traffic signal. When the light turned green, I began accelerating normally into the intersection. Suddenly and without warning, the vehicle experienced a severe "phantom braking" / false Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) event. The vehicle’s emergency braking system engaged violently, bringing the car to an abrupt, full stop in the middle of the intersection. There were NO vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles in front of my car or anywhere in my path. A vehicle traveling directly behind me was forced to slam on their brakes and narrowly avoided a rear-end collision. This unexpected hard deceleration caused severe panic and created an immediate, life-threatening traffic hazard. Had this sudden stopping occurred at highway speeds or above 25 MPH rather than starting from a green light, it would have resulted in a severe crash. CRUCIAL CONTEXT / RECENT SERVICE HISTORY: This life-threatening failure occurred directly after taking my vehicle to Coggin Chevrolet at the Avenues (Jacksonville, FL), where technicians performed software servicing under Open Recall N262545360 ("Early ABS engagement on slippery road surfaces"). The dealership verified completion of this recall update. This phantom braking event occurred immediately after this recall software was flashed to the vehicle's brake control module. I suspect this software recalibration introduced a critical bug or miscalibration affecting the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM), regenerative braking system, or Forward Collision Avoidance system on dry pavement. I am requesting an immediate investigation by GM Engineering and NHTSA regarding the safety of Recall N262545360 software calibration.

NHTSA ID

11772597

Incident

Oct 20, 2026

The door handles are hidden/flush into the door when driving or locked. They pop out electronically when the car unlocked. However, my door handle is faulty and they do not pop out anymore. There is no way to grab the handle and open the door. This is a safety hazard. In a fire or other emergency, there is no immediate way to grab the door handle and open the door. From my dialogue with other Equinox EV car owners, many have the same defect. Over time, more and more of these door handles will malfunction. This should be made into an immediate and permanent recall.

NHTSA ID

11772192

Incident

Oct 17, 2026

The factory wheels on my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV suffer from a recurring structural defect. Within just over a year of ownership, two separate factory wheels have cracked under normal driving conditions on standard highway imperfections without hitting major potholes. The local dealership refused to cover the issue under warranty, claiming wheels are excluded. This poses a serious safety hazard due to unexpected structural failures on standard equipment.

NHTSA ID

11772015

Incident

Oct 16, 2026

Vehicle: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV, Front-Wheel Drive Incident date: [XXX] Approximate time: [XXX] CDT Location: Residential garage, Houston, Texas Safety Complaint — Unexpected Severe Automatic Braking On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] p.m., I was slowly driving my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV forward into my residential garage. My foot was on the accelerator pedal, and I was moving at very low speed. I was still well away from the back wall of the garage, with no apparent obstacle requiring emergency braking. Without warning, the vehicle suddenly braked extremely hard and came to an abrupt, complete stop. I did not apply the brakes and did not notice any audible collision warning or visual alert before the event. The deceleration was sufficiently violent that, despite wearing my seat belt, my head lurched forward and struck the vehicle's headliner. I subsequently experienced neck soreness, which has since subsided. I did not experience a headache, and my head currently feels normal. I intend to consult my primary care physician's office about the incident. I have no explanation for why the vehicle initiated such severe braking under these circumstances. The vehicle has automatic emergency braking and other driver-assistance systems, but I cannot determine which system caused the stop. Google Maps Timeline independently documents my arrival home at approximately [XXX] p.m., providing a useful timestamp for diagnostic investigation. The vehicle previously received an over-the-air software update while I was in Lakewood, Colorado. I do not know whether that update has any relationship to this incident. I am concerned that an unexplained, extremely forceful braking event at low speed could result in serious injuries, particularly if it occurs in traffic or at higher speeds. I request that NHTSA investigate whether the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV has a defect involving unintended automatic braking or other electronic braking-control. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.

NHTSA ID

11771323

Incident

Oct 14, 2026

This car locks up sometimes while driving in normal traffic which is very dangerous, resulting in a whiplash for me the driver and almost causing rear end collisions to my car from the abrupt stop in moving traffic. All five abrupt stops happened with all the collision warning systems on. Three happened between 2/1/25 and 8/1/25. I called GM onstar to report two of them. After the third event I switched all braking systems to alert only from brake and alert. Two recent events happened between 10/8/26 and 10/13/26 after I had my car serviced for a GM safety recall N25252824 Brake System Control Module on 10/7/26. I switched all brake systems to brake and alert assuming that GM had fixed this issue. Both recent events were during light rain. I called Onstar to report the second event and brought my car back to the Chevy dealer on 10/15 for review. This issue is abrupt, with no warning. The car simply locks up no matter the speed. The issue is well documented and is all over the Equinox EV forum. I am speaking to a law firm as well about the issue. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11771306

Incident

Oct 13, 2026

Electric Drive Unit and 12V battery have failed 3 times in less than 6 months. The vehicle will not shift into drive, reverse, or neutral. It is stalled/stuck and can't be driven.

NHTSA ID

11770370

Incident

Oct 10, 2026

Reoccurring fault codes. Replacement of brake system control module required.

NHTSA ID

11769692

Incident

Sep 24, 2026

1. The telematics control module failed and was replaced by the dealer under recall N262547330, along with the battery. The vehicle is available for inspection. The original module was kept by the dealer when it was replaced. 2. The vehicle went completely dead without warning — it could not be unlocked or started. It happened at home, but had it happened on the road I would have been stranded. The keyless entry also no longer works, so I cannot reliably get into the vehicle. 3. Yes. The dealer confirmed the telematics module failure and replaced it, and replaced the battery. The ongoing problems — failed software updates, "no cellular signal" message, check engine light, and keyless entry failure — have not been diagnosed yet. 4. The vehicle was inspected and repaired by [XXX] Chevrolet GMC in [XXX]. GM's customer resolution team is involved in the case but has not physically inspected the vehicle. No police or insurance inspection. 5. The navigation/GPS was glitching intermittently before the vehicle went dead in August 2026. The last successful software update was XXX — every update since then has failed. The check engine light came on at pickup on XXX. The "no cellular signal" message appears every time an update is attempted. The keyless entry stopped working recently. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11769397

Incident

Aug 13, 2026

The car was stopped fortunately. When i got back in the car the power steering was dead.it said 3 things on the sceen.FORWARD collision system unavailable - service power steering drive with care - Service ESC. Had the car towed to VALENCIA CHEVROLET. Got the car down off the tow truck. The problem went away. Was driving fine. The service guy said i should just drive it.

NHTSA ID

11769110

Incident

Sep 12, 2026

The driver pulled into a parking space at a local pharmacy. The space directly faced the building and was separated from the building by a sidewalk that was approximately 6 feet wide. After pulling into the parking space and releasing the accelerator (the vehicle was in the single pedal driving mode, so the motor braking should have been activated) the vehicle instead experienced three problems/failures. (1) Sudden Unintended Acceleration - The vehicle suddenly lurched forward without driver input. (2) The Automatic Emergency Braking System failed to activate or to override the acceleration command, even though the vehicle was directly facing the wall of the building, which was only a few feet away. (3) The Collision Warning System failed to activate. The system should have displayed a large red box with an X through it in the Heads Up Display to warn of the pending building impact. No warning was received.

NHTSA ID

11768859

Incident

Oct 3, 2026

On XXX I was driving a rental car that I was placed in due to my vehicle being repaired. I was placed in a Chevy Trailblazer VIN#: [XXX] My rental with this Chevy Trailblazer began on XXX. Using the available features in the vehicle, the center console has an area that you can place your cellular phone to charge your cellular phone. Which is used this option on XXX. On XXX, I placed my cellular phone in the charging bank location while I was operating the vehicle. When I arrived at my destination I took my cup out of the cup holder and grabbed the keys, and grabbed my phone and tucked it against my arm to get out the car and the charging bank my cell phone case so hot that it burnt my forearm. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11767445

Incident

Sep 24, 2026

The braking system failed to communicate with the vehicles computer system. This communication failure occurred while driving and set off all kinds of alarms and codes inside the vehicle while driving and then I had to use both feet to apply the breaks in order to get the car to stop in the emergency lane on the road as we were driving. No other warning signs or messages prior to this happening everything happened all at once. Had Onstar run diagnostics on the vehicle and 2 codes came back a U1610 Communication code of the vehicles network. The network provides a link between the systems inside the vehicle and when interrupted a code can be established. Service within 7 days. Also code U1639 same description. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer and they advised there was a module that required a further update from when I had my vehicle in on 9/2 for an oil change

NHTSA ID

11766689

Incident

Sep 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-50 MPH, the vehicle shuddered violently. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer several times to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure via the phone. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11766102

Incident

Dec 22, 2025

Mileage

12,000 mi

The transmission failed while driving on about 11/2/2025, with myself and a child in the car. It was since fixed at a dealer and is not available from me for inspection. I lost the ability to accelerate normally. I stopped at a stop light then when I accelerated to enter the intersection it did not accelerate as predicted and I got stuck entering the intersection. There was a burning smell. Another motorist helped push the car to the side and there was a large transmission fluid spot on the ground and leaking. The dealer confirmed a sudden transmission leak occurred, and transmission components were damaged by lack of lubrication and associated heat. There was no warning. My research revealed this is a known problem with this car and other GM models with this transmission and there is an internal service advisory about bolts that loosen and sudden transmission failure. I confronted GM Customer service on this and they reimbursed less than my cost for rental and gave an extended warranty on rebuilt transmission. I had asked for a new one.

NHTSA ID

11765607

Incident

Nov 2, 2025

My vehicle is a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV equipped with a stalk-mounted electronic shift selector. On multiple occasions, when shifting from Reverse(R) to Drive(D), the transmission has failed to actually engage Drive despite the shifter indicating the D position had been selected. In most instances this resulted in the vehicle to unexpectedly move backward, requiring me to re-select the gear. This defect caused a collision. I was attempting to Dirve out of a parking space and needed to move quickly. I shifted the stalk to Drive, and — consistent with normal driving behavior — did not look at the instrument panel to visually confirm the gear had engaged before accelerating, as drivers do not typically re-verify gear selection after shifting. The vehicle had not actually engaged Drive. When I applied the accelerator, the vehicle did not move as expected, and I struck a vehicle behind me. The collision caused damage to my vehicle's rear hatch requiring full hatch replacement, estimated at approximately $4,000. There was no visible damage to the other vehicle. This is not an isolated occurrence for my vehicle — the shifter has intermittently failed to register a gear change from R to D on other occasions, typically resulting in only a few inches of unintended travel in the wrong direction rather than a collision. I reported this issue verbally to my dealership's service department, and was told they have received other reports of similar shifting problems with this vehicle, though I have not yet had a formal repair order completed for this specific issue. I am filing this complaint because a shift selector that does not reliably engage a gear is a safety defect: drivers reasonably rely on the shifter position without independently verifying engagement via the instrument cluster before applying the accelerator, and this can result in unintended vehicle movement in the wrong direction, including collisions, which it did in my car

NHTSA ID

11765001

Incident

May 17, 2026

Both passenger side tires, front and back, have bulging on sidewall. Nothing was hit or damaged. Tires: 275/40 R21 107 H. These tires have 10,600 miles on them.

NHTSA ID

11764112

Incident

Sep 14, 2026