2025 Chevrolet Equinox Exterior lighting Problems

The back lighting for the controls does not work the check engine light is on the dealer said there is no fix for either one of these items at this time

NHTSA ID

11738168

Incident

May 24, 2025

When attempting to engage the Left turn signal, the lever has to be pushed down several times to "catch or engage" and stay engaged. Frequently it won't stay engaged and turns off before the turn is completed. (The Right turn signal works properly). This happens 8 out of 10 times on a consistent basis. The dealer shop supervisor and tech test drove it as well as another brand new lot vehicle and both did the same thing. They said that that's what they all do, and I should push down more firmly, which doesn't help. I'm in my late [XXX] , have driven new GM vehicles for decades and know how to use a turn signal. I have been in the middle of LH turns and the turn signal was not flashing to advise other drivers of my intent to turn. I believe that this is a significant and dangerous safety issue. I bought the vehicle new a little over a year ago and it currently has about 2500 miles on it. I am not sure when this started happening, but I started to notice it at about 1700 miles, 6 months ago when I started driving it regularly in place of my 2024 Chevrolet 1500 pickup. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11729182

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

There are two issues with the headlights as it relates to the instrument panel and controls. First, the symbol on the instrument panel is the same for both headlights and running lights. This means at dusk, I cannot know whether my auto-headlights have turned or if I need to override the auto-feature to turn them on manually. Second, the headlight controls are buried in a menu, hidden behind the steering wheel. The "quick menu" is inconvenient, but the fact that it is hidden bedding the steering wheel means that I have to lean forward and around to fiddle with it, which has led to me drifting into another lane as I am distracted. From the driver's perspective, the "quick menus" are all hidden behind the wheel, and the control panel is just far enough out of reach that the driver must adjust and lean forward to reach for any controls not on the steering column.

NHTSA ID

11727846

Incident

Mar 29, 2026

The illuminated dashboard, center control console, and headlights suddenly turned off while the vehicle was in motion during a dark night. The blackout lasted approximately 10 seconds and I was unable to see to keep the vehicle on the roadway. After running onto the unpaved shoulder, I was able to fully stop the vehicle without hitting anything. All of the lights came back on and the dashboard showed a message that said "Auto shutoff". Then everything returned to normal. This problem hasn't been reported to the dealer yet, but will be discussed during an upcoming service to correct one of the other problems that keep occurring with this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11724232

Incident

Mar 4, 2026

IN THE EQUINOX LT, VIN [XXX] , THE TELEMETRY MODULE HAS AN ISSUE PER THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER DUE TO THE TELEMETRY MODULE ISSUE. THE PART IS ON ORDER AND AS OF JANUARY 16, 2026. IT WILL TAKE 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TWICE IN TWO WEEKS, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN JUMPED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES. ONCE PRIOR TO THE DIAGNOSIS, AND THREE TIMES SINCE THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 16, 600 MILES, AND IS DRIVEN TO AND FROM WORK. THE TELEMETRY MODULE IS THE CAUSE OF THE OVER ALL ISSUE, PER THE DEALERSHIP. THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO GO DEAD ON VEHICLE [XXX] , 2025 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11713013

Incident

Jan 16, 2026

Light from recessed LED headlights becomes obscured by packed snow when traveling in a snowstorm. LED lamp does not emit enough heat to keep clear. Loss of light is gradual and can reach an unsafe level almost without notice.

NHTSA ID

11711902

Incident

Jan 19, 2026

While driving in snowy conditions the headlights become packed with snow and slush. Lights become dim and I’ve had to pull over in unsafe conditions to clear them.

NHTSA ID

11707031

Incident

Dec 14, 2025

The headlights are recessed. When driving in the snow they catch the snow and block the light from coming out. I was driving home last night in a snow storm and couldn’t see very far ahead of me because my headlights were packed full of snow. The LED lights don’t produce heat to melt the snow, and there’s nowhere for the snow to fall out from so the snow and road grime just keeps getting packed into the recessed light. Very poor design.

NHTSA ID

11702014

Incident

Nov 28, 2025

The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and pushing down the turn signal lever, the lever rose back unintendedly, causing the turn signal to unintendedly disengage. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100.

NHTSA ID

11700644

Incident

May 31, 2025

Mileage

100 mi

There is a button on the top of the steering wheel that puts the car in low gear. We have been going down the interstate twice and my husband accidentally hit the button slowing down the car immediately. This is very dangerous and could cause a rear end collision. We have reported it to Chevrolet several times, to the service department twice and the corporation also. Low gear has normally been on the gear shift with all the other gears, but for some reason, they put it on the top left side of the steering wheel. That is a very strange place to have that since the steering wheel also has buttons for cruise control, Bluetooth, stereo, etc. We think this button needs to be disengaged and put else where, but Chevrolet offered us $150 for the inconvenience. We are not concerned with convenience, but with safety. Also, the vertical buttons on the dash below the navigation screen are not visible during the day. At night, when it is dark, the light illuminate the buttons so they can be seen, but they are not visible during the day. However, you do need to be able to see the buttons. My husband used a label maker to put the names on the buttons just to prevent a wreck, but Chevrolet needs to address the issue. We have mentioned this to the service department and corporate office, but they do no seem to be concerned. We consider both items to be an issue that needs to be corrected, but no one seems to care. Hope you can help get these items addressed before something serious happens. If you nee to contact us, our names are [XXX] and [XXX] , [XXX] . Email is: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11700530

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

When activating the blinker to make a right turn, after completing the turn the blinker turns off, but the force causes the lever to drop far enough that the left blinker activates. Since I've had the vehicle (about 8 months total), I notice this happen more than half the time I use the right blinker. From a quick Google search, this seems like a common problem which may lead to confusion when driving. The dealership I went to doesn't seem to have a fix for it.

NHTSA ID

11667197

Incident

Jun 16, 2025

Center screen went black and is completely inoperational. Cannot utilize any center screen functions including headlights and rear backup camera. Took vehicle to dealer and they diagnosed as a bad display control unit, which is on backorder.

NHTSA ID

11655995

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

After I engage the right turn signal and complete a right turn, it occasionally bounces the turn signal back too hard and then the "soft" (not fully clicked in) and lights up my left signal about three times. This has happened multiple times since we leased it in early September.

NHTSA ID

11619762

Incident

Oct 14, 2024