Car Defect Radar
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Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 4 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

4 total · 4 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 23V339000 · May 2023

The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy
Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Transmission recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 20V668000 · Oct 2020

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.

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Brakes recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 19V704000 · Oct 2019

Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 19V667000 · Sep 2019

A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

306 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
135

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 4 mention a crash.

sudden stalling 55fluid leaks 13
A recent report: Vehicle began sputtering suddenly while driving 40mph. "Reduced Engine Power" warning appeared on dash. While trying to limp it home, the vehicle died in the middle of a turning lane. Pushed vehicle…
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Vehicle began sputtering suddenly while driving 40mph. "Reduced Engine Power" warning appeared on dash. While trying to limp it home, the vehicle died in the middle of a turning lane. Pushed vehicle to the side of the road and had it towed to a shop. Their notes attached below. Technician Notes: Customer concern verified with DTCs P0014 (Exhaust Camshaft Position System Performance) and P0017 (Exhaust Camshaft Position Not Plausible). Upon removing the exhaust cam position sensor, metal buildup was found. The vacuum pump failed, breaking the keyed driveshaft on the cam and causing the metal buildup. Recommendation: Replace the vacuum pump and exhaust camshaft with timing chains, or consider replacing the engine. Same catastrophic failure as many others have reported due to the vacuum pump seizing up. Metal shavings throughout motor now, likely ruining the whole motor.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764088 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
33

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 14sudden stalling 9
A recent report: The electrical system just stopped working it is throwing up false alerts of driving systems and brake assist, and then the air conditioning on/off button doesn’t respond defrost nothing lights up or…
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The electrical system just stopped working it is throwing up false alerts of driving systems and brake assist, and then the air conditioning on/off button doesn’t respond defrost nothing lights up or comes on.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11760560 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
87

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 5 mention a crash, 4 mention an injury.

loss of braking 68software faults 5
A recent report: While operating my vehicle, I experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure of the power-assisted braking system. The brake pedal completely lost hydraulic pressure, plunging effortlessly all the way to…
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While operating my vehicle, I experienced a sudden, catastrophic failure of the power-assisted braking system. The brake pedal completely lost hydraulic pressure, plunging effortlessly all the way to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to respond to normal foot-pedal application. Emergency stopping power was only achieved by pushing the pedal into the absolute floorboard, which engaged an emergency mechanical override and forced the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) pump into a violent stutter/pulsation to halt the vehicle. No dashboard warning lights, diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), or fluid level sensors illuminated prior to or during the braking failure. A certified automotive repair facility diagnosed the root cause as a total internal seizure and mechanical failure of the engine-driven brake booster vacuum pump. Because the vacuum pump is driven directly by the engine, its sudden lockup sheared and severely damaged the drive slots on the exhaust camshaft, necessitating an intensive engine teardown, camshaft replacement, and secondary component repair totaling $2,390. This design poses an extreme, life-threatening safety risk. The total loss of braking assist occurs without warning, and the mechanical failure simultaneously compromises internal engine timing components while moving at speed.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763379 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
22

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

loss of steering 7premature wear 3
A recent report: I bought the 2020 equinox May the 9th 2026 the dealership concealed a lot of things going on this vehicle and I complain to them two days after purchase he told me I was stuck with it in the…
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I bought the 2020 equinox May the 9th 2026 the dealership concealed a lot of things going on this vehicle and I complain to them two days after purchase he told me I was stuck with it in the meanwhile as I drive the vehicle I have had repairs done but it's something going on with the acceleration it accelerates on its own sometimes and slow to pick up speed. The steering seems to get away from me at times that makes me feel like I'm going to lose control when driving. I have almost had a couple of accidents since then so what really worries me is the steering problems which I just had a little alignment done today July 15th 2026 and the accelerating from time to time went backing up or pulling off. I do feel like the safety of others can be at risk for should I say my safety is that risk at times so I am extremely cautious when I'm driving. No I have not had really anyone to look at I have been having a car looked at for many issues but that issue I am still trying to get in to see a mechanic that I'm used to dealing with but he's been backed up. No there are no lights of any such but when I purchased it the sensors in the tires and I've had that replaced and I've noticed this situation with the acceleration when I bought the vehicle and the slow speed pick up when driving.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11750722 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Read closely
9

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 5 mention a crash, 5 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 4software faults 1
A recent report: Forward collision system dint notify of an object infront , also breaks locked up when used .Air bags didn’t go off while a forward collision with a bus happened

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11703653 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
8

Most reports here involve fluid leaks. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

fluid leaks 2software faults 1
A recent report: In early XXX, I noticed that water was pooling in the spare tire well. I took it to a Chevrolet dealership and they concluded that the rear sunroof drains were clogged. After unclogging the drains…
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In early XXX, I noticed that water was pooling in the spare tire well. I took it to a Chevrolet dealership and they concluded that the rear sunroof drains were clogged. After unclogging the drains and confirming adequate sealing of the tubes, rain water was still leaking into the spare tire well. This is causing mold on the carpet and rust. This same issue, with the same year/make/model, happened to somebody else around the same time, and they made a post on Reddit ([XXX]). I believe there is an issue with the drainage system, leading to auto parts potentially rusting and mold growth, both of which severely harm the driver and passengers. Two cases of the exact same situation, starting around the same time, may not be a coincidence and it’s possible this is a widespread issue that has yet to be reported. An investigation into this issue could help drivers stay safe on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11750076 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
12

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 2fluid leaks 1
A recent report: My cooling and heating sensor is reading negative 40 degrees outside but it has been 80 degrees and higher the past several weeks. This is not safe when you have children especially if they are under…
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My cooling and heating sensor is reading negative 40 degrees outside but it has been 80 degrees and higher the past several weeks. This is not safe when you have children especially if they are under [XXX] old. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11749888 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 306 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2019 and 2026, roughly 45 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2020 has 306 complaints on file, more than the 2019 (301) and more than the 2021 (94). Of the 17 model years of the Chevrolet Equinox we cover, the 2010 has the most (784). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.