2014 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 548 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 23 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, motorMar 17, 2022
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.
Campaign 22V165000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
548 reports, newest first.
Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, May 3, 2015
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND RECEIVED THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 16, 2015
THIS IS AN ADDENDUM THAT I POSTED ON 3/3/2015 ( SEE COMPLETE REPORT) REGARDING THE CRASH ALERT SYSTEM ACTIVATING WITHOUT REASON. A WEEK AGO ON A CLEAR, SUNNY DAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, WITHOUT ANY OBSTACLES OR CARS AROUND, THE RED ALERT LIGHT WENT ON AND, INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES PULSATING LIKE IN PAST INCIDENCES, THE BRAKES APPLIED THEMSELVES ALMOST STOPPING THE CAR BEFORE RELEASING. IF A CAR HAD BEEN BEHIND US, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAR-END COLLISION. I AM WAITING FOR A CALL FROM A GM REPRESENTATIVE REGARDING THIS MATTER. THEY AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE ALERTED ABOUT THE PAST INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME WHAT I WOULD LIKE DONE. MY RESPONSE WAS FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT! OR, POST A RECALL, SINCE MY VEHICLE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ( SEE REPORT ON 2/16/2015.). *TR
Equipment adaptive/mobility, Service brakes, Mar 3, 2015
COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM FLASHES RED AND THE EQUINOX BRAKES GRAB ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES ONCE AND SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON - DISTANCE FROM OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE, SPEED IS MODERATE, NO APPROACHING CARS. IT SEEM THAT THE SYSTEM TAPS THE BRAKES AND THEN RELEASES . THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TO 6 TIMES EVEN WHEN NO VEHICLES ARE IN FRONT AND THE DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL - ROADS CLEAR AND DRY, SOME OVERCAST, NO CARS APPROACHING FROM THE OTHER LANE. THE DEALER IS AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Feb 16, 2015
COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM FLASHES RED AND THE EQUINOX BRAKES ON IT ON . IT SEEM THAT THE SYSTEM TAPS THE BRAKES AND THEN RELEASES . THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES . *TR
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2015, crash
I LOOKED AWAY FROM MY DRIVING FOR PERHAPS 2 SECONDS, WHEN MY CAR DRIFTED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD-- IT WAS RAINING AND THE GRASS WAS VERY SLICK AND PULLED ME ON INTO THE DITCH. WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF MY SLIDE, I HIT A ROAD SIGN WITH MY FRONT BUMPER. IMMEDIATELY, I WAS TOLD "AIRBAG DEPLOYED"... HOWEVER, IT DID NOT DEPLOY. I COULD SMELL SOMETHING, LIKE ELECTRICAL BURNING, BUT THE AIRBAGS STAYED INSIDE THEIR COMPARTMENT, OR WHATEVER.
Engine, Dec 10, 2014
STARTED VEHICLE AND RPMS WERE BOUNCING AND CAR WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH. I TOOK THE CAR THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE ANYTHING. I ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE HARD DOWNSHIFTING AND BRAKE FADE AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ANY ISSUES WITH CAR. I PICKED THE CAR UP 4 DAYS LATER FROM THE "SERVICE" AND THE GREASY HANDPRINTS ALL OVER THE HOOD AND SIDES OF THE CAR WERE TELL TALE SIGNS I WOULD NOT BE RETURNING. I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AND THE START UP IDLE WAS GETTING WORSE SO I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS ENGINE TO IDLE ROUGH AND EMIT BLACK SMOKE ON INITIAL START AND WAS GIVEN A BULLETIN THAT SAID THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THIS VEHICLE. THEN ON 12/5/14 I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN STRAIGHT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE STEERING COULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND BE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND YOU SHOULD USE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS IS A NEW CAR WITH LESS THAN 7500 MILES ON IT AND NO ONE IS WILLING TO HELP? THANKS FOR NOTHING GM. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 1, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM FUSE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500. UPDATED 1/13/15*CN UPDATED 01/15/15*JB
Electrical system, Nov 20, 2014
THE KEY BECOMES VERY HOT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AFTER DRIVING A WHILE. WHEN, THE KEY IS REMOVED IT IS HOT TO THE TOUCH. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 12, 2014
2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER STATES THE IGNITION LOCK IS HEATING UP TO UNSAFE LEVELS. *KL THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AN HOUR OR MORE, WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, AIR, OR HEATER ON, THE KEY WOULD BE VERY HOT WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 2, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO BRAND NEW (NOW WITH APPROXIMATELY 2500 MILES). AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY ROAD AT 50-55 MPH, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON - ABS, STABILITRAK WARNING, SERVICE ENGINE - AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. EVENTUALLY, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIVE "NORMAL". HOWEVER, HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE OR IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, I FEEL THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR
Structure, Sep 6, 2014
VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE SPACE, WHEN YOU PUT DOWN THE BACK SEAT, HAD TO BUY A SPACER WHICH WAS ONE HUNDRED AN THIRTY FOUR DOLLARS, I FEEL YOU SHOULD HAVE PROVIDE WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DOGS, ONE GOT HIS LEG CAUGHT I WOULD LIKE A REFUND, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO NOT AIR FOR THE BACK SEAT VERY POOR DESIGN. YOU SENT ME A LETTER ON A 2006 CHEVY COBALT, HAVE NOT OWN FOR FOUR YEARS PLEASE CORRECT YOUR RECORDS, I HAVE 2014 CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR
Service brakes, Sep 2, 2014
THE COLLISON AVOIDENCE HAS BEEN ACTIVATIVED 4-5 TIMES. THE RED COLLISON LIGHT AND ALARM HAVE GONE OFF WHEN THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OR TO THE SIDE. IT FEELS LIKE THE EITHER THE BRAKE IS ACTIVATED OR AS IF SOMTHING IS FALLING OUT UNDER THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. *TR
Steering, Aug 23, 2014
AUGUST 14, 2014: TURN VEHICLE ON, "SERVICE POWER STEERING" WARNING CAME ON, THEN TURNED OFF. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. WAITED A COUPLE OF SECONDS, TURNED VEHICLE BACK ON, DIDN'T SHOW. STARTED DRIVING. PARKED, THE WARNING WENT BACK ON. TURNED OFF VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE ON, NO WARNING. DROVE MORE. WHILE TURNING, THE STEERING WHILE LOCKED AND "SERVICE POWER STEERING" CAME ON. PUT ON PARK, STILL ON. WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES, WARNING TURNED OFF. AND STARTED DRIVING. TURNED VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO OWNER. AUGUST 23, 2014: WHILE MAKING A REVERSE PARK, TURNING INTO THE PARKING; THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WARNING CAME BACK ON. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Aug 13, 2014
2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT HARD WHILE DRIVING. *SMD AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE LEFT. *JB
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Aug 11, 2014, fire
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE SOMETIME BETWEEN 3 P.M. ON 8/10/14 AND 8 A.M. ON 8/11/14 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, PARKED, AND LOCKED. THE FIRE BURNED A LARGE HOLE IN THE SEAT. CHARRED DEBRIS FROM THE BURNED SEAT WAS FOUND ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AS SOON AS THE BURNED SEAT WAS DISCOVERED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A "SEAT FIRE CAUSED BY AN INTERNAL HEAT SOURCE" AND OFFERED TO REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR AND SEAT CUSHION. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 7, 2014
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED OR STOPPED, GROANING OR RUBBING NOISE IS EMITTED FROM FRONT TIRES. CAR IS 1 MONTH OLD, HAS APPROX. 5000 MILES ON IT NOW AND PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS FOR DEALER TO REPAIR IT. DURING FILL UPS, THE GAS PUMP WOULD CLICK/STOP AND FUEL WOULD SPLASH BACK OUT OF TANK AND DOWN SIDE OF CAR. THIS HAPPENED WHETHER YOU SET THE AUTOMATIC FILL UP SWITCH ON THE FUEL PUMP, OR IF MANUALLY FILLING THE CAR MYSELF. 2 COMPLAINTS LATER, THE WHOLE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2 DAYS IN A ROW, ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC AND/OR ELECTRICAL WIRES HAS BEEN NOTICED INSIDE VEHICLE, AND IS MORE DEFINED WHEN OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE AND SMELLING ENGINE AREA. *TR
Air bags, Jul 22, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 16 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST, RIGHT KNEE, SHOULDER AND SPINE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Jul 12, 2014, fire
I PUT MY PHONE CHARGER TO CHARGE AND A FIRE IGNITED I QUICKLY PULL THE PLUG OUT. IT IS THE 6 CHARGE I HAVE DAMAGED. AND THE IGNITION KEY AT TIME GET OVER HEATED. ANYTHING THAT GET PLUGGED INTO THE USB ALSO EVENTUALLY GET OVER HEATED. MY PHONE GET MESS UP FROM IT. HELP PLEASE. THANKS *TR
Electrical system, Jul 6, 2014
SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING, A WARNING BELL SOUNDS YET THERE IS NO LIGHT ON THE DASH TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. I CHECKED THE MANUAL, NOTHING. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DING YOU HEAR WHEN YOUR SEATBELT ISN'T FASTENED. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I HADN'T PROPERLY FASTENED MY SEATBELT, THAT WASN'T IT. SO IF MY CAR THINKS MY SEATBELT ISN'T FASTENED, THEN IF I HAVE COLLISION WOULD IT THINK I WAS DRIVING AND PROTECT ME WITH MY AIRBAG.- OR NOT? *JS
Electrical system, Jun 18, 2014
A FEW TIMES I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I TURN THE SUV OFF, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE METAL PART OF THE KEY ARE VERY HOT. IS THIS PROBLEM SIMILAR TO OTHER RECALLS? *TR
Engine, May 9, 2014
IGNITION KEY DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND DIFFICULT TO TURN ENGINE OVER; IGNITION KEY STICKS BOTH OFF AND ON??? I KNOW OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. ONGOING PROBLEM WITH GM??? *TR
Steering, May 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 861.
Engine, Apr 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT ENGINE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 640.