2019 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 302 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 22 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 29, 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
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.
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.
Campaign 20V668000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblySep 19, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.
A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 19V667000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsMar 7, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. 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 N192209550.
Campaign 19V184000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperAug 30, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Campaign 18V576000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 26, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was hesitant to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who replaced the throttle body, but the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 14,000. The VIN was not available.
Power train, Aug 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. While stopped, the vehicle would intermittently stall upon depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle would restart soon after failure however, recently the vehicle was towed to a dealer after the vehicle failed to restart after multiple attempts. The dealer was unable to duplicate the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Power train, Aug 6, 2021
We noticed a reddish liquid on our garage floor. As the car is under warranty, we took it to the dealer who said it was a leak at the drivers side axel seal; they kept the car for one day, said it was fixed, and called me to come pick up the car. The very next day I noticed leak was worse, and so I reported that to the dealer (see uploaded photo). The dealer told me that they would connect with "tech assist" (whatever that means) and get back to me. I'm concerned that if the leak gets even greater while on the road it could be a safety problem.
Power train, Apr 16, 2021, fire
TL* THE CONTACTS WIFE OWNED A 2019 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING OUT OF A STANDSTILL THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PRODUCE SMOKE AND PROCEEDED TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY CITY POLICE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING DISPLAYED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BEING DESTROYED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V668000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,199.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 30, 2021
I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL AT FIRST AND JUST SAT THERE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS I WAS ABLE TO START MOVING. THIS SITUATION ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR SAME ISSUE.
Power train, Mar 28, 2020
I'LL BE DRIVING VERY LIGHTLY AND ABOUT 25MPH WHEN IT WANTS TO SHIP IT SURGES. I STILL HAVE THE SAME PRESSURE IN THE GAS PEDAL. I SEEN IT GET STUCK AT DOWN SHIFTING A FEW TIMES WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL. IT HAS LUNGED ALMOST TOO ONE TIME. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY TEST DRIVE IT, HAD NO CODES WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. I BEEN DRIVING CVTS FOR A DECADE NOW AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT THAT SONI SORT OF BOUGHT IT. I THINK THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T DO THIS.
Power train, Mar 18, 2020
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RPM. INTERMITTENT HARD OR ROUGH SHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 MPH IT HAS A SHUDDER AND SLIGHT SURGE. ANOTHER INCIDENT WHILE STOPPED, FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD.
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 28, 2020
PURCHASED NEW CAR ON SEPTEMBER 7 2019. STARTED HAVING CAR ISSUES ON 9/25/2019 TOOK CAR IN ON 9/27/2019. CAR WAS MAKING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GET HARD. WAS HARD TO BREAK. WHEN REVERSING SCREECHING NOISE WOULD GET LOUDER AND LOUDER. WAS TOLD BY A CHEVROLET TECHNICIAN CAR WAS FINE IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. TOOK CAR IN ONCE AGAIN ON 12/26/2019 VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY NOT TURN ON, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GET HARD, CAR WOULD SCREECH. CAME TO THE POINT WERE I WAS SCARED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE GROCERY STORE BECAUSE I WAS UNSURE ON WHETHER THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY NOT START. INFORM CHEVROLET OF EVERETT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS 3 BOLTS, AND WAS GIVEN THE CAR BACK. TOOK CAR TO CALIFORNIA AFTER THE DEALER TOLD ME CAR WAS COMPLETELY SAFE. 1/14/2020 CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. CALLED CHEVROLET THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT TURNS OFF AND WHY IT WON'T TURN ON. CALLED GM MOTORS THEY SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP BUT I CAN START A CASE IN WHICH I DID. WENT TO CHEVROLET ON 1/24/2020 THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA ON WHY THE VEHICLE IS HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS, TRIED MAKING ME TAKE THE VEHICLE HOME KNOWING IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN SHOP NOW FOR 14 DAYS AND NO ONE HAS INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP ME, NOR HAS ANYONE CONTACTED ME, I HAVE CALLING RECORDS ON HOW MANY CALLS I'VE MADE TO GM MOTORS TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF ANYONE WHO CAN HELP ME BUT THEY ALWAYS STATE NO ONE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP ME. GM MOTORS ALSO DID 'ADVICE'ME TO NOT SEEK ANY LEGAL HELP IF I WANTED TO BE HELPED.
Power train, Engine, Aug 30, 2019
CAR WOULD START BUCKING, STUTTERING AND JERKING. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. A/C COMPRESSOR FROZE, HAD TO BE REBUILT. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED TWICE. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM ON THE LAST TWO TIMES. THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS WHILE IN MOTION AND FROM A STOP.
Power train, Engine, May 31, 2019
BOUGHT EQUINOX WITH 9 MILES O IT ON MONDAY 05/27/2019 AND ON FRIDAY 5/31/2019 ON THE WAY HOME FROM GOING TO DINNER, WITH ONLY 213 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LOOKED UP THE ERROR CODE ON LINE, BECAUSE THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS NOT THAT EASY. CODE DISPLAYED COULD SHUT ENGINE OFF AT ANY TIME TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. THANK GOD WE WERE A 2 MILES FROM HOME.
Power train, Apr 29, 2019
AUTO STOP / START IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. HESITATION FROM BRAKE TO GAS CAUSES A WHIPLASH EFFECT TO EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC IS A TOTAL CRAP SHOOT AS TO WEATHER THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO START, HESITATE OR GO AT ALL.
Power train, Dec 29, 2018
THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MODEL ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH I AM SURE IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED FOR CERTAIN OWNER DRIVING STYLES AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER DISABLE THE FEATURE PERMANENTLY BY OWNER REQUEST OR HAVE A METHOD FOR THE OWNER TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM. WITH LESS THAN 250 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 INCIDENTS OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FROM A STOP AND 1 OF ALMOST BEING HIT PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. I SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOPE THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE DUE TO IT. WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING WITH AUTO STOP THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED AS A/C COMPRESSOR TURNED ON CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD TOWARD THE MOVING TRAIN. ALMOST A MAJOR NEAR DEATH ISSUE.