2020 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 308 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 20 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Child seat, vehicle latch anchorMay 11, 2023
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
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.
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.
Campaign 23V339000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperOct 3, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.
Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 19V704000 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
Representative owner complaints: power train
39 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, May 11, 2022
March 8, 2022 Purchased the 2020 Chevy Equinox March 23, 2022 The car was jerking while driving making it dangerous. I tried to bring it to the service department but was told to leave the car which I did from 7:00 am -4:00 pm and no diagnosis within that time. March 30, 2022 Dropped the car off at Autonation Chevy Pembroke Pines April 5, 2022- Shev service advisor states the converter in the transmission needs to be replaced. April 19, 2022- Picked up car April 20, 2022 Car is jerking EVEN WORSE WHILE DRIVING!!! April 22, 2022 Car is BACK IN THE CHEVY SERVICE department April 30, 2022 Told to pick up car and now the problem was a FUEL PUMP IN THE ENGINE May 2, 2022 Picked up car, drove one block car is still jerking while driving (UNSAFE) May 6, 2022- Service manager states car is jerking and not only jerking it STALLED while driving with him!!!! As a matter of fact, it has a history of 5 service repairs where it stalled. This information WAS NOT disclosed to me. This car is not SAFE!!! The car is still in the service department. I DO NOT want that car. I want a car that is SAFE!!! REPLACEMENT CAR!!!
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Mar 19, 2022
When my car is parked (no emergency brake on) on a SLIGHT incline & the driveway is completely dry, it slides down the driveway 10-20 feet in its own with the wheels turning. It has happened at 4 times & once someone was trying to get out & it was frightening. It’s ended up on the sidewalk where it could hit pedestrians. I can’t drive an UNSAFE vehicle & the dealer says since they can’t replicate it, they can’t fix it (as if I’m lying that it happened) & to just always use the emergency brake even though the car manual doesn’t say anything about that being how the car works.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Dec 1, 2021
EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING IN STEERING AND SUSPENSION WHILE ACCELERATING, USUALLY STARTING AT THE 2-3 SHIFT. AT 12,836 MILES LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT HALF SHAFTS FAILED DUE TO 'EXCESSIVE LATERAL RUNOUT' . BULLETIN 20-NA-227 APPLIED(AS PER DEALER) AND BOTH REPLACED. NOW AT 21,500 MILES, THE SAME ISSUES ARE OCCURRING AGAIN. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER AND I'M CONCERNED SHOULD A TOTAL FAILURE OCCUR WHILE I'M DRIVING. INITIAL PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 4000 MILES BUT ONLY OCCURRED VERY SPORADICALLY.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2021
The car started making a terrible noise. I went to the dealer. They said it was the transfer case. 10 days to get part. Now they say it’s the rear differential. Another 10 days. There was no warning on the dash. The fear for me is do a 6 hour trip. Afraid of what else can happen.
Power train, Jul 12, 2021, crash
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that after parking, turning the engine off, and exiting the vehicle it was later discovered that the vehicle had erroneously rolled backward and crashed into a second vehicle that was parked. No injuries were reported and a police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 3,800.
Power train, Jun 7, 2021
My car has been shaking upon acceleration since I bought it in December 2019. I've had it to Apple Chevrolet in Red Lion, PA 4 times for the same issue. They documented that this is a manufacturer issue with my model and are working on a solution. They also documented that my axels are going bad, but not bad enough to fix and I was told to "drive my car until it get's worse and bring it back."
Power train, Other or unspecified, May 14, 2021
AIR FLOW INTO THE FULL BODY THROTTLE DETACHING
Power train, Feb 9, 2021
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE RIGHT WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS WABLING AND IT DOES THR SOMETHING TURNING RIGHT UP HILL WHEN YOU STRAIGHTEN THE CAR UP IT FILLS LIKE THE WHEEL ITHE ITSS COMING OFF AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE BEATY CHEVROLET CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
Suspension, Power train, Jan 28, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD WOBBLE WHEN TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WOBBLE CEASED UPON DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BOB BELL CHEVROLET (1230 BEL AIR ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21014) ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AFTER EACH VISIT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.*DT*JB
Power train, Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2020
WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY NOTICEABLY BEGINNING AROUND 35 OR 40 MPH. THIS SHAKING IS FELT IN THE SEAT AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VIBRATION CONTINUES UNTIL THE ACCELERATION IS HALTED. THIS SHAKING FEELS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVE SHAFT. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE TOO. CURRENTLY 3650 MILES ON THE CAR. SERPENTINI CHEVY IN WESTLAKE, OH IS ALSO AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOWED ME A LETTER THAT GM SENT TO THE DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE ON 9/9/20 BUT NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. IT FEELS UNSAFE
Power train, Jul 24, 2020
AFTER 3 MONTHS, 500 MILES WE NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT HALF THE TORQUE CONVERTER CASE PORUS. THE DEALER RECIEVED AUTHHORIZATION TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION.
Power train, Jul 7, 2020
OUR NEW CAR IS 3 MONTHS OLD AND 500 MILES STATING TO LEAK OIL. DEALER SAID IT'S LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION.
Power train, Dec 9, 2019
MY 2020 EQUINOX HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES AND OVER THE WEEKEND, WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, THE FORWARD COMPLETELY DISENGAGED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD. WE COULD ONLY GO REVERSE. WE HAD OUR 5 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WITH US AND THIS WAS TERRIFYING. IT COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS HAD IT BEEN DARK OR ON A BUSIER ROAD.
Power train, Engine, Dec 5, 2019
VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST ENGINE RESPONSE REACTION TO ACCELERATION PEDDLE FROM A YIELD TURN INTO MAIN ROAD. FROM THE YIELD, SLOW ROLLING LESS THAN 1 MILE PER HOUR, I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDDLE TO MERGE INTO THE MAIN ROAD AND THE VEHICLE HAD ZERO RESPONSE FOR NEARLY 30 FEET. IF THERE WAS A CAR COMING I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID BEING COMPLETELY HIT IN THE SIDE. I PUMPED THE GAS PEDDLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN ANY RESPONSE, AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED DRASTICALLY TO 3000 WITHOUT UPSHIFTING AT PROPER TIME AND THE VEHICLE SURGED AHEAD. ODOMETER READING 2376. 1200 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED. 2400 MILE VEHICLE SERVICE SCHEDULED. FILLED TANK 37.8 MILES PRIOR TO EVENT WITH 89 OCTANE. ROUGHLY 35 TO 40 DEGREES.