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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 308

Of the 2020 reports, 20 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernService brakes109 reports · 35% of complaints
Owner complaints308Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Service brakes109
  2. Engine89
  3. Fuel/propulsion system50
  4. Other or unspecified43
  5. Electrical system41
  6. Power train39
  7. Vehicle speed control15
  8. Forward collision avoidance14

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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: service brakes

107 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 15, 2021

    ROUGH IDLE WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP AND RPMS WILL FLUCTUATE. RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN TURNING ON OR ON REVERSE. BRAKES RESPONDING LATE.

  2. Air bags, Structure, Service brakes, Nov 29, 2020, crash

    I PURCHASED THE 2020 EQUINOX SUV. IMMEDIATELY LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A HEAVY RAIN THE SUV WASN'T ABLE TO STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS & APPROACHED A STOP SIGN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. I WOKE UP IN A TRAUMA CENTER IN SPRINGFIELD MO. THE VEHICLE HAD 84 MILES ON IT. $17,500 IN DAMAGE NOT INCLUDING SERIOUS INJURIES NOT JUST TO MYSELF BUT THE CAR THAT STRUCK ME. I WAS ALSO SITED A TICKET FROM THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL FOR FAILURE TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THOUGH I APPLIED THE BREAKS WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BREAKS IN WET/COLD CLIMATES. IT'S TERRIFYING

  3. Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Oct 22, 2020, crash

    TURNING RIGHT AFTER A YIELD AND TOOK A LOOP (HIGHWAY) MY VEHICLE CRASHED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, BUT MY VEHICLE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN AUTO WARNING OR ALERT SIGN THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED, A BEEP THAT SUPPOSED TO ALERT ME THAT THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS SO CLOSE EVEN THE SWITCH WAS AT THE ON MODE

  4. Structure, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 5, 2020, crash

    PULLING OUT OF CARWASH.TURNING LEFT IN CARWASH LOT. CAR ENGINE REVED UP, CAR LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED. SLAMMED ON BRAKE BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CAR THEN SIDE SWIPED CARWASH VACUUM SYSTEM ON PASSENGER SIDE SCRAPING AND DENTING BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THREW CAR INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE TO STOP WAITED 5 MINUTES. TURNED CAR BACK ON PUT CAR IN DRIVE. SLOWLY MOVED AND PUT BRAKE ON. BRAKES WORKED. DROVE 5 MILES TO GET HOME. NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR.

  5. Service brakes, Feb 27, 2020

    WHENEVER I BACKUP I HEAR A SQUEAL NOISE WHEN I PUT MY BRAKE ON TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A MONTH NOW.

  6. Service brakes, Feb 24, 2020

    RECEIVED "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" ON CAR DASHBOARD. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, THE 1ST 2 WOULD NOT PROVIDER A LOANER VEHICLE TO ME WHILE CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED. NOTE THE CAR WAS PURCHASE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT GM HAS A POLICY THAT THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE LOANERS, IF THIS IS TRUE I FIND IT VERY TROUBLING. THE LAST STOP I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT DOWN AND TELL THEM THEY WERE GOING TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR ME TO DRIVE OR GET MY CAR FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I ENDED UP WITH A LOANER AND THEY FOUND THAT I HAD SOME PINCHED WIRES AND THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH INVOLVES THE WHOLE ENGINE BEING PULLED TO REPLACE THIS PART. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST A WEEK AND I MAY GET IT BACK TOMORROW. THIS IS THE FIRST CHEVY I HAVE OWNED AND IT MAY BE MY LAST.

  7. Service brakes, Engine, Feb 7, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM TRENARY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 501 AUTO MALL DR, O'FALLON, MO 63368, WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.