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
308 reports, newest first.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 27, 2020
TURNED CAR ON (IN DRIVEWAY) AND SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON. TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, AND DRIVER FRONT AND LANE ASSIST ALL DISENGAGED. UNABLE TO MANUALLY TURN BACK ON THROUGH STEERING CONTROLS. STOPPED THE VEHICLE, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, AND TURNED ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT WAS STILL ON. DROVE TO DESTINATION WITH THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT STILL ON, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SERVICE ESC LIGHT WAS OFF. CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WAS TOLD TO DRIVE AROUND FOR A COUPLE MORE DAYS AND SEE IF THE ISSUE RETURNS. IF IT DOES RETURN AFTER A FEW DAYS, RECOMMENDED TO SCHEDULE SERVICE.
Wheels, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 24, 2020
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING LOCKED UP TO KEEP FROM FISHTAILING EVEN THOUGH ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION. AFTER DRIVING, PARKED VEHICLE AND SAT IN IT FOR AN HOUR. AFTERWARDS, TURNED VEHICLE ON AND THE SCREEN STATED TO SERVICE ESC. STABILITRAK, LANE ASSIST, AND PARKING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A COUPLE HOURS WITH THE VEHICLE OFF AND DROVE A BLOCK, THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND BECAME NORMAL. THEN AFTER AN HOUR OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AND TURNED OFF FOR AN HOUR, WE BEGAN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER AN HOUR OF DRIVING, THE SCREEN STATED TO SERVICE ESC AGAIN. STABILITRAK, LANE ASSIST, AND PARKING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 22, 2020
EQUINOX HAS 4636 MILES AND ALL THREE TIMES IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN SNOW A SERVICE ESC MESSAGE COMES ON DASH AND TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL ARE TURNED OFF ALONG WITH AWD. ONE TIME WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING, AND OTHER TWO TIMES ON A LOCAL STREET. ALSO WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE DASH MESSAGE SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER (STAYED ON FOR 400 MILES/TWO DAYS) MAY REDUCE SPEEDS TO 50 MPH. RPM'S STARED RUNNING 1000 HIGHER TO MAINTAIN SPEED AND FUEL ECONOMY DROPPED ABOUT 8 MPG. GM MECHANIC DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DIAGNOSE BUT SAID THE TURBO WAS FROZEN BECAUSE OF TEMPERATURES (-10 DEGREES) AND THAT IT NEEDED A WINTER FRONT AND NEW INTAKE TUBE. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM OVER 10 TIMES WITH THE SAME ENGINE THAT DAY.
Other or unspecified, Dec 24, 2019
CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH MOLD IN THE CONDENSER AND A ODOR THAT CAN'T BE CORRECTED. PROBLEM IS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING., AND BECOMES A PROBLEM TO MY BREATHING. AFTER LOOKING ON LINE IT SEAMS TO BE CALLED DIRTY SOCK SYNDROME. THIS WAS ALSO SMELLED IN THE RENTAL EQUINOX THAT WAS PROVIDED. THIS IS A HEALTH RISK TO PEOPLE WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS AS I HAVE.
Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 23, 2019
THE SECOND DAY AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET, ACCELERATING, THE CAR STARTED TO FILL UP WITH GAS FUMES!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 11, 2019
IN -13 DEGREE FARENHEIT, THE VEHICLE LOCKED ME OUT. KEY FOB LEFT INSIDE VEHICLE FOR 45 MIN, ENGINE OFF, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. REMOTE START FROM INSIDE BUILDING DID NOT WORK DUE TO FOB IN CAR. ONCE I ARRIVED BACK A THE VEHICLE I FOUND THE DOORS LOCKED, DOOR HANDLE UNLOCK BUTTON UNRESPONSIVE WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. VEHICLE FAILED TO UNLOCK WHILE I STOOD OUTSIDE IN -13 DEGREE WEATHER, COMPLETELY UNSAFE, FOR 5 MIN. I TRIED ALL DOORS AND TRIED UNLOCKING FROM PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS NO UNLOCKING SOUND WHEN PRESSING THE DOOR BUTTONS. I TRIED THE CHEVY APP TO UNLOCK STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT UNLOCK IMMEDIATELY. AFTER A MINUTE OR LONGER DELAY THE LOCKING MECHANISM STARTED TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE RANDOMLY WITHOUT ME PRESSING BUTTONS ON THE DOOR OR APP. EACH TIME I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR WITHOUT SUCCESS. ON THE LAST CLICK I WAS ABLE TO SUDDENLY OPEN THE DOOR. 2530 ODOMETER READING.
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.