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.
Service brakes, Jun 18, 2026
Brake vacuum, pump failed while driving which made the brakes not work. I had it towed to a dealer and they found that the pump was internally damaged. Pump was then replaced. There was no warning this was about to happen and it happened suddenly. One moment the car had brakes and the next there was no braking. A very dangerous situation and we were lucky to not have a major accident.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine, Jun 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated the brake pedal became firm while driving approximately 40-45 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the brake assist service message was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the brake housing had shattered inside the engine. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2026, fire
The vehicle was taken to College Chevrolet for body work. . When the vehicle was at the body shop, the shop informed me that a turbo light was on but I am unsure when it appeared because it wasn't on when I took it to the dealer. The brake assist light was on; I noticed this about May 20, 2026. I parked the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the body shop on June 1. The body work was completed on June 9 and the vehicle was at my residence. My Ex-husband and son were coming to pick me up at the car rental. The car caught on fire. My son & Ex-husband could have died in that car. The vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle hasn't been examined by anyone at this time. An insurance claim in in process.
Service brakes, Jun 11, 2026
Brake vacuum pump failed at 112k miles while doing 60 on the highway with no warning or way to stop. Very dangerous. Service brake assist light only come on after the fact of brake pump failure. Shrapnel from the failed part was sent into the engine block that had to be professionally cleaned out. This happened again 4 months later when I had to replace the brake vacuum pump AGAIN. I almost wrecked and lost my life then as well since again, it happened out of nowhere while driving no warnings. Brake assist light only came on after. This is DEADLY and should be recalled and rectified by GM promptly before someone is killed.
Power train, Engine, Jun 9, 2026
Recall Number N202313440 My car matches make, model, and year but for some reason is not included in the recall and my vehicle has the leaking bolts. Please Review
Service brakes, Jun 1, 2026
I was driving at the speed about 30~ miles/per hour on the city road, as I was slowing down to turn into the Penera Bread where I plan to, and I pressure the break paddle, the break paddle was stocked, it cannot pressed down. It was extremely dangerous situation, I cannot stop the vehicle, and it was very scary. I finally switch the driving to 'P" to stop the vehicle, and route the vehicle to curb to force hard stop. This is extremely risky situation. My understanding is model year 2020 - 20xx Equinox has reported this problem by many consumers. Vehicle brake stocked while driving, I hope there is no injury or death occurs. This is extremely dangerous. My seatbelt pressed really hard on me, my chest hurts from this sudden hard stop, and I am so scared. A week after, I still cannot resume the driving due to the impact of the situation.
Service brakes, Engine, May 30, 2026
Multiple occasions of “engine reduced power” and vehicle stalling/jolting/jerking when trying to go over 45 mph. When trying to go to work Monday - on the interstate, it was jerking/jolting when trying to increase any speed and brakes were getting harder to press on, decided to try to reduce speed and get pulled over without the brakes, car was overheating completely. Now seeing multiple people have had this issue with the same car - I’m not sure whether it’s comforting that I’m not the only one or terrifying to know there’s multiple vehicles on the road experiencing this dangerous issue. Seeing a pending lawsuit did not surprise me one bit - I am not happy whatsoever about risking my own life and others on the roadway due to this not being a priority in the first place to correct before selling this vehicle to me, buying it with my hard earned money. Greedy greedy.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 27, 2026
My engine started running rough and, as a result of a repeating PO301 code, the car was towed to Lester Glenn of Toms River. Their diagnostic scan report (codes DTC PO301 & DTC PO303) found the engine assembly has scored cylinder walls due to failed piston rings. The entire engine had to be replaced. The odometer reading was 19,000 miles. Piston rings are designed to last 150,000 plus miles. For them to be worn enough to score a cylinder wall at 19,000 miles is a textbook definition of a manufacturing defect. Piston failure represents a serious safety defect as it could have caused a total loss of power at highway speeds. This was a safety-related manufacturing flaw, and not a maintenance issue. GM refused to pay for the repair bill in full.
Service brakes, May 26, 2026
While driving, the vehicle experienced an almost total loss of braking capability. The pedal was very hard to press, and when pressing with all my weight, I could slow the vehicle to a stop, but it took a great distance. There was no warning or malfunction indicator until I pulled into a parking lot a few minutes later. At that point, a "Service Brake Assist" message appeared. Had I been in traffic, going faster, or in an area with pedestrian crossings, this could have caused a possibly deadly crash. I searched online and found that there is a vacuum pump that is known to fail on this vehicle, and can cause these symptoms. Upon replacing this vacuum pump, the issue was resolved. I still have the failed vacuum pump.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle's brakes did not depressed, it maintained the same speed the warning indicator stating service brake assist illuminated and then the check engine light illuminated. The emergency brakes were engaged in order to allow the vehicle to slow down. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a vacuum pump for brakes failure. Additionally, metal was in the engine due to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Engine, May 15, 2026
I was driving to work, when I got off the exit I stopped at Sheetz. When I got back in the car my brake pedal was stiff as a rock, and there was oil on the ground. A friend of mine does mechanic work so I called him and he said it sounds like the vacuum pump. I had the car towed to his garage, the tow costed me $400 which was very cheap considering where I was located. When I got it to the garage he confirmed that it was the vacuum pump and we removed several pieces of metal from inside the engine. I now have my car at the Chevy dealership in Chippewa PA. They told me to be $180 a diagnose it, well they just called me a little bit ago and said it's going to be another $900 to take everything apart and to truly diagnose it. I'm finding out now that GM has known about the failing vacuum pumps and they kept producing them anyways. I see there's a class action lawsuit taking place, and I am not very happy. My life was put at risk. And now I'm expected to be stuck paying this huge bill?
Steering, Power train, Service brakes, May 12, 2026
I am submitting this on behalf of my daughter, [XXX] . On Friday, May 8, 2026, [XXX] was traveling southbound on Highway 89A approaching [XXX] . Highway 89A is a narrow, winding two-lane canyon road with limited shoulder and significant elevation changes. While still on the canyon road, her 2020 Chevrolet Equinox suddenly lost all power, including power assist to both steering and brakes. A sudden loss of power steering and brake assist on this road presented a serious risk of loss of vehicle control. Fortunately, she was able to get the car stopped off of the roadway. However, she was then unable to place the car into Park or shut off the ignition. Multiple warning lights were illuminated across the instrument cluster. Her roadside assistance plan towed the car to the nearest repair facility, where on Monday, technicians were unable to replicate the issue. A previously stored DTC P3055 was found in the diagnostic system. This code relates to a known and documented issue with Chevrolet Equinox vehicles, for which Chevrolet has issued multiple Technical Service Bulletins, including TSB 21-NA-139, which identifies the Multifunction Power Supply Converter (GM Part #13510484) as the known culprit for this failure mode. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, May 10, 2026
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, I was driving home from a neurology appointment with my two daughters, including my child with special needs. I intentionally chose not to take the expressway and instead drove a lower-speed route home for safety reasons. While traveling approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly displayed an “Engine Power is Reduced” warning. As I attempted to safely maneuver through traffic and pull over, the brake pedal became extremely stiff and difficult to depress, requiring significant physical force to slow and stop the vehicle. The sudden reduction in braking assist created a serious safety hazard for my family. Had this occurred at highway speeds on the expressway, the outcome could have been catastrophic. A post-incident inspection identified failure of the vacuum pump drive assembly and related timing/variable valve timing (VVT) components. Photographs taken during disassembly document the condition of the timing chain, camshaft, VVT actuator/phaser, vacuum pump assembly, and associated components at the time of repair. Diagnostic records also documented DTC Code P1101 following the incident. The vehicle is currently undergoing further inspection and diagnostic evaluation at a certified Chevrolet dealership to validate CPO warranty coverage and determine the full extent and cause of the failure. Based on the sudden loss of engine performance and reduction in brake assist, I believe this condition represents a significant safety risk to vehicle occupants and the public.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 27, 2026, fire
I am reporting a vehicle fire involving a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox [XXX] ). The fire originated in the engine compartment. The official fire report lists the causes as "undetermined", with the area of origin identified under the hood. There were no prior warning lights, mechanical issues, or indications that a fire risk was present. The vehicle was being used under normal conditions and was properly maintained to my knowledge. The vehicle was declared a total loss by my insurance company. Due to the undetermined cause and engine compartment origin, I am concerned there may have been a potential mechanical or electrical defect that was not identified. I am submitting this report in case similar incidents have occurred and to support an potential investigation int vehicle safety. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate from a stop, the engine started choking. The vehicle lost automotive power, stalled, and shut off unexpectedly and stalled. The contact waited for a while, restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. The failure became persistent, and several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. Recently, the failure reoccurred 4 times while attempting to drive to the residence. The contact stated that water was leaking into the cabin of the vehicle from the moon roof, and the rear wheel well was filled with water, and there was water moving around inside the vehicle, and the floor mats were extremely wet. Due to water entering the vehicle, the moon roof and the radio were inoperable. The contact stated that the check engine and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was inspected by a family member and was diagnosed with fuel injector failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed for the stalling failure. The dealer replaced the fractured fuel cap; however, the failures persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to properly accelerate. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump drive control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump drive control module was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact stated that an extended warranty coverage was issued by the manufacturer related to the failure, but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shook and vibrated abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V704000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was associated with the recall. The contact later replaced the rear brakes independently. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Power train, Apr 1, 2026
Multiple times (Friday, March 27, Monday March 30, 2026) we have had the 2020 Equinox fail to accelerate at green lights. The gas pedal is pressed to the floor and car is VERY slow to accelerate. It takes multiple depressions of the gas pedal to accelerate more than 10 mph. There are open recalls on certain vin numbers from the NHTSA but mine was not on list yet appears to have many of the same concerns. Our local mechanic believes the details of recall bulletin 20V668000 should apply to our car as well.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 1, 2026
One morning, in an attempt to start my car, it would not start. Instead, it lit up the check engine light. The engine was turning over and attempting to start, but would not start. I know someone with a code reader device that I asked to come hook up to my car and read what code was causing my check engine light to pop up. The reader displayed the code U18A2 which indicates a "Lost Communication with Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM)". This commonly causes a no-start or stalling condition due to a broken CAN bus wire, corroded harness, or faulty FPCM ground. Key fixes involve repairing wiring along the frame rail. Many versions of the 2020 equinox have already been recalled for a fuel pump control module problem, and I was trying to inquire whether or not my vehicle qualifies as part of the recall for the fuel pump module.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was temporarily restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with PCV failure. The vehicle was not repaired and was sold due to the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 74,400.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Mar 18, 2026
the car has a grinding that i am not sure where it is coming from, it maybe coming from the wheel and it also has a battery problem
Service brakes, Mar 13, 2026
The brake booster vacuum pump, in the words of Meineke, massive failure. The pump locked up and exploded, there are parts of at least under the valve cover. The failure resulted in the ruining of the camshaft, as this pump is controlled by the camshaft. The end of my camshaft looks like a mushroom head. This failure is currently in the investigation part of a class action law suit in which I am adding my name to the hat. My wife was driving at the time and fortunately was not injured during this catastrophic failure with what seems like planned obsolescence. I am also glad the kids weren’t in the car when this happened. We had just crossed 100k miles.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 28, 2026
The gas tank was leaking without any warning or incident. The car was not involved in any incident that would have caused damage to the gas tank. The smell of raw fuel was very strong one morning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and inspected. Same model and year was under a recall for the gas tank but our particular vin was not included in the recall. There were no warning signs or symptoms.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Feb 26, 2026
Infotainment center is not operable. Had a diagnostic test completed by certified dealership and it is found that the infotainment center and radio is not operable. Contacted General motors corporate office. $47 was offered to go towards the $950 to fix it It. They did not offer any reimbursement for the $204 paid out of pocket for diagnostics fee that I they advised me to get after filing complaint. Due to the malfunction of the infotainment center and radio other safety issues have stopped working. Such as the onstar safety feature, the phone In case of emergency, the turn signals and also the safety features on the rear and side view mirrors, car length warning, and back up camera. Was advised from the dealership that all of these functions have ceased working due to the failure of the infotainment center and the radio. Unable to hear any warnings. Made a complaint with Ohio Attorney General's office and General motors' response was only to provide me 5%, which is the $47 towards the dealership invoice. There reason was that due to the mileage they cannot assist further than that. Its not about entertainment of the radio. I feel this is a safety hazard on so many levels, and it is not caused by simple wear and tear or any fault of the driver. This is a safety issue that I want addressed. This should not be a financial burden that the consumer should carry by themselves.
Engine, Feb 20, 2026
I bought the equinox with 30,000 miles on it. It's at 67,000 now and I maintain the vehicle regularly. So why have I replaced the throttle body already because it gets dirty fast? And now I'm getting a check engine light for P2099 TurboCharger Underboost. When the vehicle is not old it's 5 years old, hasn't been driven hard. So why are you using a crap 1.5L engine with a turbo that is notorious for these issues??? And what's worse the engineering is horse s$*t, because the air inlet hose is only one time use. But the part is underneath it where you can't reach. Why has this not been recalled yet????????? It's not but a scam to make you take it to a dealership. I'll continue to write complaints this is not right. And I'll never buy one again.