What 51 owners told NHTSA about the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. During the crash, the parking braking activated, and smoke and flames were coming from both the rear wheels. The contact used a bottle of water to extinguish the flames. During the failure, the maintenance icon was displayed. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was advised to notify the insurance company of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,100.

NHTSA ODI 11746399

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil gauge fluctuated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. An appointment was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,678.

NHTSA ODI 11745575

Walked out of the car into the gas station came back out the brake pedal was locked up literally didn’t even wiggle at all couldn’t start the car I tapped it a couple times and then it made a horrible snap/pop sound and works fine for now

NHTSA ODI 11744984

While cruise control was active, the vehicle initiated un-commanded physical acceleration and deceleration in unpredictable 5 mph increments (up or down), forcing the vehicle to change speeds without driver input. This required me to immediately deactivate the system and override the accelerator/brakes to maintain control of the vehicle in while driving, creating a severe and direct safety hazard. With cruise off I could see the erratic jumping of the set-speed number on the digital display. This issue has occurred on two separate instances. In both cases, pulling over, turning the vehicle completely off, and turning back on completely cleared the glitch and restored normal operation of this feature.

NHTSA ODI 11743667

Driving towards direct light/sunlight is damn near impossible with this vehicle die to the extreme amount of glare from the dashboard. It makes me worried especially now that summer is approaching, feels like it can be catastrophic. Rear brake assist is horrible on more than one occasion the car will stop as if it has just been hit by a semi. Leaving the vehicle unable to proceed in reverse(one has to shift to drive or put in park before continuing to reverse). This is not only a nuisance but can lead to an accident especially during the mad rush of drop off at the elementary.

NHTSA ODI 11743805

Front end suspension creaking and a moderate vibration under the gas pedal that gets worse over time

NHTSA ODI 11742937

I was heading home from my vacation with my lady and had cruise control on and then all of a sudden my Rpms shot through the roof and then a flashing check engine light showed up and a message that said “acceleration reduced drive with care” when I took it to the dealer they told me it was due to the side object detection system malfunctioned and caused that issue then today I felt the car idle weird so I hooked up a scanner and it’s got a misfire on cylinder 2 and 4

NHTSA ODI 11743018

At around 7k miles while driving the brakes and steering suddenly stopped working and all warning lights came on including check engine light. The dealership said it was the main brain and the fixed it. Then last Thursday night while driving on the highway my brakes stopped working suddenly and all warning lights came on again. It is at the dealership now and they are now saying the problem is the BCM. I’m honestly scared to drive on the highway now. I’m really scared someone will get hurt or killed from this vehicle if it happens again.

NHTSA ODI 11741936

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the automatic engine Start/Stop system engaged, and the vehicle shut off completely. The message "Please Hit The Start Button Again" was displayed, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact press the start button, but the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P), forcing the tow agency to drag the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,900.

NHTSA ODI 11741483

This vehicle has been repaired (4) times for the same issue (vehicle turns off while driving and won’t immediately re-start and check engine light comes on) The First incident happened on or about 3/25/2026 (1083 mileage) and the fuel pump power control module was replaced at the dealership. The Second incident happened on or about 4/8/2026 (1347 mileage) and again the fuel pump power control module was replaced at the dealership. The Third incident happened on or about 5/6/2026 (2249 mileage) to which the dealership opened a TAC case #95864465 and was told a software update was available and updated the software. The Fourth incident happened on or about 5/18/2026 (2625 mileage) and the fuel pump power control module was once again replaced at the dealership. Every incident occurred while I was in traffic with my minor child and dog

NHTSA ODI 11740823

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11740629

The starter on a new 2026 Chevrolet Equinox RS failed at approximately 6,500 miles. While the vehicle was being driven home during evening rush hour, it shut off at a red light and would not restart. The vehicle was stranded in the left lane of a four-lane highway. It could not be moved because the engine would not start, and the vehicle would not even roll in neutral, as the wheels were locked and would not turn. The disabled vehicle blocked a live travel lane in heavy traffic. The driver was a [XXX] new driver. Being stranded in a moving traffic lane during rush hour created a serious risk of a rear-end collision to the occupant and to surrounding vehicles forced to maneuver around the disabled car. Police responded because the vehicle was creating an active roadway hazard and arranged for a tow. The tow operator had to drag the immobilized vehicle onto the flatbed because the wheels would not turn. The failure was confirmed by an authorized Chevrolet dealer, which diagnosed a failed starter and replaced it under the manufacturer's warranty. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The vehicle shut off and failed to restart without any advance indication. The vehicle has been repaired and is available for inspection. The failed starter was replaced by the dealer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11740636

The contact owns a 2026 CHEVROLET Equinox. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at 63 MPH and above, he notices that the vehicle is not able to go into the 8th gear. The contact stated that for the vehicle to reach 8th gear, he would have to slow down to between 62 MPH and 55 MPH while driving on a 75 MPH highway, causing serious safety concerns while merging into traffic. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not able to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 11738835

Sign recognition in advanced cruise control fails to slow prior to slower speed limit signs. Fails to decelerate in accordance with traffic regulations.

NHTSA ODI 11738577

At approximately 75 mph on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shifted into Neutral after the Park button was accidentally pressed. Once in Neutral, the vehicle would not re‑engage Drive or any gear. The vehicle lost propulsion in fast‑moving traffic. I had to coast to the shoulder, stop completely, and shut the vehicle off. Only after restarting did the transmission respond again. No warnings appeared before the incident, and no software updates were pending. Loss of propulsion at highway speed is a serious safety hazard and indicates a possible failure of the shift‑by‑wire system or transmission control module to prevent unsafe gear changes. A transmission error did show up when coming to a complete stop.

NHTSA ODI 11737963

The vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral if the vehicle runs out of gas. There is no way to shift to neutral and roll it to the side of the road. The vehicle ran out of gas on the interstate, automatically braked and could not be moved out of the middle of the interstate. To make matters worse, this was in a construction zone.

NHTSA ODI 11736615

I was driving down my neighborhood road about 20mph there were no other cars around on the road at all only mailboxes and cars parked in driveways. The car suddenly slams the brakes hard enough the tires were squealing and threw us forward thankfully me and my child had our seat belts on. It scared the heck out of us cause there was no warning and definitely not expected.

NHTSA ODI 11736126

I am experiencing multiple unresolved defects with my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox affecting drivability, braking behavior, and vehicle structure/fit and finish. The primary issue is a persistent vibration, shimmy, or wobble during moderate acceleration from a stop. This condition is felt through the steering wheel, seat, and floor, and occurs consistently during low‑speed launch and normal acceleration. In addition, the vehicle produces a snapping or grunting noise during hard braking, as well as rough and loud movement noises from underneath the vehicle during normal operation, which raises concerns about braking and drivetrain integrity. There are also body and interior fitment defects. The front passenger door does not sit flush with the rear door panel and appears slightly open when closed. The dealership service manager stated that correcting this condition would require removing and pulling the rear door panel outward so both doors align. The glove box door also does not sit flush when closed, and the service manager advised that replacement might make the condition worse. These concerns were reported to an authorized Chevrolet dealer. The dealer confirmed that General Motors has acknowledged the acceleration vibration condition in a Preliminary Information service bulletin (PIT6466) affecting 2025–2026 Equinox vehicles and advised that GM engineering is investigating the issue and that no repair is currently available. The combination of drivability issues, abnormal noises during braking, underbody movement sensations, and body misalignment affects the use, value, and safety perception of the vehicle. The vehicle has very low mileage, and several of these issues have been present since early ownership. I am submitting this complaint to document these conditions and request that NHTSA monitor potential powertrain, braking, suspension, and vehicle structure concerns if a defect trend exists. All of these defects have been acknowledged by the Dealership Service Dept

NHTSA ODI 11734354

Front seat passenger side seat belt. Does not have a height adjustment for the shoulder strap. Belt comes across the neck of shorter individuals.

NHTSA ODI 11733148

I felt ill for a few months. Started to smell gasoline in my garage and inside the car. When I sent in, the Fuel Feed Hose was leaking and not attached and damaged. My car could have blown up at any time, and I inhaled fumes probably for months

NHTSA ODI 11732441

Vehicle will detect objects in the blind spot when there are none there. I will look back and see that nothing is in the blind spot. Turn my turn signal on to indicate a lane change. I get half-way through the lane change and the light on the mirror starts to flash indicating that something is in my blind spot. I react and return to my original lane. I look back again and ther is nothing there. This is the classic false positive. It is dangerous because I am learning that the system is unreliable and an unreliable system eventually gets ignored. This is the classic "Boy Who Cried Wolf." GM is aware of the problem but it is not getting the urgent attention that it needs. This is a bad situation. I would prefer it the system were turned OFF. This happens quite regularly in the drivers side blind spot.

NHTSA ODI 11732190

Vehicle went into Brake Assist Failure and would roll in neutral but no drivetrain power or brakes. Dealer took 3 months to find part. Acceleration jerky at stop or while driving. Pedal too sensitive. Constant traction loss from stop at lights and stop signs if not careful on dry pavement. Mode selection to Rain/Snow helps by restricting power, if it is remembered to be turned on. With rain and snow on the road it becomes challenging. Aggressive safety features that include the automatic braking and alerts. Brakes and alerts on double turn lanes and going forward near passing objects on the side.

NHTSA ODI 11730322

Loss of power steering

NHTSA ODI 11728164

The Chevrolet Equinox EV emits an unusual and loud sound while in "Drive" or "Reverse" and stopped or at low speed. The sound has widely been described as "angelic" - it is a higher pitched sound which does not sound similar to any other vehicle or even a "white noise" sound. This sound is played both inside and outside the vehicle, but only up to a specific speed threshold. I believe that the unnatural tone and volume of this sound is not reminiscent of an approaching vehicle, limiting its utility as a safety feature for the blind or particularly children who are more likely to be attracted to the unusual sound if they do not recognize it as a vehicle. Moreover, the sound is played separately by a speaker inside this vehicle. This serves no useful safety purpose. It starts and stops abruptly as you move above and below the speed threshold, potentially distracting or disturbing the driver. Moreover, drivers who are seeking to avoid hearing this sound inside the vehicle or disturbing neighbors with the unnatural sound may be subconsciously learning to maintain a speed above the threshold (around 22 mph), even when it is unsafe to do so. I believe this vehicle should be recalled to shift to a more natural white noise sound, reduce the exterior volume, and restore the ability to disable the interior sound.

NHTSA ODI 11727806

Incident Date: February 10, 2026 Mileage: 1,260 On the morning of February 10, 2026, my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV (1,260 miles) would not start. The instrument cluster simultaneously displayed three warning messages: 1)“Service Battery Fault — Vehicle Won’t Restart,” 2)“Charging is unavailable,” and 3)“Charge Vehicle Soon.” The vehicle could not be placed in neutral and required dolly tow from my garage, as the front wheels were locked and could not roll freely. AAA and I measured the 12V battery at 11.8 volts. AAA technician made attempt to jump 12 volt battery with no success. He made the observation that it was very rare for an EV not to start once the 12 volt battery was jumped. The vehicle was towed to Folsom Chevrolet (Repair Order #558923, opened February 10, 2026). The technician performed a global reset, BECM reprogramming, standalone radio programming, and a manual reset procedure. The repair order was closed with “confirmed no further concerns,” however the root cause — identified in the repair notes as a possible HV module communication fault — was never confirmed diagnosed or repaired. Seven days later (February 17, 2026, RO #559167), the vehicle returned to the dealer with overnight 12V voltage loss, starting at 12.12V and continuing to drop. A parasitic draw test found an 11mA draw. After a second overnight test the dealer closed the repair order as “no concerns found” without identifying or repairing a root cause. Safety concern: A vehicle that cannot be started, cannot be charged, and cannot be placed in neutral poses a serious safety risk — particularly if such a failure occurs on a roadway rather than in a driveway. The inability to shift to neutral prevents the driver from clearing the vehicle from traffic. The root cause of this dual electrical failure has never been confirmed repaired despite two repair attempts.

NHTSA ODI 11727675