2020 Chevrolet Equinox Complaints

AIR BAGS — Filed 09/27/2026

None of the airbags deployed in an accident. The right front end of the car hit a utility trailer and nothing went off. The car has been deemed a total loss after being trailered to the lot and assessed by the insurance inspector.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/10/2026

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.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/18/2026

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,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 12/05/2025

Forward collision system dint notify of an object infront , also breaks locked up when used .Air bags didn’t go off while a forward collision with a bus happened

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — Filed 06/29/2025

While driving on the freeway at 75 mph my vacuum pump seized and shattered, causing me to loose all breaking power, damaging my engine beyond repair and endangering my life and numerous other drivers on the road. There is a current recall on the particular year, make and model for this issue but my VIN is not included so the dealership refuses to fix the issue.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 07/13/2025

We were in a 9car pile up. Front and back and drivers side were hit and severely damaged. Airbags did not deploy. After the accident smoke was seen coming from the sides of the car where the seat belts come out of. Both front and back were white puffs of smoke from all four seatbelts. The front passenger seatbelt failed to tighten on impact as all the other seatbelts did. Passenger was thrown about the front area, hitting multiple parts of the body. Car is currently in a tow lot. Insurance is going to inspect it.

ENGINE — Filed 05/03/2025

The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the instrument panel lights became dim/flicker, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact mentioned she pulled over to the right side and left the vehicle at the scene. In addition, the contact drove back to the scene where the vehicle was parked, and she noticed the state trooper and a tow company. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. The contact mentioned the fire happened overnight. The vehicle extinguished independently. A fire department mentioned to the contact that there were calls about the fire and that the fire was coming from the engine. However, the fire report was unknown. A police report was filed. The insurance company denied the claim of fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — Filed 10/28/2024

I put the vehicle into reverse to back in into my garage when it suddenly lurched forward and hit the garage door on the garage across the alley. There was damage to the garage and the car's front end. It has never done anything like this before.

WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 05/05/2023

Got hit at 40 miles an hour in a parking lot while a running dog came through and it was caotic

STEERING — Filed 06/28/2023

While driving 25 mph in town on a straight road my 2020 Equinox 4D 1LT steering pulled to the right with out any reason and I hit a parked vehicle. I was not distracted, did not hit a pot hole, tire pressure and tread were all good. This road is near my house and have traveled on it many times. The car just turned to the right and hit the parked vehicle before I could react to the steering problem. This is a very unsafe condition. I feel it had to do with the electric steering. I just purchased this car from a reputable Chevy dealer. I’m a careful driver and have never had an accident before.

AIR BAGS — Filed 10/18/2022

side impact from another vehicle damaging left front and rear doors including pillar panel

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 10/17/2022

Engine power reduced keeps appearing Check engine light still on after oil change Oil is always empty after an oil change Leaking oil gasket

STEERING — Filed 05/17/2022

2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSTITUENT STATED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING DIED. THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE AND SWIPED A GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT INDICATE AN ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE OCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE COLLISION CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL, BUT REFUSED TO SEND THE CONSUMER THE REPORT.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/16/2022

Vehicle caught fire while parked and turned off.

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/16/2021

While having the right of way driving thru an intersection, going approximately 40 mph, another vehicle disregarded a stop sign and t-boned my vehicle on the drivers side. My vehicle was pushed off the road and came to rest in a ditch. Impact was directly on the drivers side door which sustained severe damage. My vehicle also sustained damage to front corner panel along with damage to the rear driver side door. Driver side-impact curtain airbag did not deploy on my vehicle. My vehicle was declared a total loss by insurance company. The at faults front end sustained severe damage and driver and passenger front airbags both deployed.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/02/2021

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.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 07/08/2021

Back in early October 2020, vehicle had about 2000 miles on it. I noticed that when I started up the vehicle The Brake Assist Service message came on the brakes were spongy and had vibrating feel. I drove about a half of a mile and the problem stopped. The engine light came on and stayed on but then went out. Everything was ok for about two weeks when it did it again light came on took it a dealer but light went off. They serviced the vehicle and seem that the problem had stopped. Then in Early April of 2021 it happened again. Took it to the same dealership, they replace some more parts. Week or two weeks later same issue. Took it back to the dealership. They replaced the engine control module. During all these times, an engine light would soon follow after the message about the brake assist message. Thought it was fixed. On June 14 2021 at 1:14PM started my vehicle up the SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST message came on called the dealership. The brakes were vibrating and were not smooth. I stopped and turned off the vehicle and restarted the vehicle message went away brakes appeared to be fine. This time however no engine came on. Dealership was willing to service the vehicle but if the engine light wasn't on it would hard to diagnosed. I took a picture of the message before it had clear. On July 8th 2021, at 2:08PM, I started my vehicle and the SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST message came on. I took a photo of it. I tested the brakes appear to be ok. Turned the vehicle off the message didn't show again. My son borrow the vehicle and he got into an accident the same day approximately 6 hours. He swerved to avoid hitting a deer. He said that brakes appeared not to slow him down. He left roadway and struck a tree head on. The vehicle caught fire and he was lucky to escape. The vehicle was destroyed by the fire and crash. Not putting blame on anyone because I know there were other contributing factors to the accident . I just wanted to report this because of past problems with GM.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/08/2021

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving downhill at approximately 20-30 mph, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle instead independently accelerated and crashed through an electric gate. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that the passenger’s side of the vehicle was severely damaged causing approximately $6,000 in damages to the vehicle and the electric gate. The vehicle was repaired, and the passenger’s side door was replaced. The contact stated that two days after the vehicle was picked up from the repair shop, while attempting to reverse out of a parking spot, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to stop in a reasonable amount of time. The contact stated that the vehicle slowly stopped and that the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,400. The Vin was invalid.

AIR BAGS — Filed 12/24/2020

I WAS HIT BY A CHEVROLET AVALANCHE ON MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND FRONT/SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 60 AND THE ROADS WERE ICY AND SNOWY. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN GOING AT LEAST 55-60MPH. THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DRIVING TOO FAST FOR ROAD CONDITIONS. MY SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND HAVE ADDITIONAL INJURIES DUE TO THE IMPACT. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT AND LOCATION OF THE IMPACT I FEEL MY AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. SO FAR THE ESTIMATE ON MY VEHICLE DAMAGES IS ANYWHERE FROM 10-15K.

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 12/31/2019

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

STRUCTURE,ENGINE — Filed 11/06/2020

AS THIS CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, I PULLED OVER, A PASSER BY RAN OVER TO ME TELLING ME TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THAT FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE BOTTOM. AS SOON AS I EXITED THE CAR, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ENTIRE CAR WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. GM REFUSED TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE OR TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/02/2020

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

STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 10/04/2020

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.

SEAT BELTS — Filed 09/07/2020

I AM A CRASH INVESTIGATOR/RECONSTRUCTIONIST LOOKING INTO A FATAL CRASH INVOLVING A 2020 EQUINOX WITH APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON IT THAT HIT A TREE IN THE FRONT (HEAD-ON) AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS, DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. PASSENGER SAID HE WAS NOT WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS FOUND TO BE RETRACTED AND LOCKED TIGHT. DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS FOUND TO BE RETRACTED AND LOOSE (NORMAL POSITIONING). INITIAL OBSERVATION OF THE CDR DATA, AND NOT THAT OF A THOROUGH AND COMPLETE ANALYSIS, INDICATES THAT THE DRIVER WAS BUCKLED AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNBUCKLED. THE STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO BE COLLAPSED AS THOUGH THE DRIVER MOVED FORWARD IN THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT INVOLVE THE NORMAL AND SAFE SEAT BELT OPERATION, AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THIS IS A DEFECT, NORMAL OPERATION AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, OPERATOR MISUSE, ETC. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE DRIVER SEAT BELT HAS NOT BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 06/10/2020

I WAS PULLING UP TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S CAR PORT, BEHIND THEIR CAR. THE CAR PORT HAS A GRASS PORTION LEADING UP TO THE GRAVEL SECTION WHERE THEY PARK THEIR CAR. I PULLED IN SLOWLY WHEN MY 2020 EQUINOX SUDDENLY ACCELERATED! I WAS ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING CAUSING IT TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE FAMILY MEMBER'S CAR. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE SHOVING THE CAR FORWARD SANDWICHING IT BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THEIR HOME.I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED REVVING UP THE RPMS. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD. I MANAGED TO PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER (MY VEHICLE HAS 1656 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH). I TALKED WITH SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT MY FLOOR MATS CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. MY FLOOR MATS WERE WELL BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE RPMS SURGED. EVEN IF THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE MATS, I DON'T THINK THE RPMS WOULD HAVE JUMPED UP AS HIGH AS THEY DID. THE FAMILY MEMBER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM MY INSURANCE CO. THEY VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. *TR