2020 Chevrolet EQUINOX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
304 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
12,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 96 of 304 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 107 | 35.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 37 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 96 |
| Engine | 85 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 50 |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 |
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Power Train | 39 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Steering | 11 |
Service Brakes: 96; Engine: 85; Fuel/Propulsion System: 50; Unknown Or Other: 43; Electrical System: 39; Power Train: 39; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Steering: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 221 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 40 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 61 |
| 2026 | 59 |
2019: 5; 2020: 29; 2021: 29; 2022: 27; 2023: 40; 2024: 54; 2025: 61; 2026: 59
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 107 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 37 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 35 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11307756 · 2020-02-07 (February 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11311172 · 2020-02-24 (February 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 IMMEDIA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11385241 · 2020-12-28 (December 28, 2020)
WHEN WE BOUGHT THE 2020 EQUINOX ON JANUARY 20, 2020 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY KEPT IT 2 DAYS DIAGNOSING IT AND IT SAID A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY CONTACTED GM ENGINEERS WHO WERE LOOKING INTO IT AND TO GO AHEAD AND DRIVE IT WITH THE LIGHT ON TILL THEY GOT BACK WITH US. IT HAS CONTINUED TO STAY ON I HAD THE CODE READ AGAIN AND IT IS A P2365 FUEL PUMP A LOW FLOW/PERFORMANCE CODE. I DO NOT LIKE DRIVING IT WITH THE LIGHT ON, THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME TO, NOT HEARING ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM, THE REMOTE START WILL N…
Owner-reported narrative. 16 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11464191 · 2022-05-11 (May 11, 2022)
March 8, 2022 Purchased the 2020 Chevy Equinox March 23, 2022 The car was jerking while driving making it dangerous. I tried to bring it to the service department but was told to leave the car which I did from 7:00 am -4:00 pm and no diagnosis within that time. March 30, 2022 Dropped the car off at Autonation Chevy Pembroke Pines April 5, 2022- Shev service advisor states the converter in the transmission needs to be replaced. April 19, 2022- Picked up car April 20, 2022 Car is jerking EVEN WORSE WHILE DRIVING!!! April 22, 2022 Car is BACK IN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11464191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399886 · 2021-03-09 (March 9, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH WITH THE RPMS REVVING UP WITHOUT THE VEHICLE RESPONDING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM BROWNE CHEVROLET, INC. 11300 N FLORIDA AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612 WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE COMPUTER NEEDED TO RELEARN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THREE MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403935 · 2021-03-19 (March 19, 2021)
I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CAR STALLING, THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING. WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THERE WAS ALSO SHAKING. AFTER THE CAR WOULD GET GOING, THE SHAKING WOULD STOP, BUT WHENEVER I STOPPED THE PROBLEM WOULD PERSIST. I HAVE MY CAR AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW FOR 4 DAYS. THEY ARE TELLING ME THE MOTOR SEEMS TO BE CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL AND THAT THE MOTOR IS SHOT, THEY ARE ACCUSING ME OF NOT KEEPING UP WITH OIL CHANGES, WHICH IS NOT TRUE, AND THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. I DID NOT HAVE THE OI…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361969 · 2020-09-30 (September 30, 2020)
RECEIVED THIS NOTICE ON 9/23/2020 WITH LESS THAT 400 MILES DRIVEN, BOOKED APPOINTMENT WITH SERVICE AND HAD BATTERY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF 1.5 HOUR REQUIRED TEST DETERMINED IT WAS BAD. TODAY, 9/30/2020 WITH LESS THAT 50 ADDITIONAL MILES DRIVEN, I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE AGAIN. MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM ONSTAR IS AS FOLLOWS. DEAR HENRY WILLCOX, YOUR 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX DETECTS A BATTERY SHORTED CELL. THE BATTERY IS NEEDED TO START THE VEHICLE. TO AVOID A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN'T START YOUR VEHICLE, PLEASE SCHEDULE SERVICE WITH YOUR …
Owner-reported narrative. 389 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11338030 · 2020-07-07 (July 7, 2020)
OUR NEW CAR IS 3 MONTHS OLD AND 500 MILES STATING TO LEAK OIL. DEALER SAID IT'S LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341241 · 2020-07-24 (July 24, 2020)
AFTER 3 MONTHS, 500 MILES WE NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT HALF THE TORQUE CONVERTER CASE PORUS. THE DEALER RECIEVED AUTHHORIZATION TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11302304 · 2020-01-27 (January 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 A…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,930 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11323889 · 2020-05-08 (May 8, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FEATURE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT THE CONTACT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE INTENDED LANE, DESPITE THE CONTACT BEING WITHIN THE LANE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE SYSTEM WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE TO INDICATE THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE LANE HOWEVER, THE FEATURE ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE LANE. LOU BOCHRODT AUTO MALL (7070 CHERRYVALE N BLVD, ROCKFORD, IL 61112, [phone removed]) WAS CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323889 at NHTSA ↗