2020 Chevrolet EQUINOX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11287044 · 2019-12-05 (December 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,376 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287914 · 2019-12-09 (December 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 480 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11288356 · 2019-12-11 (December 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 TRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,530 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11290867 · 2019-12-23 (December 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!
Owner-reported narrative. 67 miles reported. Look up ODI 11290867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291046 · 2019-12-24 (December 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 399 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301223 · 2020-01-22 (January 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 F…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301527 · 2020-01-24 (January 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, A…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,874 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301527 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 ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V667000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2019-09-19 (September 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V704000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2019-10-03 (October 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.
Consequence: Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V668000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2020-10-29 (October 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V339000 · Child Seat:Vehicle Latch Anchor
Reported: 2023-05-11 (May 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."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗