Electrical System Problems of Chevrolet Equinox - part 1

On Friday March 20, 2026, we traded in a chevy Equinox to get a newer model which is the VIN number we listed in this complaint. Driving home from the dealership the vehicle went from drive to park on its own (driving at 65 miles/hr) and my husband had to immediately put the car physically back into drive. Once we finally got the vehicle to our house, I went out to check it, and the vehicle would not even start. Every single light came on yet it would not start up. We called on-star and they couldn't do anything and told us we'd have to take it to the dealership. We finally got it to start up again, but the check engine light never went off. The next day my husband was able to get it started and immediately took it back to the dealership it was bought from, which it was actually transferred to from another dealership within the state, but on the way to the dealership we bought it from the car went into park on its own 5 more times, very dangerous and unacceptable. Once the car made it to the dealership, they could not even get the vehicle to shut off once they pulled in into the service area. My husband luckily is a professional driver, but is this was someone not as familiar or calm, this could have been a horrible catastrophe.

The vehicle’s high-voltage battery system and propulsion system appear to have failed, causing a complete loss of power while driving. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection, the vehicle completely shut down while I was driving on florida’s turnpike, creating an extremely dangerous situation on a high-speed highway. There was no warning prior to the shutdown, and I am currently pregnant, which made the situation especially traumatic and heightened the risk to both myself and my unborn child, as well as other drivers on the road. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership for inspection. As of now, the problem has not been reproduced, but the shutdown event is confirmed and documented by the dealer during the incident report and intake process. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection. General motors engineers or technical assistance center (tac) may review the vehicle once the dealership reports the incident. No police or insurance representatives have inspected the vehicle for this issue. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms appeared prior to the sudden battery drop and complete loss of propulsion. The failure occurred without any prior indication while driving on the highway.

See all problems of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

The illuminated dashboard, center control console, and headlights suddenly turned off while the vehicle was in motion during a dark night. The blackout lasted approximately 10 seconds and I was unable to see to keep the vehicle on the roadway. After running onto the unpaved shoulder, I was able to fully stop the vehicle without hitting anything. All of the lights came back on and the dashboard showed a message that said "auto shutoff". Then everything returned to normal. This problem hasn't been reported to the dealer yet, but will be discussed during an upcoming service to correct one of the other problems that keep occurring with this vehicle.

Onstar telematics module is defective and keeps draining the battery causing the need for multiple jump starts. The problem has been confirmed by don hewlett Chevrolet Buick on March 5th, 2026 and was told that the part is on backorder and that there is no eta.

The instrument cluster and driver information center is completely blank, and none of the steering wheel controls are operating. Vehicle starts and runs normally, but no indication of speed, turn signals, headlights, gas level, etc.

See all problems of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

On February 23, 2026, while driving my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox ev home from folsom Chevrolet following a prior repair visit, the “service park assist system” warning illuminated, first intermittently, then after a few miles, continuously for the remainder of the 11-mile drive home. During the same drive, while reversing with no objects present behind or around the vehicle, the automatic emergency braking system activated and applied the brakes with significant force without cause. The vehicle was returned to folsom Chevrolet (repair order #559378, opened February 23, 2026). Diagnostic code u1126 was found — indicating the left rear short range radar sensor had lost communication on can bus 8. The sensor module was on national backorder, keeping the vehicle out of service for approximately two weeks. The module was replaced and programmed on March 7, 2026. Safety concern: unexpected activation of automatic emergency braking with no objects present creates a serious collision risk from following traffic. This failure occurred on public roads during normal driving. Additionally, the u1126 can bus communication fault is the same vehicle communication architecture implicated in the battery/electrical failure documented in repair orders #558923 and #559167, suggesting these failures share a common root cause in the vehicle’s electrical communication network rather than representing isolated component failures.

I can be driving at speeds up to 40 -60mph. The car will just shut down on high way, putting not only myself but children at risk of a crash. The car will start reduced power engine, and the engine will start to stall and completely shut down. I have taken it to nick chevy in tarentum PA multiple times regarding this issue. They state software issue. But every so many months it does it again. Putting my life and children life in danger for just stopping on major highways.

See all problems of the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

My onstar module is draining my battery. I have to constantly get my car jumped to get to and from. It's a danger to my job as a rideshare driver. I went to the chevy dealership today and they told me that the part I needed to order is on back order. How can a piece like that be on back order. This could potentially mess people's alternators and starters up in their cars.

On multiple occasions my vehicle (2019 Equinox lt) that I bought just over 30 days ago has falsely activated the forward collision feature and slammed on its own brakes followed by “service esc” and “service brake assist” with traction control lights and stability control lights illuminating. Dealership has confirmed that 4 computer modules are out of date on programming/updates. This is a critical safety issue and I am unsure why it hasn’t been recalled as I have read multiple instances of this. Unfortunately because it has not it is a hefty repair bill. When this happened the last time before heading into the dealership, there was a vehicle behind me that could’ve rammed into my rear due to the sudden and excessive braking at highway speeds when I was pressing on the gas.

Vehicle safety complaint – 2024 Chevrolet Equinox I am reporting a safety defect involving unintended vehicle movement and improper shutdown behavior. While operating my 2024 Chevrolet Equinox, I was able to shut the vehicle off even though it was not in park. After shutdown, the vehicle rolled forward on its own and struck a tree. At the time of the incident, the radio remained on despite the vehicle being turned off, indicating the vehicle may not have fully entered ignition-off state. This incident suggests a potential malfunction involving one or more of the following systems: gear position detection system transmission park engagement mechanism electronic shift control module ignition state logic or body control module the vehicle should not allow shutdown unless it is in park, or it should provide clear warnings and prevent unintended movement. This behavior presents a serious safety risk of rollaway incidents. I am requesting a full diagnostic inspection and documentation of all stored fault codes, including history codes, prior to any resets. Please also check for software updates, technical service bulletins, or known defects related to shift position recognition or ignition state control. This issue resulted in unintended movement and property damage and poses a significant safety hazard.

See all problems of the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

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.

Am writing again regarding serious safety concerns with my Chevrolet Equinox ev rs. This is my fourth attempt to contact Chevrolet, as my previous emails have not received a response. These issues present a significant safety risk and require immediate attention. The problems I am experiencing include: unintended lane movement: the vehicle shifts into another lane without any steering input from me. Brake response delay: the brakes fail to respond appropriately, causing a delay in stopping the vehicle. Steering wheel vibration: the steering wheel begins to shake after the vehicle exceeds approximately 55 mph. Steering wheel vibration: the steering wheel begins to shake after the vehicle exceeds approximately 55 mph. Due to these issues, I have almost been involved in three separate accidents, which is extremely concerning. These conditions make the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am requesting the following as soon as possible:a formal case number for this safety complaint. Immediate guidance on inspection or repair through an authorized Chevrolet dealership. Confirmation that these safety concerns will be investigated and resolved promptly.

Vehicle is leaking coolant excessively. Faulty 55513550 water pump (acdelco/gm oe) commonly causes engine overheating, coolant leaks (often from the weep hole), and unusual noise (squeaking/rumbling) in 1. 6l diesel engines for Chevrolet cruze, Equinox, and GMC terrain. It may cause cabin heating issues and trigger engine codes. Major problem #2: electrical described by tony dubois at midas (cinco ranch location) - electrical pulse are being received through the wiring causing lights to go on and off. No other manufacturer or repair shop can fix this issue because of the inability to access the coding. This is an dealership software issue.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

Vehicle telematics module defect across the board that deactivates safety features from onstar in case of an accident. Gps and internet connection lost.

The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up as needed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,600.

In the Equinox lt, VIN [xxx] , the telemetry module has an issue per the dealership. The vehicle loses power due to the telemetry module issue. The part is on order and as of January 16, 2026. It will take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. In the mean time I have had to call roadside assistance twice in two weeks, and the vehicle has been jumped 3 times in the past two weeks. However, the vehicle has been to the dealership 4 times. Once prior to the diagnosis, and three times since the diagnosis. The vehicle has approximately 16, 600 miles, and is driven to and from work. The telemetry module is the cause of the over all issue, per the dealership. The battery continues to go dead on vehicle [xxx] , 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to three separate smog local state inspections; however, the vehicle failed to communicate with the system. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that an unstated module needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, product emission recall: n202298780; repair was available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Just after thanksgiving, my vehicle displayed a “service emergency calling” message. I brought it to the dealership and they documented the concern, referencing gm bulletin pip6077b, but no repairs were performed. On December 30th, while parking, I shifted into reverse and the vehicle would not reverse and instead moved forward. A “service transmission” warning appeared and the vehicle was towed. The dealer cleared the codes and released the vehicle without performing any diagnostics. About two weeks later, when starting the vehicle after work, several warnings appeared, including “service safety restraint system,” “forward collision system unavailable,” and a rear-seat alert despite no passengers. While driving, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and blind zone steering assist were not functioning. The next morning, the vehicle suffered a complete electrical failure. It would not start, the screens stayed off, and the doors would not lock or unlock. The vehicle was towed again. The dealer replaced the battery, claimed it had simply died, and attempted to return the vehicle to me. I refused because none of the prior warnings were diagnosed, and I was told the codes “erase when the battery is changed. ” after I demanded full electrical and transmission diagnostics, including a parasitic draw test, the dealership informed me the vehicle was unsafe to drive. They stated the onstar/telematics module was draining the battery and the replacement part was backordered with no estimated arrival date. I was told multiple customers are waiting for the same part, which means this is not an isolated event and needs way more attention than it's being given. This defect results in loss of essential safety systems and complete vehicle shutdown, creating a significant safety risk.

The Equinox is detecting objects in the rear camera that are not there and automatically applying the automatic emergency breaking. This is causing the car to completely stop and has now caused me to injury my back due to the force of the stop. There is no warning given that the breaks are being applied. I was backing up at 7 miles an hour and the Equinox just stopped dead and there was absolutely nothing near the car. The car was in for an oil change and they said nothing was wrong with it. This latest incident of 4 now happened today and caused me to almost be hit in the parking lot of my child’s school while backing into a parking spot.

I am on 20 service calls. Mine is currently having onstar issues screens glitching, apple carplay won’t connect, sensors on mirrors are going off nothing beside me, when I hit my breaks it keeps turning my emergency brake on and engine power reduced keeps coming on dash but the dealership is saying gm said my warranty is voided due to a aftermarket part.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox had, on numrous occasions, complete power failure. The vehicle had to be jump started more than once. The vehicle was brought in to the dealership, by the owner, with power failure concerns. The vehicle was towed to the dealership due to complete power failure concerns. The vehicle had brake pedal issue when power failure occurred. Meaning the brake pedal was not able to be pressed. Display signals: erroneous date/time, abs, check engine, vehicle drive mode unavailable your vehicle may need service. Furthermore, on one ocassion a power surge was detected. The vehicle was diagnosed and an advisor stated the telemetry module is going out. However, the part that was replaced in the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, several weeks later, was actually the telematic control module. The vehicle displays drive mode unavailable your vehicle may need service, even after telematic control module replacement beginning the next day after part replacement. The message displayed by the 2025 Equinox occurs on a daily basis. Issues are October 2025 to present day.

Twice, while driving in falling snow away from home, the front wipers did not work properly when switched to lo or hi. They behaved as if set to intermittent wiping. The intermittent wiper setting worked properly to adjust the wipe interval. But setting to lo or hi did not cause the wipers to go constantly. As far as I could tell, the arm pivot area was clear enough for them to wipe. The problem went away on its own without restarting the car. It happened again a few days later when parked in a driveway.

The vehicle became completely disabled due to a sudden battery drain at approximately 5482 miles. I purchased the car with 2553 on it in may. The vehicle would not start a few times and had to be towed to the dealership on Friday Dec. 26, 2025. The dealer confirmed that the onstar/telematics module is malfunctioning and continuously draining the battery. The defective module is on backorder with no estimated arrival date, leaving the vehicle unusable. They also do not know if they have a loaner for me. This creates a safety risk because the vehicle can become inoperable without warning, potentially stranding the driver. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership. Prior to the failure, the onstar system stopped functioning, but no warning lights appeared on the dashboard. My chevy app stopped working 26 days ago as well. I now have a loan payment to make for a car that isn't even working and brand new. Dealership doesn't know a timeframe either.

Received a report from local auto repair and they found that the oil main seal is leaking. Issue happened in the highway and car automatically turned off the engine. I was not in an accident as there was no one else on the road and I was able to push it to the side. When the car turned on the wheel was stiff and hardly moved to the right or left. The warning received before the shut off was the service stabilitrack issues and when checked all oil completely depleted from the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

In fmvss 138, it says that the tire pressure monitoring system will warn drivers of under inflated tires. My tpms system failed on my my19 Chevrolet Equinox around 49,000 miles and no longer warns me of underinflated tires for all four tires. To fix it I would have to pay out of pocket costs starting at $732, per the dealership, on a safety critical system that should not fail at 6 years/49,000 miles. There is no recall issued after a check of my VIN. Since 1974, the oem has had a responsibility to provide a free remedy for safety defects and noncompliance. In 2015, the free remedy was changed from 10 years to 15 years by the fast act.

I bought this vehicle brand new on January 18th 2025 and it has been into the dealership 3 times now for a backup camera malfunction. My rear traffic alert or any of my other safety features when backing up are not working. On several occasions the entire instrument display including my speedometer and everything has completely blacked out.

Engine power low.

- the telematics module is bad, resulting in vehicle having no connectivity (gps, entertaintment system, updates) - the car has no other means of hands-free operation for navigation software (no carplay or similar phone projection technology) - gm is unable or unwilling to supply the parts for warranty repair. - it is illegal to use the phone while operating vehicle in my state (florida).

I purchased a 2025 chevy Equinox ev last year out of the local chevy dealership it is my first brand new vehicle and I’m the only owner, I have only had this vehicle for a few months and it has already showed me significant issues with the electronic components main issues I’ve experienced are: randomly shutting off randomly phantom braking on star capabilities not working no access to wifi or any apps on the touch screen I. E. Maps, music, settings, volume, radio etc. A/c/heating unit not working won’t get cold or hot just blowing air issues with charging (almost left me stranded multiple times) not fast charging issues with my chevy app took the vehicle to the dealership to get looked at they have had it for a week already and have not given me any update except that I will need a new onstar module. The vehicle is not safe to drive and I’m afraid that it will shut off while I’m driving at a higher speed I. E. On the freeway or that it will phantom brake while I’m on the highway which can cause a life threatening injury this vehicle has not been in any accident no warning lights came on except one message that said service emergency calling no warning messages prior to any of these events.

On November 30, 2025, while driving my 2025 chevy Equinox ev LS, the vehicle displayed a “service high voltage system” warning message on the center screen indicating an issue with the vehicle’s high?voltage electrical system and that some driving and/or charging functionality may not be available. The high?voltage battery and related components are still in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. This fault could cause sudden loss or limitation of driving or charging capability, which may increase the risk of being stranded in traffic or in unsafe locations. Beginning in the first week of November 2025, the mychevrolet app has continuously shown a “lithium?ion battery – schedule service now” alert under diagnostics, even though no corresponding warning appeared in the vehicle until November 30. I presented the in?app lithium?ion battery warning to the Chevrolet dealer earlier in November; they declined to act on it, stated they do not rely on the app, and asked me to reschedule and return later, so the issue has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent shop. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or others specifically for this high?voltage/battery issue. The only prior symptoms were the persistent lithium?ion battery service notification in the mychevrolet app since early November and, as of November 30, the in?vehicle “service high voltage system” warning message.

My Equinox ev telematics module does not work. Prevents the use of navigation features and onstar navigation features.

While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle’s blind spot monitoring / side object detection system frequently activates alert warnings when no vehicle is present. These false alerts occur intermittently and are more common during rain or wet road conditions. Over time, the repeated false warnings create a “boy who cried wolf” condition, where the driver becomes conditioned to ignore or discount blind spot alerts. This undermines the effectiveness of the advanced driver assistance system (adas) and increases the risk that a real blind spot warning may be ignored during an actual lane change. The alerts activate without any adjacent vehicles visible, causing confusion and distraction. This results in hesitation, aborted lane changes, and reduced driver trust in the system. The issue has occurred multiple times and is not an isolated event. The dealer has acknowledged the concern but advised that no repair or software update is currently available. The manufacturer has acknowledged the issue but has not provided a fix. I believe this represents a safety concern because a safety warning system that generates frequent false alerts can condition drivers to disregard legitimate warnings.

At 5 am in the morning the car suddenly failed and indicated it was an engine or transmission failure in the middle of a four lane major intersection in a downtown area. It was dangerous due to the darkness, and poor visibility. I had to abandon the vehicle as it was dangerous to stay with it while waiting for police. I could have been injured (as could others) due to its sudden failure in the intersection of a busy roadway. Chevrolet dealership states it is the fuel pump driver module. The car is currently at the dealership for repair. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure until the car suddenly lost power. Once it lost power the engine light lit up and shortly after I had exited the vehicle, I began receiving messages from "on star" telling me that there were engine or transmission problems. Meanwhile I stood in the pouring rain in an unsafe neighborhood, leaning out into traffic to try and stop cars from running head on into my car for over 30 minutes waiting for police.

I drive 20+ miles each way to work every day. Much of this drive is on highways, and currently the bridge connecting ohio and kentucky is down to three lanes with no berm. On a windy road with low visibility and a steep hill near my home, the car completely lost power and acceleration without any warning. I wasn't able to drive it completely off the road before it came to a stop and due to the loss of power was unable to move into neutral to push it and the hazards would not work. Thank god that this didn't take place on the bridge or with my family in the car. I made the decision to exit the car while it was still on the road and find a safe area in the grass where I could call for help. When I exited the vehicle, it locked me out and the only way to get in was through the driver's side door, which would put me back on the road in traffic and at risk. The electrical failure prevented me from opening the other doors. The car's complete system failure put my safety/life at risk and could jeopardize the lives of others if it wasn't investigated. To make matters worse when the tow truck came via onstar they weren't equipped to move a car stuck in park or drive due to the electronic gear shift so they drug it with the tires locked onto the bed. After several days of testing the electrical system, the dealership found a loose wire and informed me that it had been fixed. I picked up the car and after a mile or so, the check engine light came on. I contacted the dealership to come pick it up and that's where it stands at the moment. My intention was to pass this on to my boys when they start driving, but this experience will alter that plan.

On th, Nov 6 ~1700, the 25 Equinox ev being driven encountered an electric drive failure and brake failure, including friction brakes. This Equinox ev is essentially still brand new with 3900 miles and no accident history. The vehicle was driven off the eb sr 528 exit ramp to narcoossee rd in orlando and driven to the stop light at the wb on ramp. After the light changed and began driving, the vehicle console reported an exception with drive assist. At this time the driver attempted to slow down to take stock of the situation and the vehicle accelerated, at which time the driver took their foot off the brake pedal and attempted to identify a place to take the vehicle off the roadways. Thankfully a stoplight at mccoy rd was green and the driver continued through that light and while attempting to brake, the vehicle accelerated instead. The driver then coasted, maneuvering the vehicle was into the vista palms commercial center. The vehicle, unresponsive to braking, propelled through a stop sign into the kohl's parking lot at which time the driver began looping around the lot until the weight of the vehicle brought the motion down. While the vehicle was stopped, it rotated through warning messages indicating. . Forward collision, brake assist is reduced, steering assist is reduced, then finally service transmission now unable to shift soon. The vehicle was towed by aaa to autonation Chevrolet airport in orlando. Technicians found codes u1610 and u1639, and found k160 connecter unseated. It was reseated and greased. The concern is that this should have been locked and unable to be unseated. Is this an indication of manufacturing problem or operating problem? all braking was dysfunctional. How can we be certain that this was not a one off event?.