Electrical System Problems of Chevrolet Equinox - part 1

My vehicle onstar telematic module has shorted out the complete electrical system. This module is backordered. No time frame was told it could be months. Many gm vehicle have the same problem. The vehicle can stop while sitting or driving. This vehicle is unsafe to drive I traded it to the dealership. They will hold on to it until(if & when) they get the part.

See all problems of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

Onstar module faulty causing parasitic battery drain unable to get a loaner car.

For the second time the service high voltage system warning has came on first time it was updated the dealership said now it’s back on again a/c not working properly.

While operating the vehicle on both interstate highways and local roadways, an intermittent malfunction occurs involving the all-wheel drive (awd) system. The instrument panel displays a warning message stating, “service all-wheel drive system. ” when this warning appears, the vehicle automatically disengages from awd and reverts to two-wheel drive (2wd). Once this occurs, the system does not allow the driver to manually return the vehicle to awd. This issue has occurred on more than three separate occasions. Notably, there have been instances where the warning indicator illuminated immediately upon starting the vehicle, prior to any extended operation. When the malfunction is present, the vehicle exhibits abnormal driving behavior, including a noticeable jerking or hesitation that feels consistent with a transmission-related issue. The failure is unpredictable in nature, with no clear pattern or triggering condition identified. This creates a significant safety concern, particularly when operating the vehicle at highway speeds or in conditions where awd capability may be necessary for proper traction and control. An appointment has been scheduled with an authorized dealership for diagnostic evaluation; however, at the time of this report, the vehicle has not yet been inspected or repaired, and the issue remains unresolved.

2017 Chevrolet Equinox premier certified pre-owned vehicle experienced multiple safety-related defects. 1. Repeated starting failures (electrical/battery/starter system): - March 17, 2026: complete battery failure, vehicle would not start. Aaa/gm roadside assistance called. Dealer inspected but could not diagnose root cause or explain battery drain. Preceded by unusually loud windshield wiper motor and engine noise (March 15). - April 13, 2026 (4:01pm): engine failed to turn over twice in parking lot before starting on third attempt. Safety risk: sudden starting failures create stranding hazard and risk of being rear-ended in traffic. 2. Water intrusion through headliner (sunroof/headliner/mic assembly): - April 15, 2026 (10:40-10:45am): approximately 1 ounce of water poured from headliner/radio microphone assembly directly into driver's eyes while driving on expressway. Continued dripping intermittently for hours. Safety risk: complete vision obstruction while driving at highway speeds. 3. Intermittent safety chimes (electrical/infotainment): - ongoing for weeks: five rapid electronic dings with no dashboard warning lights or indicators. Occurs sporadically while driving (10 occurrences in one recent day). Dealer previously informed by phone but no resolution. Safety risk: distracting chimes with no identifiable warning create driver confusion. 4. Additional electrical: remote start now works intermittently. All components available for NHTSA/manufacturer inspection. Dealer confirmed March 17 battery inspection but found no cause. No manufacturer inspection. No warning lamps preceded any failures except unexplained chimes. Problems began immediately after certified pre-owned purchase despite carbravo certification. Safety defects render vehicle unreliable and hazardous.

See all problems of the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

On Monday, April 6th, I was turning into a parking lot and the braking system, specifically the anti-lock braking system (abs) and electronic brake control module, appeared to malfunction. While driving, I received a warning indicating the abs was off, and the brake pedal became soft with reduced stopping ability. The check engine light also came on. I had to coast the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The loss of normal braking function significantly reduced my ability to stop the vehicle safely, increasing the risk of a collision. This created a dangerous situation for myself, passengers, and other drivers on the road. Brake failure at any speed presents a serious safety hazard. I am aware of similar complaints reported for this issue. My vehicle was towed to and inspected by a dealership where it sat overnight before being diagnosed; however, they were unable to reproduce the issue at the time of service. Despite this, the braking failure did occur and remains a safety concern. The service advisor told me to "bring it back if it happens again" and that it "lost communication with the ebcm" which sometimes happens. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer directly, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps or other symptoms of this problem prior to the failure.

While operating our vehicle on traveling at approx. 45 mph during mid-day traffic, the engine on our vehicle died and would not restart. We had no power steering and had to wrestle the vehicle off the road the check engine light was on and we tried repeatedly to restart the engine without any luck. We had the vehicle towed to the dealership for diagnosis and repair, it was determined that a fuel pump power control module had failed and that it would cost $599. To repair. We approved the repairs and then approached gm for reimbursement after discovering that this same part was recalled by gm ref # n252516900 which covered the make, model and year of our vehicle. We contacted gm customer relations and after speaking with them multiple times they approved a partial adjustment on the bill for approximately $150. I explained that according to their campaign notice and ongoing issues with this component we wanted a full refund and would not accept a partial payment of 1/3 our cost. Gm refuses to stand behind their product even though our vehicle only has 27,500 miles. I spoke with the service manager at the dealership, and he suggested I contact gm customer service and they should resolve the problem since this was an ongoing issue.

See all problems of the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

I was driving my car and a "service high voltage battery" message appeared on the screen and a message to reduce charging the car to 68%. The message coincided with the car having no cabin heat and no ability to defrost the windshield. The dealership says that the cabin heat and ac use the same cooling system as the battery and that any failure in the battery cooling system can cause a no heat/ac situation.

On four occasions while operating the vehicle down the roadway the dash screen and infotainment / vehicle information displays all have went dark off and reset causing disruption to vital information. Cruise control stayed active. It is unknown if the advanced safety features failed during the reset.

The navigation system and the one-pedal driving system started malfunctioning. The navigation system began displaying a different location during remote driving, causing it to send me down a street against traffic. This issue has never been resolved and continues unabated. Then, while on the highway, when I needed to slow down, the one-pedal driving system deactivated, causing me to almost collide with another vehicle. This has happened more than three times this month. Gm and Chevrolet just keep saying they'll call me back to resolve the issue, but they never do, and they refuse to fix it.

Telematic defective waiting 7 weeks still no eta. . . Safety issue if battery loses power.

Braking issues sensors go off when nothing aroung slow backing car engages brakes bad smell like a strong bo persists after cabin an oil fulter changed battery / alternator drain 12-07 2025 to 01-17 2026 in auto shop I was told wainting for part ( onstar ) prior brake issues early April 2025 the week of having auto brakes and steering lock up during 45mph drive it was documented as a camera issue no power as if brakes applied while, car has felt when turning like it skips while in a turn during driving all 8 visited on document other 4 not documented system dignostic or dealer service doesn't show issues. Issues have been on going without success other issues possible related or newer miles first reported brake and steering lockup 145 miles most recent 7750.

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.

Wiring harness on pcv valve causes check engine light to come on as soon as it rains or gets wet. Dealer has tried multiple times to fix issue to no avail. The parts are on national back order and they can not get them. Dealer has told me that this is a know issue with this model year Equinox.

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.

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 🔎.

The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the high-voltage system message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnostic test and repair were performed on the computer, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again, where the ac receiver was ordered; however, the part ordered was the incorrect part. The dealer informed the contact that the part was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 6,065.

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.

While driving, a burning odor developed followed by visible smoke entering the passenger cabin from the dashboard/hud area. We pulled the vehicle over and had it towed due to safety concerns. Dealer required dashboard disassembly to investigate potential electrical/fire condition but was unable to replicate the issue.

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.

The infotainment system failed, and so did onstar. The radio screen is blank and will not. Respond or turn on. There is no sound, the usb charger is not operational and onstar is not working.

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.