Service Brakes Problems of Chevrolet Equinox - part 1

I was pulling into the parking lot of my job. The one pedal driving mode was on, and my vehicle was not slowing down like it generally does. So, I immediately stepped on the brake, and it still didn't slow down, it felt like a brick, I stepped on it harder. It still did not stop! I ran into the barn/building I work in. I was terrified!! what if there was a person there, or another car, or kids playing, etc. I immediately called the chevy dealership in woodland at 8am, they had me tow the 2025 Equinox to them. I just talked to them at 4:30pm. They said there were no messages with regard to the braking system. They said they would install the update, and would continue to diagnose the problem. I do not feel safe in this vehicle, it poses a significant risk as a driver!.

I own a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox with a 1. 5l engine. While driving with my children in the vehicle, the car experienced a sudden and frightening failure. The engine began malfunctioning, and after inspection, my mechanic and the repair shop confirmed damage to the vacuum pump, broken engine pieces, and issues with the timing chain and camshaft. These issues are identical to those described in an existing recall for this vehicle, but my VIN is not included. The shop even questioned why my mechanic had to replace the vacuum pump, which shows this failure is directly related to the known recall problem. This situation created a very unsafe condition while my kids were in the car. It is unfair and dangerous that my VIN is excluded when the exact same recall defects are present. I am requesting that my vehicle be included in the recall and that NHTSA investigate this defect further, as it poses a serious safety risk for me, my family, and potentially other drivers.

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With the vehicle around 73,000 and while driving on the highway, the brake system failed to fully function. Using extreme pressure to compress the brakes the vehicle finally slowed and came to a stop with out injury or vehicle accident. After getting the vehicle moved to an independent service center, and further inspection it was found that the vacuum pump exploded. After researching it appears the problem is consistent with other reports but no resolution has been made until it's too late. The component is not currently being inspected by the manufacturer and has only been inspected by independent service center. No warning lights or other symptoms displayed prior to the failure and the only time it first appeared was on the highway at high speeds.

See all problems of the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

When you hit the brakes on hurry car don’t stop it rolls and take longer to engage. Was involved on a rear end accident because of saw the car in front stop press the brake and SUV just slow down but keep rolling forward.

I was exiting the expressway coming up to the back of a semi truck & the brake became hard to push down. Thankfully I was able to stop in time & didn't rear end the truck. It put me & my [xxx] old in danger had I not been able to apply the force needed to push the brake petal down. No dash alerts appeared until at least 10 min after I noticed the issue. I have a mechanic changing the brake booster. The first part we received was faulty & had to be returned. Currently waiting for another brake booster to come in & attempt another repair. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The vehicle calls power module has failed.

(1) on Saturday 8/23/25, the braking system failed while driving on gravel roads going downhill. ? (2) I could not stop the vehicle going downhill. I thought I was going to crash. As I started to go downhill @ ~5 mph, I put my foot on the brake pedal, the car would not brake. Pressing hard or lightly didn’t make a difference. It felt like an anti-lock brake (alb) pulse 1x and then gave up releasing all braking even though the foot is on the brake. The 2-way road is heavily used, smooth, wide, and maintained. Other vehicles were going down the gravel fine. The grade is ~10%. (3) the problem was reproduced numerous times on 8/24/25, while my husband drove on gravel going downhill and attempting to slow down or stop the car. This gravel is with potholes and some rocks starting w/ grades 5-6%. I was a passenger in the car. At one point I thought we were going to hit the on-coming car, because the brakes were not working properly. (4) an appointment is being made w/ the dealer to inspect the car. (5) (on 8/23) I am not aware of warnings or messages. (on 8/24) a “abs” alert appeared on the display sometimes. Additional info: (6) on 6/15/25, I drove on gravel with 5-10% grades w/o issues for ~6 miles. When I pressed on the brake pedal, the car slowed down without issues. Alb did not engage. (7) I have recently read break failure stories that are similar from other Equinox ev owners. ". . . My car has had two separate brake failures. . . " "… now going down a fairly steep gravel hill daily, I experience very little braking. . . " "… I pressed the brakes and there was no perceived braking for at least 20 feet. . . " . . . Brake failure this past weekend while descending a dirt/stone road… the abs, would not shut off for our entire descent, which lasted for about 2 full minutes. During this time, we could not stop the car and were accelerating out of control…. ".

This has happened about 4 times in 4 months. In each scenario I am driving very slowly (3 times forwards, one time in reverse) with no obvious obstacle or crash potential. The brakes will slam suddenly very aggressively, I assume it is the e-brakes as it feels like I hit a wall. It is a safety issue as if someone was behind me it could cause an accident. This is discussed on multiple message boards(e. G. Hard braking without warning! | chevy Equinox ev forum https://share. Google/eugsd4xpqzopnluwy) but the manufacturer is not acknowledging any issue when contacted. I called the dealer as well and they were not aware of any issues. I have not had the vehicle inspected.

Getting off the highway and brake pedal is just hard can barely push it. It stopped but barely.

The vacuum pump seized and broke and sent debris into the camshaft.

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there was a crackling sound coming from the brake pedal while depressing the brake pedal, with the message a "service all wheel drive system" displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that while the awd feature was activated and driving up an incline, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal with the "service all wheel drive system" message displayed. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an appointment was made for service. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150.

I experienced a brake failure this past weekend in my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox ev lt while descending a dirt/stone road. The moment we started descending, the abs system engaged and did not brake the car adequately. In my opinion, the abs system should not have engaged in this terrain. The abs, would not shut off for our entire descent, which lasted for about two full minutes. During this time, we could not stop the car and were accelerating out of control. We got going far faster than I was comfortable with, and my passenger & I thought we were going to end up crashing. After about a minute of inability to brake properly or stop, we ended up getting a flat tire. The flat tire, combined with the terrain flattening, eventually helped us come to a complete stop. After stopping, the car was also having software issues (infotainment system resetting), and the infotainment system was very hot to the touch, suggesting an electrical or software malfunction tied to the braking system. It was a very scary situation, but my passenger and I were not injured. This failure left me and my passenger completely out of control of the vehicle, with a high risk of collision, rollover, or serious injury. In my opinion, a braking system that does not stop the vehicle when the pedal is fully applied constitutes a critical safety defect. Chevrolet has been contacted, but the dealer refused to treat this as a warranty safety issue so far. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

On two occasions as I have pulled in to park this vehicle, while pressing brake the car lurched forward. The first time no damage happened however the second time damage occurred. While pressing the brake as hard as I could would not stop the lurching car. None of the avoidance warnings helped either.

Break assist break vacuum pump.

See all problems of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

I was driving on the highway and when I exited and tried to stop at a red light the brakes stopped working. No warning, the brake assist engaged so I barely came to a stop in time before hitting the car in front of me. I can barely use the brake pedal and my check engine light came on with it. Its very hard to press the pedal like its got something stuck under the pedal but there was nothing. The brake assist stays on and basically is the only way the car will stop and still doesn't completely stop.

On August 3rd, while driving on the freeway at 55mph, my vehicle's brakes became extremely stiff, and I could not press them down to engage the braking system. I was about to collide with the vehicle in front of me, so I quickly veered right without looking because I had no time. After moving to the right, the brakes finally slowed the vehicle to around 40mph. Luckily, the traffic light turned green, allowing me to continue moving with the remaining momentum. As I attempted to take a turn on a bridge above the freeway, the steering wheel became stiff. At this point, I was unsure whether I could turn the car at that speed with the steering not responding. I need general motors and Chevrolet to take action on the severity of the situation and make the necessary and appropriate restitution to me for the traumatic and physical injuries sustained during the incident. For the amount of time I've been without a vehicle, I am now running high risk of loosing my job. $3,700. Is what they are charging me, which is conveniently not under warranty. When consistently stating that no one really sure what's covered and what's not covered.

Vehicle information: 2019 Chevrolet Equinox VIN: [xxx] mileage: [insert your current mileage] engine: 1. 5l turbo ? complaint summary: sudden and complete loss of brake assist while driving. Brake pedal became extremely hard to press, making it difficult to stop the vehicle safely. A warning message appeared on the dashboard stating “brake assist”. This happened without warning and made braking unpredictable and dangerous. If I had been driving downhill or in the mountains, I could have easily lost control or crashed. I was lucky to be on a relatively flat road when it happened. I inspected the vacuum hose and brake fluid level — both were normal. After researching, I discovered this is a known issue in 2019 Equinox models with the 1. 5l turbo engine, related to vacuum pump failure or loss of vacuum supply to the brake booster. There are service bulletins and limited coverage programs (n192268490 and n182202780), but my VIN does not show an open recall. I believe this is a serious safety defect that could affect many vehicles not yet covered by the recall or service campaigns. Gm needs to expand the recall and properly warn drivers before someone gets killed. Please investigate this problem and hold gm accountable for fixing this safety-critical issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I was driving just got off the freeway and went to hit the brakes and the brake pedal was hard as a rock I had to use force to slow down to safely get over from the left lane to the right lane to get into a parking lot was a pretty scary experience, called aaa had it towed to the dealer they said the vacuum pump failed which I suspected because of the other complaints regarding the same thing, there was no recalls on my car dealer fixed it under warranty and they said there was no damage to the camshaft. The dealer was amazing and would reccamend them, I also had to pay 100 deductible. As others have stated theres a recall on the vacuum pumps but certain VIN #s are not included. Gm needs to included all VIN #s for the Equinox in the recall whats it gonna take somebody to get killed!.

Braking failure on 2025 Equinox ev lt model - my car has had two separate brake failures going down a steep dry rocky road in clear weather, once with one pedal driving on and once without, on July 21st, 2025 and August 11th, 2025 respectively. It doesn't happen every time going down this road and each time at no more than 5 - 10 miles per hour, with the brake pedal to the floor the car was not slowing down and the weight of the car on the steep track made it speed up considerably which made it dangerous due to the steepness of the hill and turns in the road. The first time I drove off the road onto flat grass and the car came to a stop, the last time it happened I pumped the brakes until the car stopped and the "abs engaged" light came on the dashboard above the steering wheel. It happened twice on the road that time. There were no prior alerts or warning lights. The car has 5000 miles and is still under warranty, the chevy dealership had the car for 3 days. The dealership was not able to reproduce or confirm the problem with the brakes. The dealership told me they did a series of resets. They have not given me the written service report yet. I have an appointment to take the car back to the dealer. The brake fluid level is good, there are no current alerts on the dashboard while driving. The car is available for inspection upon request. I am concerned that my wife and I may be injured or killed in a braking failure or that we may injure or kill others or damage property.

My vacuum pump failed on this vehicle. Causing my brakes to lock and a crash to almost happen.

Vehicle may be involved in gm service update n252494220 , reduced brake performance. I cannot get a response from Chevrolet if the vehicle is part of the brake problem issue. Based on the information provided, this should be escalated to a recall. I also have not been able to get an answer from the selling dealer. Per the information in the service update bulletin, the vehicle was not to be sold until it was inspected for the problem.

The vehicle will randomly brake on its own. I can be doing 70 on the interstate with no one around and it will disengage cruise and brake hard. It has nearly caused one accident when I had someone following me too closely.

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•initial incident: July 2, 2025 •recurring occurrences: August 8, 2025 vehicle issue description: several months ago, the vehicle’s check engine light came on. A diagnostic scan was performed at o’reilly auto parts, but no error codes were detected. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for further inspection. The shop found no mechanical issues and confirmed the vehicle was operating normally at that time. On August 6, 2025, the “service brake assist” warning appeared briefly on the dashboard but turned off shortly afterward. The parking brake warning light also came on that same day, then went off. These warning lights reappeared intermittently on August 8, 2025. No repairs have been made as there are no active recalls related to these issues. However, it is noted that there are consumer complaints reporting similar problems. This raises concerns about potential intermittent or undetected safety system faults, particularly involving the brake assist system and parking brake functionality. Checked brakes again no issues determined per bridgestone and mavis.

I am experiencing a recurring issue with my vehicle where the park assist system keeps activating unexpectedly, and the check engine light (cel) also comes on. I have taken the vehicle to o’reilly auto parts for a diagnostic scan, and they reported no repairable codes present. Additionally, I visited tires plus, and their assessment was that if the light goes off on its own, then no issue is present that requires repair. Despite the temporary disappearance of the warning lights, the issue keeps returning, which raises concern. The park assist activation is not being manually triggered and appears without warning, often accompanied by the cel. This inconsistent behavior suggests there may be an intermittent or underlying issue with the vehicle’s sensors, wiring, or onboard systems that may not register a permanent diagnostic code. At this time, no repairs have been performed due to both locations stating that no actionable codes or faults were detected. However, the issue continues to happen periodically, and I would like further inspection or documentation of the problem, especially if it worsens or begins affecting vehicle safety or drivability.

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.

The vacuum pump broke and caused the brake booster to lose vacuum and made the brakes hard and almost caused an accident.

Driving at abut 10 mph, my brakes did not respond to pedal pressure. . . I had to stomp very hard on the brake pedal to have any slow down effect. . . . Various warning messages flashed across the dashboard (see attached files). . . After stopping, I turned off the car and turned it back on, the problem continued to exist. . . . . Then, after about 1 hour, I tried again and all systems were working fine. I took the car to Chevrolet service, and apparently there were no obdii codes stored in the vehicle.

Every car I’ve ever owned the cruise control disengages once you touch the brakes and does not reengage without pushing the button to say resume. On several occasions, this car has reengaged sometimes many minutes after I’ve touched the brakes multiple times such as in a parking lot or parking garage going around the corner the car resumes cruise, and rapidly accelerates, which is very dangerous in a parking lot or parking garage.

I was driving brake pedal went causing me to use emergency brake to stop. Took and got it diagnosed. The brake vacuum went out. The repair bill was $680 that have to pay tomorrow 6-19. I had someone in my car that I was transporting. This could end very card if I was an experienced cdl driver. My car 2019 chevy Equinox only has 107,310 miles. I am so frustrated this is not on the recall list for the same problem other gm owners were having.

Here is the email I sent to gm. My name is [xxx] and I am having a issue with my 2024 chevy Equinox VIN: [xxx] . There have been about 5 times that the brakes fail. Pushing the brake does nothing car just keeps rolling. Once I can get the car to stop and shut it down and restart the brakes once again work. It was in for service for a few days but there where no error codes and they could not replicate the problem. They did do a update on the car. While my car was in the shop I had the same problem with a malibu rental. Called the dealership and talked to service and told them of the problem seems to be me somehow. Was asked if I use both feet to gas/brake the car as I was told there is a problem with that. No I don't do that but it seems I can catch both peddles with one foot and this is when the problem occurs. I have to make sure how I brake. Have found out today when it happened once again that if I put the car in neutral and press the gas the brakes start to work but not until then. There also was another issue today as when I did get the car to stop and put it in park I could not put the car back in gear until I shut the car off and restarted. Can someone let me know on how to proceed other then cautiously. I would take the car back in but they can fix a problem they don't see. Any insight would be appreciated. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Phantom braking at speed: I have experienced more than one alarming instances of "phantom braking at speed" where the vehicle unexpectedly brakes, all wheels locked, and violently skids on the pavement. This is a very alarming occurrence to driver and passengers as well as to drivers of other nearby vehicles. Specifically, this first occurred without warning on [xxx] on [xxx], traveling at 30 mph. The wheels then unlocked spontaneously after 2 to 4 seconds. This is potentially a significant and intolerable life-safety issue. When a car suddenly and unexpectedly slams on its brakes, it can create a dangerous situation for both the driver and passengers and others on the road. This could lead to a rear-end collision if the driver behind my Equinox vehicle does not have enough time to react; this may also result in driver panic and overcorrection: the startling nature of the phantom braking can cause the driver to potentially swerve into another lane or oncoming traffic. The phantom braking again occurred on the afternoon of [xxx] on [xxx] in slo while driving at 40 mph past [xxx]. Loss of confidence: repeated incidents of phantom braking have eroded this driver's trust in the vehicle's safety features, which could lead to ignoring legitimate warnings in the future. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I purchased this vehicle as a certified pre-owned vehicle from george moore Chevrolet in jacksonville, florida, in October 2023. At the time of purchase, the vehicle had approximately 35,000 miles, and it now has approximately 60,000 miles. I have maintained all recommended service intervals and oil changes as required. On June 14, 2025, while stopped at a traffic signal with my foot on the brake pedal, the pedal suddenly sank to the floor, causing the vehicle to roll forward into traffic unexpectedly. I was able to place the vehicle in neutral and then park to prevent a collision. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it when the light changed, the brakes continued to fail. I carefully maneuvered to a nearby area behind a warehouse and allowed the vehicle to come to a complete stop by shifting into neutral. I contacted a tow truck through my state farm roadside assistance program and had the vehicle transported to my local mechanic. Upon inspection on June 16, 2025, the technician determined that the brake lines were corroded and leaking. Initially, he suspected the master brake cylinder, but it was confirmed not to be leaking. He noted that the metal-braided portion of the brake line had completely deteriorated on one side and was severely compromised on the other. Both brake lines were replaced to restore braking function. Fortunately, I was able to avoid an accident, but this was an alarming experience that I have never encountered in any vehicle I have owned. My mechanic expressed concern about the extent of corrosion on such a relatively new vehicle and indicated this could represent a broader safety issue. I respectfully request that this matter be documented and investigated to ensure that other drivers are not placed at similar risk.

Vehicle brakes became hard and failed to stop, check engine light came on and warning saying reduced engine power. Vacuum pump seized and broke off in the crankshaft. After vacuum pump replacement vehicle failed to start multiple times. Vehicle started and had rough idle and stalled multiple times. Currently awaiting dealer inspection.

The vacuum pump went out on the car while I was on I-70 in a rain storm construction traffic… I absolutely had no brakes they were so hard to push… I was stuck I almost crashed this crappy designed car… the brake light engine light came on. . I barely made it to the side of the highway… now my engine is messed up cause of some faulty brake pump… what kinda silly design is this… I could have died out there on that highway. . I was on the way to the airport and I missed my flight… gm needs to get their stuff together on this they’re going to kill somebody….

This past weekend, while driving my 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, I experienced a sudden and complete brake failure. I was turning into a residential neighborhood at approximately 20-30mph when the brakes locked up without warning. Despite pressing the brake pedal, the car would not stop. I attempted to shift into park, but the vehicle continued to roll forward. I had to engage the emergency brake, which caused the car to come to an immediate stop. Thankfully, there were no cars in front of me, but I came dangerously close to hitting a cement wall head-on. This created a serious risk to my safety and potentially to others had the situation occurred in traffic or near pedestrians. There were no warning lights, noises, or prior symptoms indicating an issue with the braking system. The vehicle has since been towed to the dealership and is currently awaiting inspection. I've learned that there are existing recalls on other vins for the 2020 Equinox related to an incorrect lubricant used in the manufacturing process of the rear brake calipers. This defect can cause the calipers to swell, leading to excessive brake drag. Over time, this drag may result in overheating and possible brake lockup, which aligns with what I experienced. The component appears to be the braking system, specifically involving the calipers or pads. At the time of writing, the failure has not yet been confirmed by the dealer. This issue is extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a severe crash. I am reporting this in hopes that it contributes to a broader investigation, especially if this problem extends beyond currently recalled vins.