Service Brakes Problems of Chevrolet Equinox - part 2

The brake booster vacuum pump, in the words of meineke, massive failure. The pump locked up and exploded, there are parts of at least under the valve cover. The failure resulted in the ruining of the camshaft, as this pump is controlled by the camshaft. The end of my camshaft looks like a mushroom head. This failure is currently in the investigation part of a class action law suit in which I am adding my name to the hat. My wife was driving at the time and fortunately was not injured during this catastrophic failure with what seems like planned obsolescence. I am also glad the kids weren’t in the car when this happened. We had just crossed 100k miles.

See all problems of the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

Losing all power to the brakes.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

Brake system has failed. “brake assist service” has popped up on screen. Taken to two separate facilities who said this is a known problem with this vehicle make and model.

Vehicle does not come to a complete stop. It moves forward about an inch after I stop and park. It's being going on since I got the car. I assumed it was normal until I drove another car and it didn't happen.

The car has a grinding that I am not sure where it is coming from, it maybe coming from the wheel and it also has a battery problem.

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.

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.

See all problems of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

Brake vacuum pump failed at 112k miles while doing 60 on the highway with no warning or way to stop. Very dangerous. Service brake assist light only come on after the fact of brake pump failure. Shrapnel from the failed part was sent into the engine block that had to be professionally cleaned out. This happened again 4 months later when I had to replace the brake vacuum pump again. I almost wrecked and lost my life then as well since again, it happened out of nowhere while driving no warnings. Brake assist light only came on after. This is deadly and should be recalled and rectified by gm promptly before someone is killed.

Vehicle information vehicle: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox (gas) purchase price: $46,000 in-service date: January 28, 2026 current mileage: 2,433 miles first repair attempt: approximately 200 miles defect description (safety-critical) the vehicle experiences intermittent but recurring safety system failures while driving, including: • complete instrument cluster blackout (all gauges dark) • all warning lights and alerts disappear • adas / driver-assist systems shut down • system appears to reboot for approximately 15 seconds while in motion • vehicle settings reset to default (vehicle systems, not radio) • brake pedal becomes hard during these events • stopping distance feels increased during braking events this behavior indicates a brake assist interruption and a loss of critical driver information while the vehicle is moving. Repair history summary • vehicle has been in the dealership approximately 4–5 times for the same or substantially similar defect • dealership has performed software updates • dealership has replaced computer modules controlling the information center and related systems • the defect persists safety assessment loss of braking assist (hard pedal with increased stopping distance) combined with full instrument cluster blackout while driving constitutes a substantial impairment of vehicle safety. This is not an infotainment issue.

See all problems of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

The abs braking and stability control light came on and has stayed on and took to mechanic shop and was told to repair would be $4000 . That's more than what the car is worth!changed motor oil many times since I owned the car and it uses oil quite much. Ihe oil gauge can say I have 70 percent oil and the dipstick reads no oil so I must put 2 -3 quarts of oil in car because I can hear lifters rattle due to lack of oil. The abs stability control keeps car steady especially in I snow or rain weather and can lose control of the 2012 chevy Equinox. If I was to drive vehicle on long trip the motor could freeze up while driving and shut down and cause dangerous situation in traffic.

See all problems of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox 🔎.

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 🔎.

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.

My wife and I were in our car driving on [xxx] on [xxx] at about 4:30 in the afternoon. I was about three car lengths behind the car in front of me and I was doing 30-32 miles per hour. The brake lights in front of me went to red and I immediately stepped on my brakes but my car would not stop nor slow down causing me to hit the person in front of me. It was a matter of seconds passing but when I hit the back of that car in front of me I had both feet on the brake pedal. My car would not stop. My wife was injured, the young lady that I hit hurt her leg and the back end of her car was destroyed. Our car was totaled. The vehicle is now in possession of aaa auto insurance where I was told the brakes would be looked in to. I will be placing a call to the general motors customer service to lodge a complaint. There were no warning signs of any type prior to this accident. This car is a 2019 model with only 30,200 miles on it. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Hello, since I purchased the vehicle on October 1, 2025, there have been issues regarding collison system and adaptive cruise control. When driving down the road it will try to come to a complete stop with no reasoning. It happens more often when it is rainy and night time. I believe the collision system is conufsed with oncoming traffic and it thinks they are on my side of the road but they are not. I also get alerts with side mirrors and shaking of my seat when no one is beside me. It triggers to say someone or a vehicle is approaching from the side, but there is no one or nothing there. The issue that is most troubling is I almost hit someone in the rear end on 02-03-2026. I went to slow down for a traffic light, and it started slowing down, but then got a surge and would not allow me to stop any more. It kept going. I had to remove my foot from the brake and hit it again harder. It has happened a few times, but not in a situation like this. Thankfully I was following a safe distance or I may have hit the vehicle stopped in front of me. Similar situation happened a few times, one when I was pulling into an applebees to eat, the brake did not want to stop the vehicle. It was like a surge of power again. This time was not as bad as no one or a vehicle was not in front of me. I have also noticed it a few times driving and when I go to stop the surge, but it seems to be escalating. I do not have the auto start stop on, I switch it off as soon as I start the vehicle. I do not have the auto hold on when it happens either. I have an appointment on the 16th of February to hopefully get it looked at, but will see.

Chevrolet service states brake master cylinder failed prematurely.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the rear tire treads were prematurely worn. A mobile independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence, and the mechanic determined that the brakes were dragging. The brakes were replaced. The vehicle was taken to a tire dealer, where the rear tires were replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the defective tires were inspected. The service manager associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 19v704000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no assistance would be provided because the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 48,800.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor of fuel coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pads were wearing abnormally quickly. The message speed reduced was displayed. The engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shook and vibrated abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19v704000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the VIN was associated with the recall. The contact later replaced the rear brakes independently. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

My son was driving the car the service brake assist message popped up on the screen, and the brake pedal went stiff. He was coming to a red light and had to swerve to the right to avoid hitting the cars in front of him as he had no brakes at this point. We had the vehicle towed to our house, had the vehicle looked at by our mechanic. The diagnosis was the brake vacuum pump, part number #12684050 exploded. It is available for inspection, at this point we don't know if the metal pieces have fallen into the engine compartments and we would rather not replace the engine as well. We had contacted the local chevy service dept. Who said we can pay $1500. 00 to for them to take apart the top of the engine to look for broken pieces, but the best option is to trade it in as soon as possible.

The brake system, specifically the master brake cylinder and/or associated brake system components, failed or malfunctioned. The defect results in a sudden loss of braking performance without warning. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. It has remained in the continuous possession of the authorized Chevrolet dealership since January 13, 2026, and has not been returned to service. The defect involves the primary braking system, which is a critical safety component. Sudden and unexpected loss of braking ability significantly increases the risk of a collision, serious injury, or death to the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to operate due to the risk of brake failure. The problem has been confirmed by the authorized Chevrolet dealership. The service department diagnosed the issue as a defective master brake cylinder and/or related brake system components. The dealer advised that the condition presents a safety risk and that the vehicle cannot be safely operated until the issue is addressed. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Chevrolet dealership acting as the manufacturer’s representative. The manufacturer has been made aware of the problem. No inspection by police or an insurance representative has occurred, as no crash took place. The vehicle remains unrepaired as of February 9 due to parts unavailability. There was no adequate warning that would have allowed the driver to anticipate the loss of braking performance. The defect results in sudden brake failure without sufficient advance warning, which is a significant safety concern. The issue was identified in January 2026, at which time the vehicle was taken to the dealership. On January 13, 2026, the vehicle was removed from service and has remained at the dealership continuously since that date. The vehicle remains out of service because the master brake cylinder is on backorder. There is no eta, and as a result, no repairs.

I was waiting behind 2 cars at a red light to turn left. Once the light turned green, I slowly started to accelerate and turn, the car then came to an immediate stop in the middle of the intersection. The hud indicated the front automatic braking was enabled. Luckily there was no one behind me so I wasn’t rear ended. This was at night time. This was a completely empty intersection besides the 2 in front of me.

On three occasions, gas pedal went limp, and required restarting engine to reset controls to get gas pedal working again. On one occasion, brakes failed to operate leading to a collision. And forward collision warning did not activate.

The car automatically brakes when nothing is in front of you and all of sudden it slams on its breaks. This is going to cause someone to rear end you. The steering is all over the road and does. It feels safe to drive. Transmission gets stuck and revs really high until it catches and they say nothing is wrong. Safety sensors go off all the time and nothing is near you. Key fob not detected, multiple awd issues.

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.

Driving down a curvey road and my brake pedal was hard without no warning or indication. Almost was hit head on because of this. Looks like the vacuum pump seal failed and I lost all of my engine oil, which caused that to happen.

My car has a slow crank and when I am driving down the road it cuts off completely and does not want to crank. I have a signal on my car that says reduced speed and the speed is cut down and drags . My car also smells like gas and there is a leak coming from the vehicle it drains really bad . My brakes goes out every few months . My car radio goes out like there is a shortage. Its horrible.

Vehicle went into brake assist failure and would roll in neutral but no drivetrain power or brakes. Dealer took 3 months to find part. Acceleration jerky at stop or while driving. Pedal too sensitive. Constant traction loss from stop at lights and stop signs if not careful on dry pavement. Mode selection to rain/snow helps by restricting power, if it is remembered to be turned on. With rain and snow on the road it becomes challenging. Aggressive safety features that include the automatic braking and alerts. Brakes and alerts on double turn lanes and going forward near passing objects on the side.

December 2025 I was at a complete stop and the car clunked and the brake pedal got hard hard to push and then a couple months later a brake sensor light came on and when I plugged the code reader into it, it said give me a brake sensor code, and then it started slamming on the brakes all by itself when I went to takeoff hard like give you whiplash hard and it didn’t just do it once it did it a few times and then it wouldn’t go into reverse and then it wouldn’t go in neutral, and then it started smoking. My safety was affected by it, slamming on the brakes that could make someone hit me. It could hurt my back and neck. Yes, I have proof. Yes, I notified the dealer. Yes the vehicle has been inspected and I got an estimate by two different car lot the one I bought it from ken valor motors, and matt mazzoni’s I have. Plus I have diagnose diagnostics printouts from onstar and this is a 2020 vehicle. It should not be having these problems and now I’m stuck paying for a vehicle that I can’t even drive. !!.

Repaired a friend's vehicle that had a total brake failure. Vehicle only has 50k miles and no brake repair history. Blew all of the brake fluid out of the stainless braided line coming from master cylinder rear brake channel to abs module. Found the line coming from the front channel to master cylinder also starting to fray and come apart as well. Did not blow out yet. No evidence of brake lines rubbing on any components or that anything has been apart or touched before. Line looks to have failed from the inside out.

On Monday 12/22 at around 10:30am, I was driving back from stanford CA where I have been taking my mom to her radiation therapy appointments. All of a sudden my brakes got super hard (service brake assist appeared) and when pressing the brake pedal it continued to accelerate, I was able to swerve to my right hand side went over a curved side wall and pulled over before almost crashing the car in front of me and scaring my mom that was resting her head on the side seat. Vehicle has onstar but prior to this it had not given me any alerts that is what caused such concern as it directly affects braking performance and vehicle safety specially about this happend 8 months after purchase and no recalls are listed for my VIN. I had to call my brother to pick up mom because she has been delicate of health with cancer pain and couldn't wait long for towing truck to arrive since I used my insurance aaa to tow my car. After doing research this is a known malfunction and they are still selling the vehicles with a high price. My car has been in repair for over 3 months and still waiting.

I was driving south on interstate 55 near arnold missouri in adaptive cruise control mode at approximately 65 mph when the car braked suddenly and came to a complete stop on the interstate. Car would not go forward after stopping. Turned the car off and restarted and the car now would drive normally. Have not used acc since and car has behaved normally. Took the car to dealership in farmington, mo and they reported no error codes and no recalls. I had driven over 13,000 miles in the car without any incidents previously.

See NHTSA safety recall report 25v-12- it appears it should apply to both 2025 front wheel drive chevy Equinox evs with adaptive cruise control (and without super cruise) in addition to 2025 all wheel drive Equinox evs with acc (also without super cruise). This is very dangerous. Here's what happened: my 8 month old 2025 Chevrolet Equinox ev front wheel drive w/acc(no super cruise) has had 2 instances where a very large "thunk" sound and vibration emanating from the rear of the car while stopped at an intersection, was immediately followed with sudden brake failure and sudden forward acceleration. The acc was on in both instances. The first time this happened was alarming but since the was nothing in front of me there was no damage and the problem seemed to resolve itself thereafter. The second time was while waiting at a red light about 10 feet behind another vehicle. My car shot forward and into the other car, which was then pushed into the car ahead of it. Both my car and the car ahead of me had very expensive damages, but fortunately, no injuries. What I experienced sounds exactly like the recall problem described in NHTSA safety recall report 25v-12 which has thus far only been applied to the awd version of the 2025 Equinox ev, not the fwd version that I have. I believe this needs rapid consideration due to the danger of of sudden acceleration resulting in serious property damage, injury, or death. It appears to me that other instances of this problem have been described in various online forums and youtubes.

I placed my foot on the brake to start my vehicle and when I pushed the start button my brake pedal went to the floor and warning came up stating brake failure ect. I contacted the dealership and was told to drive it to them so the could put it on the scope and tell me if it is safe to drive. I did and then was told it was a master brake cylinder failure and not safe to drive. In researching this is a know failure by gm service notice n252494220.

I am experiencing multiple unresolved defects with my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox affecting drivability, braking behavior, and vehicle structure/fit and finish. The primary issue is a persistent vibration, shimmy, or wobble during moderate acceleration from a stop. This condition is felt through the steering wheel, seat, and floor, and occurs consistently during low?speed launch and normal acceleration. In addition, the vehicle produces a snapping or grunting noise during hard braking, as well as rough and loud movement noises from underneath the vehicle during normal operation, which raises concerns about braking and drivetrain integrity. There are also body and interior fitment defects. The front passenger door does not sit flush with the rear door panel and appears slightly open when closed. The dealership service manager stated that correcting this condition would require removing and pulling the rear door panel outward so both doors align. The glove box door also does not sit flush when closed, and the service manager advised that replacement might make the condition worse. These concerns were reported to an authorized Chevrolet dealer. The dealer confirmed that general motors has acknowledged the acceleration vibration condition in a preliminary information service bulletin (pit6466) affecting 2025–2026 Equinox vehicles and advised that gm engineering is investigating the issue and that no repair is currently available. The combination of drivability issues, abnormal noises during braking, underbody movement sensations, and body misalignment affects the use, value, and safety perception of the vehicle. The vehicle has very low mileage, and several of these issues have been present since early ownership. I am submitting this complaint to document these conditions and request that NHTSA monitor potential powertrain, braking, suspension, and vehicle structure concerns if a defect trend exists. All of these defects have been acknowledged by the dealership service dept.

Vehicle displayed reduced engine power, check engine light, and service brake assist all at the same time. Brake pedal wouldn't move leaving me without brakes. Coasted to stop and shut off car. Brake did not release and now engine won't start. Informed brake vacuum booster pump is problem and ruined motor now.