Fuel system, brake, engine, and electrical issues are among the main causes of complaints based on our research
The Equinox is a well-established, small SUV that automaker, General Motors, says will “show off your sporty side.” Now in its third generation, the 2022 model featured a general facelift. The 2023 Chevy Equinox received minor adjustments but is largely unchanged. An engine change, says GM, was made to improve emissions and combustion. There is also a new electronic brake booster system. It’s worth noting that both the engine and brakes feature in complaints. For example, owners are complaining that the brakes fail and there are problems with vehicles not accelerating.
Click on another model year to view more problems: 2019 2020 2021 2022
Initial complaints to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Chevy Equinox were linked, by owners, to the engine, powertrain, electrical system, and brakes. By September 2024, they had broadened to include airbags, forward collision avoidance, fuel systems, lane departure, powertrain, seat belts, seats, steering, structure, vehicle speed control, and wheels. Brake issues remain paramount, but fuel system problems have crept into second place. Electrical system problems have also increased.
Additionally, there are three recalls, one that relates to loose bolts in the drivers’ seat frames in thousands of 2022-2023 Chevy Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain vehicles.
Another relates to a handful (9) 2023 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles with faulty airbags in vehicles with ventilated front passenger seats. The problem is that the Occupant Classification System, which should disable the airbag if there is a child in the passenger seat, malfunctions. If these cars crash, the front passenger airbag may deploy with an infant or child in the seat. This increases the risk of injury during the crash.
A much larger number of 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles (668,187) have child seat anchors that might not function. The issue is that the four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating. This could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars, increasing the risk of injury if the vehicle crashes.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Steering | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Power Train | |
| Air Bags |
Both the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and 2022 GMC Terrain have major problems with engines that stall. While this is understood to be due to an issue with fuel pumps, many vehicle owners are reporting that replacement fuel pumps don’t fix the problem.
There is no mention of fuel pump changes with either the 2023 Chevy Equinox or GMC Terrain, but both have updated, turbocharged LSD engines. The motivation, says GM, is to improve combustion and emissions.
Since November 2023, there have been numerous complaints to the NHTSA relating directly to stalling issues because of faulty fuel pumps.
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Brake problems include total brake failure and the emergency brake not working. A substantial percentage of complaints refer to safety issues while towing the Equinox behind motorhomes. Typical problems include screeching tires and the smell of burning rubber.
An owner with only 170 miles on a new Equinox describes in an NHTSA complaint how the brakes failed after he had stopped to fill up with gas. This resulted in a crash. “I went to the gas station to fill the car with gas. I pulled alongside the pumps and put on the brakes but they failed.” He applied the brakes again, but they failed again. So, he put the SUV in neutral, but then “ran into a pole. I called GM, and they checked the brakes, (but) could not find any problem. I asked if they checked the computer but they didn’t know.”
An owner from Vermont experienced a “total loss of brakes” after the “pedal went to (the) floor” while traveling downhill. Luckily the driver was able to stop the car. The part needed to fix the problem was on backorder.
When an owner from South Carolina started the car and tried to apply the brakes, “My foot went all the way to the floorboards. The Brake warning lamp and stability warning lamps came on and would not go away.” Restating the vehicle didn’t help. “The brakes were not properly functioning.” The dealership could see the warning lamps, but the brakes were working. “GM told them to just clear the codes and let me drive it. The service manager would not.” Five weeks later they were still waiting for a part to fix the problem.
An owner from Florida was traveling at about 45 mph when the engine, brake, ABS, “P,” and traction warning lights came on. When he applied the pedal, it went to the floor. The emergency light wouldn’t work either.
An owner from Virginia states that when setting up the Equinox to be flat-towed behind their motorhome they followed the set-up steps exactly as described in the manual. “When driving and applying the brakes for more than a few seconds the front tires would lock up and squeal. This same situation happened when making a hard curve like a cloverleaf exit ramp.”
An owner from Massachusetts had the same experience. “While towing my equinox behind my motorhome, with properly installed equipment, I experienced tire screeching when taking off ramps from the highway. From extensive research, I’ve found that many 2023 Equinox owners are having the same issue and many have started GM case numbers. This issue is happening with many different tow systems installed and the only constant denominator is the 2023 Chevy Equinox.”
An owner from Florida describes squealing tires and a smell of burnt rubber while towing the Equinox behind a motorhome. The steering wheel was also shaking violently. “This type of event occurs consistently on cloverleaf type on and off ramps and other roads that have somewhat tight turns that are banked.” He expressed serious safety concerns for himself and his family.
Most owners, including one from Colorado, state that the issue remains unresolved. “While dinghy towing the vehicle behind a motorhome, the tires lock up, skid, and screech when going through tight turns such as cloverleaf on or off-ramps.” Vehicle handling returns to normal after making turns. “The issue has occurred on numerous occasions and could be easily reproduced under actual towing conditions.” Dealers were unable to identify defects and appeared unwilling to investigate further. “The issue is unresolved and offers to reproduce the problem under actual towing conditions has not been accepted by the dealers or GM. This should be viewed as a significant safety issue.”
Stalling because of faulty fuel pumps is the primary reason for fuel system complaints.
In November 2023, an owner from Connecticut was driving at 45 mph and exiting a ramp to merge onto the highway when the vehicle failed to respond to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. It was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed high-pressure fuel pump module. It was not repaired because the parts required weren’t available.
Also in November, an owner from Georgia experienced “jerking and stalling.” The complaint states that the fuel pump failed to supply the engine with fuel. The dealership’s service department couldn’t identify the problem. A few days later, the car started stalling again and the driver narrowly missed crashing. “Engine Light (that) says Engine Power Reduced came on and I had to slowly drive the car in. Later the following day I was told my vehicle has a defective fuel pump. Vehicle has been at the dealership more than 15 days with no ETA of repair.”
In January 2024, an owner from Massachusetts had the same experience. In a complaint filed under the Engine and Fuel/Propulsion System, he states that the car jerked, started to rattle, and then the same warning displayed. The dealer confirmed four codes, all related to fuel issues. But… “The Dealer was unable to replicate the issue and is unable to fix or repair any part. Clearly, there is an issue with the Fuel Pump in these ’23 Equinoxs – just like the past model year!”
In March 2024, a couple of owners reported that after their vehicles stalled, dealerships determined that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed. But in May, some owners were still reporting that dealers were unable to identify the problem. Some were told nothing was wrong!
Come August 2024, owners are still reporting the problem. The only difference is that dealerships are now diagnosing a fuel pump issue. A complaint dated August 27 states that the car lost power on the highway.
“Driving 65 mph, upon exiting (the) ramp I got a check engine light and immediately a message saying reduced engine power. Car went to a speed of about 45 mph IMMEDIATELY. Thankfully I was able to exit the highway having been ON THE RAMP. I was still able to drive the car on reduced power. Had to turn on the hazard and the car was unable to go over 20 mph. Took it to Firestone and was notified that there was a fuel pump issue. Car only had 29,000 miles. I know several people this happened to. An absolute joke, these should be recalled.”
There are varied problems that relate to the 2023 Equinox engine and the powertrain. Some report the engine power reduced issue described above, with cars slowing down, but dealers don’t link this to the fuel pump. For example, an owner from Michigan reports that the check engine light flashed for about 15 seconds before this message went away and driving conditions returned to normal.
An owner from Ohio reported experiencing vibrations and loud noise when driving at 35-40 mph. According to the NHTSA complaint, the dealership had no solution, and was “waiting for GM to respond. I have seen similar complaints about driveline and drive axle complaints for earlier model year Chevrolet Equinox” vehicles. “Taking it into the dealership they pulled from the computer the issue of ‘multiple cylinder misfire’ but could not replicate the issue. I also filed a ticket with GM letting them know of a potentially deadly issue but they sided with the dealer stating the car was operating within normal parameters since they could not duplicate the issue.”
An NHTSA complaint filed as an electrical system problem, states that while driving at different speeds, the check engine, engine control module (ECM), and traction control warning lights come on. Additionally, when traveling at more than 60 mph, the Equinox won’t accelerate even when the pedal is pushed right down to the floor. And several times, the SUV wouldn’t start up. The dealer diagnosed a loss of communication codes but “was not certain of how to repair the vehicle.”
In addition to the complaint mentioned above that could be an engine and/or fuel issue, there are several other reasons owners have complained about the electrical system.
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Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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I leased a new 2023 Chevy Equinox LT, after turning in my 2020 Chevy Equinox Lt, which I was happy with. The new 2023 does not have the “Lane change alert with side blind alert” which is a very important safety feature. The salesman did not tell me that my new vehicle didn’t have that feature, due to a computer chip problem, and that many new Chevy’s are missing that safety feature.. I realized that when I left the dealership. Upon returning home, I called the dealer the very next morning, and want to cancel my contract, because that is fraud. I will never buy or lease another GM product ever!