Lemberg Law is investigating complaints related to the fact that the 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox has problems with the fuel pump that result in it stalling. While the automaker acknowledges a problem and has issued a recall, there are vehicle owners who report that repairs and replacement fuel pumps don’t fix the failure. Others who have received the recall notification state that the parts required for the recall aren’t available.
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There is a major stalling problem with the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. The 2021 year Equinox model and the 2022 GMC Terrain have exactly the same issue. General Motors LLC admits there is a problem and in January, 2023, issued a safety recall for 23,323 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles because of it.
NHTSA Campaign Number 23V013000 states that affected vehicles may have fuel pumps that don’t provide sufficient fuel, causing engines to stall. This, of course, increases the risk of a crash.
The recall notification states that “the fuel pump module may not consistently provide sufficient fuel to the engine, resulting in an engine stall.“ The remedy is for the fuel pump to be replaced, and dealers must do this free of charge.
An interim notification was mailed to affected owners on March 14, 2023. This letter explains the problem and tells owners that GM dealers don’t have the available parts to rectify it. It states, “When the parts are available, we will send you another letter asking you to take your vehicle to your GM dealer to have your vehicle serviced.”
By May 3, 2023, there had not been any further notification filed with the NHTSA.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Steering | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | |
| Lane Departure: Warning |
As explained, very simply, in the GM recall notification, the fuel pump may be incapable of providing sufficient fuel. This will cause the engine to stall, which might, in turn, cause a crash.
GM has released a document that addresses frequently asked questions for the safety recall. However, it doesn’t say much more than the explanation in the recall notification. It does state, though, that drivers may see a check engine light or they may experience engine hesitation. Additionally, some vehicles may not start. It reiterates that “when a remedy is available and/or sufficient quantity of parts are available, the recall bulletin will be released, and dealers can begin repairing vehicles.”
That’s it!
There are two types of complaints on file with the NHTSA. One details examples of fuel pump failures. The other states that the repair parts aren’t available even though owners have been notified of the recall. Many of the latter complainants have also experienced failures. And, of course, most were told that the necessary parts were not available.
The first NHTSA complaint was from an owner in Texas in June, 2022, who experienced a loss of acceleration while driving on a highway. One day after the dealer replaced the fuel pump the same failure happened again, causing the owner to think the fuel pumps are defective!
In July 2022, an owner from Maryland lost motive power while driving. The dealer diagnosed that “throttle body had detached. The dealer reattached the throttle body; however, the failure recurred with the vehicle inadvertently decelerating and then stalling while driving. Additionally, the Lane Change Alert with Blind Side Zone Alert feature malfunctioned.” But, an engineer at a Chevy dealership wasn’t able to duplicate the failure and “diagnosed that the vehicle performed as designed.”
After getting a check engine alert, the dealership replaced the fuel pump module for an owner in Arizona. But the problem recurred after driving 14 miles with the new pump. Then the dealer decided it was a low battery. That was replaced. But, the check engine light came on again. “They called us to tell us not to come get the car that they found a new code issue. They advised they would call us tomorrow.” No resolution was reported at the time of the complaint.
An owner from Florida reports in a complaint that several dealers were unable to find a failure after the Equinox had “lost motive power and decelerated.” Eventually the owner was told that the fuel sensor needed to be replaced, but the part wasn’t available.
In February 2023, yet another owner reported that while driving at 45 mph, “the vehicle stalled inadvertently in the middle of the roadway.” The dealer diagnosed the failure as “inadequate fuel pump flow.” But, again, the parts were not available to fix the problem.
Of course, not everyone will buy a lemon, but if you are one of the unlucky ones, Lemberg Law can help you get compensation or a settlement, depending on the circumstances. Legally, depending on individual circumstances, you have rights. We will advise whether you are eligible for a cash refund, return, or a buyback.
Call our Helpline so we can assess your Equinox problems and let you know what we can do to help. The law makes Chevrolet foot the bill.
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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