2019 Chevrolet EQUINOX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Chevrolet EQUINOX has 408 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: the engine "auto stop" feature can have enough delay to allow the accelerator to be pressed as the engine starts causing it to lurch forward rather than accelerate smoothly. it also can cause a delay when pulling out into heavy traffic. there is currently no way to temporarily or permanently defeat . ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 27 crash reports 8 injuries

408

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

98 complaints

24%

• THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT
• THE AUTO STOP IS A HAZARD. WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR DOESN'T GET TO SPEED QUICK ENOUGH.
• I AM UNABLE TO GAUGE THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AFTER "AUTOSTOP" SHUTS THE MOTOR AT A HARD STOP. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL DRIVERS AS EVEN WHEN LIFTING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AS IT SHOULD IN "DRIVE." INSTEAD, PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS REQUIRED. THIS CAUSES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

77 complaints

19%

• BRAKES FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO FENCE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE - THRU FRONT DOOR & OUT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH CENTRAL CLAIMS CASE (XXX) INFORMATIO
• WHILE DRIVING ALONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MI/HR ON A CLEAR DAY WITH NO OTHER CARS WITHIN 500 FT., EXCEPT FOR ONE ON THE INSIDE LANE BEHIND US, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY CAME ON HARD AND ONLY RELEASED AFTER IT SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO 60 MI/HR. THE RED LED'S DID NOT COME ON AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT
• WHEN REAR E- BRAKES ARE WET THEY LOCK UP AND MAKE A LOUD SOUND. THIS HAPPENS AFTER A HARD RAIN OR IF YOU GO THRU THE CAR WASH WITH THE UNDER CARRIAGE OPTION AND RELEASE THE E-BRAKE AFTER PARKING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“BRAKES FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO FENCE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE - THRU FRONT DOOR & OUT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH CENTRAL CLAIMS CASE (XXX) INFORMATIO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

45 complaints

11%

• UNABLE TO DISABLE AUTO STOP ENGINE FUNCTION. WINSHIELD DEFROSTER USES AC COMPRESSOR TO AID DEFROAT OF WINDSHIELD WHICH NEEDS ENGINE RUNNING TO OPERATE. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT WINDSHIELD STEAMS UP ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE OF EXCESS MOISTURE IN EVAPORATOR.
• THE VECHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE STOPPED FOR A VERY SHORT TIME ON ROADS IN TRAFFIC. IT CAN BE A MAJOR HIGHWAY, OR INTERSTATE AND EVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS. IT CAN BE HAZARDOUS AS THE VEHICLE TAKES A MINUTE TO START BACK UP AND GET GOING. I HAD NO IDEA THIS FEATURE EVEN EXISTED, BEFORE I EXPERIE
• BRAKES FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO FENCE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE - THRU FRONT DOOR & OUT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH CENTRAL CLAIMS CASE (XXX) INFORMATIO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“UNABLE TO DISABLE AUTO STOP ENGINE FUNCTION. WINSHIELD DEFROSTER USES AC COMPRESSOR TO AID DEFROAT OF WINDSHIELD WHICH NEEDS ENGINE RUNNING TO OPERATE. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT WINDSHIELD STEAMS UP ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE OF EXCESS MOISTURE IN EVAPORATOR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

43 complaints

11%

• I AM UNABLE TO GAUGE THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AFTER "AUTOSTOP" SHUTS THE MOTOR AT A HARD STOP. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL DRIVERS AS EVEN WHEN LIFTING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AS IT SHOULD IN "DRIVE." INSTEAD, PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS REQUIRED. THIS CAUSES
• THE VECHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE STOPPED FOR A VERY SHORT TIME ON ROADS IN TRAFFIC. IT CAN BE A MAJOR HIGHWAY, OR INTERSTATE AND EVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS. IT CAN BE HAZARDOUS AS THE VEHICLE TAKES A MINUTE TO START BACK UP AND GET GOING. I HAD NO IDEA THIS FEATURE EVEN EXISTED, BEFORE I EXPERIE
• THE AUTOSTOP FEATURE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND DID NOT TURN ON WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND I WAS IN A INTERSECTION AND I WAITED FOR TEN MINUTES AND IT TURNED ON AGAIN. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COMPUTER WHICH WASN'T WORKING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I AM UNABLE TO GAUGE THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AFTER "AUTOSTOP" SHUTS THE MOTOR AT A HARD STOP. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL DRIVERS AS EVEN WHEN LIFTING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AS IT SHOULD IN "DRIVE." INSTEAD, PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS REQUIRED. THIS CAUSES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

38 complaints

• I FOUND THAT THIS MODEL CAR AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS WITH PUSH TO START AND STOP CAN BE TURNED OFF IN ANY GEAR AND YOU CAN WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR WITH OUT AN ALARM OR ANY NOTIFICATION. I HAVE SEEN CARS ROLL WHEN LEFT ON A SLOPE. KEY IGNITION CARS DON'T LET YOU REMOVE THE KEYS WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN P
• I HAVE A 2019 EQUINOX THAT I BOUGHT WITH ONLY 29 MILES WHEN PURCHASED 5/22/19. WITHIN THE SECOND WEEK OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY I HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND I THEN THE A MESSAGE CAME A CROSS THE SCREEN SAYING LISING POWER FROM THE ENGINE! I WAS SO SCARED ON THE FREEWAY ! I HAVE A NEW
• EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN AT SPEED OF 55MPH OR MORE. ALSO DOES NOT TAKE OFF SMOOTHLY WHEN STOPPED OR SLOWED FOR TRAFFIC.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I FOUND THAT THIS MODEL CAR AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS WITH PUSH TO START AND STOP CAN BE TURNED OFF IN ANY GEAR AND YOU CAN WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR WITH OUT AN ALARM OR ANY NOTIFICATION. I HAVE SEEN CARS ROLL WHEN LEFT ON A SLOPE. KEY IGNITION CARS DON'T LET YOU REMOVE THE KEYS WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 408 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: BRAKES FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO FENCE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH GARAGE - THRU FRONT DOOR & OUT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH CENTRAL CLAIMS CASE (XXX) INFORMATIO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: UNABLE TO DISABLE AUTO STOP ENGINE FUNCTION. WINSHIELD DEFROSTER USES AC COMPRESSOR TO AID DEFROAT OF WINDSHIELD WHICH NEEDS ENGINE RUNNING TO OPERATE. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT WINDSHIELD STEAMS UP ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE OF EXCESS MOISTURE IN EVAPORATOR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I AM UNABLE TO GAUGE THE TIME NEEDED FOR THE CAR TO RESTART AFTER "AUTOSTOP" SHUTS THE MOTOR AT A HARD STOP. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL DRIVERS AS EVEN WHEN LIFTING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AS IT SHOULD IN "DRIVE." INSTEAD, PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS REQUIRED. THIS CAUSES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)