Common Problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Transmission Issues:
“While accelerating on an onramp, the rear driveshaft, where it connects to the transmission, just disconnected. I had been traveling on an interstate just prior to the event and was getting back on the interstate. This is very concerning since the interstate speed is 75, and with the driveshaft dropping down at that speed it could have been catastrophic. There was no vibration prior to the issue.”
“My Equinox loses power, it feels slow and drives sluggishly. If I am driving at 35 mph it suddenly starts reducing speed and whining noises ensue. The hazard lights turn on and off, then the doors lock and unlock. If I reduce speeds below 20mph, then I suddenly have full power again as if nothing ever happened. The check engine light comes and goes after you drive for a while. Highways and offramps are questionable. I can not increase speed to merge properly on the freeway as this would put me at significant risk, I am not willing to gamble to see if I can make 65mph with oncoming traffic. I have ordered and paid for a new transmission from Chevrolet. Back ordered with an unknown delivery date.”
“On December 26th, unexpectedly, my driveshaft snapped in two. My car was in "all wheel drive" mode as I pulled out of a parking lot onto the road. Fortunately, there was no other cars behind me so I could safely pull to the side of the road. The Driveshaft/prop shaft was replaced. I do have the snapped driveshaft in two pieces in my garage.”
“We were driving home and the car was losing acceleration power. My husband would press on the pedal and there was no acceleration. the all of a sudden the car would seem to get a connection and lurch forward. Thankfully we were were close to home and there wasn't a lot of traffic as it was scary. It ended up being the O2 sensor and I did see recalls on this part for earlier model years of the same car but not for 2018. It appears the issue has not been resolved in the newer models.”
“The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The emission testing message was displayed. Additionally, the vehicle was shaking. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump was leaking fuel into the oil causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA campaign number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was 80,000”
Electrical Problems:
“AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH OR DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS PERIODICALLY NO LONGER FUNCTION. DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK FUNCTION CANNOT BE USED EITHER WITH THE KEY FOB OR WITH DIRECT PRESS OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AT ONE POINT HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE IS TO REMOVE THE COVER FROM THE DOOR LOCK AND USE THE EMBEDDED KEY IN THE KEY FOB. ISSUE WILL LAST ANYWHERE FROM 1 HOUR TO 24 HOURS AFTER THE CAR GETS WET. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THERE WERE EVER TO BE AN ISSUE ARISING WHERE YOU HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE OCCURRING.”
“THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS RANDOMLY GIVE OFF SERVICE SIGNAL FOR THE STABILITRAK, HILL START ASSIST, AND BRAKE ASSIST. THIS CAUSES MY DOORS TO UNLOCK AND LOCK WHILE HE CAR IS IN MOTION AND GIVES SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED VIA REMOTE OR CHEVROLET APP BUT RECENTLY, IT IS HAPPENING DAILY WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES TO AUTO STOP AND CONTINUES AS THE VEHICLE RESTARTS FOR DRIVING ON CITY STREETS.”
“WHILE IN MOTION, SEAT STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. SIDE MIRRORS STARTED TO MOVE AS WELL MAKING DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I COULDN'T REACH PEDALS AT ONE POINT AND COULDN'T SEE BLIND SPOT. I HAD TO RE ARRANGE THE SEAT AND SIDE MIRROR POSITION WHILE DRIVING SINCE I WAS DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY. THE SEAT SETTINGS DOESN'T WORK AS WELL.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO START. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ROADSIDE SERVICE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (BOB STEELE CHEVROLET, 2800 FLORIDA 520, COCOA, FL 32926, (321) 355-3489) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.”
Engine Problems:
“When backing into my drive way moving the gear from d to r the car will jump. This has made it to where I fear to park where I have to reverse. As well as when I started driving down the road the auto stop start kicked on while doing 30 when the car powered back on in the busy intersection the car was clunking I pulled over asap and took a look under the car to make sure nothing was leaking when started back up it went away. It’s very unsafe to have a car that you can’t disable the auto stop feature from coming on as if the intersection was not a safe place for this to happen”
“On approximately 11/18/21 3:30 pm I drove my car and the engine just died. Busy street. It took me 30 minutes to restart and pull safely into the first parking lot I could get to. every time I went to start vehicle it would take 3-4 minutes each time, I had to turn car completely to stop the car from trying to start. When it finally started it would only go 10 feet before the engine stopped running. I had to have my car towed to the dealership. On 12/8/21 the dealership called me and said the the pump which is inside the engine failed and that the engine would have to be replaced for $8,500.00 HELP!”
“THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND AT TIMES DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, PRIMARILY NOTED IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. HESITATIONS HAVE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR INPUT, ONCE OCCURRING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION AND ONE TIME OCCURRING WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WITH BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRING ON CITY STREETS WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEFECT APPARENTLY IS WITH THE CHARGE AIR COOLER”
“AT CERTAIN TIMES THERE IS A SLIGHT SURGE. IT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A STOPPED MODE. WHEN THE FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE, BUT BEFORE THE ACCELATOR PEDAL IS TOUCHED, THERE IS A SLIGHT SURGE WHICH IS NOT NORMAL OR SAFE. OCCASIONALLY, IT ALSO OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN THE HIGHEST GEAR.”
“VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND INSTANTLY STARTED AGAIN SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A DRIVE THROUGH AT A RESTAURANT.”
Brake and Suspension Concerns:
“Vaccum for the brakes have gone out 3 times in the last 2 years. This is the second time I have almost crashed with my kids in the car!!”
“The emergency break was stuck it wouldn’t allow the parking break to release which caused me to not be able to stop. It drove fine for 40 miles then when I turned into a parking lot it wouldn’t stop even with the emergency break released.”
“Vaccum pump brake failure while coming to a red-light. Lucky to avoid serious injury. Definitely put my children at risk! No warning lights or dash notices until after the incident. Vehicle was inspected two days prior.”
“I have never experienced an issue prior to today, no warning lights on, no symptoms. While driving down the highway I had to slow for traffic and my brake pedal would not push down, a terrible noise was heard and it took everything in my body to stop my vehicle. I thought I was going to kill everyone in front of me. Had to swerve to the right to prevent this. I then see the words, “service brake assist”. Then the check engine light came on. In researching I see there is a history of brake issues. I haven’t taken it to a repair shop because it literally just occurred and I can’t stop shaking to take it or tow it”
Steering Issues:
“KINHOOK TIRES. THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO ME WITH THESE TIRES, EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE CAR AFTER IT HAS SAT OVERNIGHT IT BUMPS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER MILE. THS IS A PREMIERE VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GM BUT WAS TOLD THEY MET GM MOTRS SPECS.”
“WHILE DRIVING, WHEN TRYING TO CENTER THE CAR IN THE LANE I AM DRIVING IN, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS. IT IS FOR JUST A SPILT SECOND BUT NONETHELESS, IT IS STICKING. ALSO, THE CAR DETECTION LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR (CAR IN YOUR BLIND SPOT) STAYS ON. ALSO GET A MESSAGE THAT SAYS "SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" DEALER SAYS NO ERROR SHOWS UP FOR THEM.”
Sources: www.nhtsa.gov, carcomplaints.com
California Lemon Law and How Valero Law Can Assist
The California Lemon Law provides critical safeguards for consumers who have purchased or leased vehicles marred by defects, including the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. If you're dealing with persistent issues that remain unresolved despite reasonable repair attempts, or if your vehicle has been out of service for a considerable duration due to repairs, you may have a strong case under the Lemon Law.
Valero Law, a respected Lemon Law attorney firm, specializes in supporting individuals navigating challenges like those encountered with the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies within Lemon Law cases, they can adeptly guide you through the legal process. Whether it entails negotiating with the manufacturer for a buyback or replacement, or pursuing a legal claim to protect your rights, Valero Law is committed to advocating for your interests. If the ongoing problems with your Chevrolet Equinox are impacting your driving experience, it's advisable to consider seeking the expertise of Valero Law to explore your options and pursue resolution through the California Lemon Law.