The Used Car Index

2018 Chevrolet Equinox problems

NHTSA lists 408 complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, 23 of them mention a crash and 4 mention a fire. 17 complaints mention an injury, with 30 injuries and 1 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as CHEVROLET EQUINOX.

At a glance

Complaints
408
With crash
23
With fire
4
With injury (complaints)
17
Injuries
30
Deaths
1
Recalls
5
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
210,628
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
1,338

Complaints per 100k sold: 122.662. Units sold: 332,621; sales year: 2018; basis: calendar_year_us_sales_proxy_for_model_year. goodcarbadcar.net.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
SERVICE BRAKES11828.9%
ENGINE8621.1%
POWER TRAIN6616.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6115.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5513.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM338.1%
STRUCTURE174.2%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE163.9%
AIR BAGS153.7%
STEERING153.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY17
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING11
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEWARNINGS5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL3
LANE DEPARTUREBLIND SPOT DETECTION3
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT PANEL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control12029.4%0.79
mechanical failure11127.2%0.77
electrical electronic9022.1%0.84
fluid or fuel leak245.9%0.78
restraint or airbag204.9%0.92
noise or comfort133.2%0.83
visibility or lighting112.7%0.88
unclear82.0%0.87
structural or corrosion71.7%0.58
fire or overheating41.0%0.80
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate26665.2%0.85
low9423.0%0.73
high409.8%0.79
critical41.0%0.94
none41.0%0.82

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 408 tagged complaints of 408 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

5 recalls.

20V668000

Date: 2020-10-29. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. (excerpt)

Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire. (excerpt)

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this r (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V576000

Date: 2018-08-30. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V358000

Date: 2018-05-31. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V252000

Date: 2018-04-19. Systems: STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY.

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The driver and front passenger door window glass may not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

Consequence: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V516000

Date: 2017-08-22. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.

Consequence: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

1,338 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT443
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM295
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING241
ENGINE146
POWER TRAIN127
UNKNOWN OR OTHER81
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY77
STRUCTURE73

11037555

Date: 2026-09-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.

11037253

Date: 2026-09-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

11035340

Date: 2026-07-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

11030974

Date: 2026-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

11030360

Date: 2026-03-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information discusses a condition that may arise from the drivers window switch sending an errant message causing the vehicle to enter manual fob learn mode.

11030091

Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

11030092

Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

11027601

Date: 2026-01-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

11025755

Date: 2025-11-20. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customera s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If

11023091

Date: 2025-09-09. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

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Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
EQUINOX408

Same model, other years

All model years | All Chevrolet models

Other Chevrolet models, 2018

Sources

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