Owners have reported 9 crashes and 3 injuries to NHTSA for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints88
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Owners report significant issues with glare from the dashboard reflecting onto the windshield in the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, particularly during bright sunlight or when oncoming headlights are present at night. Complaints frequently mention that this glare severely obstructs visibility, making it difficult to see pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles, and in some cases, nearly causing collisions. The dashboard's design, including grooves and patterns, is cited as a factor contributing to the intensity of the glare. These issues are noted irrespective of mileage, suggesting they are related to design rather than wear. Safety implications are evident, as multiple owners describe near misses and the potential for accidents due to impaired visibility.
Owner complaints49
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several recurring electrical system issues with the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, notably involving the telematics module. Complaints frequently mention failures in connectivity features such as OnStar, GPS, and infotainment systems, often linked to a backordered telematics module, leaving vehicles without emergency services. Symptoms also include intermittent or complete failure of displays and instrument clusters, with some owners experiencing screen freezes and reboots while driving, and occasional loss of vehicle power. These issues typically arise within the first few thousand miles, with some reports of complete electrical failures preventing vehicle start-up. Safety implications are significant, with multiple reports of unexpected braking, loss of emergency connectivity, and instances where vehicle control is compromised, although no crashes or injuries are widely reported.
Owner complaints42
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners report several common issues with the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, including problems with dashboard glare and telematics module failures. Complaints frequently mention excessive glare from the dashboard reflecting onto the windshield, significantly impairing visibility during sunny conditions. Additionally, multiple owners describe failures of the OnStar and telematics modules, which affect GPS functionality and safety features, with parts reportedly on backorder and no estimated time for resolution. Some owners also experience turn signal malfunctions, where the signal activates incorrectly after a turn. These issues are noted at various mileage ranges, with safety implications such as impaired visibility and malfunctioning safety systems being a concern for potential buyers.
Owner complaints21
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners report frequent issues with the forward collision avoidance system in the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, primarily involving unexpected automatic emergency braking, often referred to as "phantom braking." This occurs both at high speeds and in city driving, with several instances where the system engages without any apparent obstacles, posing a risk of rear-end collisions. Complaints also highlight problems with adaptive cruise control not properly adjusting speed or stopping, particularly at lower speeds, requiring driver intervention to avoid collisions. Two incidents involving crashes are noted, one resulting in an injury, underscoring the potential safety implications. These issues appear to occur across various mileage ranges, with some owners experiencing faults soon after purchase.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints19
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners report frequent issues with the braking system of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, with problems often involving unexpected activation of automatic braking and emergency parking brakes without clear obstacles. Complaints highlight sudden braking at both high speeds and low speeds, sometimes leading to crashes and injuries. Some owners describe complete brake failure, particularly on downhill or gravel roads, where pressing the brake pedal results in no deceleration. Patterns suggest these issues can occur at varying mileages, with some incidents reported after 13,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with four crashes and two injuries noted, making potential buyers cautious about braking reliability in this model.
Severity signals: 4 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints19
POWER TRAIN
Owners report several power train issues with the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, primarily involving transmission problems and unexpected braking. Complaints frequently mention transmission slipping, difficulty shifting gears, and instances where the vehicle shifts into park or neutral unexpectedly, often accompanied by abnormal noises or vibrations. These issues are noted across various mileages, with some as early as 870 miles. One complaint includes a crash when the vehicle lurched forward while braking. Additionally, multiple reports describe "phantom braking," where the vehicle suddenly brakes without warning, posing potential safety risks due to loss of control and the possibility of rear-end collisions. These patterns suggest potential reliability concerns for prospective buyers, especially regarding transmission and braking systems.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints9
STEERING
Owners report several steering-related issues with the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. A common problem involves the turn signal stalk, where users describe it self-canceling too forcefully, inadvertently activating the opposite signal, leading to potential confusion for other drivers. Another issue involves the steering wheel seizing at highway speeds after prolonged driving, causing difficulty in maintaining lane position. Additionally, some owners note power steering failures linked to front camera malfunctions, occurring around 8,300 miles. These issues, particularly those affecting steering control, have significant safety implications, as they may lead to erratic vehicle behavior and increased risk of collisions.
Owner complaints7
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Owners of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox frequently report issues with the vehicle's exterior lighting, particularly in snowy conditions. A common problem involves the recessed LED headlights becoming obstructed by snow and slush, which the lights' lack of heat fails to melt, leading to significantly reduced visibility. Additionally, several owners describe a malfunction with the turn signal lever, where it inadvertently activates the left signal after completing a right turn, often due to the lever snapping back too forcefully. These issues have been noted at relatively low mileages, with one report mentioning approximately 100 miles. The described problems can potentially lead to unsafe driving conditions, particularly in poor weather or when signaling intentions to other drivers.
Owner complaints7
ENGINE
Owners of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox frequently report issues with the check engine light activating, often accompanied by the vehicle slowing down unexpectedly. Some complaints describe the vehicle's engine shutting down entirely, particularly at highway speeds, and in one instance, the vehicle engaged the parking brake automatically on the road. Several owners mention the check engine light appearing shortly after purchase, with recurring appearances over several months, leading to multiple dealership visits without a permanent resolution. Additionally, one report notes unexplained engine revving while braking, and another describes a persistent bearing noise linked to the Active Noise Cancelling system. These issues typically arise within the first 15,000 miles, with some reports indicating potential safety concerns due to loss of vehicle control.
Owner complaints6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners report several issues with the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox related to vehicle speed control. Common symptoms include the adaptive cruise control disengaging unexpectedly and the forward collision avoidance system initiating braking without cause. Some owners describe the gas pedal becoming unresponsive, necessitating a vehicle restart to regain functionality, with one instance leading to a collision when the brakes failed. Complaints also mention the vehicle stalling at highway speeds without warning and issues with the one pedal mode not functioning as expected when reversing. These problems are reported at varied mileages, with one instance occurring at approximately 6,500 miles, and pose potential safety risks, including loss of vehicle control and increased accident risk.
