The 2025 model year marked the fourth generation of the little Chevrolet Equinox as a popular compact crossover utility. The Equinox has enjoyed a long span as a favorite Chevy model, but this new generation isn’t without its known problems and issues.
Major Recalls for the Equinox
The following recalls affect 2025-2026 model year Equinox vehicles and are sorted by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall number.
Pedestrian Alert Sound System (25V-878): The exterior pedestrian alert system fails to produce a sufficient change in volume when moving from a stop to low speeds, violating federal safety standards.
Tire Tread Separation (25V-704): Vehicles equipped with optional 21-inch Continental all-season tires may experience a manufacturing defect causing partial or full tread detachment.
Adaptive Cruise Control Failure (25V-012): A software problem may cause the adaptive cruise control to fail to activate the vehicle’s brakes when necessary.
Technical Service Bulletins for Chevy Equinox
A technical service bulletin (TSB) is an instruction from the manufacturer to dealerships and technicians for the repair procedure on known issues, recall-related fixes, and common warranty claims.
Transmission Stuck in 1st Gear: On 8T45 transmission variants, vehicles may get stuck in 1st gear upon acceleration when shifted out of reverse while the transmission is cold (below 20°C / 68°F). GM is investigating a fix. In the interim, releasing the throttle should allow the vehicle to shift normally.
Acceleration Shake/Wobble: GM engineering has investigated conditions where drivers experience a wobble or shake in the seat, floor, or steering wheel during acceleration. No long-term durability concerns are associated with this, but dealers may monitor or address it under warranty.
Battery Software (Equinox EV): A service update (TSB 26-NA-031) handles “Service Vehicle High Voltage Battery” notifications on early 2025/2026 models, which is resolved via module reprogramming.
Engine Misfires: GM has issued Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for earlier 1.5L turbocharged engines experiencing rough idling, stalling, and misfires
Equinox Known Issues
The following are common problems and issues with the Chevrolet Equinox taken from owner’s forums, social media, and technician bulletins. These are the most commonly-reported items and may not be an all-inclusive list.
Screen Blackouts: Many owners report glitches where the infotainment and driver information displays intermittently go black, disabling speedometers and other critical readouts.
Body Control Module (BCM): Software-related breakdowns affecting dashboard alerts, door locks, and OnStar/GPS connectivity have been widely documented.
Phantom Braking: Corrupted or overly sensitive front sensors have led to instances where the emergency braking system activates unexpectedly while driving.
Chevrolet Equinox Engine and Transmission
The Equinox uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in both its front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. This engine produces 175 horsepower and is known for its good fuel economy and power output.Â
The Equinox uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in its front-wheel drive models and an 8-speed geared automatic transmission in its all-wheel drive configurations.
Sluggish Acceleration: The 175-horsepower 1.5L engine and available CVT feel underpowered and loud when pushed, taking around 8.6 seconds to reach 60 mph.
Gear Selector Defects: Users have noted difficulties in operating the column gear shift, requiring multiple attempts to successfully engage the correct gear (e.g., Park or Drive).
Broader Reliability Concerns: The powertrain and related electronic systems on some early 2025-2026 models have drawn scrutiny for sensor faults and overall software or mechanical hiccups.
How To Check For Recalls On Your Chevrolet
The easiest way to check for current recalls that may affect your Forester is to visit the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Recalls page and enter your license plate or 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) to run a search. You can also do this at the Chevy recalls page.
