282 of the 1,917 complaints about the Chevrolet Equinox (14.7%) concern Brakes, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 2.4× the Brakes share across all tracked vehicles.
282Complaints · Brakes
14.7%Share of complaints
2.43×vs. all vehicles
72Last 12 months
12.1%Share involving a crash or fire
3Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Brakes complaints peak with the 2018 model (86, 21% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2022 model (4). 72 Brakes complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 54 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
Owners most often describe: “brake”, “vacuum”, “pump”, “pedal” and “hard”. 37 of these reports (12.1%) describe a crash or fire, with 20 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
3 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 25V012000 (2025-01-16, model years 2025).
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes locked up, and the vehicle accelerated independently, causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle.
Brakes · 2026-08-26 · ODI 11759717 · Crash
While pulling into a parking spot of a business and approximately 6 feet from the curb, the automatic emergency brake engaged forcing my whole body forward, slamming my head on the visor/roof of the car very forcefully/painfully.
Brakes · 2026-03-15 · ODI 11724460
On September 2, 2026, at approximately 3:19 PM, my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV unexpectedly applied hard automatic braking while I was proceeding through a green intersection. A white SUV ahead of me was moving to the left and clearing my travel path.
Brakes · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761778
In my chevy equinox 2018 my vacuum pump and brake booster failed when I was driving and I could not brake. I slid into the gravel side of the road on the 138, luckily there were not alot of traffic at the time cause I would have caused a major accident.
Brakes · 2026-08-25 · ODI 11759470
While I was getting off the freeway, my vehicle displayed the “Service Brake Assist” warning. When I attempted to brake, the brake pedal became extremely hard and would not respond normally. The vehicle would not stop normally when I pressed the brake pedal.
Brakes · 2026-08-22 · ODI 11758826
Hard brake pedal and Service Assist message. This issue was recalled for trucks and larger SUVs but not the Equinox. This is a known safety issue to Chevrolet, making my vehicle undrivable until I can come up with the $1,500 to have it towed and repaired.
Brakes · 2026-08-17 · ODI 11757499
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Campaign 25V012000 · 2025-01-16 · Model years: 2025
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV all-wheel drive electric vehicles. The adaptive cruise control may fail to engage the brakes as expected, due to incorrect brake module software.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software calibration in the brake system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242481530.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Campaign 19V704000 · 2019-10-03 · Model years: 2020
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER Campaign 18V576000 · 2018-08-30 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: 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.
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.
How common are Brakes problems on the Chevrolet Equinox?
282 of the 1,917 complaints about the Chevrolet Equinox (14.7%) concern Brakes, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 2.4× the Brakes share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Chevrolet Equinox model years have the most Brakes complaints?
By model year, Brakes complaints peak with the 2018 model (86, 21% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2022 model (4).
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Equinox Brakes problems?
3 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 25V012000 (2025-01-16, model years 2025).