285 of the
12,688 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Equinox
are about the throttle and cruise control —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2011.
285
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
22
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The vehicle is experiencing repeated, sudden engine stalling while driving at speed, creating an immediate risk of a severe traffic collision. In March 2025, the fuel pump failed and was replaced by an independent mechanic, who later had to clear a system clog in August 2025 after a second stall. In August 2026, the dealership replaced the fuel pump under an official NHTSA safety recall. Within days of receiving the vehicle back, the new recall remedy failed, causing the vehicle to stall in traffic again and nearly cause a major accident. The vehicle has suffered four separate fuel-system-related failures/stalls under 87,000 miles. The manufacturer's official recall remedy has failed to resolve the safety hazard, and the vehicle remains entirely unsafe to drive.
NHTSA complaint #11758547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car failing to accelerate properly when pushing gas peddle to floor, delay for couple seconds/ longest was 30 seconds before car registered need to move. No defined time its happening intermittently, no warning or codes populating for issue. Recent issue Car was only registered 5 mph after pulling into street from a parking lot with pedal to the floor. After 30 ish seconds car jerks speeding forward at the expected force with pedal to floor. Car Basically was not moving and risked being hit by cars not realizing we are having acceleration issues. Luckily no cars coming and other traffic was stopped by red light. Took to repair shop they had it for 2 days and confirmed issue but all tests were cleared and areas check passed. Research showed known issue but no fix found. Issue started within last 2 weeks. Note current heat wave and online forms says other with same issue on 2020 Chevy equinox seems to notice issue more often when extreme heat weather and ac on high in car. Repair shop had no options for repair unless it happens and codes for them to read, recommend trading in car due to safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11757848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while attempting to park into a parking spot, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and drove over a curb onto the grass. The contact depressed the brake pedal with extra force; however, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated the passenger’s side front fender crashed into the passenger’s side door of the other vehicle. The vehicle came to a complete stop upon impact. The air bags had not deployed. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the crash. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A Police report was filed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car was in Clarksburg Crown, Mitsubishi, and a lot that had no monitoring, and it was a sticker saying the car was not ready to be sold, and I still went with it trusting the crown Mitsubishi Car associate however there are fuses added to my car weather from them or from car auto tunes in Morgantown I’m not sure but my car has the ability to run without my foot on the gas or things happening to my to my acceleration
NHTSA complaint #11753998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving with the cruise control activated, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated from 50 MPH to 80 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. During the failure, three minor occupants were seated inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,500.
NHTSA complaint #11753238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, the vehicle experienced a sudden power and drivability issue. The vehicle began to decelerate on its own while in motion, even though I was actively driving. A warning notification appeared on the driver dashboard, and shortly after, the vehicle power shut off. This creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose speed and/or power while driving in traffic. The issue appears to involve the transmission, powertrain, or vehicle electrical/power management system. The loss of acceleration and sudden deceleration could increase the risk of a crash, especially at highway speeds or in heavy traffic. This incident occurred while the vehicle was being driven, not while parked. The warning message appeared on the dash before or during the power loss. I am reporting this because the vehicle’s sudden deceleration and power shutdown while driving could be a safety defect. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether this issue is related to a known defect, recall, transmission issue, powertrain control issue, or electrical system failure affecting the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox.
NHTSA complaint #11740469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I slowly put my foot on the brake and suddenly heard a noise under the vehicle. It sounded like loud grinding. As pulled forward I looked in the rear view mirror and didn't see anything in the road that may have fallen out from under my vehicle. When I pushed on the gas I was suddenly accelerating forward very quickly without my control. This was maybe one or two seconds after I heard the noise. I hit the brakes and nothing happened. My only choice was to hit the back end of the other vehicle as there were pedestrians on either side. The vehicle was continuing to accelerate even after I tried to put it in park. I was worried if the car in front of me moved, that I would keep going. I even pressed the emergency brake button twice and nothing worked. Nothing was working at all. I called the police. They told me to try turning off the car. I pressed the button to turn the car off, but it took several pushes to work. I could hear that the rpms lowered extremely slowly. Once the police came they didn't see anything in the road at all. Vehicle was moved to a body shop and when they turned on the car it immediately started revving really loudly again.
NHTSA complaint #11728352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recall/Loss of Power I am filing a safety complaint regarding a 2023 Chevy Equinox. The vehicle began losing engine power and will not go over 40 mph. This creates a dangerous driving situation because the vehicle cannot maintain highway speed. The vehicle has a fuel system recall, and the issue appears to be related to the fuel system. The vehicle is currently at a Chevrolet dealership and has been there for almost a month. The vehicle is currently inoperable. This is a safety concern because loss of engine power while driving could cause an accident. I am requesting that this issue be investigated as a safety defect. Sincerely, [XXX] VIN [XXX] Mileage: 63,000 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11727639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle looses power and can very easily cause a bad wreck I've replaced multiple thing and it still does it I'm not sure what it is possibly the timing or something to do with camshaft
NHTSA complaint #11725985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, the vehicle repeatedly displays diagnostic trouble code P2138 (Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor Voltage Correlation). The vehicle suddenly enters “Reduced Engine Power” mode without warning and loses acceleration while driving. This occurs daily and multiple times per day, both on highways and local roads. When the issue happens, the vehicle will not properly accelerate and loses power unexpectedly. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially in highway traffic, as I am unable to maintain speed or accelerate to avoid other vehicles. I have had to maneuver carefully or move toward the shoulder to avoid potential collisions. The throttle body has already been replaced; however, the problem continues to occur. The defect has not been corrected and remains ongoing and reproducible. I am currently [XXX] pregnant and drive this vehicle daily for work and to transport my [XXX] child to school. The unexpected loss of power places both myself and my child at risk while operating the vehicle in active traffic. This defect presents a significant safety concern due to repeated and sudden loss of engine power while driving. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11719680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I keep loosing power and get the message "Engine Power Reduced" and the car stops while driving down the road, sometimes it just stutters and won't maintain speed without the warning. I've had 2 shops check it out and can't find anything wrong. This vehicle has had all required maintenance done by the dealer since it was new.
NHTSA complaint #11717644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I would like to formally file a safety complaint regarding my Chevrolet vehicle and to express concern over Chevrolet’s handling of a known defect. On January 22, while driving to work in cold weather conditions, my vehicle experienced a sudden and dangerous malfunction. The engine unexpectedly revved to approximately 4,500 RPM, the check engine light illuminated, and the dashboard displayed an “Engine Power Reduced” message. Despite removing my foot from the accelerator, the vehicle did not slow down as expected. I was able to pull over to the side of the road and bring the vehicle to a stop. I immediately contacted my local Chevrolet service department and was advised to bring the vehicle in six days later, the following Friday. Due to the safety risk, we did not use the vehicle during this time out of concern for a potential accident. When the vehicle was inspected by the Chevrolet dealership, we were informed that Chevrolet had identified this issue as being related to cold weather operation and that a custom shield had been designed to address the problem. We were also told that Chevrolet vehicles were not adequately designed for cold weather conditions, which led to this failure. Despite this acknowledgment and the fact that Chevrolet has engineered a corrective part, we were informed that the repair—costing approximately $1,600—is not covered under our extended warranty, as the shield was not installed on the vehicle at the time of purchase. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive. When accelerating, engine RPMs surge from approximately 2,500 to 4,000 RPM, and the vehicle can suddenly decelerate, creating a serious risk of rear-end collisions if a following driver is forced to brake abruptly. This issue represents a significant safety hazard. Chevrolet has acknowledged the defect by creating a corrective part, yet is declining to cover the repair cost, leaving the responsibility with the customer for a known design issue. Please let me know my next step
NHTSA complaint #11714534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On three occasions, gas pedal went limp, and required restarting engine to reset controls to get gas pedal working again. On one occasion, brakes failed to operate leading to a collision. And forward collision warning did not activate.
NHTSA complaint #11710319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Safety Complaint: Engine Stall/Loss of Power at Highway Speeds – 2014 Chevy Equinox Incident Details: • The Failure: While driving, the vehicle suddenly stopped responding to the accelerator. I was forced to navigate through highway traffic to the shoulder with no engine power. Once stopped, the vehicle would not restart. • Warning Signs: Leading up to the event, the Check Engine light and Battery light flickered intermittently. • Diagnostic History: Prior to the breakdown, a technician replaced the starter and checked the battery, yet the Check Engine light remained on. The engine exhibited high RPMs (reaching 3,000+) during normal acceleration before the total failure. • Safety Risk: This defect caused a complete loss of propulsion in high-speed traffic, placing myself and my infant in immediate danger of a high-speed rear-end collision.
NHTSA complaint #11708538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving today at about 21 mph, when a warning came on that my car had brake assist failure. It said the speed would be limited and to break hard to enable the car to stop.. I was able to get to a parking lot safely, but my car did not break at the stoplight and went straight through. Luckily there was no one coming.. my car is at the dealership now and they are finding no issue and nothing showed up on my Chevy app. From the articles I have read it said this issue is something that happens on cars that do not have super drive. I drive a 2005 Chevy equinox RS with super Dr. so clearly the brake problem is happening on this vehicle as well.. it took all my strength to get the vehicle to stop.. I called OnStar and was going to have it towed and turned the car off. Once the car came back on all of the warning lights were gone, and then the car drove fine.. I got lucky today, but this is an issue that still needs to be addressed.. The issue was supposed to be taken care of in 2024. I just purchased my 2005 in September and I have 3100 miles on the car.. I was driving in a rural area with many hills and was scared to death. I had to keep my foot all the way on the brakes the entire time to keep myself at a slow speed..
NHTSA complaint #11702375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I drive 20+ miles each way to work every day. Much of this drive is on highways, and currently the bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky is down to three lanes with no berm. On a windy road with low visibility and a steep hill near my home, the car completely lost power and acceleration without any warning. I wasn't able to drive it completely off the road before it came to a stop and due to the loss of power was unable to move into neutral to push it and the hazards would not work. Thank God that this didn't take place on the bridge or with my family in the car. I made the decision to exit the car while it was still on the road and find a safe area in the grass where I could call for help. When I exited the vehicle, it locked me out and the only way to get in was through the driver's side door, which would put me back on the road in traffic and at risk. The electrical failure prevented me from opening the other doors. The car's complete system failure put my safety/life at risk and could jeopardize the lives of others if it wasn't investigated. To make matters worse when the tow truck came via OnStar they weren't equipped to move a car stuck in park or drive due to the electronic gear shift so they drug it with the tires locked onto the bed. After several days of testing the electrical system, the dealership found a loose wire and informed me that it had been fixed. I picked up the car and after a mile or so, the check engine light came on. I contacted the dealership to come pick it up and that's where it stands at the moment. My intention was to pass this on to my boys when they start driving, but this experience will alter that plan.
NHTSA complaint #11700563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,500.
NHTSA complaint #11692048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox with a 1.5L engine. While driving with my children in the vehicle, the car experienced a sudden and frightening failure. The engine began malfunctioning, and after inspection, my mechanic and the repair shop confirmed damage to the vacuum pump, broken engine pieces, and issues with the timing chain and camshaft. These issues are identical to those described in an existing recall for this vehicle, but my VIN is not included. The shop even questioned why my mechanic had to replace the vacuum pump, which shows this failure is directly related to the known recall problem. This situation created a very unsafe condition while my kids were in the car. It is unfair and dangerous that my VIN is excluded when the exact same recall defects are present. I am requesting that my vehicle be included in the recall and that NHTSA investigate this defect further, as it poses a serious safety risk for me, my family, and potentially other drivers.
NHTSA complaint #11689098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.