Chevrolet Equinox steering lock-up problems

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Fuel system, Steering · CO

**the federal safety agency Complaint Summary: 2023 Chevrolet Equinox Warranty & Safety Failure** * **First Stall & Initial Negligence:** After a factory engine replacement, the vehicle suffered a fuel system failure. Castle Rock Chevrolet falsely claimed it was repaired, leading to a catastrophic stall on a high-speed highway with raw gasoline and burning plastic odors. * **Second Stall & False Diagnosis:** Following a tow, the dealership cleared the car, claiming "no errors". Within 24 hours, it stalled again in live traffic. Castle Rock then refused emergency warranty service and hung up on you. * **Critical Safety Hazard:** The vehicle experiences a severe electrical voltage drop (triggering **"Engine Power Is Reduced"** and **"Battery Saver Active"** warnings). This causes a sudden, dangerous **loss of Electric Power Steering (steering locks up)** and **fuel injection failure** while driving in traffic, creating an extreme crash risk. This recurring hazard stems from improperly reassembled or melted wiring harnesses following dealership repairs.

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · AZ

Braking issues Sensors go off when nothing aroung Slow backing car engages brakes Bad smell like a strong BO persists after cabin an oil fulter changed Battery / alternator drain 12-07 2025 to 01-17 2026 in auto shop I was told wainting for part ( Onstar ) Prior brake issues early April 2025 the week of having auto brakes and steering lock up during 45mph drive it was documented as a camera issue No power as if brakes applied while, Car has felt when turning like it skips while in a turn during driving all 8 visited on document other 4 not documented System dignostic or dealer service doesn't show issues. Issues have been on going without success other issues possible related or newer Miles first reported brake and steering lockup 145 miles most recent 7750

Filed Jul 10, 2024 · Fuel system · FL · crash

After going very slow, mostly stopped, in stop-and-go traffic for 2 hours, my Chevy Equinox suddenly started to shake and would not respond. The car/engine was on and in Drive but the gas petal would not propel the car forward. My steering wheel locked and I could not turn it in any way. The Engine Light came on and a message came on the dash that said "Push Brake to Start Engine" but pushing the brake did not change anything, and the engine had never turned off. I tried to turn the car off by mashing the brake and pushing the engine stop button but my car would not turn off. I rolled backward into the car behind me as could not go forward and traffic had to be routed around me. About 20 minutes later, I tried to turn my car off and it did cut off completely. About 30 minutes later a police officer was able to turn my car on, put it in neutral, and roll it to the side of the road. The check engine light was still on. My car was towed 200 miles back home and I was able to drive it off the tow truck and into our driveway but the engine light was still on. The next day, the car turned on and the engine light was not on. I did not feel safe to drive it so we had it towed to the Carmax where we purchased it. Carmax towed it to a local chevy dealership and they said it was the fuel nodule. It is currently awaiting those repairs.

Filed Apr 4, 2024 · OH

While driving everything went blank on my dashboard even radio screen then steering wheel locked up on me for maybe 1-2 seconds then that’s when I got a quick flash come on dashboard and said service power steering or steering wheel. And quickly went away. This could have risked me and my 2 year old toddler life. I took my car back to dealership Lexus of Dayton but they said there was nothing showing on my dashboard. I told them that it went away. So they suggested to take it to a Chevy dealership because it may be cheaper to have it put on a diagnostic because they would charge me 189.00 to do so. Which I feel I shouldn’t have to pay for.

Filed Jan 11, 2024 · FL

I was driving my car and it shut down in the middle of traffic on the freeway on [XXX] I thought I was dead I almost had a accident the car started back up and it did it again 4 times I am afraid to drive the car when it shuts down the steering wheel locks up and nothing happens I am so afraid of this Equinox please help. Not knowing what to do went to the dealer guy did a simply scan on the car and tried to sell me a car instead of trying to find the cause I am just so upset I love my car please please help me. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 17, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · KY

While diving down a busy highway, the vehicle's check engine light came on with no notice and my daughter lost acceleration and then the vehicle "died" while driving on this busy highway. The steering locked up. She had a hard time getting it to the side of the road. It was a very dangerous situation. If this would have happened a couple days later while driving on the interstate, it could have been deadly and caused a major accident. The vehicle would not start back up and had to be towed. It's already had a fuel pump issue when we first bought it and had that replaced. Now, it's back in the shop and who knows for how long. I bought my daugheter a new vehicle so that we wouldn't have to worry about her being on the side of the road and now I do NOT trust this vehicle as I am seeing this is an ongoing issue with this vehicle. Again, we are lucky that this did not cause and accident and injury or death to others.......

Filed Sep 20, 2022 · Steering · 53,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a left turn, the steering wheel seized and a warning message was displayed on the instrument panel to check the steering wheel. The vehicle was diagnosed by a mechanic and the contact was informed that the power steering sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 53,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Apr 28, 2022 · Brakes, Steering · MI

at stop signs, when autostop/start re engages the vehicle jerks and shows several warnings on the dash saying service brake assist, parking break released, forward collision reduced. the steering wheel locks up for under 3 seconds before it releases and can be steered again

Filed Sep 17, 2021 · Electrical · MS

When the alternator stopped working everything on the car locked. The doors locked, the steering wheel locked, the key wouldn't come out of the ignition, the windows wouldn't come up or down. I couldn't even physically pull up the door locks. If the driver's door hadn't been slightly open(I was attempting to back out of my driveway on a dirt road where the visibility is poor) I would have been trapped inside with no way to get out without busting the window. I didn't have my phone with me and I was by myself in a very isolated location and no one would have missed me for over 48 hours since my husband works out of state. The temperature here was in excess of 95° even after 4 pm and the vehicle was under no shade. I'm a disabled person also so I truly am scared of the vehicle now. There was no warning about the alternator failing. The car never even showed a warning light. Even after replacing the alternator the battery will not stay charged and now the seatbelt and Airbag warning lights refuse to turn off. The way everything locked up and the fact that I couldn't even physically pull up the lock and the hatchback in the back wouldn't even come open when I pulled the handle is extremely dangerous and concerning

Filed Aug 27, 2021 · Engine · NY

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently to 20 mph with the steering wheel locked. The ESC message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact continued to drive to the residence. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as water leaking into the engine which caused the electronic failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.