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Chevrolet Equinox sudden acceleration problems

29 of the 9,236 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Equinox describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 2005 model year.

owner complaints
29
worst model year
2005
typical mileage
10,650
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

  • 2025
    3
  • 2024
    1
  • 2022
    1
  • 2020
    2
  • 2019
    3
  • 2018
    2
  • 2016
    2
  • 2015
    1
  • 2014
    1
  • 2013
    1
  • 2012
    2
  • 2011
    1
  • 2010
    3
  • 2007
    1
  • 2005
    5

What owners say

Filed Oct 4, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · GA · crash · 2 injuries

The driver pulled into a parking space at a local pharmacy. The space directly faced the building and was separated from the building by a sidewalk that was approximately 6 feet wide. After pulling into the parking space and releasing the accelerator (the vehicle was in the single pedal driving mode, so the motor braking should have been activated) the vehicle instead experienced three problems/failures. (1) Sudden Unintended Acceleration - The vehicle suddenly lurched forward without driver input. (2) The Automatic Emergency Braking System failed to activate or to override the acceleration command, even though the vehicle was directly facing the wall of the building, which was only a few feet away. (3) The Collision Warning System failed to activate. The system should have displayed a large red box with an X through it in the Heads Up Display to warn of the pending building impact. No warning was received.

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Fuel system · IL

While driving, vehicle lunged forward and engine shut off. Dashboard stated to put in neutral and restart. Pushed automatic start and it clicked for approximately 20 seconds before engine started. Put vehicle in drive and pressed on gas and engine shut off. Put vehicle in park and tried to start again with clicking lasting 20-30 seconds before stopping. Had to have vehicle towed to Chevy Dealership for diagnostic and repair. The fuel pump control module had to be replaced. This was a recall for 2021-2022 Equinox. The VIN did not pull up for this recall and I am asking for reimbursement.

Filed Mar 31, 2026 · Acceleration · TX · crash

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.

Filed Mar 27, 2026 · Engine · AZ · fire

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer for Technical Service Bulletin TSB #: 19-NA-065. While driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle lunged forward; the driver was able to pull over. While attempting to restart the vehicle, it suddenly caught fire. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. AAA was called, and the vehicle was towed to her residence. The occupant called 911, and the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was called, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Mar 8, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · NJ

When accelerating to enter a road with high speed traffic the engine dies for a few seconds resulting in on coming traffic having to brake to avoid a collision. Then, the engine suddenly accelerates wildly. This problem occurs every time the vehicle is driven. The dealer service people has "tested" by driving the vehicle for 7 miles and declared there is nothing wrong. This is dangerous because the vehicle engine dies/stalls at a critical moment and if an oncoming driver isn't paying attention this could result in a collision.

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CT · crash

SEE the federal safety agency Safety Recall Report 25V-12- It appears it should apply to both 2025 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE Chevy Equinox EVs with ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (and without Super Cruise) in addition to 2025 ALL WHEEL DRIVE Equinox EVs with ACC (also without Super Cruise). This is very dangerous. Here's what happened: My 8 month old 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV FRONT WHEEL DRIVE w/ACC(no Super Cruise) has had 2 instances where a very large "thunk" sound and vibration emanating from the rear of the car while stopped at an intersection, was immediately followed with sudden brake failure and sudden forward acceleration. The ACC was on in both instances. The first time this happened was alarming but since the was nothing in front of me there was no damage and the problem seemed to resolve itself thereafter. The second time was while waiting at a red light about 10 feet behind another vehicle. My car shot forward and into the other car, which was then pushed into the car ahead of it. Both my car and the car ahead of me had very expensive damages, but fortunately, no injuries. What I experienced sounds exactly like the recall problem described in the federal safety agency Safety Recall Report 25V-12 which has thus far only been applied to the AWD version of the 2025 Equinox EV, not the FWD version that I have. I believe this needs rapid consideration due to the danger of of sudden acceleration resulting in serious property damage, injury, or death. It appears to me that other instances of this problem have been described in various online forums and YouTubes.

Filed Feb 1, 2024 · Engine · 50,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. Occasionally the vehicle would surge forward while stopped at a stop light. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who discovered that the engine oil was extremely low. Engine oil was added to the engine however, after retrieving the vehicle the contact discovered that engine oil had leaked from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Sep 13, 2022 · Engine · 105,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lunged and then started losing motive power with the engine running. The contact attempted to pull off the road however, the vehicle then accelerated independently. The contact stopped the vehicle, turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The local dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the exhaust manifold was cracked and that the oxygen sensors #1 and #2 needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Filed Nov 20, 2020 · Acceleration · 15,000 miles · NJ · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2019 chevrolet equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling into a parking space with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning as a result, the driver crashed into a parked vehicle. The driver did not sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to turnersville automall, 3400 nj-42, turnersville, nj 08012, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure an open a case. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2020 · Body, Brakes · 6,550 miles · NY · crash

Pulling out of carwash.turning left in carwash lot. Car engine reved up, car lunged forward at high speed. Slammed on brake but brake pedal went right to the floor. Car then side swiped carwash vacuum system on passenger side scraping and denting both passenger side doors. Threw car into park and shut off engine to stop waited 5 minutes. Turned car back on put car in drive. Slowly moved and put brake on. Brakes worked. Drove 5 miles to get home. Now afraid to drive car.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Chevrolet Equinox sudden acceleration

Which Chevrolet Equinox years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2005 (5 complaints), 2010 (3 complaints) and 2019 (3 complaints).

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