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ProblemsByVin File / 2018-CHEVROLET-EQUINOX NHTSA data synced 3 days ago
2018 · Chevrolet

Chevrolet Equinox problems

386 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.8 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2018 Equinox?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

brakes
91 reports · fails ~79,585 mi · avg $450
severe
powertrain
60 reports · fails ~40,724 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
electrical
46 reports · fails ~57,134 mi · avg $850
moderate
engine
37 reports · fails ~47,981 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
steering
15 reports · fails ~13,587 mi · avg $700
severe
airbags
13 reports · fails ~19,595 mi · avg $1,100
severe
visibility
13 reports · fails ~34,295 mi · avg $350
severe
wheels
11 reports · fails ~18,372 mi · avg $400
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2018 Equinox's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2018 Equinox?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2018 Equinox · brakes
While attempting to apply the brakes to slow down a message appeared on the instrument panel that said Service Brake Assist.. My safety was put at risk by not having proper breaking. The problen was addressed at a gm dealer and I was told there are no recalls for this type of…
12/31/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11445748.0 · see brakes pattern →
2018 Equinox · powertrain
The car started going into auto stop and would not go forward one the brake was released on the highway or at stop signs. This caused us to almost have a wreck because the car wouldn't go when it needed to when pulling out onto a road when it was clear to go. It created a time…
12/31/2020 · at 49,500 mi · NHTSA ODI #11385951.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2018 Equinox · powertrain
Just finshed my second year into my 3 year 2018 Chevy equinox lease and for the last month or so the service brake assist has appeared and dissapeared dozens of times when starting the vehicle and while driving as well as the check engine light has come on and off for the last…
12/31/2019 · at 32,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11292216.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2018 Equinox · steering
the vacumm pump grenaded and sent metal chunks into the camshaft knocking the reluctant wheel out of position causing the car to shut down and lose brakes and power steering. There were no prior engine codes or warning. multiple mechanics verified this and it is a known issue.…
12/30/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11562784.0 · see steering pattern →
View all 386 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2018 Chevrolet Equinox? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 17V516000 August 22, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles

If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.
severe NHTSA 18V252000 April 19, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles

If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18136.

Common questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 386 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Brakes: 91 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 61,000–109,888 mi; Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 91 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,585 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 79,585 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Chevrolet Equinox has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 386 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Other model years
2022 Equinox2021 Equinox2020 Equinox2019 Equinox2017 Equinox2016 Equinox2015 Equinox2014 Equinox
Compare against
vs. 2018 honda CR-V vs. 2018 ford Escape vs. 2018 jeep Compass vs. 2018 jeep Cherokee
Problem categories across the fleet
brakes across all vehicles powertrain across all vehicles electrical across all vehicles engine across all vehicles steering across all vehicles airbags across all vehicles visibility across all vehicles wheels across all vehicles
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 3 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Chevrolet/Equinox. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Chevrolet. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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