2020 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2020 Equinox most often describe braking problems, especially a hard or unresponsive brake pedal and rear brakes that drag or grind, and many of these complaints point to a known rear-caliper recall. Engine concerns cluster around stalling or reduced power, and a number of low-mileage complaints describe shuddering or vibration while accelerating. Reports range from cars with a few hundred miles to vehicles past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Stalling or reduced engine power while driving

   • 78 complaints (25%)
   • median 52,500 mi at 4.8 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the check engine light coming on along with a reduced engine power message, the vehicle dropping to low speed or stalling. Some say it restarted after waiting, others needed a tow, and shops diagnosed a range of parts including the wastegate actuator, PCV, fuel and engine control components. A few describe the same fault returning after repairs. Spread across the sample from about 9,000 to over 130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the check engine light has come on and for any stored diagnostic codes, and take a test drive that includes highway acceleration and a stop-and-restart cycle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Equinox has 4636 miles and all three times it has been driven in snow a service ESC message comes on dash and traction control and stability control are turned off along with awd. One time was highway driving, and other two times on a local street. Also while driving down the highway the dash message said reduced engine power (stayed on for 400 miles/two days) may reduce speeds to 50 MPH. Rpm's stared running 1000 higher to maintain speed and fuel economy dropped about 8 mpg. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11301223, filed 2020-01, 4,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed and there was a thumping sound coming from the brake pedal, with the message “Service Brake Assist” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The contact stated that the next day while driving approximately 63 MPH, the message Reduced Engine Power was displayed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11747893, filed 2026-07, 111,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes hard or fails to stop the vehicle

   • 97 complaints (31%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,390 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal becoming stiff or unresponsive while driving, so the vehicle keeps rolling and takes much longer to stop. Several say they had to pump the pedal repeatedly or use the parking brake to bring the car to a halt. In some cases a brake assist message appeared on the dash, and dealers or independent shops diagnosed the brake vacuum pump, brake module or related parts as the source, with some repairs failing to resolve the problem. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 120,000 miles, with some cases much earlier.

   What to check: Ask whether the brake vacuum pump and brake assist system have been inspected or replaced, and test the pedal firmly at low speed before buying. Any intermittent brake assist or service brake message is worth having checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while his wife was driving at an unknown speed, the power steering assist and brake assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the brake module to be replaced. The brake module was replaced, and the brake fluid was flushed. The vehicle was repaired but experienced failure the following day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11438497, filed 2021-10, 2,418 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the message Engine Power Reduced was suddenly displayed. While attempting to stop, the brake pedal was extremely difficult to depress, and the braking distance was extended. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11709875, filed 2026-01, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shudder or vibration while accelerating

   • 25 complaints (8%)
   • median 5,256 mi at 1.1 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe shaking or vibration through the seat and steering wheel when accelerating, typically between about 30 and 45 mph, that fades when they lift off the throttle. Some dealers replaced axle shafts under a bulletin, others could not duplicate the problem, and some owners say the shaking returned or worsened. Mostly reported under about 12,000 miles, often within the first year.

   Recall 20V668000

   What to check: Drive the car at 30 to 45 mph under moderate acceleration and feel for shudder through the wheel and seats; ask whether any axle shaft or transmission work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2020 Equinox has developed a shake/shimmy vibration when accelerating between 30 and 45 MPH. When I first noticed the vibration it was slight and did not happen all the time but with more milage now at 5309 miles, it has become more noticeable enough, that my wife and I do not feel as if the car is safe to drive. Two days ago while accelerating up a hill the car shimmied and a fluttering sound was heard from under the console; it happened twice while going up the hill. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378472, filed 2020-12, 5,256 miles

   “When making a right turn the right wheel feels like it is wabling and it does thr something turning right up hill when you straighten the car up it fills like the wheel ithe itss coming off and it has gotten worse beaty Chevrolet can not find anything wrong with it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395454, filed 2021-02, 11,525 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Rear brakes dragging, grinding or squealing

   • 17 complaints (5%)
   • median 59,900 mi at 4.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe grinding or squealing from the rear brakes, a hot brake smell, and rear brakes that stay engaged, sometimes wearing rear tires prematurely. Several owners say rear calipers had to be replaced, and some linked the symptoms to a recall for rear calipers built with incorrect lubricant, though some found their VIN was not covered. Usually reported from about 35,000 to 120,000 miles.

   Recall 19V704000

   What to check: Ask whether the recall for rear brake calipers was performed on this vehicle and check for uneven rear pad wear or a dragging feel after a short drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds speed, an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the rear brake calipers had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the rotors and the calipers; however, the contact stated the failure returned while driving at slow speeds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11560237, filed 2023-12, 71,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shook and vibrated abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V704000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was associated with the recall. The contact later replaced the rear brakes independently. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11728754, filed 2026-04, 120,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Hard starts, stalls and fuel system faults

   • 43 complaints (14%)
   • median 38,451 mi at 5.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the engine sputtering or failing to start, with the check engine light on, and shops diagnosing the fuel pump, fuel pump driver module or fuel system assembly. Some owners say a repair was made but the problem came back, and a few related their experience to a fuel tank recall for all-wheel-drive models. Reported from near-new mileage up to roughly 82,000 miles.

   Recall 19V667000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank recall applies to this vehicle and whether the fuel pump or control module has been replaced, and listen for rough running or hesitation at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When we bought the 2020 Equinox on january 20, 2020 the check engine light came on and they kept it 2 days diagnosing it and it said a fuel system problem and they told us that they contacted GM engineers who were looking into it and to go ahead and drive it with the light on till they got back with us. It has continued to stay on I had the code read again and it is a p2365 fuel pump a low flow/performance code. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11385241, filed 2020-12, 16 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the fuel pump and fuel pump control module. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V013000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,451.”

   NHTSA complaint #11753771, filed 2026-07, 38,451 miles

Buying note. A 2020 Equinox is worth a careful pre-purchase inspection focused on the brakes, and on any stored engine or fuel system codes. Ask for the recall history by VIN, and verify that brake and fuel system work was actually completed rather than just diagnosed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.