2023 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

What owners report

Complaints for the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox center on sudden loss of power: owners most often describe the vehicle stalling, entering reduced-power mode, or refusing to accelerate, and in many cases the dealer traced this to the high-pressure fuel pump. A second, smaller cluster involves brake and warning-light problems, plus a distinct set of reports from owners flat-towing the vehicle behind a motorhome. Most reports arrive between roughly 5,000 and 45,000 miles, and several owners note the vehicle would restart or drive normally again after stalling.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Loss of power / stall attributed to fuel pump

   • 57 complaints (58%)
   • median 37,500 mi at 2.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out or dropping into 'reduced engine power' with the check engine light on, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes while accelerating from a stop or up a hill. Many say the vehicle would restart only after several attempts or after waiting, and some had to be towed. According to the complaints, dealers commonly diagnosed a failed high-pressure fuel pump (and in some cases the feed pipe or injectors) and replaced it; several owners say the part was back-ordered or that the repair was repeated. Reports cluster between roughly 5,000 and 45,000 miles, with several owners describing the first event within the first year of ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the high-pressure fuel pump has already been replaced, and check whether any open fuel-system campaign applies to the specific VIN. Note whether the check engine light is on and have codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel pump. It’s available for inspection. Left me stuck on the side of a busy highway with cars flying past. Check engine light. A message said engine power reduced had to take side streets home with hazard lights. Car would not accelerate or go over 40 mph on a 45 mph road. I had the check engine light checked at auto zone. No the vehicle has not been inspected. No warning lights before. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11647540, filed 2025-03

   “Check engine light turns off and on every day and it’s popping up high pressure fuel pump I Was told it was a problem with these make year and model vehicles and was considered a recall but was told my vin didn’t pop up as a recall and have to pay out of pocket I had less than 30,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11727457, filed 2026-03
2. 2
   Steering

   Tire lock-up and screeching when flat-towing

   • 10 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 1.0 yrs old
   • filed 2023

   Owners who tow the vehicle four wheels down behind a motorhome report the front tires locking, screeching and leaving a burning-rubber smell on banked on- and off-ramps, with the steering wheel shaking visibly in video recorded inside the car. They say the setup followed the owner's manual and that the towing equipment was professionally installed. According to the complaints, dealers and the manufacturer had no fix at the time. Reported within the first year, typically in the first few thousand miles of towing behind a motorhome, on banked curves and cloverleaf ramps.

   What to check: If you plan to flat-tow, ask the seller whether the vehicle has been towed and whether any related diagnosis was filed; test the towing setup on a banked ramp before committing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was set up per manual to be flat towed behind our motorhome. We followed the set-up steps according to the manual exactly. When driving and applying the brakes for more than a few seconds the front tires would lock up and squeal. This same situation happened when making a hard curve like a cloverleaf exit ramp.”

   NHTSA complaint #11537336, filed 2023-08

   “While towing my equinox behind my motorhome, with properly installed equipment, I experience tire screeching when taking off ramps from the highway. From extensive research, I've found that many 2023 Equinox owners are having the same issue and many have started GM case numbers. This issue is happening with many different tow systems installed and the only constant denominator is the 2023 Equinox. I've read that GM is fully aware of the issue and is working on a fix. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11546232, filed 2023-09
3. 3
   Engine

   Rough running and shifting, vibration at speed

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 40 mi at 0.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe hesitation or a lag when accelerating to pass or merge, hard or delayed shifts, and a shudder that feels like the transmission is slipping. Others report a vibration and droning noise around 35-40 mph present since delivery. According to the complaints, some dealers described the behavior as normal or as the transmission 'learning' driving habits, while others applied a reset or updated software. Reported from delivery and again in the first 40,000 miles, often at steady speeds around 35-40 mph or during quick acceleration.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at a steady 35-40 mph and accelerate hard from a rolling start to feel for shudder or hesitation, and ask whether any transmission or engine control software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car has a vibration, I went to the dealer after one week of buying it, they first told me it has a learning transmission and after it learns how I drive it will go away. I later found out there is not such thing, the vibration at first was at slow speeds 30 t0 40 mph. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11697136, filed 2025-11

   “I was driving on freeway and went to pass a semi. The suv hesitated and had terrible turbo lag. It almost caused an accident if it hadn’t been for the truck behind me taking action to avoid a collision.”

   NHTSA complaint #11739944, filed 2026-05
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / brake warning lights

   • 14 complaints (14%)
   • median 10,002 mi at 1.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floorboard, sometimes at low mileage and sometimes while driving at speed, with the brake, ABS and stability warning lamps lighting up. In some reports the pedal firmed up again after a restart, which left dealers unable to reproduce the problem; others were told a valve or part needed replacement and then waited weeks for it. Complaints also mention the parking brake being used to stop the vehicle. Reported from under 200 miles to about 10,000 miles, often on the first drive after startup or on a downhill grade.

   What to check: On a test drive, press the pedal firmly at a standstill and check that it stays firm; ask whether any brake hydraulic components or the ABS valve assembly have been replaced and whether warning lamps have been logged.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to the gas station to fill the car with gas. I pulled along the pumps and put on the brakes but they failed and I applied again failed again so I put into netural and ran into a pole. I called GM and they checked the brakes could not find any problem. I ask if they checked the computer but they didn't know. the Equinox only had 170 miles on it. That is my problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11503877, filed 2023-01

   “On Aug 6, I started my car and tried to apply the brakes. My foot went all the way to the floorboards. The Brake warning lamp and stability warning lamps came on and would not go away. I tried restarting the car and the problem remained. The brakes were not properly functioning. On August 7, I took my car to the dealership. They saw the warning lamps, but the brakes were working. GM told them to just clear the codes and let me drive it. The service manager would not and is waiting for a part (5 weeks later). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11543494, filed 2023-09
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Check engine light and infotainment / electrical faults

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the check engine light staying on after repeated dealer visits, along with warning lights for traction control and electronic systems. Others describe the infotainment screen behaving erratically, the backup camera showing while driving, blind-spot sensors not working, and occasional no-start or shutdown conditions. Complaints describe dealers clearing codes, resetting modules, or telling owners there was no repair available at the time. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 30,000 miles, often shortly after purchase.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that no warning lamps are lit at startup, test the touchscreen, backup camera and blind-spot alerts, and ask for a scan-tool report of stored codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “From the very first day of purchase, the vehicle displayed a check‑engine light, which I immediately pointed out to your salesperson. My concerns were dismissed, and I was assured that it was “not a big deal,” despite the fact that the issue was clearly present at the time of sale. Since then, I have spent substantial time and money attempting to resolve the vehicle’s defects. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11757291, filed 2026-08

   “Vehicle doesn't start all the time. Also has shut down when driving.everything shuts down.then it will start back up in about a minute or two. Had it at dealer and the can't find any problems or codes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11554576, filed 2023-11

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection read stored codes and confirm the high-pressure fuel pump history, since sudden loss of power is the most common report for this year. If you plan to flat-tow, verify the tow setup on a banked curve first, and ask for records of any brake or electrical repairs.

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.