2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wipers and visibility, automatic emergency braking, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2025- Owner complaints
- 153
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes reported
- 4
- 2 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Equinox EV is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | AWD, FWD | 307–319 mi range |
- With a full charge, the range estimate on the dash should land near the EPA figure of 307–319 miles. A much lower number on a mild day can mean a worn battery; ask for a battery health report.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Early electrical and module faults
1,500–4,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Wipers and visibility73No crashes
The ribbed, grooved dashboard reflects onto the windshield, and that glare dominates these 73 complaints. Drivers describe a mirror image of the dash that makes the glass nearly opaque in bright sun, worst when the sun sits low in late afternoon. Some also see it at night under streetlights or in rain. Several say it hides pedestrians and nearby objects. Many notice it only after buying, since it barely shows on overcast days. A smaller group says blind spot warnings beep at cars in the next lane during U-turns.
Automatic emergency braking16No crashes
Phantom braking is the main pattern. The car slams to a full stop with nothing ahead: in parking lots under 5 mph, in city traffic, in roundabouts, and at highway speed with adaptive cruise on. Drivers describe nearly being rear-ended, and several have switched automatic emergency braking off. The opposite failure also appears. Adaptive cruise control does not slow enough for stopped traffic ahead, which forces hard manual braking, and it sometimes speeds up past the set speed. Dealers and OnStar often find no fault.
Brakes142 crashes
These 14 complaints include 2 crashes and 2 injuries, and they describe two kinds of failure. In the first, the brake pedal does almost nothing on gravel or rocky downhill grades at low speed. The ABS pulses and the car gains speed, or the pedal feels hard as the car rolls into a gate, a building, or the vehicle ahead. In the second, the car stops suddenly and violently with no obstacle, at low speed and on the freeway, and the jolt causes whiplash. Brake assist and one-pedal driving can also drop out with warning lights, leaving a heavy pedal.
Electrical12No crashes
Telematics module failures lead these reports. They knock out OnStar, emergency calling, crash notification, navigation, and charger search, and replacement parts stay on national backorder for months. The center display and instrument cluster freeze, flicker, or go black while driving, sometimes at highway speed. High-voltage and 12V battery warnings and strings of control-module error codes show up within the first few thousand miles, and one car would not start. Other complaints cover rapid charge loss, no warm air for defrosting, and driver-assist sensors cutting out on the freeway.
Body and structure41 crash
Water collects under the passenger footwell carpet, leaving a musty smell and raising worries about mold and rust. Dealers have struggled to reproduce the leak, and owner inspection traces it to water that appears when the AC runs. The other reports repeat the dashboard glare problem, including a near miss with a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and describe emergency braking that stutters to a stop for objects that are not there. One of the 4 complaints is crash-related.
Exterior lights3No crashes
In winter storms, the recessed headlights fill with wet snow, slush, and ice. That blocks most of the light and leaves drivers struggling to see the road at night, and owners blame the recessed design. The turn signal stalk can also snap past center after a right turn and trigger three flashes of the left signal, which is the lane-change mode. Only 3 complaints are on file, but the snow problem affects anyone driving in heavy wet snow after dark.
Steering3No crashes
After canceling, usually following a right turn, the turn signal stalk springs back too far. It taps the opposite signal into its three-flash lane-change mode and occasionally latches the wrong signal on. Drivers worry other motorists read this as erratic lane changes, especially on busy highways above 60 mph. All 3 complaints describe this stalk behavior rather than any fault in the steering itself.
Transmission21 crash
Sudden, unwanted vehicle motion is the concern in both complaints. In one, the car lurches forward while parking even with the brake pressed hard, and one of these events caused damage. In the other, phantom braking at 30 mph locks all the wheels and skids the car for a few seconds before the wheels release on their own. Both are loss-of-control events, though only 2 reports are on file.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Equinox EV owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
There is a design flaw regarding the dashboard reflecting into the windshield. This is probably due to at least one of the following factors: a) the material and reflectivity of the dashboard b) the low angle of the windshield itself. The sun causes a reflection in the windshield that renders the driver functionally blind when driving into the sun at certain angles, and in particular moving from light to shadow. It is highly dangerous and disconcerting.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
The glare from the dashboard into the windshield blocked my view almost completely when driving on the San Francisco International Airport ramp, especially when the car was on a downhill ramp. I could not see anything in front of me for a couple seconds. This could have led to an accident should the car infront of me had breaked and stopped. The glare is also visible in normal driving conditions on sunny days and can distract my attention from the road.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
Automatic emergency braking engaged when there was no risk of a collision. I was in a roundabout (traffic circle) when the brakes suddenly engaged, nearly stopping my car. There was a car yielding to roundabout traffic ahead of me (waiting for me to clear before entering the roundabout). I was nearly rear ended by another car due to the sudden braking. I then disabled the automatic emergency braking feature to avoid similar “phantom” collision detections.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
Driving down rural highway (Interstate 43 in northern Walworth County, WI, divided access restricted freeway) the car panic braked with no car or obstacle in front of it. No warning sign, no error message, called Onstar and they reported no faults, took to Chevrolet dealership and they reported no issue. Car also has had phantom alerts from the forward collision warning system.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
Traveling down a gravel road, down hill with security gate at bottom of hill. Traveled 100's of times. starting going down hill and used brakes to slow, no slowing. Pushed harder and still no slowing. As hard as possible and hit the gate lots of damage to car. It was as if there were no brakes. In fact I think the car speeded up and the brakes released all the way.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
When you hit the brakes on hurry car don’t stop it rolls and take longer to engage. Was involved on a rear end accident because of saw the car in front stop press the brake and suv just slow down but keep rolling forward.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
Car sensors don’t work as intended. Stay on and continue flashing. While driving on free way sensor shut off and cause vehicle not be able to detect lane or vehicle next to it
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Service High Voltage System Error. Lithium-Ion Battery and 12V Battery require your attention. Brand New vehicle, should not be getting errors.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
How the 2025 compares with other Equinox EV years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2025 has the most owner complaints of the 2 Equinox EV years we cover, about 1.5 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Wipers and visibility7355
- Automatic emergency braking169
- Brakes146
- Electrical127
- Body and structure40
- Exterior lights35
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
26V114000EquipmentFeb 2026
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”.
Risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
25V878000Backup cameraDec 2025
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Equinox EV vehicles. The pedestrian alert sound system may not produce a sufficient change in volume between the vehicle being stopped and moving at low speeds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.".
Risk: A vehicle that does not emit sufficient sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a moving vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252530690. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 18, 2025.
25V704000Wheels and tiresOct 2025
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Cadillac Optic and 2025-2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles equipped with 21-inch Continental all-season tires. One or more of these tires may experience partial or full tread detachment.
Risk: Tire tread detachment increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect all four tires and replace those manufactured during DOT week 4024, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252525030. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 16, 2025.
25V012000BrakesJan 2025
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV all-wheel drive electric vehicles. The adaptive cruise control may fail to engage the brakes as expected, due to incorrect brake module software.
Risk: A vehicle that does not automatically brake as expected increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software calibration in the brake system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242481530.
24V925000ElectricalDec 2024
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles. The pedestrian alert sound system may have incorrect software and not produce sound at a sufficient volume. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.".
Risk: A vehicle that fails to make sufficient sound may result in pedestrians being unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the software in the body control module (BCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242479760.
24V737000Door latches and locksOct 2024
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, and Equinox vehicles. The door strikers were not properly heat-treated, which can cause them to break.
Risk: A broken door striker can cause the door to open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace all four side door strikers and attachment bolts, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters are expected to be mailed. Owners may call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242477131.
Also looking at these instead of a Equinox EV?
Cars shoppers compare with the Chevrolet Equinox EV, with their own 2025 checklists.
2025 owner complaints, side by side
- Lexus NX13
- Audi Q515
- Volkswagen ID.419
- Volvo XC6022
- Honda Prologue94
- 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV153
