2024-2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV Problems & Issues

Certain 2025 Equinox EV all-wheel-drive models (without Super Cruise) built July 25 to December 6, 2024 were recalled for an adaptive cruise control issue where the system may fail to apply the brakes when approaching a slower vehicle or stopped traffic. The issue is related to software calibration in the brake system control module. This creates a serious collision risk when the driver relies on adaptive cruise control for following distance management.

Certain Equinox EVs fitted with 21-inch Continental CrossContact tires were built with a nonconforming tread-base rubber compound (inadequate sulfur level) from Continental DOT manufacturing week 4024 (week of Oct 6, 2024). The defective compound can allow partial or full tread detachment at speed, risking loss of control. This is NHTSA recall 25V704 (GM N252525030), covering roughly 22,900 vehicles (Equinox EV plus Cadillac Optiq); the 21-inch tires are standard on RS and optional on LT1/LT2.

GM recalled 23,700 model year 2024 Equinox EV vehicles due to an incorrect software calibration in the pedestrian alert sound system. The vehicles do not produce a sufficient change in volume when accelerating from a stopped position to 10 km/h (6.2 mph), failing to meet FMVSS 141 Section 5.4 requirements. This means pedestrians and cyclists may not hear the approaching vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of pedestrian-vehicle incidents.

Some Equinox EV owners have experienced high-voltage battery faults where the vehicle abruptly drops from a healthy state of charge to 0% and loses all drive power, requiring a tow, sometimes preceded by an in-app 'high-voltage battery' warning. A widely reported case (Tom Moloughney's ~9,500-mile Equinox EV dropping from 46% to 0%) is documented by InsideEVs. NHTSA characterizes this as a software error usually cleared by resetting codes; note it is a shared GM Ultium phenomenon (also Blazer EV, Cadillac Lyriq/Optiq/Vistiq) and is rare relative to fleet size, and is distinct from the separate 12V auxiliary-battery bricking issue.

The 2024 Equinox EV experiences 12V auxiliary battery drain issues, with ancillary systems drawing power from the 12V battery nearly constantly even when the vehicle is off. GM released software update N25-249834 to improve 12V battery charging behavior and reduce drain. If the HV battery falls below 12% state of charge, the automatic 12V maintenance mode stops working, leaving the 12V battery to drain completely. Dead 12V battery prevents the vehicle from starting even with a full HV battery.

The Equinox EV underdelivers on DC fast charging relative to rivals: independent tests show peak power drops sharply (thermal derate) after roughly 10 minutes, falling from ~154 kW to as low as ~63 kW by ~29% SOC, with 0-80% sessions taking over 50 minutes on both 150 kW and 350 kW stations. The cause is the pack's low ~288 V nominal architecture (requiring very high amperage to hit peak) plus conservative battery thermal management on this first-generation Ultium platform. Owners also report occasional charging stalls/handshake failures at public stations.

As a first-model-year EV on GM's Ultium platform, the Equinox EV experiences various software glitches including infotainment freezing, incorrect range estimates, phantom driver assistance warnings, and occasional 12V auxiliary battery management issues. These are typical new-platform teething problems.

In snow and slush, the Equinox EV's deeply recessed LED headlamps progressively pack with snow/ice and dim or black out, because the LEDs produce almost no waste heat to melt accumulation (unlike halogen units) and the deep-set lens design traps buildup. Owners across the Equinox EV forum and complaint sites report having to stop and manually clear the lamps during winter driving, a genuine nighttime visibility/safety concern.

Owners of 2024-2025 Equinox EVs report water pooling in the front (often passenger) footwell, especially with A/C running while driving or after rain. GM traced it to the HVAC drain tube becoming disconnected from the bulkhead and to gaps in the body seam sealer under the carpet, and issued Service Update N252528650 / TSB 25-NA-149 directing dealers to water-test, reseal the body seam, and reconnect the drain. Standing water risks soaked carpet, odor/mold, and corrosion of underfloor electrical connectors.

The regenerative braking system exhibits inconsistent behavior depending on battery state of charge and temperature. One-pedal driving mode can feel jerky or abrupt at low speeds, and the transition between regenerative and friction braking is not always smooth. Cold weather significantly reduces regen capacity.