2018 Chevrolet Equinox transmission and drivetrain problems
66 of the 408 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 129 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 66 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 10
Half of the 27 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 4,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
408 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, 10 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Equinox transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
On two occasions my transmission wouldn't engage when I shifted it from "park" to "drive." my car started rolling like it was in neutral. I slammed on my brakes and after about 3 - 5 seconds the transmission engaged and I was able to accelerate as normal
There are 2 problems which are interrelated 1) when stopped at a stop light the vehicle does not repond when the gas is applied to move forward when the light turns green. Then, the vehicle suddenly lurches into gear.
Was driving in parking lot and vehicle shut down unexpectedly. It would not restart. Contacted GM roadside assistance to tow vehicle. After about and hour and a half of waiting for a tow I tried to start my vehicle again and it did start. The check engine light was in. I was able to drive the vehicle to the dealership.
When accelerating from a stop (as in turning from a stop sign into a lane with oncoming traffic) to merge into flow of traffic the automatic transmission shifts up normally but then suddenly downshifts into first gear causing rapid deceleration creating a situation that may cause someone to hit the rear of my vehicle.
Car will not shift out of first gear. Goes up to 5000+rpms and will only go about 25 MPH. Then it will randomly accelerate without you having any control of the speed. Check engine light came on and the gear indicator d flashed. Dealership cleared the code and could not replicate the actions.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 20V668000 HighOct 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- 17V516000 HighAug 22, 2017 · 2,905 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
129 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1101 P0747 P0172 P0101 P0506 P2821
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Source: the same files- brake problems 132 complaints
- engine problems 95 complaints
- electrical problems 61 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 66 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (16% of everything owners filed about it), and 129 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 20V668000, 17V516000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 20,074 miles; half of them between 4,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.