2019 Chevrolet Equinox brake problems
80 of the 302 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. 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 brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 of the 80 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 13
Half of the 17 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 13,000 and 81,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
302 complaints in all about the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, 13 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 “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Equinox brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While driving on the highway a warning message came up that said “engine power reduced” and moment after we lost the ability to accelerate. We pull over and turn the car off, when trying to restart it, it would not restart. We were left stranded on the side of the highway.
While safely driving under normal conditions, I attempted to slow my vehicle down while approaching a vehicle that was making a right turn into a parking lot. Upon trying to apply the brakes, I was met with resistance (Hard brake pedal) which prevented my vehicle from properly slowing down.
While exiting the highway I went to put on my brakes and there were no power brakes. It pedal was stiff and I had to push extremely hard to stop and it took a long time to do so. The brake assist light come on as well. I had no prior warning, noise or any reason to believe that my brakes wouldn’t work.
While driving on the freeway, the brakes became suddenly stiff and I was unable to stop the vehicle immediately for oncoming traffic. I had to steer away from the road onto the emergency lane and apply the brakes really hard to stop the car.
Have been stranded 4 times this summer. When car is parked it has locked in parking and will not shift out of park. Even though the parking brake is released, the car will not shift. After leaving it sitting several hours or overnight, it will start and shift again
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V576000 HighAug 30, 2018 · 210,628 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox
Source: the same files- engine problems 105 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 80 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (26% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is 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 brakes on the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V576000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 61,000 miles; half of them between 13,000 and 81,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.