2019 Chevrolet Equinox Power Train

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, the vehicle jerked and stalled, and the vehicle was nearly rear-ended. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately made a turn into the nearby independent mechanic shop parking lot. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred while the vehicle was being test-driven by the independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Symptoms were poor gas mileage, highly rough idle (especially in DRIVE, while at a stop), lag in acceleration as well as delayed response to gas pedal depression, struggled take off from an incline while utilizing AC on high output. Diagnosed by a code reader with confirmation by a trusted mechanic that the transmission is malfunctioning. Mechanic indicates the need to seek a shop specializing in transmissions because this entails disassembly of drain pan and plug to find issue either with fluid seal or the start/stop assembly in relation to the transmission. Issues began approximately 6 months ago, as I have been trying to deduce the issue by process of elimination by way of services and mileage recommendation. All professional involved indicate that a Chevy at this mileage and age do not typically display concerns related to the transmission.

On Sunday, [XXX] (a very hot day in Michigan. My vehicle registered 100 degrees) I was driving on [XXX] about 70-73 mph when I got an alert that said (to the best of my recollection) TOO HOT - IDLE IMMEDIATELY! and there was a continuous high pitch beeping which I only heard after turning off the radio. I continued at highway speed for a good 2-3 miles to the next exit afraid at any minute my car would start smoking. I exited and had to stop at a red light before turning left into a Kroger plaza with a fuel station. When the light turned green I accelerated and a grinding sound came from my car. I pulled into the plaza and turned the car off but had to turn it back on in about a minute as it was too hot to sit in car without air conditioning. It started and idled just fine. I googled roadside service and got a nice fellow (on a SUNDAY!) and he arrived in about 40 minutes. He towed me 40 miles away to a recommended auto shop that on Monday told me it was my transmission cooler that was defective and that I needed a transmission shop for a new transmission. It was then towed another 20 minutes away where it stayed for 9 days. Cost: $6564.48 plus $150 for paying with a credit card so totaled $6714.48. My drive train warranty was only good to 60,000 miles/5 years and I have 76,000 miles on my car at the time. Was told the transmission cooler was defective so I asked to have the cooler part and I have it in my garage. I spent over $1000 at the dealership in the months of Feb/March/April 2025 as my car hit the 70,000 mile mark so I had them do all work required by the car manual. The transmission cooler is apparently not a part they check. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Advanced Auto Parts where a diagnostic test was performed and DTC U0101 and P12A6 were retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to a local independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,533.

Vehicle is having "shift to park" issue. The vehicle is in park and will not turn off or start. This is a commonly known issue on other Chevy and GM vehicles, but GM has not acknowledged the problem or will not fix unless paid out of pocket.

The vacuum pump blew apart and sent shrapnel into the cam shaft and valve cover. Yes it is available for inspection because it’s still down. Our safety was put at risk because we were coming off the freeway and our brakes basically went out. We have an estimate from the dealer for $1,926.87. No warning at all!!

I bought my 2019 Chevrolet Equinox brand new from Chevrolet dealership. I was driving to pick up passengers. As I drove on too the customers property I pick up my passenger in a wooded area I had to drive up a steep hill. Then I backed up into the next drive path, as I was making my turn to go forward to leave, I tried to backup to make a clear turn but my reverse gave out on me. Something got lodged under my vehicle as I was going forward I got stuck in a ditch on there property. I called me wife and she came to pick me up, I contacted my insurance to request a tow truck and waited 45 minutes but no one showed up. Two of the customer neighbor pulled me out using their tow strap attacked to their 4×4 truck.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while stopped at a light, the engine failed to engage while the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the RPM failed to increase. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the contact needed transmission fluid however, the failure recurred. The contact was concerned that while driving the failure might cause an accident. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,002.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. While stopped, the vehicle would intermittently stall upon depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle would restart soon after failure however, recently the vehicle was towed to a dealer after the vehicle failed to restart after multiple attempts. The dealer was unable to duplicate the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was hesitant to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who replaced the throttle body, but the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 14,000. The VIN was not available.

We noticed a reddish liquid on our garage floor. As the car is under warranty, we took it to the dealer who said it was a leak at the drivers side axel seal; they kept the car for one day, said it was fixed, and called me to come pick up the car. The very next day I noticed leak was worse, and so I reported that to the dealer (see uploaded photo). The dealer told me that they would connect with "tech assist" (whatever that means) and get back to me. I'm concerned that if the leak gets even greater while on the road it could be a safety problem.

TL* THE CONTACTS WIFE OWNED A 2019 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING OUT OF A STANDSTILL THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PRODUCE SMOKE AND PROCEEDED TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY CITY POLICE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING DISPLAYED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BEING DESTROYED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V668000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,199.

I'LL BE DRIVING VERY LIGHTLY AND ABOUT 25MPH WHEN IT WANTS TO SHIP IT SURGES. I STILL HAVE THE SAME PRESSURE IN THE GAS PEDAL. I SEEN IT GET STUCK AT DOWN SHIFTING A FEW TIMES WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL. IT HAS LUNGED ALMOST TOO ONE TIME. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY TEST DRIVE IT, HAD NO CODES WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. I BEEN DRIVING CVTS FOR A DECADE NOW AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT THAT SONI SORT OF BOUGHT IT. I THINK THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T DO THIS.

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RPM. INTERMITTENT HARD OR ROUGH SHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 MPH IT HAS A SHUDDER AND SLIGHT SURGE. ANOTHER INCIDENT WHILE STOPPED, FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD.

AUTO STOP / START IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. HESITATION FROM BRAKE TO GAS CAUSES A WHIPLASH EFFECT TO EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC IS A TOTAL CRAP SHOOT AS TO WEATHER THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO START, HESITATE OR GO AT ALL.

THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MODEL ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH I AM SURE IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED FOR CERTAIN OWNER DRIVING STYLES AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER DISABLE THE FEATURE PERMANENTLY BY OWNER REQUEST OR HAVE A METHOD FOR THE OWNER TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM. WITH LESS THAN 250 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 INCIDENTS OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FROM A STOP AND 1 OF ALMOST BEING HIT PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. I SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOPE THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE DUE TO IT. WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING WITH AUTO STOP THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED AS A/C COMPRESSOR TURNED ON CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD TOWARD THE MOVING TRAIN. ALMOST A MAJOR NEAR DEATH ISSUE.