2018 Chevrolet Equinox Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 139 brake complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, 34% of all 408 complaints filed for the year, with 10 crashes and 7 injuries reported. A related brake recall (18V576000) covers this model year, and median mileage at failure is 64,000.
- Brakes complaints
- 139
- 34% of 408
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 7
- Median mileage
- 64,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Owners report the brake pedal traveling to the floor with no stopping power, sometimes ending in a crash into the vehicle ahead.
- Some describe the brakes locking up suddenly and feeling rock-hard, making the pedal impossible to pump.
- Several owners report a 'brake system fault' or 'service brake assist' warning illuminating right before a loss of braking power.
- A few complaints describe brakes grinding and engaging inconsistently, sometimes abruptly and hard, shortly after purchase.
- Some drivers report the vehicle unintentionally rolling away while parked on a grade despite being in park.
- One owner reported the forward collision/automatic emergency braking system failing to activate before a rear-end crash.
When 2018 Chevrolet Equinox brake complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 29, 2017, latest Sep 13, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
- NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
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.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Brakes complaints by Equinox model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are brake complaints on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
- NHTSA lists 139 brake complaints for the 2018 Equinox, making up 34% of all 408 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox?
- Yes. Recall 18V576000, reported 2018-08-30, covers the brake system on the 2018 Equinox and related GM models; dealers bleed the brake system free of charge.
- Have the brake problems caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data shows 10 crashes and 7 injuries linked to brake complaints on the 2018 Equinox.
- At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for brake complaints on the 2018 Equinox is 64,000 miles.
- How does the 2018 Equinox compare to other years for brake complaints?
- The 2018 model year's 34% share of complaints tied to brakes is higher than nearby years like 2017 (4%) and 2016 (3%), though 2020 also shows a 36% share.