YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 66 of 408 total complaints (16%) filed on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Median mileage at failure was 20,074 miles. Two related NHTSA recalls cover a driveshaft fracture and a start-stop transmission accumulator issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
66
16% of 408
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
20,074 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles in park roll away unexpectedly on their own, in some cases rolling into other vehicles or people.
  • The transmission fails to engage promptly when shifting from park to drive, causing the car to roll like it is in neutral for several seconds before catching.
  • The transmission gets stuck in first gear, revving to high RPM while only reaching low speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on and the gear indicator flashing.
  • Under acceleration from a stop, the transmission suddenly downshifts into first gear and causes abrupt, unexpected deceleration.
  • Some owners report the engine shutting off unexpectedly while driving or idling in a parking lot, requiring a tow or restart attempt.
  • One owner reported a recall repair for the driveshaft campaign could not be completed for several months due to unavailable parts.

When 2018 Chevrolet Equinox transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 29, 2017, latest Sep 23, 2026.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2017Mar 2019May 2020Feb 2022Jan 2023Feb 2024Aug 2025Apr 2026
66 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2017 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2018 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox

  1. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    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.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  2. NHTSA 17V516000Aug 22, 2017Transmission & Powertrain2,905 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    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.

    Risk: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Equinox model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010182 (23%)
  2. 2011145 (19%)
  3. 201284 (12%)
  4. 201380 (11%)
  5. 201440 (7%)
  6. 201563 (9%)
  7. 201626 (7%)
  8. 201732 (12%)
  9. 201866 (16%)
  10. 201936 (12%)
  11. 202039 (13%)
  12. 202117 (18%)
  13. 202210 (6%)
  14. 20235 (5%)
  15. 202411 (14%)
  16. 202534 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox have a transmission recall?
Yes. NHTSA campaign 17V516000 covers a right front intermediate driveshaft that may fracture and separate while driving, and campaign 20V668000 covers a start-stop transmission accumulator that may have loose bolts.
How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Equinox?
NHTSA has logged 66 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Equinox, which is 16% of the 408 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do 2018 Equinox transmission problems usually start?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2018 Equinox is 20,074 miles.
Is rollaway a common complaint on the 2018 Equinox?
Yes, multiple sample complaints describe the vehicle rolling away unexpectedly while in park or during the shift from park to drive, including cases involving a crash.
How does the 2018 Equinox compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2018 model year's 16% share of complaints in this area is higher than 2016 (7%) and 2019 (12%), but lower than 2010 (23%) and 2011 (19%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.