2019 Chevrolet Equinox Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 83 brake complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, 28% of its 301 total complaints, including 9 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries. A related GM recall (18V576000) addresses brake system air that requires dealer bleeding, though many complaints describe separate loss-of-braking events at a median 50,000 miles.
- Brakes complaints
- 83
- 28% of 301
- Crashes reported
- 9
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 50,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden, complete brake loss at highway and low speeds, in some cases leading to collisions with vehicles, walls, or fences.
- Several drivers describe the brake pedal feeling unusually hard to press, with little or no stopping power despite full pressure.
- Some complaints mention the vehicle lurching or bucking forward when brakes are applied, rather than slowing smoothly.
- Multiple owners and their mechanics point to the brake booster vacuum pump as the failing part, with repeat failures reported over time.
- A few drivers report unexplained hard automatic braking events at highway speed with no obstruction present, along with unrelated electronic stability control warning messages.
- One complaint describes a burnt smell, white smoke, and black smoke entering through the windshield defroster vents while driving.
When 2019 Chevrolet Equinox brake complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 4, 2019, latest Aug 17, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2019 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 many brake complaints does the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox have?
- NHTSA lists 83 brake-related complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, which is 28% of the 301 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox?
- Yes. Recall campaign 18V576000 covers the brake system on 2018-2019 Equinox and related GM models; dealers bleed the brake system free of charge to remove trapped air.
- At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for brake complaints on the 2019 Equinox is 50,000 miles.
- Did the 2019 Equinox brake issues cause crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to these brake complaints includes 9 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries.
- What brake symptoms do 2019 Equinox owners describe?
- Owners describe sudden total brake loss, a hard-to-press pedal with reduced stopping power, forward lurching when braking, and repeated brake booster vacuum pump failures.