YearToAvoid

2019 Chevrolet Equinox Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 36 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, 12% of all 301 complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 14,000. A related recall (20V668000) covers a start-stop transmission accumulator issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
36
12% of 301
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
14,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the transmission shudders or surges at low speeds, particularly around 45 mph, with intermittent hard or rough shifting.
  • Some describe unexpected lunging or lurching forward while stopped with a foot on the brake, or hesitation when pulling into traffic from a standstill.
  • Several report the vehicle stalling or failing to respond when the accelerator is pressed after coming to a stop, sometimes requiring a tow when it would not restart.
  • Owners note reddish fluid leaking from the driveside axle seal, which dealers attempted to repair more than once.
  • One complaint describes a fire in the engine compartment after a strange noise while pulling away from a standstill, accompanied by an engine power reduced warning.
  • Owners mention the check engine light and 'engine power reduced' warning appearing together with hesitation to accelerate, in one case tied to a replaced throttle body.

When 2019 Chevrolet Equinox transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 29, 2018, latest Sep 4, 2026.

2019 Chevrolet Equinox transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2018Jan 2020Aug 2021Mar 2023Jan 2024Dec 2024Jul 2025
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2021 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2019 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.

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

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 36 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, making up 12% of the 301 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes, recall 20V668000 covers 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles for a start-stop transmission accumulator that GM will inspect and replace if bolts are affected.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2019 Equinox?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2019 Equinox is 14,000 miles.
Did the transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2019 Equinox shows 0 crashes and 0 injuries, though 1 fire was reported.
How does the 2019 Equinox compare to other model years for transmission complaints?
The 2019 Equinox's 36 complaints and 12% share are lower than years like 2010 (182 complaints, 23% share) and 2018 (66 complaints, 16% share), based on NHTSA data across model years.

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.