YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Equinox Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 39 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, 13% of all 308 complaints filed for the year. A related recall (20V668000) covers the start-stop transmission accumulator, and the median mileage at failure was 7,599.5 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
39
13% of 308
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
7,600 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report shaking, shimmying, or vibration felt in the seat and steering wheel during acceleration starting around 35 to 40 mph, sometimes worsening over time.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle wobbling or wabbling when traveling uphill or turning, with the sensation stopping once the brake is applied.
  • Several owners found oil leaking from the transmission within the first few months of ownership, in one case traced to a porous torque converter case that led to a full transmission replacement.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolled backward on its own after being parked and turned off, striking another parked car.
  • A separate complaint describes the forward gear completely disengaging at a stop, leaving the vehicle able to move only in reverse.
  • One owner described a transfer case failure followed by a rear differential issue diagnosed at the dealer, with no warning light on the dash.

When 2020 Chevrolet Equinox transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 5, 2019, latest Aug 20, 2026.

2020 Chevrolet Equinox transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Dec 2019Feb 2021Nov 2021Oct 2022May 2024Jan 2025Feb 2026Aug 2026
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2019 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 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 2020 Chevrolet Equinox have?
NHTSA lists 39 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2020 Equinox, making up 13% of the 308 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes. Recall 20V668000, reported October 29, 2020, covers the start-stop transmission accumulator; GM dealers inspect it and replace it if bolts are found loose or missing.
At what mileage do transmission problems show up on the 2020 Equinox?
The median mileage at failure among reported transmission & powertrain complaints is 7,599.5 miles, with several owners noting issues within the first 500 miles.
Are the 2020 Equinox transmission complaints linked to crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 0 fires associated with the transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2020 Equinox, with no injuries reported.
Does the 2020 Equinox have more transmission complaints than other model years?
Its 13% share is close to the 2019 Equinox's 12% and 2018's 16%, but well below the 2010 Equinox's 23% share of transmission complaints.

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.