2025 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EV Service Brakes Problems

17 complaints about Service Brakes

17
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Service Brakes Complaints (17)

Oct 27, 2025

On 10/26/25 at approximately 3:40pm while on a freeway (traveling approximately 65mph) with no traffic or cars in close proximity for the automatic brakes to be engaged, the 2025 ev equinox slammed its brakes on its own without driver braking. This caused whiplash to be experienced by two of the three passengers and it felt like we were rear ended but no cars were around. This is very dangerous. Had there been car behind me this would have caused serious accident.

Oct 13, 2025

I have driven the vehicle 13,000 miles without incident. However, twice this week, once moving forward and once backward, the emergency parking brake engaged without warning, bringing the vehicle to an abrupt stop. In both cases it was daylight, clear weather, with no visual indication of an obstacle in the vehicle's path. In response I have turned off its automatic braking/collision avoidance features and will see if that solves the problem. What is concerning, however, is that this did not occur for 13,000 miles, and then abruptly started.

Oct 6, 2025 Crash

Traveling down a gravel road, down hill with security gate at bottom of hill. Traveled 100's of times. starting going down hill and used brakes to slow, no slowing. Pushed harder and still no slowing. As hard as possible and hit the gate lots of damage to car. It was as if there were no brakes. In fact I think the car speeded up and the brakes released all the way.

Sep 15, 2025

I was pulling into the parking lot of my job. The one pedal driving mode was on, and my vehicle was not slowing down like it generally does. So, I immediately stepped on the brake, and it still didn't slow down, it felt like a brick, I stepped on it harder. It still did not stop! I ran into the barn/building I work in. I was terrified!! What if there was a person there, or another car, or kids playing, etc. I immediately called the Chevy Dealership in Woodland at 8am, they had me tow the 2025 Equinox to them. I just talked to them at 4:30pm. They said there were no messages with regard to the braking system. They said they would install the update, and would continue to diagnose the problem. I do not feel safe in this vehicle, it poses a significant risk as a driver!

Sep 1, 2025

Phantom braking at speed: I have experienced more than one alarming instances of "phantom braking at speed" where the vehicle unexpectedly brakes, all wheels locked, and violently skids on the pavement. This is a very alarming occurrence to driver and passengers as well as to drivers of other nearby vehicles. Specifically, this first occurred without warning on [XXX] on [XXX], traveling at 30 mph. The wheels then unlocked spontaneously after 2 to 4 seconds. This is potentially a significant and intolerable life-safety issue. When a car suddenly and unexpectedly slams on its brakes, it can create a dangerous situation for both the driver and passengers and others on the road. This could lead to a rear-end collision if the driver behind my Equinox vehicle does not have enough time to react; this may also result in Driver panic and overcorrection: The startling nature of the Phantom Braking can cause the driver to potentially swerve into another lane or oncoming traffic. The Phantom Braking again occurred on the afternoon of [XXX] on [XXX] in SLO while driving at 40 mph past [XXX]. Loss of confidence: Repeated incidents of phantom braking have eroded this driver's trust in the vehicle's safety features, which could lead to ignoring legitimate warnings in the future. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Sep 1, 2025 Crash

When you hit the brakes on hurry car don’t stop it rolls and take longer to engage. Was involved on a rear end accident because of saw the car in front stop press the brake and suv just slow down but keep rolling forward.

Aug 27, 2025

(1) On Saturday 8/23/25, the braking system failed while driving on gravel roads going downhill. 
 (2) I could not stop the vehicle going downhill. I thought I was going to crash. As I started to go downhill @ ~5 mph, I put my foot on the brake pedal, the car would not brake. Pressing hard or lightly didn’t make a difference. It felt like an anti-lock brake (ALB) pulse 1X and then gave up releasing all braking even though the foot is on the brake. The 2-way road is heavily used, smooth, wide, and maintained. Other vehicles were going down the gravel fine. The grade is ~10%. (3) The problem was reproduced numerous times on 8/24/25, while my husband drove on gravel going downhill and attempting to slow down or stop the car. This gravel is with potholes and some rocks starting w/ grades 5-6%. I was a passenger in the car. At one point I thought we were going to hit the on-coming car, because the brakes were not working properly. (4) An appointment is being made w/ the dealer to inspect the car. (5) (On 8/23) I am not aware of warnings or messages. (On 8/24) A “ABS” alert appeared on the display sometimes. Additional Info: (6) On 6/15/25, I drove on gravel with 5-10% grades w/o issues for ~6 miles. When I pressed on the brake pedal, the car slowed down without issues. ALB did not engage. (7) I have recently read break failure stories that are similar from other Equinox EV owners. "... my car has had two separate brake failures..." "… now going down a fairly steep gravel hill daily, i experience very little braking..." "… I pressed the brakes and there was no perceived braking for at least 20 feet... " ... brake failure this past weekend while descending a dirt/stone road… The ABS, would not shut off for our entire descent, which lasted for about 2 full minutes. During this time, we could not stop the car and were accelerating out of control…."

Aug 26, 2025

I experienced a brake failure this past weekend in my 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT while descending a dirt/stone road. The moment we started descending, the ABS system engaged and did not brake the car adequately. In my opinion, the ABS system should not have engaged in this terrain. The ABS, would not shut off for our entire descent, which lasted for about two full minutes. During this time, we could not stop the car and were accelerating out of control. We got going far faster than I was comfortable with, and my passenger & I thought we were going to end up crashing. After about a minute of inability to brake properly or stop, we ended up getting a flat tire. The flat tire, combined with the terrain flattening, eventually helped us come to a complete stop. After stopping, the car was also having software issues (infotainment system resetting), and the infotainment system was very hot to the touch, suggesting an electrical or software malfunction tied to the braking system. It was a very scary situation, but my passenger and I were not injured. This failure left me and my passenger completely out of control of the vehicle, with a high risk of collision, rollover, or serious injury. In my opinion, a braking system that does not stop the vehicle when the pedal is fully applied constitutes a critical safety defect. Chevrolet has been contacted, but the dealer refused to treat this as a warranty safety issue so far. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

Aug 21, 2025

This has happened about 4 times in 4 months. In each scenario I am driving very slowly (3 times forwards, one time in reverse) with no obvious obstacle or crash potential. The brakes will slam suddenly very aggressively, I assume it is the e-brakes as it feels like I hit a wall. It is a safety issue as if someone was behind me it could cause an accident. This is discussed on multiple message boards(e.g. Hard braking without warning! | Chevy Equinox EV Forum https://share.google/EUGSD4XpQzOpnlUwy) but the manufacturer is not acknowledging any issue when contacted. I called the dealer as well and they were not aware of any issues. I have not had the vehicle inspected

Aug 12, 2025

BRAKING FAILURE on 2025 Equinox EV LT model - my car has had two separate brake failures going down a steep dry rocky road in clear weather, once with one pedal driving on and once without, on July 21st, 2025 and August 11th, 2025 respectively. It doesn't happen every time going down this road and each time at no more than 5 - 10 miles per hour, with the brake pedal to the floor the car was not slowing down and the weight of the car on the steep track made it speed up considerably which made it dangerous due to the steepness of the hill and turns in the road. The first time I drove off the road onto flat grass and the car came to a stop, the last time it happened I pumped the brakes until the car stopped and the "ABS engaged" light came on the dashboard above the steering wheel. It happened twice on the road that time. There were no prior alerts or warning lights. The car has 5000 miles and is still under warranty, the Chevy dealership had the car for 3 days. The dealership was not able to reproduce or confirm the problem with the brakes. The dealership told me they did a series of resets. They have not given me the written service report yet. I have an appointment to take the car back to the dealer. The brake fluid level is good, there are no current alerts on the dashboard while driving. The car is available for inspection upon request. I am concerned that my wife and I may be injured or killed in a braking failure or that we may injure or kill others or damage property.

Aug 8, 2025 Crash

On two occasions as I have pulled in to park this vehicle, while pressing brake the car lurched forward. The first time no damage happened however the second time damage occurred. While pressing the brake as hard as I could would not stop the lurching car. None of the avoidance warnings helped either.

Jul 2, 2025

Equinox Ev Multiple charging errors Replaced 3x’s Phantom automatic braking Transmission error. Getting stuck in reverse while trying to move forward

Jun 20, 2025

Every car I’ve ever owned the cruise control disengages once you touch the brakes and does not reengage without pushing the button to say resume. On several occasions, this car has reengaged sometimes many minutes after I’ve touched the brakes multiple times such as in a parking lot or parking garage going around the corner The car resumes cruise, and rapidly accelerates, which is very dangerous in a parking lot or parking garage

Apr 8, 2025

Brake system failure Brake assist failure Speed limited 3800 mill Ev equinox 2025

Mar 23, 2025

Yesterday while approaching a hairpin exit, all of a sudden lights went on for the Stabilitrack, Collision alert and a number of other lights. Messages popped up saying braking assist was not available, cruise control was not available. Basically, the braking assist was gone and I had to press REALLY hard on the brake pedal to get any slowdown. All regen was gone and it was like driving a car without power brakes. I also got a message saying it would not go faster than 62mph. There was no indication of any issues prior to the Brake assist failure. This put me at extreme risk because it was essentially a power braking failure and it was extremely difficult to slow down. I had to really push hard on the brake pedal. I was able to drive my car back to the dealership where it is sitting now, waiting to be looked at in the morning of 3/24/25. I have attached a PDF of the OnStar diagnostic report, cryptic as usual, but it is a record of the codes that were thrown. Also seems like some modules were not communicating properly. I have also attached some photos of the error messages that were showing this morning.

Feb 8, 2025

References: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] the Equinox EV is currently giving me issues with the brake system. This inconvenience is extremely annoying, frustrating, and most importantly, very dangerous. I'm forced to repeatedly turn my vehicle off and back on, while attempting to re-engage the one-pedal driving. This is a cornerstone advantage of the EV in general, and needs to work 100% of the time, just as my money is taken every month 100% of the time. This also results in other critical features being disabled, such as the auto-hold and forward collision systems. I believe it also impacts the cruise control as well. I am greatly displeased with this and now want to give the vehicle back. My lessor, GM Financial, has specific guidelines in place that make this difficult. What can Chevrolet do to address this? I've heard about the recall, and subsequent remedy, but I'm not satisfied with that, as the issue could occur again. I've lost faith in the vehicle and need to get rid of it. How can you help me do so. Thanks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Nov 26, 2024

Brand new Chevrolet Equinox EV. When Adaptive Cruise Control is engaged, vehicle will accelerate or coast to mach speed of vehicle ahead, but will not engage brakes. ACC would collide with vehicle ahead unless driver acts. Problem is ongoing. Not one-time. Have scheduled dealer service.