2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX Service Brakes Problems
79 complaints about Service Brakes
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Service Brakes Complaints (79)
The power brake booster failed suddenly causing the brake petal to become hard. Almost caused an accident as I suddenly lost the ability to brake. There was no warning prior to the failure. After the failure a service warning for brake assist appeared. The vehicle was been inspected by an auto service provider.
This issue has happened to me twice now. Dec 19th 2024 I Driving on a highway at about 60mph, traffic slowed, I tried to stop and instantly had no brakes at all. There was a light that came on as I was applying the brakes, "service brake assist". Had it towed to a mechanic and they replaced the brake vacuum pump. We ordered this part from a Chevrolet dealership so we knew it was the proper part. Most recent was two days ago, Nov 10th 2025, NOT even a full year later. Driving about 55mph, tried to stop and no brakes again with the same service message. It is currently at the shop being repaired. The part is under warranty but of course labor isnt. Both times this happened, I had to drive over on to the shoulder to avoid causing an accident. Prior to this, there was no warning that there was anything wrong with the brakes. The only place that can confirm this issue is the mechanic shop as they are the ones doing the work. Attached is a copy of the receipt from the first time.
Brake vacuum pump has failed. my brake pedal I had to put my full weight on to stop my car. I almost crashed into the person in front of me. It was my full weight and all the way to the ground in my car wasn’t stopping.
A go's threw gas really fast the brakes drag and when it starts/stop it acts funny like it has a hard time starting/stopping and my suspension every time I go over something there's clunking started at 34000 miles when I got it from the dealership and I only have 52,000 miles on it it shouldn't be doing that yet
With the vehicle around 73,000 and while driving on the highway, the brake system failed to fully function. Using extreme pressure to compress the brakes the vehicle finally slowed and came to a stop with out injury or vehicle accident. After getting the vehicle moved to an independent service center, and further inspection it was found that the vacuum pump exploded. After researching it appears the problem is consistent with other reports but no resolution has been made until it's too late. The component is not currently being inspected by the manufacturer and has only been inspected by independent service center. No warning lights or other symptoms displayed prior to the failure and the only time it first appeared was on the highway at high speeds.
On August 3rd, while driving on the freeway at 55mph, my vehicle's brakes became extremely stiff, and I could not press them down to engage the braking system. I was about to collide with the vehicle in front of me, so I quickly veered right without looking because I had no time. After moving to the right, the brakes finally slowed the vehicle to around 40mph. Luckily, the traffic light turned green, allowing me to continue moving with the remaining momentum. As I attempted to take a turn on a bridge above the freeway, the steering wheel became stiff. At this point, I was unsure whether I could turn the car at that speed with the steering not responding. I need General Motors and Chevrolet to take action on the severity of the situation and make the necessary and appropriate restitution to me for the traumatic and physical injuries sustained during the incident. For the amount of time I've been without a vehicle, I am now running high risk of loosing my job. $3,700. is what they are charging me, which is conveniently not under warranty. When consistently stating that no one really sure what's covered and what's not covered.
The vacuum pump seized and broke and sent debris into the camshaft
I am experiencing a recurring issue with my vehicle where the Park Assist system keeps activating unexpectedly, and the Check Engine Light (CEL) also comes on. I have taken the vehicle to O’Reilly Auto Parts for a diagnostic scan, and they reported no repairable codes present. Additionally, I visited Tires Plus, and their assessment was that if the light goes off on its own, then no issue is present that requires repair. Despite the temporary disappearance of the warning lights, the issue keeps returning, which raises concern. The Park Assist activation is not being manually triggered and appears without warning, often accompanied by the CEL. This inconsistent behavior suggests there may be an intermittent or underlying issue with the vehicle’s sensors, wiring, or onboard systems that may not register a permanent diagnostic code. At this time, no repairs have been performed due to both locations stating that no actionable codes or faults were detected. However, the issue continues to happen periodically, and I would like further inspection or documentation of the problem, especially if it worsens or begins affecting vehicle safety or drivability.
Getting off the highway and brake pedal is just hard can barely push it. It stopped but barely.
I purchased this vehicle as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from George Moore Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Florida, in October 2023. At the time of purchase, the vehicle had approximately 35,000 miles, and it now has approximately 60,000 miles. I have maintained all recommended service intervals and oil changes as required. On June 14, 2025, while stopped at a traffic signal with my foot on the brake pedal, the pedal suddenly sank to the floor, causing the vehicle to roll forward into traffic unexpectedly. I was able to place the vehicle in neutral and then park to prevent a collision. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it when the light changed, the brakes continued to fail. I carefully maneuvered to a nearby area behind a warehouse and allowed the vehicle to come to a complete stop by shifting into neutral. I contacted a tow truck through my State Farm roadside assistance program and had the vehicle transported to my local mechanic. Upon inspection on June 16, 2025, the technician determined that the brake lines were corroded and leaking. Initially, he suspected the master brake cylinder, but it was confirmed not to be leaking. He noted that the metal-braided portion of the brake line had completely deteriorated on one side and was severely compromised on the other. Both brake lines were replaced to restore braking function. Fortunately, I was able to avoid an accident, but this was an alarming experience that I have never encountered in any vehicle I have owned. My mechanic expressed concern about the extent of corrosion on such a relatively new vehicle and indicated this could represent a broader safety issue. I respectfully request that this matter be documented and investigated to ensure that other drivers are not placed at similar risk.
•Initial incident: July 2, 2025 •Recurring occurrences: August 8, 2025 Vehicle Issue Description: Several months ago, the vehicle’s check engine light came on. A diagnostic scan was performed at O’Reilly Auto Parts, but no error codes were detected. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for further inspection. The shop found no mechanical issues and confirmed the vehicle was operating normally at that time. On August 6, 2025, the “Service Brake Assist” warning appeared briefly on the dashboard but turned off shortly afterward. The parking brake warning light also came on that same day, then went off. These warning lights reappeared intermittently on August 8, 2025. No repairs have been made as there are no active recalls related to these issues. However, it is noted that there are consumer complaints reporting similar problems. This raises concerns about potential intermittent or undetected safety system faults, particularly involving the brake assist system and parking brake functionality. Checked brakes again no issues determined per Bridgestone and Mavis.
I was driving just got off the freeway and went to hit the brakes and the brake pedal was hard as a rock I had to use force to slow down to safely get over from the left lane to the right lane to get into a parking lot was a pretty scary experience, called AAA had it towed to the dealer they said the vacuum pump failed which I suspected because of the other complaints regarding the same thing, there was no recalls on my car dealer fixed it under warranty and they said there was no damage to the camshaft. The dealer was amazing and would reccamend them, I also had to pay 100 deductible. As others have stated theres a recall on the vacuum pumps but certain Vin #s are not included. Gm needs to included all Vin #s for the equinox in the recall whats it gonna take somebody to get killed!
My breaks stopped working while I was driving, they became hard to press and unable to function. The vacuum pump attached to the engine failed. The vacuum has broken pieces that are now inside of the engine. No warning indicator lights appeared before the incident. As far as I'm aware other similar models are having the same issue but my vin was not included in the recall.
While driving on the freeway at 75 mph my vacuum pump seized and shattered, causing me to loose all breaking power, damaging my engine beyond repair and endangering my life and numerous other drivers on the road. There is a current recall on the particular year, make and model for this issue but my VIN is not included so the dealership refuses to fix the issue.
The vacuum pump broke and caused the brake booster to lose vacuum and made the brakes hard and almost caused an accident.
Vehicle brakes became hard and failed to stop, check engine light came on and warning saying reduced engine power. Vacuum pump seized and broke off in the crankshaft. After vacuum pump replacement vehicle failed to start multiple times. Vehicle started and had rough idle and stalled multiple times. Currently awaiting dealer inspection.
This past weekend, while driving my 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, I experienced a sudden and complete brake failure. I was turning into a residential neighborhood at approximately 20-30mph when the brakes locked up without warning. Despite pressing the brake pedal, the car would not stop. I attempted to shift into park, but the vehicle continued to roll forward. I had to engage the emergency brake, which caused the car to come to an immediate stop. Thankfully, there were no cars in front of me, but I came dangerously close to hitting a cement wall head-on. This created a serious risk to my safety and potentially to others had the situation occurred in traffic or near pedestrians. There were no warning lights, noises, or prior symptoms indicating an issue with the braking system. The vehicle has since been towed to the dealership and is currently awaiting inspection. I've learned that there are existing recalls on other VINS for the 2020 Equinox related to an incorrect lubricant used in the manufacturing process of the rear brake calipers. This defect can cause the calipers to swell, leading to excessive brake drag. Over time, this drag may result in overheating and possible brake lockup, which aligns with what I experienced. The component appears to be the braking system, specifically involving the calipers or pads. At the time of writing, the failure has not yet been confirmed by the dealer. This issue is extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a severe crash. I am reporting this in hopes that it contributes to a broader investigation, especially if this problem extends beyond currently recalled VINs.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a failure of the vacuum pump in my 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The failure occurred without warning and severely impacted the vehicle’s braking performance, posing a serious safety risk while driving. When the vacuum pump failed, I experienced a hard brake pedal and a significant loss of braking power, which made it difficult to stop the vehicle safely. Thankfully, I was not in heavy traffic or approaching a stoplight at high speed when it happened—otherwise, it could have resulted in a serious accident. After researching this issue, I discovered that vacuum pump failures appear to be a recurring problem in other GM vehicles of similar model years. It is extremely concerning that such a critical component could fail prematurely and without adequate warning. I believe this issue should be investigated for a potential defect and safety recall. I urge the NHTSA to look into this matter to ensure the safety of other drivers who may be at risk due to this defect. Thank you for your time and attention.
The vaccum pump seized which is connected to the camshaft which broke causing the timing chain to break. This caused the vehicle to lose breaking g power and almost wreck.
Service brake assist
Our car has just around 77,000 miles and the brakes stopped working while driving. To our luck my husband quickly thought to use the e brake to prevent a car crash. We took it into our mechanic who diagnosed a brake pump failure. It looks as though the 2020 equinox has recalls for brake issues but our vin number was not listed. This is very dangerous and could have caused a deadly or serious injury crash. We had no prior warning to this happening. The shop owner is fixing the issue and we are holding onto receipts if this becomes a recall available on our vehicle. Very unsafe and according to my research has happened to alot of GM owners.
ABS and breaks exploded at 67k miles and at 78k miles car shut off in middle of the street with no warning. Electric issues confirmed by mechanic.
Unknown, My wife was driving my 2020 Chevy equinox on the freeway when suddenly the vehicle shut down with no warning signs ..she tried to turn on the emergency lights and did not function slowly she yield to other lanes and cars honking she safely made it to the side of the freeway..she tried to turn the car and did not wanted to restart everything shutdown .she call roadside assistance..they came and try to give her a jumpstart and it fail.they tried to tow it and they couldn't cause the brakes were also locked..This.was a scary situation that would had cause major accident.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was hard while depressed, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop, causing the braking distance to become extended. During the failure the message "Brake Assist" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the brake pads and brake rotors, but the failure persisted. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 71,000.
Mileage: 71,000
I put the vehicle into reverse to back in into my garage when it suddenly lurched forward and hit the garage door on the garage across the alley. There was damage to the garage and the car's front end. It has never done anything like this before.
I was driving my car approaching a four way intersection, to realize my brake pedal was not pressing down to the floor. This was 9/28/24. I have a 2020 Chevy Equinox. I put my car in the shop to only find out that vacuum pump has exploded and left metal inside the engine. Done some research with the repair shop and to my surprise, GM has had a lot of recalls with vehicles having this issue. Who ever the CEO is, I pray that you understand how deadly and serious this issue is. This could have ended badly for me and could have been tragic for my family. I can not afford to get the metal out of my engine. And to replace the vacuum pump alone was $700. In order for them to clean the engine would cost me an extra $1000. That's ridiculous for a car that I have only had almost 4 years and with maybe 10,000 miles when I purchased it. My voice will be heard. And I will keep advocating for people who are going through this! Our lives matter. This is very common in vehicles with 1.5 liter engines. I'm going to keep researching and hopefully GM will compensate me for this and the engine work.
We were driving on the highway and just exited. My husband hit the brakes and the pedal was hard to push. He basically had to put all his weight on the pedal in order to slow down. Once we were able to stop completely, we got the 2020 Chevy Equinox looked at and we were told that the vacuum pump that is attached the the cam shift exploded and pieces were in the engine. This has caused approx. $3000 in damage that me and my husband can't afford. The vehicle is still at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine. We are going to have to tow it back to my brothers until we can afford the payment to fix it.
I have 149,000 miles in this car. In my lifetime of being the one owner and purchasing this car brand new the vacuum pump has failed five times. Twice now resulting in blown engines. And still no recalls.
Was driving (in July) through a parking lot when brakes became hard to push. After stopping car, it would not start and went into battery save mode. Car was towed to Chevy dealership in Paducah, Ky. Vacuum pump was replaced and damage to cam shaft and timing chain. Problem was fixed after about $5800 of repairs. Now 2 months later, was driving and noticed “service brake assist” light came on, and brakes were hard to press. Luckily was at a low speed and able to pull over on the side of the road. Car was towed to the local Chevy dealership in Hopkinsville, ky. It is currently waiting for diagnosis of probably the same issue. first incident happened in July, 2nd was at the end of august.
Power Train: I purchased a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox LS in January 2023. For the past 4 to 7 months the vehicle has completely lost power in traffic several times and I'm not talking about AutoStop and Start, the battery life was great, with no dead cells at all. The vehicle went dead, absolutely no power source inside or outside the Equinox, the SUV could not be placed in neutral to move it out of traffic, nor would the remote key work. The Equinox remained in this mode for approximately 20 minutes. During each incident, the vehicle displayed no warning signs or check engine symbol on the dashboard display before or after each episode. Fuel/Propulsion System: Upon placing unleaded fuel in the vehicle and starting up the ignition, the SUV would start vibrating, sputtering, jerking, and popping sounds. Also, while driving the vehicle upon acceleration at times it seems as if fuel isn't reaching the engine. Brakes: Service Brake Assist may illuminate randomly on the dashboard while on the interstate. These issues has placed and caused my family and I to be in great danger. This is my primary vehicle and I purchased this vehicle because I believed in the reliability of the GM Chevrolet Brand. Not an accident waiting to happen. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected, but please remember if NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT is illuminating on the dashboard the issues can not be assessed properly!
When first breaking on the exit ramp after a 2 hour ride on highway the rear breaks made a loud grinding sound & took longer to stop with 2 cars in front of mine. I put flashers on & pulled as far to side of road incase I was unable to stop at the bottom of the exit (down hill) to avoid collision with the 2 cars in front of me. Previously my vehicle shown no signs of any issues. There were no sounds coming from breaks, no issues slowing down or stopping, & no lights on dashboard to indicate an issue of any kind. I looked my Chevy Equinox up and saw that there was an isdue with the rear calipers and many had been reported and recalled. My VIN doesn't show my calipers have been recalled. However, the GM site states if there is an issue with the rear breaks/ calipers to report it and Chevy will repair the issue. Many Chevy Equinox owners have taken to the internet to report the same issue, there are also reports that only 166 were recalled. This is clearly a manufacturing error and not normal wear & tear. I bought my 2020 Equinox brand new in 2021, it was unsold in 2020. Please help myself & the other Chevy Equinox owners make Chevy take responsibility & fix this error before people are injured or killed because our breaks give out unexpectedly.
I received a service brake module warning and then the vehicle became difficult to stop. I was not traveling at typical highway speeds at the time, but I was on the highway. After applying extensive pressure on the brake pedal to stop, the engine lost power and stalled. It was towed to a dealership and determined that vacuum booster pump experienced a catastrophic failure.
Brake assist fail
I was driving and the “service brake assist” light came on and I then the brake pedal became stiff and so hard to push! I was driving on the expressway and almost couldn’t stop my car. No warning at all. It happened as soon as the light came on.
I was operating the vehicle when it suddenly shut off in traffic. I attempted to restart the vehicle and received a "reduced engine power" and "Service brake assist" message. The vehicle had a clunky noise and failed to restart. Upon inspection at the dealership, I was told that the vacuum pump inside the engine had exploded and sent metal components throughout the engine system. No previous issues or warnings were present prior to this failure. This is a safety issue as the vehicle gave no warning signs of issue and shut off in the flow of traffic with very little ability to brake or steer out of the way.
The Vacuum pump has exploded 3 times, twice under warranty and now outside warranty. This time it has taken out the camshaft.
[XXX] My wife received a warning light that the Brake fluid was low, upon the husband checking under the hood after cleaning the reservoir cap and opening the cap and looking inside of the reservoir I could see that there was no visible brake fluid in there. Using another car I purchased Prestone Dot 3 and filled the reservoir it, it took 8 oz out of 12 oz. The 2020 Equinox Premier only has 34,500 miles. On [XXX] I have an appointment to bring the vehicle to Midas via being towed because of this issue, it is not safe to drive there. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with two electric parking brakes. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the electric parking brake engaged independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear brake calipers were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH on a slippery road, the electric parking brake engaged inadvertently, causing the rear wheels to lock, and the vehicle spun. The contact stated that he was able to regain control of the vehicle and drove to the residence at slow speeds. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly while driving. The contact stated that while investigating the failure online, he learned that it was a common failure that occurred because the electric parking brake was not fully retracted. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
In June of 2023 the brake booster vacuum pump failed, I took it to my regular repair shop and paid for it to be repaired. March 1, 2024 I was driving out of town and again the brakes failed, took it to Weimar Chevrolet in Cumberland MD to once again after less than 10,000 miles to be repaired again. Thankfully the dealership coordinated with the original repair shop and was able to do the repair this time at not cost to me (except I had to pay for a rental for 4 days)
Hit my brakes and had nothing but a hard pedal NO BRAKES AT ALL! This almost caused a major accident being speed limit is 70 and I could not stop the car. There was no warning light until I shut it off and turned it back on then lights blinked and said brake assist failure then the warning disappeared once again. This is very scary and I cannot believe there were other reports and nothing has been recalled.
Brake control lost with no warning. Friend whom bought same car 2 days after me experienced same scenario around October 2023. I just dropped off my kid and I was coming off the highway! I could have killed others and if happened 20 mins prior my children! I'm a single mom and my kids only have me. There's no way this is coincidence on the same make, model, year! There has to be a faulty brake system that needs addressed before people do die!! I've been without my car for 3 days now and no one has answers!
The brake system failed without any indication it would do so. The dealership acknowledged the car brake pedal was not able to be moved when attempting to stop the vehicle and the vehicle did not stop by use of the brakes. The Equinox is no longer in my possession and was bought by Dick Genthe Chevrolet. The safety of myself, my 11 year old daughter and the drivers around me were put at risk due to the brakes locking up with no prior notice or indication this would happen. The brakes locked up as I was exiting the expressway and I had to turn the car on a side street and let it coast in order for it to stop. GM and Dick Genthe Chevrolet take no accountability for the incident and instead told me that the car worked well the first four years at least. In January 2024 the check engine light came on and I had it checked in the service department by the manager and the P code that came back was a sensor issue and the service manager said that it was nothing serious and the car was safe and the check engine light would likely go off on its own in two days or so. After the brakes had already failed, a "service brakes" warning message showed in the display and the check engine light came on.
Experienced brake issues in March of 2022, brake pedal became extremely stiff and difficult to use. Bulletin showed an issue with vacuum brake pump and that was replaced with the exact same faulty part. On 12/28/2023 my engine blew in the middle of the road, leaving myself and my children stranded as I could not shift the vehicle out of neutral for quite sometime. The faulty vacuum brake pump caused the cam to break off the shaft- resulting in debris inside the engine.
During the month of November while driving on Interstate 35 inTexas I attempted to administer my braking system during slowed traffic and they did not respond. The brake pedal became completely stiff and I had to apply incredible pressure to get the vehicle to slow down until I turned on my hazards and rolled to a stop on the shoulder. I did not have any alerts or warnings until I powered the vehicle off and powered back on to find my engine light on and the service brake assist alert on as well. I had it towed for service to which they replaced the vacuum pump, brake booster pressure sensor and brake fluid. Everything seemed to be working fine however a month later the same exact issue occurred. I took it in to the same place for service and had a brake inspection done and was told everything looked good and they were not sure what was wrong other than the ecm and ebcm were now reading codes. The issue is that this is intermittent with no warning and has been incredibly difficult to pinpoint the exact issue. This has also been incredibly pricey trying to chase an issue that appears one day and clears itself the next and lastly this has been terrifyingly frustrating as I do not know if i will have valid brake control or not on each ride. This issue could be life or death and was traumatizing as I had my son and mother in the car with me during the first event.
I was traveling the interstate I90/94 , merged to the exit ramp and found the brake pedal hard and unable to push to brake. I had to slide the car into neutral and use two feet on the brake pedal to slow down enough to make the corner at the end of the off ramp. All due to a faulty vacuum pump. The debris from the exploded vacuum pump were sent through the engine. And after having the car fixed it now uses about a quart of oil every 500 miles. Engine is shot! Seriously bad engineering design that will kill someone if it hasn't already. I am 5'11" and weigh 190 lbs. I estimate it took around 200-250 lbs of force to push the pedal to even start to slow. If I hadn't had over 40 years of driving experience, this would have ended in a catastrophic incident.
Faulty Brake Booster Vacuum code on after 60,000 miles
2020 Chevy equinox vacuum pump. Impossible to get the part, safety hazard, no accident yet, takes 2 feet to hold peddle down. No Chevy dealer will help me, i need to go to work.
Attempted to start braking while in high traffic. Brake assist came on and prevented the car from braking properly, almost causing a crash on the highway with the car in front. The brakes had to pressed extremely hard and the e brake had to be engaged in order to stop. Since then the brake assist has not turned off and the vehicle is not safe to drive.
Driving and brakes went out with no warning, no sounds, no anything almost causing me to rear end a 16 wheeler in the dead of night and almost causing another passenger to rear end me! No fluids are leaking. Break fluid not low. The brakes will not go to the floor in reverse, neutral, or drive. I had to get a Uber and get the car towed back home. Upon research it is apparent that this is a known problem in Chevrolets, specifically the 2020 equinox model with the vacuum pumps or something randomly going out while driving. This is very dangerous and I could have lost my life or caused someone else to loose their life! I just got my car a few months ago and it says” no unrepaired safety recalls reported” however this is clearly a known defect that was not bought to my attention upon purchasing the car.
Got hit at 40 miles an hour in a parking lot while a running dog came through and it was caotic
The brake assist warning light flashed and the electric components start blinking and the car went in reverse in traffic. The car then turnt off.
Driving on trip to New York and lost the brake assist system halfway there. No alerts or engine lights came on as they should have. Luckily we were coming up to stop light so not going to fast but almost hit car in front of us. We had no warning and this is a known problem with these cars.
This vehicle starts glitching after exposure to rain. All of the gauges start going up and down, and every action required message pops up one after the other stating "Fuel Level Low, Shift to Park, Park Assist Off, All Wheel Drive System, Service Power Steering, ESC". The vehicle does this while driving at low to high speeds, even on the highways it has happened, the brakes are hard to push in while this is happening. This puts me and others in high danger if I cannot control the vehicle while driving. I have taken the vehicle in over 6 times to the service department of GM and not one time has anything been done. They have been unsuccessful in duplicating the problem every time I've brought it in even when it is occurring.
When I was driving my vehicle, I came up to a red light and my brake pedal was hard and I could not stop the vehicle. The brakes would not work when I tried to stop. With fast acting and thinking, I was able to pull over to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me, luckily no other cars were around at that time. Mine and my child's safety were at risk when the vehicle would not stop and we could have been in an accident from the brakes not working. The vehicle is currently at the dealership getting diagnosed. No warning sings, warning lamps, messages or other signs happened before, during, or after the failure of the brakes. The brake pedal was so hard you could not push it down at all.
I was driving home from work, just got off the highway, and when I was about to turn into my apartment complex, i went to push on the brake to slow down, and I noticed I couldn't push down on the brake at all. Luckily, it was later in the evening and no other cars were around at the time of the incident. There was no prior warning that popped up before that. My car didn't stop until I pulled the parking brake and then the "service brake assist" message popped up finally. No accident occurred but I am pretty shaken up considering how different the outcome could have been if I was on the highway for myself and if there was any other car involved. I will be taking it to the dealership in a few days.
I was driving on the highway when suddenly my brakes became stuck and I was unable to stop. I was able to safely maneuver to the side of the highway with the help of quick thinking and my parking brake. However, no warning lights or messages appeared from my car directly prior to the event. Although I was safe, this could have had a fatal outcome for either myself or other drivers on the highway had I not been able to move to the side of the highway quickly. My car is currently at a dealership for the weekend and I am awaiting them opening this week so they will be able to perform a full inspection. A sheriff presented to the scene when this happened as I had my hazard lights on while on the side of the road and he did a visual inspection of the hood of my car as well. I am extremely concerned regarding the unprompted failure of my brake system and lack of warning prior.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to respond. As a result, the contact had to apply pressure and pump the brake pedal several times to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to navigate the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was then towed to Tires Plus where it was diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Mileage: 90,000
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, he depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. As a result, the contact had to apply pressure and pumped the brake pedal approximately ten to fifteen times before the vehicle stopped. The contact then engaged the parking brake. The vehicle was taken to Tires Plus where it was diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump had exploded and caused damage to the camshaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was scheduled to take the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000
Mileage: 80,000
The brakes stop working
The P0556 code gets stored when the PCM has detected a problem with the brake booster pressure sensor circuit because of abnormal feedback. Braking distance significantly affected by brake pedal becoming difficult to depress. Cause is the brake booster vacuum pump. Internet reports indicate multiple vehicle types during the late 20-teens and early 2020s. Problems are occurring during or shortly after warranty expiration. This is a very dangerous problem that could cause serious injury.
The brake vacuum pump went bad while driving the car
My brake pedal became hard as a rock requiring all of the leg strength I had to stop vehicle followed by a Brake Booster warning light and an email from OnStar. My concern here is GM eliminated that foot/hand operated emergency/parking brake leaving no backup method to stop in an emergency. Women, for the most part, and inexperienced drivers would not have the strength or knowledge to push on the brake pedal as hard as possible to stop the vehicle. Once they pushed with normal pressure and the vehicle didn't stop there would be an accident. In my case I was traveling at 45 mph in congested multi lane traffic on the inside of four lanes when traffic suddenly stopped leaving me about 2 seconds to react.
While driving the Brake pedal became very hard to press and stopping distance increased greatly. the check engine light and service brake light on the dash became illuminated. After looking online it became apparent that there are a lot of people with Chevrolet vehicles equipped with the 1.5L engine that had the same problem and the cause was a faulty vacuum pump. I removed the vacuum pump and it has broken pieces that have fallen off of it and are now inside of the engine and will need more engine components removed to have access to remove all of the metal fragments.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that as she slows to a stop and depresses the brake pedal the vehicle jerks and goes backward before coming to a full stop. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been taken to a local dealer or mechanic and was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a constant smell of gasoline vapor in the cabin which makes the contact dizzy. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I had just exited off of the highway and I was approaching the red light ahead my brakes became hard to push and they did not stop the vehicle. I ran through the red light in sheer panic. Was able to pull into a bank parking lot and when I turned the vehicle off and then back on the "brake assist" notification came up. I called my local Chevy Service but at that point I was on a trip from Fort Worth to Houston and was halfway in the middle closest to Waco. I drove it to the nearest dealership 30 miles. I had to leave the vehicle for 5 days. The diagnoses was no vacuum to brake booster pump. A total of $504. They said pumps are not included in powertrain warranty and I just passed the bumper to bumper warranty. I Had to get a hotel for the night. Then get a family member to drive 3 1/2 hours to come get me and my 2 daughters. My main concern is if anybody else had been coming through that intersection when my brakes failed it could have been a really bad accident. I had gone from a 75mph speed limit and was still going 35 mph when they stopped working.
Vehicle intermittent brake catches, lights come sometimes, door locks open and close, engine light comes on and last time system locked completely and could get vehicle into gear. Had to have it towed. Second time into dealer service, now on 4th week and GM factory unable to determine problem and solution. Copy of my letter sent to General Motors for remedy of my Equinox problems not solved. Consumer's 2020 Chevrolet Equinox has developed multiple defects that cannot be fixed.. The brakes will suddenly catch, the lights come on on their own, door locks will lock and unlock intermittently and it will lock up so we cannot get it into gear. The engine light remains on. First in for service 4/18/22 for one week. Problem not fixed. Now in second time and dealer has had it for three weeks. GM techs have been unable to determine problem solutions... (Car interior torn apart).
When my car is parked (no emergency brake on) on a SLIGHT incline & the driveway is completely dry, it slides down the driveway 10-20 feet in its own with the wheels turning. It has happened at 4 times & once someone was trying to get out & it was frightening. It’s ended up on the sidewalk where it could hit pedestrians. I can’t drive an UNSAFE vehicle & the dealer says since they can’t replicate it, they can’t fix it (as if I’m lying that it happened) & to just always use the emergency brake even though the car manual doesn’t say anything about that being how the car works.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while pulling to a stoplight when they noticed the brakes squeaking and they began to smell like overheated brakes. The vehicle's brakes started dragging from the rear and the brake pad sticks to the roader. The failure occurred approximately 3-4 times. The dealer had not been able to identify the cause of the failure. The contact noticed that their failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19v704000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The manufacturer was made aware and confirmed their VIN was not included. The contact was directed to file a complaint with NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
Mileage: 35,000
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while his wife was driving at an unknown speed, the power steering assist and brake assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the brake module to be replaced. The brake module was replaced, and the brake fluid was flushed. The vehicle was repaired but experienced failure the following day. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the shoulder nut on the brake module to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but experienced failure while leaving the dealer. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,418. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BAD BATTERY.
Mileage: 2,418
Back in early October 2020, vehicle had about 2000 miles on it. I noticed that when I started up the vehicle The Brake Assist Service message came on the brakes were spongy and had vibrating feel. I drove about a half of a mile and the problem stopped. The engine light came on and stayed on but then went out. Everything was ok for about two weeks when it did it again light came on took it a dealer but light went off. They serviced the vehicle and seem that the problem had stopped. Then in Early April of 2021 it happened again. Took it to the same dealership, they replace some more parts. Week or two weeks later same issue. Took it back to the dealership. They replaced the engine control module. During all these times, an engine light would soon follow after the message about the brake assist message. Thought it was fixed. On June 14 2021 at 1:14PM started my vehicle up the SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST message came on called the dealership. The brakes were vibrating and were not smooth. I stopped and turned off the vehicle and restarted the vehicle message went away brakes appeared to be fine. This time however no engine came on. Dealership was willing to service the vehicle but if the engine light wasn't on it would hard to diagnosed. I took a picture of the message before it had clear. On July 8th 2021, at 2:08PM, I started my vehicle and the SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST message came on. I took a photo of it. I tested the brakes appear to be ok. Turned the vehicle off the message didn't show again. My son borrow the vehicle and he got into an accident the same day approximately 6 hours. He swerved to avoid hitting a deer. He said that brakes appeared not to slow him down. He left roadway and struck a tree head on. The vehicle caught fire and he was lucky to escape. The vehicle was destroyed by the fire and crash. Not putting blame on anyone because I know there were other contributing factors to the accident . I just wanted to report this because of past problems with GM.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving downhill at approximately 20-30 mph, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle instead independently accelerated and crashed through an electric gate. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that the passenger’s side of the vehicle was severely damaged causing approximately $6,000 in damages to the vehicle and the electric gate. The vehicle was repaired, and the passenger’s side door was replaced. The contact stated that two days after the vehicle was picked up from the repair shop, while attempting to reverse out of a parking spot, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to stop in a reasonable amount of time. The contact stated that the vehicle slowly stopped and that the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,400. The Vin was invalid.
Mileage: 2,400
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, RECEIVED "SERVICE ESC" WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD WITH 4 "LIGHTS" ON THE DASHBOARD. ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL, AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT. LANE KEEP ASSIST HAS BEEN DISABLED, FRONT COLLISION WARNING HAS BEEN DISABLED, AND FRONT PEDESTRIAN BRAKING HAS BEEN DISABLED. ALL OF THESE LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WILL TURN OFF FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND TURN BACK ON.
Mileage: 29,133
ROUGH IDLE WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP AND RPMS WILL FLUCTUATE. RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN TURNING ON OR ON REVERSE. BRAKES RESPONDING LATE.
I PURCHASED THE 2020 EQUINOX SUV. IMMEDIATELY LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A HEAVY RAIN THE SUV WASN'T ABLE TO STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS & APPROACHED A STOP SIGN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. I WOKE UP IN A TRAUMA CENTER IN SPRINGFIELD MO. THE VEHICLE HAD 84 MILES ON IT. $17,500 IN DAMAGE NOT INCLUDING SERIOUS INJURIES NOT JUST TO MYSELF BUT THE CAR THAT STRUCK ME. I WAS ALSO SITED A TICKET FROM THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL FOR FAILURE TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THOUGH I APPLIED THE BREAKS WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BREAKS IN WET/COLD CLIMATES. IT'S TERRIFYING
Mileage: 83
TURNING RIGHT AFTER A YIELD AND TOOK A LOOP (HIGHWAY) MY VEHICLE CRASHED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, BUT MY VEHICLE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN AUTO WARNING OR ALERT SIGN THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED, A BEEP THAT SUPPOSED TO ALERT ME THAT THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS SO CLOSE EVEN THE SWITCH WAS AT THE ON MODE
Mileage: 20
PULLING OUT OF CARWASH.TURNING LEFT IN CARWASH LOT. CAR ENGINE REVED UP, CAR LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED. SLAMMED ON BRAKE BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. CAR THEN SIDE SWIPED CARWASH VACUUM SYSTEM ON PASSENGER SIDE SCRAPING AND DENTING BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THREW CAR INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE TO STOP WAITED 5 MINUTES. TURNED CAR BACK ON PUT CAR IN DRIVE. SLOWLY MOVED AND PUT BRAKE ON. BRAKES WORKED. DROVE 5 MILES TO GET HOME. NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR.
Mileage: 6,550
WHENEVER I BACKUP I HEAR A SQUEAL NOISE WHEN I PUT MY BRAKE ON TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A MONTH NOW.
RECEIVED "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" ON CAR DASHBOARD. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, THE 1ST 2 WOULD NOT PROVIDER A LOANER VEHICLE TO ME WHILE CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED. NOTE THE CAR WAS PURCHASE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT GM HAS A POLICY THAT THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE LOANERS, IF THIS IS TRUE I FIND IT VERY TROUBLING. THE LAST STOP I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT DOWN AND TELL THEM THEY WERE GOING TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR ME TO DRIVE OR GET MY CAR FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I ENDED UP WITH A LOANER AND THEY FOUND THAT I HAD SOME PINCHED WIRES AND THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH INVOLVES THE WHOLE ENGINE BEING PULLED TO REPLACE THIS PART. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST A WEEK AND I MAY GET IT BACK TOMORROW. THIS IS THE FIRST CHEVY I HAVE OWNED AND IT MAY BE MY LAST.
Mileage: 1,200
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM TRENARY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 501 AUTO MALL DR, O'FALLON, MO 63368, WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 400