2018 Chevrolet Equinox: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox: 5 recalls, 409 owner complaints and up to 32 mpg combined.
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Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V516000 · 2017 · 2,905 vehicles
What's wrong: The right front intermediate driveshaft May fracture and separate while driving.
Why it matters: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle May move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle…
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017.
Body & structure, Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #18V252000 · 2018 · 379 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver and front passenger door window glass May not be properly tempered. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 205, "glazing materials."
Why it matters: If the glass is not tempered properly, and the window is broken, the glass can break into large pieces, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the glass in the front doors, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2018.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V358000 · 2018 · 895 vehicles
What's wrong: The high pressure fuel pump May detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Why it matters: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V576000 · 2018 · 210,628 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear brake caliper pistons May have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Why it matters: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V668000 · 2020 · 194,105 vehicles
What's wrong: The start/stop accumulator endcap May have missing bolts.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 30 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (118): the most common themes are warning light on (28), brake failure / soft pedal (15).
- Engine (86): the most common themes are warning light on (27), stalls / loses power (18).
- Transmission & drivetrain (66): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (22), warning light on (16), noise or vibration (10).
- Electrical (61): the most common themes are electrical failure (22), warning light on (9).
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has 409 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 22 Equinox model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 417). Complaints peaked in 2026 (60 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 21,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (276 complaints, 0 recalls), 2019 (304 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 39 | 32 | Diesel |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 28 | 38 | 32 | Diesel |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 32 | 28 | Regular |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 9-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 9-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 24 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Equinox problems?
Owners have filed 409 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (118), engine (86), transmission & drivetrain (66).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox get?
EPA ratings run up to 32 mpg combined (1.6 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.