Chevrolet Equinox Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Chevrolet Equinox across 20 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (52). The words owners use most often: “vacuum pump” (13% of reports).
- 141service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Vacuum pump: mentioned in 19 of 141 complaints (13%)
- Pedal depressed: mentioned in 16 of 141 complaints (11%)
- Service brake: mentioned in 11 of 141 complaints (8%)
- ABS traction: mentioned in 10 of 141 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 122 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 141 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 4 an injury.
Chevrolet Equinox service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox | 2 | 3% | 425 |
| 2025 Equinox | 3 | 1% | 13,040 |
| 2024 Equinox | 2 | 3% | 1,550 |
| 2023 Equinox | 1 | 1% | 10,002 |
| 2022 Equinox | 1 | 1% | 62,000 |
| 2020 Equinox | 13 | 4% | 94,850 |
| 2019 Equinox | 13 | 4% | 74,700 |
| 2018 Equinox | 14 | 3% | 90,656 |
| 2017 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 67,000 |
| 2016 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 12,022 |
| 2015 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 69,000 |
| 2013 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 22,549 |
| 2012 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 77,000 |
| 2011 Equinox | 3 | 0% | 25,950 |
| 2010 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 18,440 |
| 2009 Equinox | 1 | 1% | 2,700 |
| 2008 Equinox | 1 | 0% | 10 |
| 2007 Equinox | 10 | 1% | 9,650 |
| 2006 Equinox | 19 | 3% | 38,900 |
| 2005 Equinox | 52 | 8% | 37,820 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Model years: 2020
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles. The rear brake calipers may have been produced with an incorrect lubricant, potentially causing the rubber seals to swell and the brakes to drag.
Risk: Brake drag may result in overheating of the brake pads, affecting the braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake calipers, including the brake hose gasket, brake fluid and wheel to hub lubricant, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192270920.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Model years: 2018, 2019
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 - 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes locked up. The contact turned into a nearby parking lot and coasted to a stop and shifted into park(P). The contact waited a while for a co-worker…
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH or below and coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as intended, and the brake pedal was pumped several times until the vehicle responded. The contact…
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes locked up, and the vehicle accelerated independently, causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contact had not sustained…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake vacuum pump failed to operate as needed and caused the brake pedal to become firm. The message "Service Brake Assist" was displayed. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the message âService Brake Assistâ warning light illuminated twice. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed, causing the contact to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Equinoxs have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Chevrolet Equinox. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Equinox service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Chevrolet Equinox?
The most frequent phrase is “vacuum pump”, in 19 of 141 complaints, followed by “pedal depressed” (16).
Other Chevrolet Equinox problems
- Engine problems (2,840)
- Electrical System problems (1,224)
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,114)
- Power Train problems (1,093)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (832)
- Air Bags problems (630)
- Service Brakes problems (612)
- Steering problems (466)
See all Chevrolet Equinox problems.