While driving on a county highway, the service brake assist light appeared. Upon braking, brakes were extremely hard (like pushing on a brick) to stop. After attempting to brake several times and finally getting stopped, I turned off the vehicle. Upon attempting to restart, car failed to start. Towed from holstein Iowa to milford, Iowa late on a Friday. Next morning, dealer in spirit lake Iowa was contacted. A 2nd tow to the dealer happened on Saturday. Dealer briefly looked at it and stated it was a camshaft actuator or sensor and they would get to it after the holiday weekend. The gave me a rental to get home (5 hrs South) however, I am still paying on a uhaul trailer rental as the rental van did not have towing capabilities. Tow 1 was $250 and tow 2 was $125. Rental is $50 per day. Parts/labor is expected to be a little over $2200 plus the van rental, plus the uhaul trailer extra days rental, plus the gas to go back and get the vehicle and bring it home with the uhaul trailer. Dealer was advised by me to look at the vacuum pump on tue a.M. tue P.M. dealer called back. Verified vacuum pump issue and stated it was defective and that it disintegrated. It was also sitting on the front dual overhead exhaust and that was attached to the camshaft exhaust. Both of those broke away as well. Need to replace those and the timing chain with an oil change to ensure no metal remains in the engine. GM/Chevy should be fixing this at no cost plus paying for the towing charges, extra rentals, and gas. Not having brakes is a major safety issue and putting my life, my family's life and the life of people on the road around us is not what I consider a good product. Photos from the dealer will be asked for, especially the vacuum pump. I will promptly forward bills as soon as they arrive.

- Manley, NE, USA

10/2019 - while driving on highway, coming into a construction zone, I went to slow down. When I pushed my brakes to slow down, they were very hard and was unable to push them down. Ended up having to drive off the side of the road to avoid collision. Vaccum pump failed which caused a failure in my brake assist system. It was fixed under warranty. 9/2020 - driving on the highway and went to slow down when the same thing happened again and I was unable to slow down. Again had to drive off the side of the road to avoid collision. This time when the vacuum pump failed, it broke a gear causing metal pieces to be sucked in the engine and now my engine is needing replaced. This is a common problem with this car based on the research I have done but my VIN is not included in recall. I feel this is very dangerous to happen twice in less than a year while traveling high speeds and being unable to stop. I have 2 young children that I no longer feel safe putting in this vehicle

- Blanchard, OK, USA

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but was firm causing the braking distance to be extended. The service brake assist warning light was illuminated. Radley Chevrolet (3670 jefferson davis hwy, fredericksburg, va 22408, (540)898-4000) was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

- Ruther Glen, VA, USA

9 months aga, complete brake failure while driving on the highway. Dash said service brake assist. Turner Chevrolet in crosby, tx replaced the vacuum pump making the brakes work. Now we had the same issue again while driving on the highway at highway speeds. In both cases, we instantly lost all braking, but were able to slow down by letting off the accelerator and had enough distance to slow down.

- Liberty, TX, USA

I was driving to work one morning. When I got into a car accident and hit a car almost head on. As my traffic light turned red I started to break but my brakes locked up on me. Which felt like a brick. I tried to pump the brakes but it would not pump it just stayed very hard like a brick. I start to slide while not really reducing speed I turned my steering wheel a little bit trying to avoid the on coming traffic when my steering wheel locked as well causing me slide right into a car.

- Houston, TX, USA

I purchased this vehicle I June 28th of 2018. I have had to take it into the shop at least three times with complaints of squeaking from brakes mirror alert problems trunk sticking and the suspension has gotten worse since I first started driving it I'm noticing it. Every time I complain they tell me nothing is wrong except for at the beginning of my lease it had to be taken in for repairs. I was told that the brakes squeaking is not a safety issue and it was recommend to change my brake pads and in the same conversation was told that my brakes were fine. I spoke to the manager at balise Chevy because I felt like this veichele was a lemon. I asked if there was anything they could do because I did not have time to keep taking this brand new veichele because it was a lease so they did nothing. Balise Chevy in warwick should have notes of complaints. I also took the vehicle to hurd auto mall in johnston. There was a slow leak in one of my tires and balise could not find the leak so I was told if it happens again they would submerge the tire and check that way. They sent me home the tire continued to leak air my last oil change was done at hurd automall in johnston where they did an oil change found the tire leak no problem and fixed it.

- Johnston, RI, USA

I was driving down the highway and I got an error saying engine power reduced, and my engine cut out, and then right after, I got an error saying brake assist on, and my brakes felt like a brick when I tried to push them. I made it to the emergency lane on the hwy, and pushed my brakes really hard and then put the parking brake on. After getting it towed to the closest dealership, the service advisor told me this is a known issue with Equinoxs with my engine type, where the vacuum pump goes out, and then the gear running it brakes, and then the metal from that gear got sucked up into my engine. That vacuum pump connects to both my brakes and my engine, which is why I lost both at the same time with no prior warnings or any indication anything could be wrong before it happened. My engine is now completely blown with no warning. It's a known issue with the factory part, and they assured me it had nothing to do with maintenance or anything, some of the vacuum pumps they used are just bad. There are no open recalls on my VIN. This could have been very bad. I lost my brakes and my engine going highway speeds on a bridge. I was just lucky enough to be able to make it to the emergency lane and stop without getting hit or hitting anyone else.

- Charleston, SC, USA

Just finshed my second year into my 3 year 2018 Chevy Equinox lease and for the last month or so the service brake assist has appeared and dissapeared dozens of times when starting the vehicle and while driving as well as the check engine light has come on and off for the last few weeks. Orginally mad an appointment but the dealer ship canclled it and then my car suddenly had reduced power the died in the middle of the road as I was driving on the road. Not a highway. Got it towed to the dealer and the say a vacum pump seized? now are saying there is metal in the engine amd they dont know why. Trying to get me to pay for cost. Have taken car of vehchile and done the required matinence. This should not be happening on a 2 year old car with on 32000 miles. Very concerned there is something defected with the car. As numerous vehicles have been recalled for similar issues to mine by GM.

- Forest Lake, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving 40 mph, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed. The contact's vehicle failed to stop and crashed into two vehicles. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact sustained burns to the arms and hands, but medical attention was not provided. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the local dealer. The contact stated that the failure recurred thirty days later. The vehicle was towed to matthews-hargreaves Chevrolet (2000 twelve mile rd, royal oak, mi 48067, (866) 275-2746), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: [xxx]. the failure mileage was unknown. ('parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')

- St Clair Shores, MI, USA

Roughly 38K miles on vehicle, went on a road trip and about 80 miles into the trip, was slowing down for traffic and breaks went out, the master cylinder. It was incredibly hard to press down on the breaks taking all my effort to stop the car.

- Columbia, MO, USA

Brakes grabs, makes loud scrubbing noise when applied to slow down, stop, or turn.sound like right front end rods going to break, and feels like brakes slipping, and not wanting to stop at times.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

I was traveling 70+mph on a freeway and I went to slow down for a speed limit change for road construction. I couldn't push down on the brakes!! thankfully there wasn't anyone in front of me! I was able to put on my hazard lights and coast while pushing as hard as I could on the brakes. I made in to an off ramp and was able to slow down enough to stop and throw it in park and E-brake it. This could have ended very badly! I found that there is an open investigation on the vaccum pump, but no official recall... (which is what mine turned out to be) I hope they are not waiting for fatalities!!

- Hill City, MN, USA

I am driving down the highway when I get a warning saying service brakes. I went to hit my brakes and I had none at all! I almost hit a car because it was getting off the ramp and hit its brakes. I had to go over to the side of the road to keep from hitting it. I found out that the brake vacuum pump went out. I know that GM is doing a investigation on this. My car is now at the dealership getting repaired. I don't want this to happen to someone else. I had no warning at all that my brakes was not going to work. Thank god I was able to get stopped without being in a accident. This is a big safety hazard!!!!!

- Lake Butler, FL, USA

Brakes on the 2018 Equinox are too sensitive, when applied they cause occupants to lunge forward.we thought they would wear in but after several thousands of miles they are still the same.we talked to dealership, mcdaniels and service manager about this but they said it's like the other Equinox. Called GM customer care and corporate office but they didn't care to follow up. Technician said yes they have to be careful driving them when servicing because of brakes.there is no freeplay and they aggressively engage with the very slightest touch. It is not good to touch brakes to disengage the cruise control because it jerks the car immediately. It seems there should be a manufacturing standard for brakes. The dealership and GM ignore any question and cannot provide technical detail or whether if it is within standard or not. It seems petty to complain about brakes working "too good" but it really is a problem and hurts my wifes neck when braking. If you only drive the Equinox you could get used to it and adjust your pressure. The problem is we have a couple other GM vehicles and in the others there is freeplay on the brake pedal and the brakes do not grab immediately like the Equinox. Even my C6 corvette and a newer Silverado whose brakes work well. They never grab with the slightest touch.. switching between vehicles causes a safety problem. When going to the Equinox from another car it is easy to cause severe lunging. The bigger problem is going to another vehicle where you then to lightly touch the brakes and nothing happens, this delay could cause an accident. It seems there should be a standard for brakes and this could cause an accident. This is an important issue and I don't see why GM is ignoring it.. NHTSA should set this standard and insure makers vehicles comply.

- Richwood, OH, USA

The vehicle was parked on a grade. The vehicle was on with gear in park position, without the park brake engaged, when the vehicle unintentionally rolled-away. The vehicle rolled out of control hitting another parked vehicle and fixed object.

- Cheverly, MD, USA

Takata recall, I was turning into the left turn lane, when I applied the brakes the brake peddle was locked and I could not apply pressure to stop. I continued to apply pressure to the brake, but it continued to be locked. When I hit the car in front of me the airbags did not inflate. When the car stopped the brakes continued to be locked. When the officers arrived they looked at the brake peddle and they were still locked in place.

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

I bought my car to be dinghy towed. That means the car is pulled behind a motorhome with all 4 wheels on the ground.my first problem was the battery was dying when it was being towed. My next problem was that the brakes locked up when it was being towed causing the rear tires to be ground down past the tread into the belt section of the tires.if another motorist hadn't warned me I would have had 2 blowouts in the next minute or 2.when I pulled over I had a ABS warning on my control panel. I replaced the rear tires. I have the computer diagnostic that shows several failures including electronic brake control module, control module power plus low voltages.this is very unsafe and I would like to know if this car is safe to dinghy tow.

- San Jose, CA, USA

I have my 2018 AWD Equinox 3 weeks and 800 miles. Service brake assist displays on the info-center. Brakes are constantly grinding and inconsistent. Sometimes the brakes engage hard with normal pressure on the brake pedal causing the car to come to a serious and unexpected abrupt stop. This can cause a rear end collision. Other times it feels like the car is not going to stop and immediate and additional pressure must be applied. There is no doubt that this defect will cause accidents. The car was presented for service at the dealership of purchase and they were unable to determine why the brake assist was malfunctioning. They also claimed there are no service bulletins related to this issue.

- Glendale, NY, USA

This vehicle was sold as having a tow pkg with the capability of pulling a 3500 lb trailer. There is no brake harness available on this car (a separate cab brake control is a legal requirement in every state based on tow loads, Michigan is 3000 lbs.) dealership acknowledges they can't locate it, we have a complaint filed with GM 8-3144268897 I feel this is definitely a safety issue which could cause a crash or injury or death. We have had many trailers and recognize that this cab brake controller is a necessity in pulling a trailer. People who have never pulled a trailer before might not know this'.especially if they listen to their salesperson who tries to tell them that they don't need cab brakes. (like our salesman tried to tell us) obviously this issue isn't limited to our vehicle....everyone who buys this vehicle with the intent of pulling a trailer over 1000 lbs (some state require cab brakes on this weight) will encounter this problem. Updated 10/05/2017

- Grayling, MI, USA