Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2025 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic sign, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission automatically shifted to park(P). The vehicle was towed to a service station and the vehicle was refilled. The contact was able to start the vehicle, and the message "Auto Shut Down" was displayed and a 5-minute countdown was started, and the vehicle turned off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while attempting to use the vehicle, there was an automatic update alert. The contact's wife's cellphone had alerted her to the update; however, she was unable to access the vehicle for 15 minutes. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the transmission failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the reverse symbol was displayed on the instrument panel, and there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, and informed the contact that the automatic update was normal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 999.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to a nearby dealer, where the rear differential oil was drained, and metal shavings were found in the oil. The dealer determined that the rear end assembly needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The dealer had ordered the part. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for repairs since January 10, 2025. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and recently sent an email, advising the contact that the part was not yet available to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 1,600.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission independently shifted into neutral. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped in the middle of a busy road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. In addition, the contact stated that the failure was persistent. In addition, the contact stated that later the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however the vehicle had not been inspected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact became aware that transmission fluid was leaking from the bottom of the vehicle and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N). No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to shift back to drive(D); however, the vehicle idled while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,060.
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 10 MPH with no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle following the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,700.
The vehicle's high-voltage battery system and propulsion system appear to have failed, causing a complete loss of power while driving. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection, The vehicle completely shut down while I was driving on Florida's Turnpike, creating an extremely dangerous situation on a high-speed highway. There was no warning prior to the shutdown, and I am currently pregnant, which made the situation especially traumatic and heightened the risk to both myself and my unborn child, as well as other drivers on the road. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership for inspection. As of now, the problem has not been reproduced, but the shutdown event is confirmed and documented by the dealer during the incident report and intake process. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection. …
While operating the vehicle on both interstate highways and local roadways, an intermittent malfunction occurs involving the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. The instrument panel displays a warning message stating, "Service All-Wheel Drive System." When this warning appears, the vehicle automatically disengages from AWD and reverts to Two-Wheel Drive (2WD). Once this occurs, the system does not allow the driver to manually return the vehicle to AWD. This issue has occurred on more than three separate occasions. Notably, there have been instances where the warning indicator illuminated immediately upon starting the vehicle, prior to any extended operation. When the malfunction is present, the vehicle exhibits abnormal driving behavior, including a noticeable jerking or hesitation that feels consistent with a transmission-related issue. …
My vehicle is a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV equipped with a stalk-mounted electronic shift selector. On multiple occasions, when shifting from Reverse(R) to Drive(D), the transmission has failed to actually engage Drive despite the shifter indicating the D position had been selected. In most instances this resulted in the vehicle to unexpectedly move backward, requiring me to re-select the gear. This defect caused a collision. I was attempting to Dirve out of a parking space and needed to move quickly. I shifted the stalk to Drive, and - consistent with normal driving behavior - did not look at the instrument panel to visually confirm the gear had engaged before accelerating, as drivers do not typically re-verify gear selection after shifting. The vehicle had not actually engaged Drive. When I applied the accelerator, the vehicle did not move as expected, and I struck a vehicle behind me. …
Transmission complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, 15% of the model year's 236 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2025 Chevrolet Equinox transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2025 Chevrolet Equinox transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.