Three pedestrian alert recalls, ACC braking failure, windshield glare — Equinox EV owners may qualify for a California buyback. Free case review.
The 2024-2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV was supposed to be the affordable entry point into the GM Ultium electric future — starting around $35,000, practical family-SUV dimensions, and a promised 150 kW fast-charging capability. For many owners, the reality has been something much harder to live with: a car that has accumulated five separate NHTSA recall campaigns before most owners hit 20,000 miles, a dashboard that can blind you in sunlight, and a battery that has dropped to zero without warning and stranded drivers on the side of the road. The most persistent issue goes back to the very first months of production. GM had to recall the Equinox EV three separate times for the same underlying defect: a pedestrian alert sound system that does not comply with federal safety standard FMVSS 141 because it cannot produce the required volume change as the vehicle accelerates from a stop. Recall 24V-925 covered 7,606 units in December 2024. Recall 25V-639 covered 23,700 additional 2024 MY units in September 2025. Then recall 25V-878 covered approximately 59,537 more 2025 MY units in early 2026 after GM's own retesting confirmed a continued failure. In total, three rounds of recalls for the same pedestrian-alert software across roughly 90,000 vehicles — without a single hardware change. On the safety side of the driver's seat, a separate recall (25V-012) covered 2,890 AWD models built between July and December 2024 because the brake system control module would not apply friction brakes when adaptive cruise control commanded a stop. Owners relying on ACC were, in practice, stopping only on regenerative braking — a known stopping-distance shortfall in a panic stop scenario. And then there is the dashboard. Owners in the first two model years have been forced to drive with polarized sunglasses or homemade visors because the ribbed dashboard surface reflects so strongly off the windshield that pedestrians at crosswalks can disappear in bright sunlight. GM acknowledged the problem in TSB 25-NA-069 (August 2025) with a dash-mat fix for existing owners — then quietly redesigned the 2026 dashboard altogether. For California owners who purchased or leased a 2024-2025 Equinox EV and have lived through these defects, the state's lemon law was built for situations exactly like this.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
Exterior pedestrian warning chime is inaudible or fails to change volume adequately as the vehicle accelerates from a stop to ~6 mph; pedestrians cannot reliably hear the vehicle approaching.
When adaptive cruise control (ACC) is engaged and detects a vehicle or obstacle ahead, the car slows only via regenerative braking and does not apply friction brakes, leaving insufficient stopping distance.
Reflections from the ribbed dashboard surface project onto the windshield in bright sunlight, severely impairing forward visibility; owners report being unable to see pedestrians or the road ahead without polarized sunglasses or a dash mat.
Battery state-of-charge drops suddenly from a normal charge level to 0% without warning; myChevrolet app shows high-voltage battery fault alert; vehicle becomes immobilized and requires towing.
Vehicle charges at only 80–100 kW at 150 kW DC fast chargers despite Chevrolet's advertised 150 kW rating; some owners also report charging capped at ~29–30 kW due to a faulty charge port locking pin.
Tread partially or fully separates from the tire; owner may notice unusual tread wear, tread bulging, excessive vibration, or road noise prior to or during tread separation event.
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
Exterior pedestrian warning chime is inaudible or fails to change volume adequately as the vehicle accelerates from a stop to ~6 mph; pedestrians cannot reliably hear the vehicle approaching.
Three separate recall campaigns for the same pedestrian-alert defect across MY2024 and MY2025 demonstrates a persistent, recurring safety defect. Owners who returned for this issue multiple times under warranty may have a strong lemon-law claim based on repeat repair attempts.
OTA or dealer BCM software update at no cost to owner.
When adaptive cruise control (ACC) is engaged and detects a vehicle or obstacle ahead, the car slows only via regenerative braking and does not apply friction brakes, leaving insufficient stopping distance.
Braking failure while using ACC poses a direct crash risk. If a California owner experienced unexpected failure to brake and required multiple dealer visits, this qualifies as a substantial impairment of safety under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.2.
Dealer software update to BSCM calibration at no cost; unsold units eligible for OTA update.
Reflections from the ribbed dashboard surface project onto the windshield in bright sunlight, severely impairing forward visibility; owners report being unable to see pedestrians or the road ahead without polarized sunglasses or a dash mat.
Visibility impairment documented in multiple NHTSA complaints and addressed by an OEM TSB. If repair attempts (e.g., mat installation) failed to correct the defect to the owner's reasonable satisfaction, repeated warranty visits support a lemon-law claim.
Installation of GM-approved dash mat (TSB 25-NA-069; part 86279931 without HUD, 86279932 with HUD). 2026 MY received a design-level fix instead.
Battery state-of-charge drops suddenly from a normal charge level to 0% without warning; myChevrolet app shows high-voltage battery fault alert; vehicle becomes immobilized and requires towing.
Sudden immobilization requiring towing is a textbook reliability defect. Multiple NHTSA complaints and InsideEVs coverage confirm repeat occurrences across the GM BEV lineup. Owners with multiple tow events or repair attempts should be screened for lemon-law eligibility.
Dealer clears error codes and updates battery management software; in hardware cases, battery cable pin inspection and repair.
Vehicle charges at only 80–100 kW at 150 kW DC fast chargers despite Chevrolet's advertised 150 kW rating; some owners also report charging capped at ~29–30 kW due to a faulty charge port locking pin.
The design-limitation aspect of low charging speed may not support a lemon-law claim unless marketing materials specifically promised 150 kW at standard stations. The hardware charge-port locking pin failure (capping at ~30 kW) is a distinct defect documented in owner reports and is more likely to support a warranty/lemon claim if not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts.
For the design-limitation aspect: no remedy; owners should use 250+ kW chargers to approach rated speed. For the hardware charge-port fault: dealer replacement of charging receptacle assembly.
Tread partially or fully separates from the tire; owner may notice unusual tread wear, tread bulging, excessive vibration, or road noise prior to or during tread separation event.
GM estimates ~1% of recalled vehicles actually have the defective tires. Lemon-law relevance is limited unless an owner experienced tread separation, vehicle damage, or multiple dealer visits. Primarily a safety recall documentation issue for the file.
Dealer inspects all four tire sidewalls for DOT date code 4024; replaces any affected tires at no cost.
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Follow-up recall after GM retesting of a 2025 Equinox EV confirmed failure of FMVSS 141 Section 5.4; BCM software calibration still incorrect in a wider population.
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Continental CrossContact RX 275/40R21 tires (RPO QLT) manufactured during DOT week 4024 (week of October 6, 2024) contain a nonconforming tread base rubber compound with inadequate sulfur; tread may partially or fully detach.
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Body control module (BCM) software miscalibration causes the pedestrian alert sound system to not produce a sufficient change in volume between vehicle stopped and moving at low speeds, failing to comply with FMVSS No. 141.
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Incorrect software calibration in the brake system control module (BSCM) causes the ACC system's brake commands to not be properly received; vehicle may rely only on regenerative braking and fail to apply friction brakes when decelerating.
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BCM software calibration for the 2025 MY was not properly implemented in production; pedestrian alert may not produce required exterior sound volume from stationary to 10 km/h.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act applies to any new vehicle purchased or leased in California. The law presumes a substantial defect exists when: the manufacturer has made two or more unsuccessful repair attempts on a safety-related defect, or four or more attempts on any other substantial defect, or the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period. If your Equinox EV qualifies, you may be entitled to a full repurchase (purchase price less a mileage offset), a comparable replacement vehicle, or a negotiated settlement. GM is required to pay your attorney's fees if you prevail, meaning most California lemon law cases cost the owner nothing out of pocket. The Equinox EV's three-peat pedestrian-alert recall — the same software defect fixed and re-recalled across more than 90,000 vehicles — combined with the ACC braking failure and the documented dashboard visibility hazard may create a strong multi-defect lemon law record. The above is general information only and is not legal advice; outcomes depend on the specific facts of your case.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
A dealer notation of 'cannot duplicate' or 'no trouble found' is a repair attempt — it still counts toward your California lemon law tally. Here is how to protect yourself when the Equinox EV's problems do not show up at the dealer: 1. Before every service visit, write down the exact warning message or symptom (with the precise cluster language), date, time, mileage, charging history, and weather conditions. Capture a photo or video if you can do so safely. 2. For the dashboard glare issue, photograph the reflection from the driver's seat — show the date stamp and the angle of sunlight. Ask the dealer to note the complaint description verbatim on the repair order. Reference TSB 25-NA-069 by number and ask whether the anti-glare dash mat (part 86279931 without HUD, 86279932 with HUD) has been installed. If the mat has already been installed and glare persists, request documentation that the TSB remedy was applied. 3. For the sudden battery drop / HV battery fault, ask the service team to pull all stored and historical DTCs from the battery management system — not just active codes. Error codes related to HV battery state of charge and cell voltage variation may be present even after the vehicle has recovered. Ask them to check NHTSA document MC-11016170-0001 procedure. 4. For charging speed problems, note exact session data from the myChevrolet app or the charger (kW delivered, session duration, start and ending SOC). Distinguish between the design-level 100 kW cap at 150 kW stations versus a sudden drop to 29-30 kW — the latter is a known hardware fault (charge port locking pin) with a documented repair. 5. Keep every repair order, including CND visits and days the vehicle is at the dealer for any reason. Under California law, time spent waiting for recall parts also counts toward the 30-day out-of-service presumption.
Three separate NHTSA recall campaigns for the same pedestrian alert sound defect is not a software hiccup — it is a pattern. GM shipped the Equinox EV with a known FMVSS 141 compliance failure, tried to fix it with a software update, confirmed the fix did not work, and recalled it again. Meanwhile, the same owners faced a dashboard that reflects sunlight onto the windshield well enough that GM quietly redesigned it for 2026 — while 2024-2025 owners got a cloth mat. And those who relied on adaptive cruise control may have been stopping without friction brakes from the day they took delivery. If you own a 2024-2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV and have returned to the dealer for any of these issues — or if your vehicle has open recall campaigns that have not been completed — a conversation with a California lemon law attorney costs you nothing and could result in a full vehicle repurchase.
— The Margarian Law team
Has your Equinox EV been back to the dealer for the same pedestrian alert recall, a dashboard glare complaint, a braking issue, or a battery fault — more than once? Or has it been sitting at the dealer waiting for parts? California law may entitle you to a full repurchase or replacement. Get a free case review from our team and find out where you stand.
Very likely yes if you own a 2024 or 2025 Equinox EV. Three separate NHTSA recall campaigns target the same pedestrian alert sound system (AVAS) defect: recall 24V-925 (December 2024, 7,606 units of the 2025 MY), recall 25V-639 (September 2025, 23,700 units of the 2024 MY), and recall 25V-878 (early 2026, approximately 59,537 additional 2025 MY units). The defect is a body control module software miscalibration that causes the exterior alert sound to not change volume adequately as the vehicle accelerates from a stop to approximately 6 mph, violating federal standard FMVSS No. 141. The remedy for each campaign is a BCM software update, available via OTA or at a dealer at no charge. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov to confirm which campaigns apply to your specific vehicle.
Yes, for certain 2025 models. NHTSA recall 25V-012 (January 2025) covers 2,890 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV AWD vehicles built between July 25 and December 6, 2024, that do not have the Super Cruise driver-assist feature. The defect: a software miscalibration in the brake system control module (BSCM) causes the ACC system's friction brake commands to not be properly executed — the vehicle slows using only regenerative braking instead of applying the friction brakes as designed. This can leave insufficient stopping distance. GM discovered the issue internally on October 3, 2024, through its Speak Up For Safety program; no crashes or injuries were reported as of the recall date. The remedy is a dealer BSCM software update at no charge, available as an OTA update for unsold inventory. If your ACC felt like it was not braking hard enough and you own a qualifying AWD model, verify recall completion at nhtsa.gov using your VIN.
The 2024 and 2025 Equinox EV has a well-documented dashboard glare issue where the ribbed dashboard surface reflects strongly off the windshield in bright sunlight, impairing forward visibility. NHTSA complaint records include owners stating they could not see pedestrians crossing the road because of the reflection. GM acknowledged the defect in Technical Service Bulletin 25-NA-069 (August 2025), which directs dealers to install an anti-glare dash mat — part number 86279931 for models without a heads-up display, or 86279932 for models with HUD. The repair takes under 30 minutes at the dealer. GM did not issue a safety recall for this defect; however, the company made a structural dashboard design change for the 2026 model year rather than continue the mat workaround. If the mat installation has not resolved the glare for your vehicle, document each dealer visit. Multiple unsuccessful repair attempts for a safety-impairing defect may support a California lemon law claim.
Owners have reported the Equinox EV's battery state of charge dropping suddenly from normal levels — sometimes as high as 46% — to 0% without warning, triggering a 'high-voltage battery fault' alert in the myChevrolet app and rendering the vehicle immobile. In most documented cases the root cause is a software error in the battery management system; a separate hardware cause — a corroded battery cable pin — has also been identified in some units. NHTSA document MC-11016170-0001 references this fault type across the GM Ultium BEV lineup including the Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq. Dealers typically clear the error codes and update the battery management software, which resolves the issue in most cases; hardware cases require cable pin inspection and repair. If your vehicle has experienced this more than once and required towing, document each event and repair order. Repeated tow events for the same underlying fault may support a California lemon law claim based on multiple failed repair attempts for a reliability defect.
The 2024-2025 Equinox EV has a nominal battery pack voltage of approximately 288V — lower than most competing EVs — which means it draws more current to reach the same power level. At a 150 kW station, most Equinox EVs charge at 80-100 kW because the charger cannot supply enough current at the vehicle's lower voltage to exceed 100 kW; the rated 150 kW maximum is generally achievable only at 250-350 kW chargers. This is a design characteristic, not a repair defect. However, a separate hardware fault has been reported where a defective charge port locking pin causes the charge session to be capped at approximately 29-30 kW — far below the design-level rate. If your vehicle consistently charges at that drastically reduced rate, ask the dealer to inspect the charging receptacle assembly; the fix is a parts replacement. For the design-level 100 kW limitation at 150 kW stations, there is currently no remedy — plan long-distance stops at 250 kW or higher chargers.
You may qualify. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act creates a presumption that a vehicle is a lemon when the manufacturer has made two or more unsuccessful repair attempts on a safety-related defect, four or more attempts on any other substantial defect, or when the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period. The Equinox EV's three consecutive recall campaigns for the same pedestrian alert software defect, combined with the ACC braking failure recall and the dashboard visibility issue, give many owners a strong multi-defect record. Owners who have returned to the dealer two or more times for the same safety-related issue — and owners whose vehicles have accumulated extended dealer wait times for recall parts — are worth evaluating. If you prevail, GM pays your attorney's fees; most California lemon law cases cost the owner nothing out of pocket. The above is general information and not legal advice.
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