2018 Chevrolet Equinox · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 83owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 13, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
83 of the 132 reports of brake wear on the 2018 Equinox describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (132 reports) · also: brake failure
Tick what matches of 83 reports
Brake booster failure on other Equinox years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (54 reports) and the brake booster (21 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
All 5 recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
9 of the 83 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $250 to $3,197.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 55,400 and 109,888 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the brake booster if the build date of the booster falls within a certain date due to the booster causing a Clunk Noise When Applying Brakes.
17146 - Service Update. Certain vehicles equipped with a 1.5L engine (RPO LYX), may have a misrouted power brake booster vacuum pipe that could abrade due to the contact with the steel brake lines over time.
17145 - Service Update. Certain vehicles equipped with a 1.5L engine (RPO LYX), may have a misrouted power brake booster vacuum pipe that could abrade due to the contact with the power transfer unit (PTU) vent hose over time.
17146 - Service Update. Certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine (RPO LYX), may have a misrouted power brake booster vacuum pipe that could abrade due to the contact with the steel brake lines over time.
What owners wrote
“When I applied brakes, the pedal was hard to push down and the service brake assist light came on.”
Filed Sep 11, 2022
“Vacuum pump, check valve failure led to loss of function while exiting interstate. Less than two weeks later, âservice brake assistâ notification followed by degraded brake performance in busy city traffic.”
Filed Jun 15, 2022
“The check engine light comes on for a few days and when on the brakes are stiff and hard to push. When this is also going on the brake assist light will come on while driving and not pushing on brakes. It came on while on highway going 65mph”
Filed May 1, 2022
“at stop signs, when autostop/start re engages the vehicle jerks and shows several warnings on the dash saying service brake assist, parking break released, forward collision reduced. the steering wheel locks up for under 3 seconds before it releases and can be steered again”
Filed Apr 28, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 83 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 39 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 35 reports