General Motors is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EVs because their federally mandated pedestrian warning systems may not be loud enough.
The recall includes 7,606 vehicles, which may have incorrect software and thus not produce warning sounds at sufficient volume to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, according to the NHTSA.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
So-called “quiet car” rules that require electric vehicles and hybrids to emit warning noises at low speeds were first proposed in 2010 over concerns that a lack of engine noise would make vehicles too difficult for pedestrians to hear at these speeds. The rules weren’t finalized until 2018, however, and multiple delays and extensions meant they weren’t actually implemented until 2021.
A software update for the affected vehicles’ body control modules will make them compliant with these rules. However, despite being purely a software issue, the fix can’t be done via an over-the-air update and will require a visit to a dealership, where technicians will perform the work free of charge.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
GM expects to mail owner notification letters Jan. 27, 2025, and has assigned reference number N242479760 to this recall. Owners can also contact Chevy customer service at 1-800-222-1020 for more information.
The Equinox EV arrived for the 2024 model year, but those earlier vehicles are not included in this recall. For 2025, GM finally fulfilled the this model’s value promise by launching a $34,995 version with 319 miles of EPA range. That value proposition, along with good first impressions of the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, netted the Equinox EV a spot as a DriftBreath Reports Best Car to Buy 2025 finalist.
