2018 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel System Problems

Your car has shut off while driving four times since November 2025, accompanied by a strong gas smell and check engine/traction control warning lights. The turbo and fuel injectors have already been replaced, but the problem keeps recurring—your vehicle enters limp mode and gas leaks out, creating a potential fire hazard. This likely points to a failing fuel system component that needs proper diagnosis and repair.

While driving on the highway, your car suddenly lost all engine power and electrical systems. Smoke and then flames came from the vents and dashboard, with fire concentrated near the rear left area where the fuel tank is located. The brakes and emergency brake became unresponsive, and you had to manually shift into park to stop the vehicle. A potential fix might involve replacing the fuel pump and inspecting the fuel system for defects that could have caused the fire.

Your car's fuel pump failed while you were trying to stop, causing the engine to stall and the car to shut off. The vehicle wouldn't restart and had to be towed home. Your VIN should have been included in a fuel system recall (Campaign 18V358000), but wasn't. The fuel pump will need to be replaced to restore engine operation.

Your check engine warning light came on while driving. A dealer diagnosed the problem as a failing high-pressure fuel pump and other fuel system components that need replacement. This issue appeared around 75,000 miles and may be related to a known manufacturer recall. The repair will involve replacing the fuel pump and associated fuel system parts.

Your car's engine sputtered and failed to accelerate when you pressed the gas pedal, and then shut off completely at a stop light. You noticed a strong fuel smell inside the car, and both the traction control and check engine warning lights came on. The dealer diagnosed the issue but didn't share the results with you. This problem may involve fuel system components like the fuel pump, fuel injectors, or fuel filter that need inspection and possible replacement.

Your 2018 Equinox has been experiencing multiple issues: a strong fuel smell coming from the vehicle, brake pads wearing out much faster than normal, a "speed reduced" warning message on the dashboard, and the engine warning light staying on. These problems started around 150,000 miles and haven't been diagnosed or repaired yet. A mechanic will need to scan the engine computer for fault codes, inspect the fuel system for leaks, and check the brake pads and related components.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vents while driving 45 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto, where the contact was informed that there was a fuel leak, which could cause fire. The contact was advised to park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that all four fuel injectors were leaking and required immediate attention. The contact was advised that the parts needed to be ordered to do the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000(Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance in adding the VIN to the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.

Vehicle chocks when starting, once started the vehicle begins to smell of gas. There is a leak on the underside of the vehicle which also smells of gas.

My fuel pump just gave out randomly while driving on the highway. Unable to drive over 14mph. I head other 2018 Equinox’s experienced this problem often. I believe my vehicle should be included as well. In the past I’ve also gotten a random alert that my forward collision was disabled while driving on the highway with no warning. It always goes away on its own.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to immediately start. The vehicle was started after several attempts. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light the vehicle began shaking and lost motive power. Additionally, the contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into park(P), the vehicle stalled three times, and the vehicle was restarted after several attempts. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that all four fuel injectors were damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.

The car had a full tank of gas prior to driving. While driving the car suddenly goes to empty and stalls out. Now the car won’t start and the battery works fine.

Fuel injection systems is leaking onto the engine

GM Brake Vacuum Pump - I understand there was a recall done a few years ago on this part. This is a known issue with GM, and they seem to refuse to address it in ALL their vehicles. My vehicle went out of service on Friday, July 7, 2023, after fueling and would not start. I was 5 days over the 100-day Carvana warranty, but they agreed to repair the sensor that Firestone said I needed to have replaced along with the spark plugs. After repairing these items, it still was doing the same thing of starting up but making a horrible sound and not turning over. They suggested I have it towed to the dealership. The dealership called 7/12/23 and stated that I needed a new vacuum pump and a sleuth of other parts that would cost me around $1900 in repairs. This car has 61,121 miles on it. When I purchased it, it had a little over 57,000 miles on it. From the sounds of it, I was incredibly lucky this happened where and when it did as oppose to being stopped in the middle of the road and the auto start/stop failing me. There were zero warning lights, alerts from the app, etc. I did hear a noise one time about a month ago, but I thought I kicked up something because I was traveling down a dirt road and when I stopped and got out to look I did not see anything hanging. As soon as I got on the main road the noise resolved.

The braking system failed as the engine compartment filled with smoke and flames. At first the doors remained locked but eventually unlocked so that the occupants were able to exit the vehicle unharmed. The vehicle was consumed by the fire before the fire department could extinguish the fire(5-10 minutes).

The issue was the leak from the fuel filter. There was no any errors/messages on the dashboard. I am not sure when this leak has started. I assume it started in the end of January. I had a long trip to Canada. The car was parked at snow covered driveway near my house. And I have discovered strange stains on the snow under the car. I have made the pictures of the stains. This stained snow smelled as a fuel. The fuel leak was pretty bad. When I looked under the car it was dripping about 1-2 drops per second. Also the leak was very close to the exhaust pipe (maybe 1-2 inches) that could be very hot and theoretically could ignite a fire. As soon as I discovered the leak, the car was taken to the nearest CHEVY dealer Highland GM in Aurora, ON, Canada. They diagnosed the issue and fixed it on February 1st. In order to fix the leak the fuel filter was replaced.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle began to sputter with the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 41,400.

WHEN IDLING OR AT A STOPPED LIGHT MY CAR JERKS WHEN I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. IT HAS DONE THIS 4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG. I THINK THEY ARE WAITING UNTIL MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE THEY ADDRESS IT.

GMCACUPDATE@GM.COM MAY 25, 2018, 8:42 AM TO ME EMAIL ID# T1EM01CAC (DO NOT DELETE/ALTER THIS LINE) ================================================== DEAR JOEY, THANK YOU FOR CALLING CHEVROLET WITH REGARD TO YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. FOR YOUR REFERENCE, YOUR CASE NUMBER FROM OUR CONVERSATION TODAY IS 8-4188760340. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST YOU. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CHEVROLET HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT TRUST THE FUEL GAUGE. IT WILL NORMALLY TAKE 10 GALLONS TO FILL A TANK THAT HOLDS 15 GALLONS AND IT SHOWS EMPTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FUEL LINE FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE VEHICLE. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. GENERAL MOTORS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL WHEN FILLING UP. PUMP KICKS OFF AND CAN'T FILL ANYMORE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT ACCURATELY REGISTER THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN FUEL TANK. WILL NOT REGISTER "FULL" EVEN WHEN FUEL IS FLOWING OUT OF FILLER TUBE. WHEN GAUGE BEGINS TO REGISTER "EMPTY" AND DISTANCE REMAINING APPROACHES "0", IT TAKE LESS THAN 10 GALLONS TO FILL THE 15 GALLON TANK. THIS CREATES THE SITUATION WHERE THE DRIVER POTENTIALLY DRIVES THE VEHICLE ON REMAINING FUEL AND THEN RUNS OUT BECAUSE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL QUANTITY OF FUEL REMAINING. THIS HAS POTENTIAL TO CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF IT OCCURS ON A CONGESTED FREEWAY/INTERSTATE, OR A DIRE SITUATION IF IT OCCURS IN AN UNPOPULATED AREA REMOVED FROM AVAILABLE GAS STATIONS. IT CREATES AN UNCERTAIN SITUATION HERE IN WEST TEXAS WHERE THERE ARE LARGE STRETCHES OF HIGHWAY BETWEEN COMMUNITIES. CHEVROLET/GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE JULY 2017 AND HAS STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK MUST BE DROPPED AND FUEL SENSOR RESEATED OR REPLACED, YET THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO ACT UPON THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION. I HAVE OPENED TWO CUSTOMER CASES WITH CHEVROLET IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE, AND EACH TIME THE CASES ARE CLOSED WITH COMMENT THAT "...ENGINEERS ARE WORKING...."

I HAVE A 2018 EQUINOX WITH 4800 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON THE ENGINE S RPM EXCELERATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED EXCELERATING AND STARTED COASTING. I COASTED INTO A BUSINESS AND TRIED TO GO FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEARBY CHEV DEALER WHO CONDUCTED SOME TESTS AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AND I WOULD TAKE ABOUT 10 DAYS TP GET ANOTHER ONE. WE WERE DRIVING FROM ILLINOIS TO FLORIDA AND THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN IN TENNESSEE.

AFTER FILLING FUEL GAUGE READS 3/4 FULL. CAN NEVER BE SURE HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS ALL 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX'S AND GM TERRAINS AND THERE IS NO FIX.