The accelerated expansion of electric vehicles in the United States is not only transforming mobility, but also raising safety and technical control standards.
Therefore, General Motors has been forced to launch one of The most extensive recall campaigns in recent months, focused on one of its newest and most popular electric models: the Chevrolet Equinox EV.
The company confirmed the precautionary recall of more than 81,000 units corresponding to the 2025 and 2026 model years, after detecting anomalous behavior in a component designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Although no accidents or injuries have been reported, the problem triggered internal safety protocols and resulted in a formal notification to federal authorities. The recall was officially published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on December 11, 2025, and owners have since begun receiving notices to schedule the necessary repairs. Affected Models: The recall covers exactly 81,177 Chevrolet Equinox EV units manufactured by General Motors and distributed throughout the United States through authorized dealerships. These are exclusively electric versions of the compact SUV, a cornerstone of Chevrolet's electrification strategy due to its balance of size, range, and price. The model has gained visibility for offering a range of approximately 319 miles on a full charge and a level of technology comparable to more expensive rivals. Despite its positive reception Commercially, the detected defect forced a temporary halt to the "mature product" image that the brand sought to consolidate with this new generation.
The technical problem:The recall stems from the pedestrian alert system, a mandatory feature in electric and hybrid vehicles in the United States since 2020. This system is supposed to emit audible sounds when the car is traveling at low speeds, typically below 30 km/h, to compensate for the lack of engine noise.In the case of the Equinox EV, General Motors identified that the body control module software was incorrectly calibrated. As a result, when the vehicle accelerates from a standstill to slow movement—up to about 10 km/h—the volume of the exterior sound does not always reach the minimum level required by federal regulation FMVSS 141. In quiet urban environments, parking lots, or residential streets, this defect could prevent pedestrians, cyclists, or visually impaired people from detecting the vehicle's presence in time, increasing the risk of accidents. The company itself detailed that the problem was discovered in September 2025 during an internal test conducted by one of its engineers, who reported it through the corporate program "Speak Up for Safety," designed to detect defects before they become actual incidents. What will the solution be for owners? Unlike other recalls that involve complex mechanical changes, in this case, the solution will be relatively simple. General Motors will be applying a software update that will correct the sound system calibration. Owners will be able to receive this update in two ways: According to the company, the correction applies to both 2025 and 2026 models, even though there were slight differences in their original configurations. To check if a specific vehicle is included in the recall, owners can enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website or contact Chevrolet customer service directly. The regulation behind the recall: FMVSS 141 was created to address an increasingly evident problem: electric vehicles are extremely quiet at low speeds. NHTSA studies indicate that, without audible warning systems, pedestrians have a significantly higher risk of being struck compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. The sound emitted by these systems is not arbitrary. It must vary according to the acceleration or deceleration of the car, allowing people to identify not only its presence, but also its movement. Therefore, any deviation in volume or frequency is considered a direct violation of the regulations.even if no accidents have occurred.
