Two months in the past, James Rapp was driving house at nightfall when a deer appeared out of nowhere, straight into the trail of his spanking-new Chevrolet Equinox EV.
The software program engineer escaped unhurt and the deer bolted into the woods, however the automobile wasn’t so fortunate. His automobile hit the deer when he was going at about 40 mph, so the affect left the fascia mangled however fortunately with out structural or powertrain harm. The EV drove simply superb, so Rapp dashed to a Chevy dealership the following morning for repairs.
Two months later, he is nonetheless ready to get his automobile again.
After the incident, the Chevy dealership in Gaithersburg, Maryland recognized 26 components that wanted alternative, together with the headlamps, entrance digicam, components of the grille and the bumper, registration plate brackets and extra. Now his Equinox EV 2LT, draped within the Riptide Blue Metallic paint, has been mendacity idle on the seller’s physique store for over 60 days.
“I had the automobile just for three weeks,” Rapp mentioned. “It had 400 miles on it. Now it’s been out for eight weeks and is [just] sitting there.”
Within the meantime, Rapp is again behind the wheel of his 2006 gas-powered Equinox. “What ought to have been a three-day restore, eight weeks later there isn’t any indication when it’ll be carried out,” he mentioned. “It’s irritating.”
Rapp’s case isn’t distinctive. Quite a lot of Equinox EV homeowners have posted on-line or informed InsideEVs that they’re dealing with comparable delays after comparatively minor incidents the place gas-powered Normal Motors vehicles would possibly’ve been repaired in days or even weeks at most. For Equinox EV homeowners, repairs are dragging on for months.
A number of homeowners informed InsideEVs that they’ve been left at nighttime with no official estimated time of arrival for a number of collision alternative components. They added that the dealerships had no clue both, as they await a repair from GM.
InsideEVs
In an announcement to InsideEVs, a GM spokesperson mentioned that the Equinox EV doesn’t have a broader components scarcity drawback, however didn’t point out the precise reason for the delays.
“General we’ve got not seen a scarcity of Equinox EV components, however with all new product launches, half readiness varies primarily based on automobile and quantity,” a GM spokesperson mentioned.
“GM Buyer Care and Aftersales, our components, equipment and repair division, shares quite a lot of components as soon as the automobile is on sale to clients,” the spokesperson added. “There’s a devoted group which focuses on components readiness for the primary yr of auto availability which permits us to be versatile and meet our buyer’s wants shortly.”
A Widespread EV Drawback, However An Uncommon One For GM
The Equinox EV checks all the fitting packing containers. It’s Chevy’s most reasonably priced EV following the discontinuation of the Bolt EV, which is about to make a comeback in 2025. Within the InsideEVs overview of it, we discovered that it was glorious and precisely what the market wants.
With federal tax credit, the Equinox EV’s worth can dip into the $30,000-$40,000 bracket, relying in your revenue and tax liabilities. It’s a giant design improve over the Bolt EV and affords an EPA-estimated vary of over 300 miles, that means it’s a extra engaging choice for a wider viewers.
GM hopes it could possibly be a volume-seller, however the service expertise might have to enhance if that’s going to occur.
Granted, new EVs typically face longer restore occasions. Dealerships and physique outlets might have to attend on components, leaving no clear timeline for completion. Add within the complexity of recent software-defined automobiles with superior electronics and it will get even trickier.
Chevrolet
One Rivian proprietor informed InsideEVs final December that his R1T was out for repairs for a yr simply to switch a aspect digicam. Tesla homeowners have typically confronted lengthy restore occasions up to now and typically nonetheless do. And previous to its collapse, Fisker homeowners typically confronted nightmares with components and repairs.
However in contrast to these startups, GM isn’t new to this. It’s much more skilled, has an unlimited provider base and repair community that ought to, at the least theoretically, give it a bonus in resolving such points.
But Equinox EV homeowners say the repairs are something however fast.
Christopher Bernier, a logistics supervisor from Tampa, Florida, took supply of his Equinox EV the day earlier than Labor Day and determined to drive it to work after the vacation.
It was nonetheless darkish when he left house that morning and shortly after, a police officer pulled up beside him to tell him of a quickly flashing tail gentle. Regardless of switching the automobile on and off a number of occasions, the issue continued.
The physique store mentioned the rear left tail lamp housing seal was faulty, which led to water intrusion and that prompted a brief circuit inside. They mentioned the rear tail lamp meeting was on backorder until December. Bernier escalated the difficulty up the chain of command on the dealership to switch the automobile because it was model new, however that didn’t work out. The dealership was additionally out of loaners, in order that they gave him a gas-powered Equinox rental as an alternative.
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“Three months for a tail gentle meeting? It is acquired simply 100 miles on it. I drove it at some point. I am not ready till December for components. That is unrealistic,” Bernier mentioned.
“I haven’t pushed a gasoline automobile for six years,” he added. The 2019 Chevy Bolt EV was his first EV after which he purchased a 2022 Nissan Leaf, which he mentioned gave him no bother in any respect. His husband additionally leased a brand new 2024 Nissan Ariya just lately which has been flawless to date.
One other proprietor confronted the same frontal collision as Rapp however mentioned that issues acquired worse after the physique store investigated her EV additional.
“Some key wiring was severed… my automobile is being transferred to a brand new store 30 miles away. This has become my worst nightmare,” the proprietor posted on the Equinox EV discussion board. Final week, she posted an replace saying all components arrived after a month and the insurance coverage coated all the value of over $15,000.
Software program Issues Make Issues Worse
A number of different homeowners reported software program points with defective superior driver help options (ADAS).
One proprietor had the Equinox EV just for two days and drove it solely 147 miles when a message popped up on the driving force’s show, saying “service driver help system.” When the dealership ran a diagnostic examine, ECU codes associated to the cameras, braking and stability controls confirmed errors.
He posted on the discussion board: “…my automobile now has ‘No ETA’ because the half is just not at the moment out there. It seems that these vehicles are superb so long as they’re working, once they aren’t good luck getting components. Ridiculous that they’re promoting vehicles that they cannot repair as a result of they do not have components for them. I initiated the repurchase course of for this brick immediately with EV Concierge.”
There are extra homeowners dealing with software program troubles. One consumer reported: “Since taking supply nearly three weeks in the past, the adaptive cruise management, Tremendous Cruise, Lane Maintain Help, Parking Help, and so forth. are quickly unavailable. We’ve been knowledgeable by our seller that it’s a software program concern. They’re ready for a repair from GM. Apart from that, the automobile is nice.”
One other proprietor mentioned on Reddit that the insurance coverage firm wrote off his Equinox EV 2RS as a result of components have been unavailable. The harm on his automobile appeared extreme, with a twisted body and loads of beauty repairs required. He acquired a 3RS as a alternative in a slightly beautiful Radiant Pink paint. However not everybody was so fortunate.
In the identical thread, one other Equinox EV proprietor commented: “My 2LT was hit 2.5 months in the past at the very same spot. It has been about two months because the automobile has been on the restore store, ready for components. The restore invoice is $23,000. Body harm contains the underbody plus affect bar.”
Homeowners Love The Equinox EV, When It Works
Homeowners who spoke to InsideEVs mentioned they’re bummed concerning the repairs, however they love the vehicles once they work as meant.
“It’s the very best automobile I’ve ever had,” Rapp mentioned. Nonetheless, having to drive the gasoline Equinox, despite the fact that quickly, is a giant step down. He mentioned he cherished that he may merely come house and plug it in, by no means needing to go to a gasoline station once more.
“I now have to concentrate to gasoline costs, take into consideration oil adjustments and all that silliness of outdated gasoline vehicles,” he mentioned. “I can’t wait to get my automobile again.”
Dealing with points along with your new EV and have a narrative to share? Contact the writer: [email protected]
