Two months in the past, James Rapp was driving dwelling 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 automotive wasn’t so fortunate. His automotive 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 injury. The EV drove simply positive, so Rapp dashed to a Chevy dealership the following morning for repairs.
Two months later, he is nonetheless ready to get his automotive again.
After the incident, the Chevy dealership in Gaithersburg, Maryland recognized 26 elements that wanted substitute, together with the headlamps, entrance digital camera, elements 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 vendor’s physique store for over 60 days.
“I had the automotive 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 achieved,” he mentioned. “It’s irritating.”
Rapp’s case isn’t distinctive. A variety 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 Common Motors automobiles may’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 in the dead of night with no official estimated time of arrival for a number of collision substitute elements. 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 elements scarcity downside, however didn’t point out the precise reason behind the delays.
“Total we’ve not seen a scarcity of Equinox EV elements, however with all new product launches, half readiness varies based mostly on car and quantity,” a GM spokesperson mentioned.
“GM Buyer Care and Aftersales, our elements, equipment and repair division, shares a wide range of elements as soon as the car is on sale to clients,” the spokesperson added. “There’s a devoted group which focuses on elements readiness for the primary 12 months of car availability which permits us to be versatile and meet our buyer’s wants rapidly.”
A Frequent EV Drawback, However An Uncommon One For GM
The Equinox EV checks all the proper bins. It’s Chevy’s most reasonably priced EV following the discontinuation of the Bolt EV, which is ready to make a comeback in 2025. Within the InsideEVs assessment of it, we discovered that it was wonderful 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 an enormous design improve over the Bolt EV and presents an EPA-estimated vary of over 300 miles, that means it’s a extra enticing 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 instances. Dealerships and physique retailers might have to attend on elements, leaving no clear timeline for completion. Add within the complexity of recent software-defined autos with superior electronics and it will get even trickier. Even Tesla homeowners nonetheless report delays.
Chevrolet
One Rivian proprietor informed InsideEVs final December that his R1T was out for repairs for a 12 months simply to exchange a aspect digital camera. Tesla homeowners have typically confronted lengthy restore instances prior to now and infrequently nonetheless do. And previous to its collapse, Fisker homeowners typically confronted nightmares with elements and repairs.
However not like these startups, GM isn’t new to this. It’s much more skilled, has an unlimited provider base and repair community that ought to, not less than 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 dwelling that morning and shortly after, a police officer pulled up beside him to tell him of a quickly flashing tail mild. Regardless of switching the automotive on and off a number of instances, the issue continued.
The physique store mentioned the rear left tail lamp housing seal was faulty, which led to water intrusion and that precipitated 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 exchange the automotive because it was model new, however that didn’t work out. The dealership was additionally out of loaners, so that they gave him a gas-powered Equinox rental as a substitute.
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“Three months for a tail mild meeting? It is received simply 100 miles on it. I drove it in the future. I am not ready till December for elements. That is unrealistic,” Bernier mentioned.
“I haven’t pushed a fuel automotive 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 hassle in any respect. His husband additionally leased a brand new 2024 Nissan Ariya not too long ago which has been flawless up to now.
One other proprietor confronted the same frontal collision as Rapp however mentioned that issues received worse after the physique store investigated her EV additional.
“Some key wiring was severed… my automotive is being transferred to a brand new store 30 miles away. This has was my worst nightmare,” the proprietor posted on the Equinox EV discussion board. Final week, she posted an replace saying all elements arrived after a month and the insurance coverage coated the complete price 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 motive force’s show, saying “service driver help system.” When the dealership ran a diagnostic test, ECU codes associated to the cameras, braking and stability controls confirmed errors.
He posted on the discussion board: “…my automotive now has ‘No ETA’ because the half will not be at the moment obtainable. It seems that these automobiles are positive so long as they’re working, once they aren’t good luck getting elements. Ridiculous that they’re promoting automobiles that they cannot repair as a result of they do not have elements for them. I initiated the repurchase course of for this brick right now with EV Concierge.”
There are extra homeowners dealing with software program troubles. One person reported: “Since taking supply nearly three weeks in the past, the adaptive cruise management, Tremendous Cruise, Lane Maintain Help, Parking Help, and many others. are quickly unavailable. We’ve got been knowledgeable by our vendor that it’s a software program concern. They’re ready for a repair from GM. Aside from that, the automotive is nice.”
One other proprietor mentioned on Reddit that the insurance coverage firm wrote off his Equinox EV 2RS as a result of elements had been unavailable. The injury on his automotive appeared extreme, with a twisted body and loads of beauty repairs required. He received a 3RS as a substitute in a relatively pretty Radiant Crimson 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 for the reason that automotive has been on the restore store, ready for elements. The restore invoice is $23,000. Body injury 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 automobiles once they work as meant.
“It’s the most effective automotive I’ve ever had,” Rapp mentioned. Nonetheless, having to drive the fuel Equinox, though quickly, is an enormous step down. He mentioned he beloved that he may merely come dwelling and plug it in, by no means needing to go to a fuel station once more.
“I now have to concentrate to fuel costs, take into consideration oil adjustments and all that silliness of outdated fuel automobiles,” he mentioned. “I can’t wait to get my automotive again.”
Dealing with points together with your new EV and have a narrative to share? Contact the writer: [email protected]
