Two months in the past, James Rapp was driving residence 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 impression left the fascia mangled however fortunately with out structural or powertrain injury. The EV drove simply high quality, 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 components that wanted substitute, together with the headlamps, entrance digital camera, 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 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 is no indication when it’ll be achieved,” he mentioned. “It’s irritating.”
Rapp’s case isn’t distinctive. A variety of Equinox EV house owners have posted on-line or informed InsideEVs that they’re dealing with related delays after comparatively minor incidents the place gas-powered Normal Motors automobiles may’ve been repaired in days or perhaps weeks at most. For Equinox EV house owners, repairs are dragging on for months.
A number of house owners informed InsideEVs that they’ve been left at nighttime with no official estimated time of arrival for a number of collision substitute 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 behind the delays.
“General we now have not seen a scarcity of Equinox EV components, 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 components, equipment and repair division, shares a wide range of components as soon as the car is on sale to clients,” the spokesperson added. “There’s a devoted workforce which focuses on components readiness for the primary 12 months of auto availability which permits us to be versatile and meet our buyer’s wants rapidly.”
A Widespread EV Drawback, However An Uncommon One For GM
The Equinox EV checks all the correct bins. It’s Chevy’s most inexpensive EV following the discontinuation of the Bolt EV, which is ready to make a comeback in 2025. Within the InsideEVs overview of it, we discovered that it was wonderful and precisely what the market wants.
With federal tax credit, the Equinox EV’s value can dip into the $30,000-$40,000 bracket, relying in your earnings and tax liabilities. It’s an enormous design improve over the Bolt EV and provides an EPA-estimated vary of over 300 miles, that means it’s a extra engaging possibility for a wider viewers.
GM hopes it might 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 components, leaving no clear timeline for completion. Add within the complexity of contemporary 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 12 months simply to switch a aspect digital camera. Tesla house owners have typically confronted lengthy restore instances prior to now and infrequently nonetheless do. And previous to its collapse, Fisker house owners typically confronted nightmares with components and repairs.
However in contrast to these startups, GM isn’t new to this. It’s way 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 house owners 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 residence 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 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 brought on 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 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.
45 Images
“Three months for a tail gentle meeting? It is received simply 100 miles on it. I drove it sooner or later. I am not ready till December for components. That is unrealistic,” Bernier mentioned.
“I haven’t pushed a gasoline 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 bother in any respect. His husband additionally leased a brand new 2024 Nissan Ariya lately which has been flawless to date.
One other proprietor confronted an identical 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 components arrived after a month and the insurance coverage lined the complete price of over $15,000.
Software program Issues Make Issues Worse
A number of different house owners 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 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 is just not presently obtainable. It seems that these automobiles are high quality so long as they’re working, once they aren’t good luck getting components. Ridiculous that they’re promoting automobiles that they cannot repair as a result of they do not have components for them. I initiated the repurchase course of for this brick as we speak with EV Concierge.”
There are extra house owners dealing with software program troubles. One person reported: “Since taking supply virtually three weeks in the past, the adaptive cruise management, Tremendous Cruise, Lane Hold Help, Parking Help, and so on. are quickly unavailable. Now we have been knowledgeable by our seller that it’s a software program situation. 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 components 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 moderately 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 automotive has been on the restore store, ready for components. The restore invoice is $23,000. Body injury consists of the underbody plus impression bar.”
House owners Love The Equinox EV, When It Works
House owners who spoke to InsideEVs mentioned they’re bummed concerning the repairs, however they love the automobiles once they work as supposed.
“It’s the most effective automotive I’ve ever had,” Rapp mentioned. Nevertheless, having to drive the gasoline Equinox, although quickly, is an enormous step down. He mentioned he cherished that he may merely come residence 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 automobiles,” he mentioned. “I can’t wait to get my automotive again.”
Dealing with points along with your new EV and have a narrative to share? Contact the creator: [email protected]