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 automobile wasn’t so fortunate. His automobile 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 harm. The EV drove simply high quality, so Rapp dashed to a Chevy dealership the subsequent 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 elements that wanted substitute, together with the headlamps, entrance digicam, 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 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. A lot 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 Basic Motors vehicles 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 midnight 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 drawback, however didn’t point out the precise reason for the delays.
“General we now have not seen a scarcity of Equinox EV elements, 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 elements, equipment and repair division, shares quite a lot of elements as soon as the automobile is on sale to prospects,” the spokesperson added. “There’s a devoted group which focuses on elements readiness for the primary yr of auto availability which permits us to be versatile and meet our buyer’s wants shortly.”
A Widespread EV Downside, However An Uncommon One For GM
The Equinox EV checks all the fitting 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 evaluation 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 provides an EPA-estimated vary of over 300 miles, that means it’s a extra engaging choice for a wider viewers.
GM hopes it may very well 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 outlets might have to attend on elements, leaving no clear timeline for completion. Add within the complexity of contemporary software-defined autos 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 facet digicam. Tesla house owners have typically confronted lengthy restore instances previously and typically nonetheless do. And previous to its collapse, Fisker house owners 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, no less than 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 automobile 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 problem 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 a substitute.
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“Three months for a tail gentle meeting? It is obtained simply 100 miles on it. I drove it sooner or later. I am not ready till December for elements. That is unrealistic,” Bernier mentioned.
“I haven’t pushed a fuel 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 not too long ago which has been flawless to this point.
One other proprietor confronted an identical frontal collision as Rapp however mentioned that issues obtained 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 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 lined your entire value 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 automobile now has ‘No ETA’ because the half will not be at present accessible. It seems that these vehicles are high quality so long as they’re working, after they aren’t good luck getting elements. Ridiculous that they’re promoting vehicles that they cannot repair as a result of they do not have elements 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 consumer reported: “Since taking supply virtually three weeks in the past, the adaptive cruise management, Tremendous Cruise, Lane Preserve Help, Parking Help, and so forth. are quickly unavailable. We have now been knowledgeable by our seller that it’s a software program difficulty. They’re ready for a repair from GM. Aside 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 elements had been unavailable. The harm on his automobile appeared extreme, with a twisted body and loads of beauty repairs required. He obtained a 3RS as a substitute in a slightly beautiful 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 because the automobile has been on the restore store, ready for elements. The restore invoice is $23,000. Body harm contains 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 vehicles after they work as supposed.
“It’s the very best automobile I’ve ever had,” Rapp mentioned. Nevertheless, having to drive the fuel Equinox, despite the fact that quickly, is a giant step down. He mentioned he liked that he might merely come residence 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 vehicles,” he mentioned. “I can’t wait to get my automobile again.”
Going through points along with your new EV and have a narrative to share? Contact the writer: [email protected]
