GM recalls 2025 Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicles because they run too 'quietly' and 'can't be heard'

Typically, standards and regulations regarding vehicle noise are concerned with exhaust, horn, engine noise, or even annoying alarms. Internal combustion engine vehicle owners generally want their vehicles to make as little noise as possible, and even pay a lot of money for this.

However, for electric vehicles (EVs), running too smoothly and making too little noise is a big problem. The leading American automaker General Motors has just announced a recall of 7,606 new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles because they do not meet the minimum noise requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles applicable in the United States and Canada. 'We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible through software calibration updates,' a GM representative said in a press release.

Essentially, the use of electric motors rather than internal combustion engines means that most electric vehicles are much quieter than conventional fossil-fuel vehicles, especially at low speeds. In fact, electric vehicles are so quiet that they raise safety concerns for pedestrians or motorcyclists, who may not hear an approaching vehicle.

Under some conditions, pedestrians may not be able to determine by sound whether an approaching vehicle is accelerating or decelerating, increasing the risk of an accident.

As a result, many countries have enacted regulations requiring electric vehicles to emit artificial noise at certain speed ranges. In the United States, all new electric and hybrid vehicles must emit a sound when operating at speeds up to 18.6 mph (30 km/h) to warn pedestrians.

For the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox, the recalled vehicles are said to emit less noise than the minimum required to meet federal safety standards.

GM will notify owners of vehicles affected by the issue starting in January 2025. Recalled vehicles will have their calibration software revised to fully address the issue.

GM launched the Equinox LT in October, calling it 'the most affordable electric vehicle in America,' with a starting price of just $35,000. There were 15,000 Chevy Equinoxes sold in the third quarter of this year.

Jessica Tanner

Update 26 December 2024