The Chevrolet Equinox EV has become the best-selling electric vehicle (that’s not a Tesla) in the United States earlier this year. That’s not surprising. It’s one of the most affordable EVs you can buy, it’s practical enough to appeal to families, and it looks like a regular SUV and not something from the future. It’s obviously hit all the right notes, because people actually want to buy them.
The Equinox EV’s popularity actually makes this recall particularly important. That’s because GM has issued a safety recall for certain Equinox EVs because its tires could literally fall apart. It’s not that there’s a danger of a slow leak or imbalances, the tire tread could separate and delaminate with little to no warning.
What’s Going Wrong With The Tires
Fortunately, the recall is limited to certain trims of 2025-2026 Equinox EVs fitted with 21-inch Continental CrossContact RX tires, not models fitted with 19-inch wheels. Specifically, the issue is limited to Continental CrossContact RX 275/40R21 tires manufactured during the week of October 6th 2024. The issue is that the tire tread could separate from the carcass, which is pretty much the worst outcome you can expect when it comes to tire problems. The recall notice states that affected tires may show unusual signs of wear or bulging in certain areas only, apart from exhibiting excessive noise or vibration.
Obviously, the risks of tread separation and delamination are far from pedestrian. When a tire delaminates, loss of control usually quickly follows. It could lead to crashes, vehicle rollovers and potential injuries to occupants in the vehicle or those around it. This issue isn’t limited to Chevrolet either. The Continental tire issue affects multiple manufacturers and models.
Daily Drivers At Risk
The Equinox EV offers around 319 miles of range, seats five comfortably, and has become a go-to choice for people making the switch to electric. These aren’t weekend toys or third cars. They’re daily drivers doing school runs, commutes, road trips, and everything else regular families need their cars for.
That’s what makes tire defects particularly concerning. When thousands of people are relying on these vehicles every single day, a problem that could cause sudden loss of control becomes a serious safety issue. The good news is Chevy caught this relatively early and dealers can replace the affected tires. If you own an Equinox EV, check if yours is included in the recall and get those tires swapped out.
