In New York and Los Angeles, brand-new Chevrolet electric SUVs have been spotted gliding by almost silently. That hushed operation isn’t just eerie – it’s a safety red flag.
Federal documents warn the Equinox EV’s pedestrian alert system “might not make enough noise to alert those around the vehicle when traveling at low speeds”. Regulators worry silent EVs could surprise people crossing the street.
Recall Notices Surge in September
In late September 2025, U.S. safety officials saw a wave of EV recalls. GM confirmed it was recalling 23,700 Chevrolet Equinox EVs (model year 2024) nationwide.
This blanket action covers roughly all 2024 Equinox EVs, signaling that even cutting-edge vehicles must honor simple safety promises. By early October, the recall list ranked among the largest for any recent U.S. passenger car campaign.
GM’s Expanding EV Fleet
The recall comes amid GM’s aggressive EV push. The Equinox EV – launched in 2024 as Chevy’s affordable all-electric crossover – quickly became the second-best-selling EV in the U.S., outsold only by Tesla models.
In fact, GM delivered about 52,834 Equinox EVs through Q3 2025, helping Chevy surpass Ford as America’s fastest-growing EV brand. The success of this model makes the safety issue especially high-profile.
New Pedestrian-Safety Rules
Regulators anticipated the quiet-car issue. Since 2019, U.S. rules have required all EVs to emit artificial warning sounds when moving under about 19 mph. As Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx noted in 2016, everyone “depends on our senses to alert us to possible danger,” so EVs must be heard as well as seen.
NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind called the sound requirement a “common-sense tool” to help even blind or low-vision pedestrians travel safely.
Details of the Recall
Digging into GM’s report, the scale and cause become clear. Engineers traced the defect to Equinox EVs built between Aug. 8, 2023, and Aug. 28, 2024. On Sept. 25, 2025, GM formally announced it would recall 23,700 of those vehicles.
NHTSA’s notice explains these SUVs may fail FMVSS 141 because their pedestrian alert sound “may not produce a sufficient change in volume” at very low speeds. GM expects to mail recall letters by Nov. 10, 2025, so owners should watch for notifications.
City Intersections in Focus
Major cities feel this safety issue acutely. At busy crosswalks in New York or L.A., an Equinox EV creeping up without sound could startle pedestrians. The NHTSA report explicitly warns that a car with too-quiet alerts “may result in pedestrians being unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury”.
The urgency is stark: U.S. pedestrian fatalities hit 7,314 in 2023. City planners now caution that every quiet EV on the road demands extra vigilance to keep walkers safe.
Pedestrians Sound the Alarm
Advocacy groups have long warned about silent cars. Eric Bridges of the American Council of the Blind praised sound rules as measures that would make streets safer for “blind and visually impaired Americans”.
The National Federation of the Blind’s president similarly insisted protections must cover “all pedestrians, especially the blind”. Blind and sighted pedestrians alike now admit they “feel uneasy” when a motionless-looking EV approaches.
Industry on Alert
Other automakers wasted no time checking their vehicles. After NHTSA flagged a test failure on Sept. 9, 2025, GM’s investigation traced the problem to a specific plant. All affected Equinox EVs came from GM’s Ramos Arizpe, Mexico assembly plant between Aug. 2023 and Aug. 2024.
Notably, Equinox EVs built there after Aug. 28, 2024 (the 2025 models) already use a new sound calibration, suggesting the fix is mainly software.
Why EVs Must Make Noise
This recall underscores why the sound rules exist. Multiple studies show that electric and hybrid cars are more dangerous to pedestrians than gasoline cars when silent. A U.S. analysis found EVs were 20% more likely to harm pedestrians than gas vehicles, jumping to 50% more likely during low-speed turns or starts.
Those findings led Congress to demand warning sounds. Today, all U.S. EVs must emit an externally-audible sound under about 30 km/h, making sure every silent car can be heard when it matters most.
A Subtle Software Bug
GM’s engineers pinpointed the glitch: a software calibration error in the alert sound module. The system did emit noise, but its volume didn’t ramp up enough as the car started moving. In practice, a pedestrian might barely hear an Equinox EV up to roughly 6 mph.
That tiny calibration flaw triggered the safety violation. In other words, the car’s “drive” mode remained unexpectedly quiet — a violation of FMVSS 141 that GM says it can fix in code.
Owners React with Concern
Many Equinox EV owners, mostly new to electric vehicles, were stunned. Forum and social media posts reveal comments like “You trust GM to have tested stuff like this.” Roughly 45% of all Equinox EVs sold this year will need a fix (23,700 of about 52,800 delivered).
Owners appreciate the free remedy but worry: if such a basic feature slipped through testing, what else might emerge?
GM Promises Swift Action
GM executives have moved quickly. The company says it’s “developing a remedy” and reassures owners that the fix will be free. In fact, Chevrolet confirms the solution will likely be a software update to the vehicle’s control module.
A GM spokesperson emphasized they are acting “as quickly as possible to fix impacted vehicles.”
Dealerships Deploy the Fix
Behind the scenes, GM’s engineers have already coded the repair. Chevrolet dealers will install a new software calibration for the Equinox EV’s body-control module. Technicians will reflash each car at no cost to owners. GM says that once the update is applied, every affected vehicle will again meet all federal sound standards.
Customers are assured this won’t cost them anything – just a short service visit (the update should take well under two hours).
Experts Question the Process
Even as the recall proceeds, critics are voicing concerns. Safety researchers note: “Electric cars are a hazard to pedestrians because they are less likely to be heard than petrol or diesel cars,” as one study bluntly stated.
UCL transport professor Nicola Christie added that when sound “cues are missing, this could be very problematic for people in busy urban areas”. The takeaway: makers must anticipate real-world use, not just pass the lab test, when designing and testing these quiet vehicles.
Next Steps for Owners
Affected owners should act promptly. NHTSA and Chevrolet recommend checking your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the official recall portal. If your Equinox EV is listed, schedule the update with a local Chevy dealer as soon as possible. Notification letters start mailing on Nov. 10, 2025.
In the meantime, drivers are advised to stay alert – treat any 2024 Equinox EV as if it might remain silent at very low speeds.
Pushing for Tighter Rules
Regulators are paying close attention. With pedestrian deaths topping 7,300 in 2023, lawmakers and safety officials are considering tougher oversight of EV alerts. Possible responses include setting a minimum decibel requirement or stricter on-road testing.
The NHTSA says it will monitor industry compliance closely. Some legislators have signaled hearings or new legislation to ensure future EVs can’t slip through safety nets.
Global Reactions
Worldwide, the GM case has drawn notice. Europe has already mandated EV sound alerts since 2019, and EU authorities say they will review this recall’s implications for imports and domestic models.
In Asia, regulators in markets like China and Japan have similar quiet-car rules and may compare notes with NHTSA. Some analysts believe this incident could spark discussions on harmonizing international EV safety standards, or at least mutual audits of exported EVs.
Legal and Environmental Stakes
The recall chiefly addresses safety, but legal and policy issues loom. Automakers failing to comply with FMVSS 141 risk fines or liability if accidents occur. Yet there’s a silver lining: fixing the sound system doesn’t negate the EV’s climate benefit.
The alert sounds draw negligible power, so the Equinox EV’s zero-emission driving range remains virtually unchanged.
Changing Public Attitudes
Quiet EVs have been a selling point, especially for younger buyers. But this recall has highlighted a trade-off. Many now feel a soft reversing tone or forward beep is reasonable. Consumer surveys (e.g., TheStreet) find that older drivers are more comfortable with noise aids than younger ones. Debates even arise over custom alert sounds or driver-adjustable volumes.
What’s clear is a growing consensus: some audible presence on the streets is a good thing for community safety.
Future on Alert
The Equinox EV recall marks a new chapter in car safety. As more Americans go electric, learning to listen again becomes critical. This episode shows the industry must balance innovation with the basic need to be heard.
In the coming years, EVs will almost certainly get smarter audio alerts – think dynamic sounds or pedestrian-detection integration. For now, the fix is straightforward: vigilance, transparency, and that little bit of noise will ensure our streets stay safe in the quieter world ahead.