Equinox EV & Blazer EV Software Glitches & Charging Issues

Both the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV, built on GM's Ultium platform and launched with heavy reliance on over-the-air software for everything from infotainment to charging management, have had a notably rocky software experience for some early owners, including well-publicized reports of significant delays and temporary suspensions of deliveries specifically to resolve software issues before vehicles reached customers. Even after those initial fixes, some owners continue to report intermittent software-related quirks, particularly involving the infotainment system and charging behavior.

This guide covers the most commonly reported software issues on these two models, how GM has addressed them, and what to do if you're experiencing ongoing problems.

Infotainment Freezing and Lag

The large touchscreen infotainment system on both vehicles has been reported to occasionally freeze, lag noticeably when switching between screens, or fail to load certain features (navigation, media apps, or vehicle settings menus) on first startup, sometimes requiring a full system reboot to resolve. These symptoms tend to improve with each software update GM has issued since launch, reflecting an ongoing process of refinement typical of a new, heavily software-dependent platform, though some owners continue to report occasional recurrence even on updated software.

Charging Sessions Affected by Software

Beyond infotainment quirks, some owners have reported charging-related software issues specifically — a charging session that the vehicle's app or dash reports incorrectly, scheduled charging times not being honored as set, or the vehicle's estimated charging completion time being noticeably inaccurate. These are distinct from a hardware charging failure (where the vehicle simply won't charge at all) and instead reflect the software layer that manages and communicates charging status, which has been an area of continued refinement through GM's update process.

Why Launch Software Issues Were So Notable

Both vehicles saw GM temporarily pause deliveries after initial production specifically to address software issues discovered before enough vehicles reached customers, which, while inconvenient for early reservation holders waiting on their vehicles, reflected a deliberate choice to resolve known issues before wider distribution rather than shipping vehicles with problems already identified internally. This kind of software-focused launch delay has become more common industry-wide as vehicles rely more heavily on complex, deeply integrated software systems, and it's worth understanding as context rather than assuming it reflects an unusually troubled vehicle compared to typical new-model issues.

Staying Current with Updates

Both vehicles receive over-the-air software updates that GM has used to address many of the issues reported by early owners, so ensuring your vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi periodically (or has a reliable cellular connection, depending on how updates are delivered) and checking your infotainment system's settings menu for available updates is a straightforward, effective way to make sure you're benefiting from the latest fixes. Updates are typically applied automatically or with minimal owner action required, but confirming your vehicle isn't lagging behind on available updates is worth checking periodically, especially if you're experiencing a specific known issue.

What to Do About Persistent Issues

If a specific software issue persists even after confirming you're on the latest available update, documenting exactly what happens (what screen freezes, what charging behavior seems wrong, and under what conditions) and bringing that documentation to a dealer visit gives the service department a clearer starting point than a general "it's glitchy" complaint. In some cases, a dealer can perform a more thorough software reset or reflash beyond what an over-the-air update provides, which can resolve persistent issues that a standard update didn't fully address.

Quick Reference Table

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these software issues dangerous or just an inconvenience?

The reported issues are generally infotainment and charging-status related rather than affecting core vehicle safety systems, but any software behavior that seems to affect actual charging function (rather than just the displayed status) or any core driving system should be reported to a dealer promptly regardless of how minor it initially seems.

How do I check if my vehicle has the latest software update?

Check your infotainment system's settings menu for a software or system update section, which typically shows your current version and whether an update is available. Your vehicle's companion app may also show update status and history.

Will these issues eventually be fully resolved?

GM has continued to issue software updates addressing reported issues since both vehicles launched, which is the typical pattern for resolving software-related quirks on a new, software-heavy platform over time. Staying current with updates is the best way to benefit from ongoing improvements as they're released.

Should I delay taking delivery of a new Equinox EV or Blazer EV because of this?

This is a personal decision based on your risk tolerance for early-production software quirks, but a meaningful amount of the most significant early software issues were addressed before wider delivery, and continued updates have addressed much of what remained. If you're concerned, ask your dealer about the current software version being installed on new deliveries.

Can a factory reset fix persistent infotainment problems?

A dealer-performed reset or reflash can resolve some persistent issues beyond what a standard over-the-air update addresses, but this is different from a simple owner-accessible factory reset and generally should be done by a dealer's service department rather than attempted independently.