[Moe]

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV recalled because it's too quiet

Electric cars are supposed to be quiet, but there are laws for low-speed pedestrian warning sounds.

www.greencarreports.com

Fix isn’t OTA.

 

[antonioM]

I know this regulation was well intentioned, but it sucks. There are plenty of older Teslas around me that make no warning sounds, and I love that. You can still hear them coming due to the tire noise. I can totally get behind a warning sound while reversing, but the forward motion sound is a bit much (as in too loud, but also as in not necessary at anything over like 5mph). Or at least it would be good if all cars required the warning noise. Plenty of small engine ICE vehicles around that make barely audible engine noise, less noise than my ID.4, so why are they exempt? Seems stupid.

 

[Moe]

I know this regulation was well intentioned, but it sucks. There are plenty of older Teslas around me that make no warning sounds, and I love that. You can still hear them coming due to the tire noise. I can totally get behind a warning sound while reversing, but the forward motion sound is a bit much (as in too loud, but also as in not necessary at anything over like 5mph). Or at least it would be good if all cars required the warning noise. Plenty of small engine ICE vehicles around that make barely audible engine noise, less noise than my ID.4, so why are they exempt? Seems stupid.

I can tell you from experience a lot of young people today can’t hear a 7.3L diesel three feet behind them. When they finally turn around I see the ear buds.

 

[MikeQBF]

I can tell you from experience a lot of young people today can’t hear a 7.3L diesel three feet behind them. When they finally turn around I see the ear buds.

No kidding. I recall when the noise-generator mandate was made into law, and the justification was "What about blind pedestrians?" I considered this to be a valid point; my wife's late stepfather was blind with a stubborn independent streak, and would walk to the bus stop.

 

[Nai3t]

I have seen the value in these systems and am a proponent of the "noise."

My young son and I were chatting with some utility workers on our narrow residential street, behind their truck, so out of view of any oncoming traffic.

We all had a bit of a jump scare when a silent Model S stealthily emerged in the tight gap between their truck and the parked cars on the other side, inches away. I wouldn't say it was traveling at an unreasonable speed, but any one of us could have easily stepped into that gap without knowing anything was there.

"Should have looked first," yeah, but that's not the point. It's that we have evolved and lived our lives relying on our ears to provide us critical information about our environment. And the scenario I experienced is easily repeatable by kids playing hide and seek or riding bikes out front after school, distracted shoppers stepping between cars in parking lots, runners/pedestrians "stepping out" when the sidewalk is crowded up ahead, and even wildlife and unleashed pets who definitely take notice of my "noisy" EVs (and sometimes even grab the attention of their earbud-wearing owners).

Maybe the acoustic warning systems will also evolve to become a little more context aware, other than a simple speed threshold – I agree some streets and roads probably don't require it.

But I know enough locations that do benefit and despite "should have looked first" being 100% valid, it's never going to be reality and isn't enough to prevent unnecessary injuries, deaths, damage, lawsuits, and anguish.

 

[Froggy]

I just want to select the warning noise like we used to be able to select ringtones. The Imperial March comes to mind.

 

[Moe]

I just want to select the warning noise like we used to be able to select ringtones. The Imperial March comes to mind.

If you want to get people’s head on a swivel try a chihuahua in attack mode or a flock of geese.

 

[Justin8888CT]

If you want to get people’s head on a swivel try a chihuahua in attack mode or a flock of geese.

I want the "Meow meow" song ...

 

[deep_nnn]

I don't even know if my 2024 ID.4 has a warning sound. I've never heard it. I had to watch videos to hear what it's supposed to sound like.
Many cars are quiet and yet aren't held to the same standard as EVs. Disappointing.
I sort of agree with the warning sound but all cars should be held to the same standard.

 

[Jupiter]

Our 2021 ID.4 is so loud I can hear my wife coming home when she turns the corner onto our street. Whereas my friend’s Tesla and my Polestar seem to make almost no noise unless they’re backing up. And our Chevy Equinox (which is a 2024) makes a noise that’s a lot quieter than our ID.4, but louder than the other two.

 

[EV_feller]

I wouldn't say it was traveling at an unreasonable speed, but any one of us could have easily stepped into that gap without knowing anything was there.

I don't know if the vehicle was going faster than 20 mph, but it might not have been generating artificial noise if it was traveling over 20 mph.

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says new electric cars and hybrids must emit noise when operating at speeds below roughly 20 mph. The sounds are meant to alert pedestrians to a vehicle’s location, speed and direction of travel before natural sounds – like tire and wind noise – pick up at greater speeds."