Chevrolet Equinox EV motor sound settings changed by software update

Some owners of the Chevrolet Equinox EV have reported an unusual effect after installing a software update. According to user posts on forums and social media, OTA update versions 654.21 and 654.30 may have altered the settings of the Motor Sound feature.

This feature plays synthetic powertrain sounds through the cabin speakers to mimic a traditional engine. Typically, the system offers three modes: Normal, Sport, and Off. However, one owner noted that after the update, these were replaced by Tour and Sport modes, with the option to fully disable the sound removed.

Users speculate that the change might be linked to the software configuration of another GM model, the Cadillac Optiq. This electric vehicle shares the same BEV3 platform and uses a similar system, but it only includes Tour and Sport modes without a disable function.

Importantly, the issue doesn't affect all owners. Some users have reported that their Motor Sound settings remained unchanged after installing the updates. This suggests the alteration may only impact specific vehicle configurations.

General Motors support representatives advise owners to report such cases through the GM Ideas portal. These incidents highlight how software features can shift with updates, a trend becoming increasingly common in 2026 model-year vehicles.