2008 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 370 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 9 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: air bags
110 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Feb 1, 2015
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NOT ON WHICH WAS ODD SINCE MY 250 LB HUSBAND WAS IN THE SEAT. NEVER HAS WORKED RIGHT SINCE. IT SAYS NO ONE IN SEAT AND AIR BAG NOT ON WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN SEAT OR VISA VERSA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE MORE SO NOW THAT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Air bags, Jan 29, 2015
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN NO ONE IN SEAT THE DASH AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND SAYS SERVICE AIRBAG. IT START AROUND SEPT 14 . I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN JAN 4 2015 AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE I WAS HIT IN FRONT HEAD ON BY OTHER VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND SLAMMED INTO FRONT OF MY SUV I HIT MY BRAKES AND SLOWED DOWN BEFORE I WAS HIT. *TR
Air bags, Jan 25, 2015
PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF WITH A FULL SIZE ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. APPARENTLY THIS WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 MODEL THAT GM RECALLED, BUT FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN BUILDING FUTURE CARS AND NEVER RECALLED NEWER MODELS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE THE MAJORITY OF THE SYSTEM AS THEY ARE UNSURE WHAT IS CAUSING THE FAULT EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN WIGGLE IN THE SEAT AND GET THE SENSOR TO ACTIVATE AND AS A RESULT THE SYSTEM WILL WORK. WIGGLE AGAIN AND THE SYSTEM WILL SHUT OFF AND THE SERVICE AIR BAGS LIGHT WILL RETURN. ANYONE SEE A PATTERN IN GM IGNORING CRITICAL SAFETY VIOLATIONS? *TR
Air bags, Dec 13, 2014
AIR BAG SENSOR FOR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TURNS THE AIR BAG ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, EVEN WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER (OVER 100 LBS) IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 20, 2014
AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SEAT WOULD WORK AND NOT WORK AND HAS NOW COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. DOOR LOCKS ON FRONT WILL NOT LOCK ELECTRONICALLY. HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE FRONT DOORS AT ALL TIMES. STABILIZER TRACK STAYS OFF. USE TO COME AND NO AND NOW WILL NOT COME BACK ON. *TR
Air bags, Nov 10, 2014
THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY--THE SENSOR WASN'T RECOGNIZING WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT SO WE WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULDN'T DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. AS A RESULT, WE TOOK IT TO TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS (INCLUDING ONE GM DEALERSHIP) AND IT ENDED UP COSTING OVER $1000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 11/10/14 TO DOCUMENT THE CONCERN AND TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROBLEM BUT NOTHING WAS AVAILABLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY CHEVY ESPECIALLY IF IT IS HAPPENING ON MANY VEHICLES. *TR
Air bags, Oct 8, 2014
AIR BAG WILL NOT COME ON SOMETIME WHILE SEATING IN DRIVER SEAT WE ARE HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Sep 11, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED AND CRASHED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT EXPECTED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. PAM..UPDATED 09/25/14 *BF UPDATED 10/23/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. UPDATED 12/08/14 .*JB UPDATED 12/28/15.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED GM CLAIMED TO HAVE INVESTIGATED THE CRASH AND STATED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY IN THE TYPE OF CRASH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN. UPDATED 01/05/16.*JB UPDATED 06/02/16.*JB *JS
Air bags, Aug 26, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Air bags, Seats, Aug 13, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT IT WAS DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 11, 2014
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH 2008 EQUINOX, PURCHASED IN JULY 2008.. KEY WILL GET STUCK IN IGNITION AND TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO REMOVE IT. CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY AND PASSENGER AIRBAG SHUTS OFF. *TR CHECK STABILITRAC LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY AND SHUTS OFF WHEN ON INTERSTATE AND/OR WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS INOPERABLE ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME, BUT WILL WORK,SOMETIMES, WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUTTING OR WHEN YOU HIT THE DOOR PANEL. VEHICLE ALARM WILL SET BUT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NEVER LOCKS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR RARELY LOCK, SAME FOR WHEN CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE. WILL NOT LOCK BY USING THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON LOCATED INSIDE VEHICLE BOTH BACK DOOR LOCKS GET HUNG AND MUST BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. *TR
Air bags, Aug 7, 2014
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR MALFUNCTION. WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIES THE FRONT SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATES IT IS "OFF", WHICH RAISES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN I WILL NOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE TO OCCUPY THE SEAT UNLESS THE SYSTEM REGISTERS A PASSENGER. EITHER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING OR "BOUNCING" IN THE SEAT SOMETIMES WILL INDICATE THE AIR BAG IS ON; A VERY FRUSTRATING AND UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 31, 2014, crash
FIRST INCIDENT, STEERING FAILURE. SERVICE STABILITRACK WARNING APPEARED AND STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED STEERING MODULE WENT OUT AND REPLACED AT MY OWN COST. VERY DANGEROUS TO LOOSE STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. ENTIRE STEERING AND INTERIOR CONTROL MODULE WAS ALSO REPLACED A SECOND TIME. DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TO WEAR OUT AND NEED REPLACED. SERVICE STABILITRACK WARNING STILL CONTINUES TO COME ON OCCASIONALLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE STEERING WILL NOT GO OUT THIS TIME WHILE I AM GOING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. HAVE ALSO CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH WATER IN THE VEHICLE. CAN HEAR THE WATER SLOSHING AROUND. WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. DOOR LOCKS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 14, 2014
AIR BAG DOES NOT STAY ON! DRIVING OVER 20 MPH AIR BAG DID NOT TURN ON AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT REMAINED OFF. A PERSON WEIGHING ABOUT 200 LBS WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND AIR BAG WAS OFF WHILE CAR WAS ON, IN DRIVE, AND MOVING. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. IF ACCIDENT DID OCCUR AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY COULD BE FATAL. NEEDS TO FIXED! *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 4, 2014
PROBLEMS WITH MY VEH. COVERS A LONG PERIOD AND HAS WORSEN OVER TIME, FIRST THE (TPMS) TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WENT BAD, THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT OUT OF SERV., THEN THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON FRONT PASS. SIDE WORKED WHEN IT WANTED. NOW THE FRONT PASS DOOR DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK UNLESS MANUALLY, NOW THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT OPERATE UP OR DOWN, AND TILL NOW ONLY ONCE THE CAR KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HAVE CHECKED WITH GM RECALL LIST THAT SEEM TO HAVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE BUT MY 2008 EQUINOX IS NOT ON IT. THIS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION CAN ONLY GET WORSE. WHAT'S NEXT TO GO.
Air bags, Jun 25, 2014
PASSENGER AIR BAG WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WITH SMALL PEOPLE IT NEVER WORKS. *TR
Air bags, Jun 15, 2014
PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNED OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A PERSON OVER 110LBS. IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. OCCASIONALLY GET A SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING WHEN IT GOES OFF, BUT MOST TIMES IT JUST GOES OFF AND STAYS OFF WITHOUT NOTICE EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR NOW, THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IT IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVING YOUR PASSENGER AIRBAG GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY ESPECIALLY WITHOUT NOTICE SOMETIMES. VERY DANGEROUS. *JS
Steering, Air bags, Seat belts, May 23, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, HAND AND KNEE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED HEAD, LUNG AND RIB INJURIES DURING THE CRASH, AND BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Steering, Suspension, Air bags, May 22, 2014, crash
WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA AND DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 50-60MPH WHEN HER CAR HIT THE FRONT END DRIVER SIDE AND AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SINCE THEN AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT . PASSENGER WEIGHING OVER 130 LBS. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD AND IS SCARY TO THINK THAT THIS CAR HAS YET TO BE RECALLED!! WILL THE AIR BAG GO OFF NEXT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS AGAIN??!! GM IS WRONG FOR RECALLING EVERY OTHER VEHICLE BUT THIS ONE!! POWER LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK EVER! I ALWAYS HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK EACH ONE. SAFETY ISSUE AGAIN! AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSING EVERYTHING IN THE CAR TO GO OUT EVERY MONTH OR TWO. RECALL THIS CAR BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS INJURED. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 31, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND PREVENTED THE KEY FROM RELEASING FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA
Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 30, 2014
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOESN'T WORK AND MAY BE BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF GM VEHICLES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Mar 29, 2014
PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK, DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A PASSENGER. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON TO SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO MY STABIL CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. A COUPLE MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER, THEY COME ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS SENSOR WAS REPLACE AT A COST OF $900.00 ANDSTABIL CONTROL LIGHTS REPAIR WAS $350 AND CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS . ALSO BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS, AFTER REPLACING ONE BULB THAT NIGHT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE , BULB BURNED OUT AGAIN.I TALKED TO THE DEALER NO RECALLS ON ANY OF THE PROBLEMS AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH GMC PRODUCTS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Air bags, Mar 19, 2014
READ OUT ON DASH, FLASHES " SERVICE AIR BAG SOON " THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR.I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT RECALL ON SOME VEHICLES AND THE WORRY THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY ON THEIR OWN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 19, 2014
PASSENGER AIR BAGS DON'T WORK, DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A PASSENGER. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON TO SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO MY STABIL CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. A COUPLE MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER, THEY COME ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. FIND NOTHING. ALSO BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS WHICH ARE A PAIN TO GET TO. I HAD A BLAZER THAT DID THE SAME THING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. *TR
Air bags, Mar 17, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT SHOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BUT FAILED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,911.