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: electronic stability control (esc)
46 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 8, 2020
THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS AND OVERHEAT. EVEN WHEN NEW PARTS ARE PUT ON .AFTER 10 MIN OF DRIVING OLD PROBLEMS DUE EXIST. FROM BRAKE CALIPER TO BRAKE LINE TO BRAKE BOOSTER CHANGED
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 29, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20-30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITH THE STABILITRAC AND AWD OFF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AND OPERATED AS INTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 8, 2020
CAN'T DISABLE TRACTION OR STABILITY CONTROL WON'T LET ME GO OVER 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN STREETS BRAKES BURNT TO NOTHING LEFT AND BRAKE HOSE MELTED CLOSE ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. USE CRUISE CONTROL TO DRIVE AFTER GOING 40 MPH TO GET TO 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY ONLY WAY TO GET TO 70 MPH WITHOUT USING GAS PETAL OR BRAKE SO THE STABILITY CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SLOWED DOWN BY TURNING OFF CRUISE CONTROL UNLESS I HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT THEN I USED THE BRAKE PETAL THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES LATER STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED THEN HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART VEHICLE PRESS BRAKES TO RELEASE THEN GOT BACK ON ROAD AND REPEAT .
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 1, 2019
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AT ANY TIME THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS WILL COME ON: ABS / SERVICE STABILITRAK / ALL WHEEL DIVE - OFF / SERVICE TRACTION CONTOL. ALSO WHEN DRIVING YOU MAY SEE THE BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AND MY FOOT WOULD NOT BE ON THE BRAKE. WHEN HITTING THE BRAKE I WILL HEAR WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GRINDING NOTICE. I HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECK AND BRAKES AND ROTOR ON BACK RIGHT WHEELS REPLACE AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. SECOND TIME IN SERVICE. ONE TIME I HAD JUST PULLED OFF AND HEARD THIS LOUD GRINDING/ SCRAPING NOISE. IT IS FRIGHTENING . MILEAGE IS 63830 CAN HAPPEN ON CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY THIS HAS HAPPEN A NUMBER OF TIMES. WITH SPEED AS LOW AS 25 OR 60.MPH
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 6, 2018
I BOUGHT MY EQUINOX USED IN 2015 WITH 87,000. SINCE HAVING IT, I'VE REPLACED THE TIRE VALVE SENSORS (BROKE AGAIN). I WAS TOLD THAT FIXING THEM ARE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION. I'VE REPLACED TURN SIGNAL HANDLE. A MONTH LATER, I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN OFF MY TURNING SIGNALS NO MATTER HOW SHARP OR WIDE MY TURNS ARE. SINCE I FIRST GOT MY VEHICLE, MY STABILITY TRACTION SERVICE LIGHT, I THINK THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON. CAN'T TAKE TO MECHANIC DUE TO THE ISSUES NOT BEING CONSTANT. ONCE I CAUGHT ENGINE LIGHT ON,IT WAS A EGR VALVE, REPLACED THAT. ISSUE CONTINUES. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, MY VEHICLE SEEMS TO HESITATE AND/OR STALL.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Jul 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SERVICE TRACTION STABILIZER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,120.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 10, 2017
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON STABILITY LIGHT ON
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 29, 2017
HAVING TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TEMP GAUGE AND GAS METER NOT READING
Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 11, 2016
MY 74 YEAR OLD BROTHER BOUGHT HIS 2008 EQUINOX NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS THE BIGGEST HEAP OF CRAP CHEVROLET INVENTED!!!! 5. POWER STEERING WENT OUT COSTING $2500.00 TO FIX JAN 2015 6. TRANSMISSION STARTS JERKING WHEN HITTING 45 MPH DEALERSHIP INFORMED US OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WE TOOK IN FOR A RECALL ON A DEFECTIVE GAS MODUAL THAT THEY NEVER REPLACED SAYING THE PART WAS OK. THEY DROVE IT AND SAID THAT ITS THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED $500.00 TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. STARTED FEB 2016 7. THE STABLE LINK LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ON SAYING TO SERVICE THE STABLE TRAC THEN GOES OFF STARTED MARCH OF 2016 8. THE TOP OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE BACK HATCH IS GONE WHERE IT FELL OFF AT SOME POINT HAS MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG. TURN SIGNAL GEARS TO TURN OFF SIGNALS FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIGNAL DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER FLUID MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. DRIVERS DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTOR BROKE FROM WINDOW.DRIVERS DOOR HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THIS VEHICLE IS A CLEAN AND IN EXCELLENT SHAPE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS OWNED BY AN ELDERLY MAN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED HAS LESS THAT 120,000 MILES ON IT
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Jun 20, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STABILITY AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED NO POWER STEERING HAS WIRING, FLUID LEAK, AND BOLTS WERE MISSING. UPDATED 06/20/18*JB
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 13, 2016
THE SPEEDOMETER TO MY VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING. REGARDLESS IF THE CAR IS ON OR OFF, THE NEEDLE IS ALWAYS STUCK ON 120 MPH. I HAVE ALSO STARTED TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK DOORS IN WHICH THE LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING WITH THE REMOTE. IF I TRY TO UNLOCK, THE BACK DOORS REMAIN LOCKED. WHEN I DO USE THE REMOTE TO LOCK THE VEHICLE, THE BACK DOORS WILL UNLOCK. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE SEALS MUST NOT BE THAT GREAT BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MOISTURE IN THEM TO WHERE NOW I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. MY BACK LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT AS WELL AND AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 11, 2016
THE STABILLITRAK LIGHT AND WARNING SYSTEM SUDDENLY CAME ON MY CAR AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I LOST POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. THE EQUINOX HAS 67, 363 MILES ON IT. I HAD THE ENTIRE CAR SERVICED AND THE SYSTEMS PUT ON A MONITOR IN DECEMBER WITH NO PROBLEMS APPEARING. LUCKILY , I SLOWED DOWN AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 1, 2016
BAD WIRING HARNESS.
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 1, 2016
PASSENGER AIR BAG CONSTANTLY COMING ON SAYING IT IS NOT WORKING. ALL OTHERS RECALLED BY 2008. NOW SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK SENSOR ON. I'VE READ ABOUT BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ONLINE HERE SO WHY NO RECALLS WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REACURRING FOR OTHERS.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 10, 2016
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON, ALWAYS . AIR BAG IS OFF ALWAYS. THIS CAR IS ONE PIECE OF TRASH.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 15, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF PASSENGER AIR BAG WORKS SOMETIMES ON AND OFF ELECTRICAL WITH THE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS A LOT AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 5, 2016
LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 7, 2015
PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN SOMEONE IS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVERS WINDOW & LOCK STOPPED WORKING(HAS BEEN REPAIRED). SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL & SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS ARE ON. EGR VALVE CODE, TORQUE CONVERTER CODE, EVAP SYSTEM CODE, AND ABS CODE. THERE IS ALSO A SQUEEKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR & HAS LESS THAN 77K MILES. ALSO LIKE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED I TOO GET HURT ON THE BACK OF MY LEG WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 20, 2015
I DROVE MY CAR TO THE STORE WENT IN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I THOUGHT MY CAR BATTERY HAD WENT DEAD SO I GOT A JUMP BUT THEN I NOTICED MY STABILITY TRACK LIGHT WAS ON AND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD WENT OUT. AS SOON AS I MADE IT HOME TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. AS I LOOK UP TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE I'VE NOTICED THAT THIS IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING A LOT. I KNOW CARS CAN GO OUT BUT THIS ALSO HAPPEN A LOT WHERE A CONSUMER SPENDS THERE HARD EARNED MONEY ONLY TO BE DUKED IN THE END. I'VE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR FOUR MONTHS AND ALTHOUGH IT'S USED I FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT I WANT TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH I WAS LUCKY AND DIDN'T CRASH. I HOPE THAT THIS DOES BECOME A RECALL AS IT IS WAY TO DANGEROUS.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 15, 2015
WHERE DO I BEGIN?!?!!?! AFTER MULTIPLE FAILED ATTEMPTS OF THE DEALER TRYING TO FIX THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM/STABILITRACK LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND STILL DING! TIRES ARE DOUBLE CHECKED REGULARLY. PASSENGER AIR BAG ONLY COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO, WEATHER THE PERSON WEIGHS 70LBS OR 250LBS. THE KEY SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WON'T TURN OR COME OUT, I USUALLY GIVE UP FIGHTING IT AND FORGET ABOUT IT FOR AWHILE THEN IT MAGICALLY WORKS. NONE OF THE DOORS WILL LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE FOB OR ELECTRIC BUTTON INSIDE, KEY FOB ONLY SETS THE ALARM ON/OFF, SO I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS. WHICH IS A A PAIN WITH THREE KIDS, NOT ONLY THAT BUT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE TRAVELING WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BELIEVING IT WOULD BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. I'M ABOUT READY TO PUSH IT OFF A CLIFF. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS WILL YOU IGNORE, CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT, BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS?!?! I WILL NOT BE INVESTING IN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE THAT'S FOR SURE! SHOULD OF STUCK WITH FOREIGN!
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 21, 2015
OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON IN MY 2008 EQUINOX. TOOK IT INTO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL SAID TIMING CHAIN/ENGINE POSITION. HERE I AM TODAY, DID NOT DO THE $1,600 RECOMMENDED REPAIR AND THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING FINE AND NO ISSUES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET MULTIPLE TIMES ONLY TO KEEP COMING BACK. I ALSO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FILLED WITH MOISTURE AND IT AFFECTS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT. FINALLY, I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN BY DAY END IT WILL BE OFF.
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 5, 2015
I OWN A 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX. I AM HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. MY SERVICE AIR BAG COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN ITS WARM OUTSIDE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEEMS TO WORK FINE. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL. THE FUNNY THING IS THE DOOR LOCK SEEMS TO WORK BETTER IN THE WINTER MONTHS. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY SERVICE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT THE VEHICLE WHEN I AM DRIVING. IT WILL STAY ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN ONE DAY IT WILL BE GONE. IT WILL STAY OFF FROM A FEW WEEKS TO A FEW MONTHS. THEN IT WILL START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY. I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE CHEVY IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE REGARDLESS OF THE MILES AND NOW I AM AFRAID TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN IT AND DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN. ALL THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND THE 100,00 MILE MARK I AM NOW AT 110,000. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 1, 2015
STABILITRAK LIGHT AND WARNING SOUND HAS COME ON A FEW TIMES FOR NO RHYME OR REASON. SOME TIMES WILL SHAKE VEHICLE AS IT GOES DOWN THE ROAD AFTERWARDS. ALSO, WHEN PLUGGED IN AUXILIARY CORD FOR IPOD, SPARKS FLEW OUT FROM RADIO CONTROL STATION AND CAR DIED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD AND SAT FOR TEN MINUTES. RESTARTED CAR AND DROVE TO SAFE LOCATION AND HAD SOME ONE PICK ME UP. NEXT DAY, WENT TO PICK UP CAR AND NO ISSUES. CAR IS BECOMING UNRELIABLE WITH NOT ONLY THESE ISSUES BUT PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS I HAVE FILED WITH YOU. SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE TYPE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY SAFETY ONES, THIS SOON. CAR ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 120000 MILES. *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
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 19, 2014
SINCE MID-AUG, MY EQUINOX HAS BEEN RANDOMLY/INTERMITTENTLY LOSING ENGINE POWER (AS WELL AS STEERING/BRAKING) FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THANKFULLY, WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, (NOW AT LEAST WEEKLY) IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. WHEN CHECKING SERVICE CODES, THE INDICATED PROBLEM SYSTEMS ARE "SECONDARY IGNITION CIRCUIT" AND "STABILITRAK." I DO NOT FEEL THE CAR IS SAFELY DRIVABLE, BUT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER CANNOT OFFER ME EVEN A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT EARLIER THAN DEC 1. *TR