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: structure
33 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Structure, Oct 25, 2025
Problem with transmission not shifting properly. Also, the subframe is rusting out because water from the air conditioning unit falls directly on the subframe at that point both are safety hazards My service provider told me about the subframe rusting when I had my oil changed and why it was rusting and I have my transmission checked by a transmission specialist and the oil changed at that point in time
Structure, Mar 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the front driver's and passenger's side interior door handles were fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 2, 2019, fire
APRIL 26, 2019 THE ENGINE IN MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWEST TIRE & AUTO IN THE CICERO,IL FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. A WEEK AFTER RETRIEVING MY SUV ON JUNE 20,2019 FROM THE SHOP IT HAD AN EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE THE OCCUPANCY OF MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN AGES 7,4, AND 2 WERE WITHIN 11 MILES OF TRAVEL FROM OUR RESIDENCE ALONG THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECOGNIZABLE FROM THE INTERIOR, FROM FRONT TO CENTER OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY IT WAS A GRAYISH COLOR. SHOWING THE FIRE'S INTENSITY.
Structure, Oct 29, 2018
I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM DO TO PAINT PEELING AND FALLING TO THE GROUND BACK AROUND 2013 I SEE NOW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WITH THIS YEARS VEHICLE. IT HAS IT METAL EXPOSED AND I LOVE MY EQUINOX BUT I'M NOT LIKING IT MORE EACH DAY DO TO SIDE BACK PANELS PEELING ON BOTH SIDES IT DEFECTED MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS ALWAYS BEEN PLACED IN THE GARAGE
Structure, Sep 21, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR NEW TIRES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN JONES CHEVROLET BUICK CADILLAC OF SALEM (1450 IN-60, SALEM, IN 47167, (812) 883-3081) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Structure, Jul 31, 2018
THE PAINT ON MY VEHICLE BUBBLED UP AND PEEL OFF. THE PAINT CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY AND RUST.
Structure, Jan 26, 2018
MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX PAINT IS PEELING ABOVE THE PASSENGER WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES AND PEELING DOWN TO THE METAL. IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR REPAINTED. I FIND IT TO COINCIDENTAL THAT WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM OF 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX PAINT PEELING IT IS HAPPENING FOR EVERYONE IN THE SAME SPOT. I ONLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR BECAUSE MY COMMUTE IS ONLY 3 MILES. THE CAR HAS HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE AND ANY REPAIRS AT CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALERSHIPS. IT IS VERY GENTLY USED AND ALTHOUGH IT IS A 2008 I DON'T BELIEVE MY TEENAGERS BEATER CAR SHOULD LOOK BETTER THAN MY $35,000 CHEVY EQUINOX NO MATTER HOW OLD IT IS. IT IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AT THIS POINT OR PAY FOR. RIGHT NOW THE DAMAGE IS $1000 AS QUOTED BY GM AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THIS IS A COMPLETE VIOLATION TO CONSUMERS AND SINCERELY HOPE FOR ANYONE BUYING THE NEW CHEVY EQUINOX THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO THEM OVER TIME. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR FAULTY PAINT JOB AND JUST DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR
Structure, Oct 12, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL ON THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS CORRODED PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNRISE CHEVROLET IN GLENDALE HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60139, PHONE: (630-942-8300) FOR THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Structure, Aug 9, 2017
PART ON LIFTGATE ABOVE WINDOW AND BELOW THE BREAK LIGHT POPPED OFF. ENTIRE GM PART NEEDS TO BE ORDERED OVER $1000 AND THEN HAS TO BE PAINTED AND PAY LABOR. WAS TOLD THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. NOW MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE PARKED IN DOORS UNTIL I GET AFFORD TO GET FIXED DUE TO WATER WILL LEAK IN. SIMPLY OPENED THE BACK AND IT FELL OFF.
Structure, Feb 17, 2017
DASHBOARD CRACKING , THE DASHBOARD IS ALSO CRACKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 17, 2017
MY WIFE WAS AT WORK DURING A THUNDERSTORM. WENT TO THE CAR TO LEAVE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKING WET. I LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE FRONT DRIVER MD PASSENGER SIDE WAS STILL SOAKING WET. I TOOK A BUCKET OF WATER AND POURED IT FROM THE ROOF DOWN THE WINDOW SEAL TOWER IF ANY WATER WAS GOING TO LEAK ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. YES WATER WAS ENTERING THE THE CARE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I CHECKED THE WEATHERING STRIP TO SEE IF WAS DAMAGED DRY ROTTED WHICH IT WAS NOT. I BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I'VE READ DIFFERENT FORUMS STATING THE SAME ISSUES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THIS FORUM THAT GIVE A BULLETIN NUMBER OF SOME SORT 08-08-57-001A DATED FOR 10-08-08 MODELS 05-09 EQUINOX TALKING ABOUT INSUFFICIENT BODY SEALER WATER ENTERING V THROUGH SEAMS IN THE FLOOR PAN ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. CORRECTION REMOVE CARPET AND RESEAL THE SHEET METAL SEAM. IF THIS ISN'T THE ISSUE PLEASE FIND OUT WHAT IS BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.
Structure, Dec 20, 2016
OUR 2008 EQUINOX PAINT HAS STARTED TO PEEL ON THE TOP. WE NOTICE A SPOT A WEEK AGO AND NOW IT IS ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG IT IS BUBBLING AND PEELING TO WHERE THE WHITE IS SHOWING. PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MATTER WE HAVE ONLY 72000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT
Electrical system, Structure, Oct 31, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO LOCK AND HAD TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Power train, Seat belts, Structure, Apr 19, 2016
POWER STEERING WAS MAKING WHINING SOUND WHEN TURNING AND HAD A FLUID LEAK. WATER LEAKED INTO TRUNK AND FILLED UP AREA WHERE SPARE TIRE IS LOCATED, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOTOR BROKE AND STOPPED WORKING, ONE OF THE BACK SEAT BELTS DOES NOT ALWAYS STAY CLICKED, SOME PAINT CHIPPING, AND TRANSMISSION WENT AT 76,000 MILES
Structure, Jan 11, 2016
WHITE PAINT BEGAN PEELING OFF BACK RIGHT CORNER OF VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. WHEN PARKED, PAINT WAS FINE- NEXT MORNING IT WAS COMPLETELY PEELED. NO VANDALISM OCCURRED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH- THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 MODEL.
Structure, Jul 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GAS CHARGE LIFT SUPPORT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Structure, Mar 26, 2015
THE PAINT ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE IS PEELING OFF. IT ISN'T HAPPENING A LITTLE AT A TIME. I WALKED OUT TO LEAVE ONE DAY AND AN ENTIRE STRIP DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS MISSING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE METAL. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID MY EQUINOX WAS NOT THE FIRST ONE THEY HAD SEEN DO THIS AND IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE PAINT IS BUBBLED AND WAS NEVER PUT ON RIGHT. I CALLED CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS SENT TO A LOCAL CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER TO BE REVIEWED. THE SERVICE MANAGER DEEMED IT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT BUT THE AREA GM CLAIMS BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF PAINT WARRANTY, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. MY CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD, WITH ONLY 130,000 MILES. PAINT SHOULD NOT BE COMING OFF LIKE THIS. *TR
Structure, Mar 3, 2015
PAINT IS FALLING OFF PAINT SHOP SAID IT IS ORANGE PEEL A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Feb 1, 2015
WINDOW ON PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WILL NOT WORK. IT WENT DOWN AND WITH EXTREME SLOWNESS FINALLY GOT IT TO ROLL BACK UP. CANNOT USE AT ALL NOW. *TR
Structure, Jan 10, 2015
PAINT COMING OFF CAR FOR NO REASON. *TR
Structure, Dec 4, 2014
INTERIOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE MECHANISMS ARE BREAKING AND BROKEN. GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT EXIT OUR VEHICLE, THIS WOULD STRIKE ME AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! GIVEN THE FACT THAT 3 OUT OF 4 TOTAL HANDLES ARE NOW BROKEN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT JUST A ONE-TIME FLUKE. GM CUSTOMER CARE ON TWITTER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY CONCERN EXISTS AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $51 PLUS TAX MINIMAL FOR NEW PARTS ON A SAFETY-RELATED ITEM. AFTER ALL, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS AND YOU GET INTO A FIERY ACCIDENT, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE? THE AFFECTED INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKEN THUSFAR ARE AS FOLLOWS: LF, LR, AND RF. MY BOYFRIEND HAS TAKEN AND POSTED TWO YOUTUBE VIDEOS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS SEVERE DEFECT. THE LINKS ARE (SEPARATED BY 10 ASTERISKS EACH): ********** HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YBJ8CS5I3_W ********** HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=7WQ1XL1KXFY ********** THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A 2008 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE AND THIS(IN MY OPINION) IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Structure, Nov 19, 2014
PAINTING FALLING OFF METAL ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Structure, Seats, Jul 5, 2014
I NOTICED THAT AFTER A LARGE THUNDERSTORM THAT HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER POURING DOWN, MY CAR HAD A INCH OF WATER ON THE BACK FLOOR IN FRONT OF 2ND ROW. THE SEATS WERE NOT WET AND ONLY THE FLOOR IN BACK WAS WET AND WAS SEEPING TOWARDS FRONT. THIS MEANT THAT MY WINDOWS WERE NOT OPEN BECAUSE MY SEATS WHERE NOT WET. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AS THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE MY FAULT. WELL A YEAR LATER THEY FINALLY AGREED MOLD WAS GROWING AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THEY STRIPPED MY CAR DOWN TO THE METAL AND FOUND WATER SITTING ALL OVER IN ANY NOOK AND CRANNY THAT WAS IN THE FRAME. THEY BELIEVE ANYTIME I WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH OR IT RAINED ON MY CAR, I WAS GETTING WATER INSIDE. SERVICE ADVISEMENT NUMBER 08-08-57-001A STATES THAT THEY MAY HAVE NOT SEALED UP TO 15 POINTS ON THE EQUINOX BETWEEN 2005-2009. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS ADVISEMENT AS I HAD TO READ THROUGH SOME BLOGS TO FIND IT AND IT WAS THE REAL DEAL. I HAD OVER 4 INCHES OF WATER SITTING IN MY SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. *TR
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 30, 2014
DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS NON RESPONSIVE TO KEY FOB OR ELECTRONIC LOCK CONTROL. EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE. *TR
Structure, Mar 19, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON VEHICLE WAS CHIPPING OFF AND EXPOSING THE METAL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 106,000.