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
370 reports, newest first.
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
Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 25, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM FOR THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2014
CAR FAILED TO START AFTER A HARD OVERNIGHT RAIN STORM THE NIGHT BEFORE, THEN STARTED AFTER A 15 MINUTE WAIT FOR THE AAA. IT HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. REPEATEDLY TURNED KEY TO START POSITION, BUT NO POWER TO THE STARTER. HAD OBD 2 DIAGNOSTIC BUT NOT CODES FOUND, JUST WAIT TO SEE IF HAPPENS AGAIN. *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
Steering, Jul 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. HOWEVER, RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,218.
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
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.
Latches/locks/linkages, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Jul 2, 2014
POWER LOCKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSAGE SIDE DOES NOT WORK WITH THE KEY OR REMOTE. DIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN ALSO. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 1, 2014
WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE STABILITRAK FAILED AND THE CAR IN A POSSESSED MANOR ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED PUSHING ME FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. ONCE I REGAINED SOME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WAS HOPPING, THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND, AND I COULD NOT GO MORE THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR AND STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. TWO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. 1 WAS AS STABILATRAK REQUIRES SERVICE, THE OTHER WAS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE DASH ALSO HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. BECAUSE IT WAS LATE AND THE ISSUE STARTED MAYBE ON 5 MILES FROM HOME, WE TRIED TO CREEP HOME AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS GOING TO DO THIS. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON A ROAD TRIP FROM CHICAGO TO MINNEAPOLIS; HALFWAY THERE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF AND I LOST STABILITY ALONG WITH MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE. *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
Electrical system, Jun 30, 2014
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING TURNED OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT A BLOWN FUSE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. J
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
Electronic stability control (ESC), May 25, 2014
ONE AFTERNOON AFTER BEING PARKED AT WORK 9 HOURS I GOT IN MY VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE. THIS WAS SHOCKING BECAUSE IT WORKED FINE WHEN I MADE IT TO WORK THAT MORNING. I HAD TROUBLE GETTING OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE AND TRAFFIC ON MY WAY HOME WAS A CHALLENGE I TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTOZONE BUT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. THE NEXT DAY IT WORKED FINE. *TR
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
Latches/locks/linkages, May 21, 2014
REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED/UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE (100% OF THE TIME) THE DRIVER DOOR NOW HAS TO MANUALLY LOCKED FROM THE INSIDE, AND UNLOCKED USING A KEY (50% OF THE TIME) REAR DRIVER DOOR LOCK HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED/UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE (50% OF THE TIME). *TR
Steering, May 14, 2014
I,M DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THERE'S NO POWER STEERING AT ALL TILL THIS DAY AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM BUT I READ THAT IT HAPPENED TO LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS AND LET US KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS SO ME AND MY FAMILY CAN BE SAFE AND WE CAN GET IT FIXED. *TR
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, May 12, 2014
DOORS DO NOT LOCK ANYMORE. THE KEY FOB ALSO WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS. I HAVE TO GO AROUND TO EACH DOOR AND LOCK THEM MANUALLY. *TR
Steering, May 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Power train, May 2, 2014
PURCHASED A USED CHEVY EQUINOX SPORT 2008 IN AUGUST 2013(8 MONTHS AFTER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY) I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND MY CAR STOPPED GOING FORWARD, SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE 3 KIDS IN THE CAR AND IT JUST STOPS GOING. THANK GOD WE DIDN'T WRECK BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL, NO DUMMY LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, NO JERKING BEFORE HAND, NOTHING EVEN WHEN IT STOPPED MOVING, ACTUALLY JUST HAD A TUNE UP DONE ON THE CAR LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF THIS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CAN'T AFFORD REPAIRS RANGING FROM $1700-3500. I FEEL LIKE WITH SO MANY REPORTED TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND PARTS ASSOCIATED THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION THROUGH GM OR RECALL ON THEM. *TR
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK , OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS I TALK TO , HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. *JS
Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 25, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility, Apr 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED BUT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF TEH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.