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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 30, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED OTHERWISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALMEDA AUTO (CAR INSPECTION STATION) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE/SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE CONTACT LEFT THE INSPECTION STATION, THE VEHICLE STALLED, WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Air bags, Jun 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER SAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT: CARTER CHEVROLET, SATABY, NC, WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT: MCCURRY-DEC CHEVROLET, FOREST CITY, NC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PTS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PTS MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS INITIALLY AGREED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 80.000.
Steering, Air bags, Jun 7, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH HIS DAUGHTER, WIFE, AND NEPHEW, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A ROAD SIGN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED A CONTUSION ON THE CHEST WALL AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED SHOULDER PAIN. THE DAUGHTER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
Air bags, May 16, 2017
THE LIGHT INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ARMED DOESN'T GO ON ANYMORE. I HAD THIS DIAGNOSED AND THE CODE B0081 SHOWS UP INDICATING A FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. WITH THE MODULE NOT SENSING A PASSENGER, THE AIR BAG PROBABLY WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER SAID IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE 2007 EQUINOX WAS RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT.
Engine, Apr 20, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" THE TIMING BELT. TIMING BELT STRETCHED. KNOW FOR FACT THAT 5 OTHER CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2008 HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BROUGHT TO THE SAME AUTOMACANIC SHOP. OURS WOULD BE THE 6TH KNOWN IN HASTINGS MINNESOTA. WOULD LIKE A RECALL AND HAVE PROBLEM FIXED AND PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND WHEN BROUGHT IN SEVERAL TIMES, THEY KEPT SAYING IT WAS THE GAS CAP. REPLACED GAS CAP AND STILL SEVERAL TIMES ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE DEALERSHIP KEPT SAYING IT WAS THE GAS CAP, EVEN AFTER THEY REPLACED GAS CAP. THE SAME THING KEPT HAPPENING OVER AND OVER. THEY DENIED ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THE TIMING BELT STRETCHED AND CANNOT DRIVE. FOR A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS THIS WENT ON AND ON. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS WE PAY 2000 DOLLARS PLUS TO REPAIR TIMING BELT. THE DEALERSHIP IS THE ONES THAT WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO. HAD A SECOND OPINION DONE AND THEY CLAIMED WE WHERE THE 7TH CAR WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICAL FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ALWAYS BROUGHT TO THEM WITH ANY MECHANICAL PROBEMS TP BE REPAIRED.ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE OVERLOOKED THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES AND BLAMED IT ON MY GAS CAP. I AM PARAPELEGIC ON RIGHT SIDE. ONLY DRIVE WHEN NECCESSARY. HAD 15,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHACED IT FROM DEALERSHIP. IT HAS 77,008 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 17, 2017.VAM CODE IS P0017-CRANKSHAFT/CAMSHAFT CORRELATION BANK 1.....P0008-ENGINE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, EXHAUST CAMSHAFT NOT MOVING WHEN COMMANDED...RECOMMENDED NEW TIMING CHAINS, CHAIN GUIDES,CHAIN TENTIONERS,CAM ACTUATORS... CONCERN#2 CUSTOMER STATES THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK. FOUND THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAULTY. REPLACED THE FRONT DOOR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR/LATCH ASSEMBLY..PAID ...MAIN CONCERN IS TIMING BELT THAT IS FAULTY.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 23, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CRACK WAS IN THE INLET OR THE OUTLET LINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP INLET OR OUTLET WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH DRIPPED ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Structure, Feb 17, 2017
DASHBOARD CRACKING , THE DASHBOARD IS ALSO CRACKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA
Air bags, Feb 3, 2017
AIR BAG INDICATOR ON/OFF ON DASH WORKS PART OF THE TIME WHEN RIGHT SEAT IS OCCUPIED SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE RIGHT AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED WHEN THE LIGHT IS SHOWING OFF. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THE 2007 EQUINOX HAD A RECALL ON BUT ALL SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THE 08 HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED, COST OF REPAIRS ARE AROUND A $1,000.00. SINCE IT HAD BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THE 08 MODEL?
Engine, Jan 19, 2017
ENGINE LOSS POWER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON BARLETT RD IN ELGIN ILL,SUDDENLY SHE LOST ACCELERATION, THERE WAS SEMITRUCK BEHIND HER NERMISS A FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR
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.
Visibility, Jan 16, 2017
JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2016 MY WIFE'S CAR STARTED ALTERNATING BACK AND FORTH LUKE WARM AIR TO COLD AIR. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CORE, THE BLEND MOTOR DOOR, BLED THE LINES FOR AIR BUBBLES, AND TODAY THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. NOTHING HAS CHANGED THE HEATER PROBLEMS. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS SITTING OR MOVING, IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. IF IT'S COLD I CAN'T KEEP MY WINDOWS CLEAR FROM FOGGING UP OR FROST ON MY WINDOWS. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 27, 2016
MY CAR HAS BEEN SMELLING LIKE GAS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. I DON'T SEE ANY LEAKS AT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2016
AROUND THE WHOLE AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKED AND ON THE STEERING WHEEL A CRACK IS STARTING ON TOP PART
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, Engine, Nov 25, 2016
WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS (CAR IN PARK ON FLAT SURFACE) I HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A RUSHING OF WATER. ALSO WHEN CAR SITS IN THE SUN, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW INOPERABLE AND BACK DOOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK INOPERABLE. ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 8, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" MY CAR HAS A VERY STRONG ORDOR OF GAS WHILE ITS PARKED AND WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE OR OR IS VERY STRONG IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Nov 8, 2016
WHEN I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE OR STEP ON THE GAS I HEAR RUSHING WATER SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH BY THE FLOOR. IT HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
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.
Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 11, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, 56,000 MILES. MY SERVICE SAFETY BELT LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS ABS AND CHECK ENGINE AND ! ? IS THIS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY?
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Sep 28, 2016
THERE IS A STRANGE SOUND OF WATER SLOSHING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THERE IS MOISTURE BUILD UP IN MY HEADLIGHTS WHICH HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MY BRAKE LIGHT GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS JUST AFTER MY ANNUAL INSPECTION - THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED, NOT TWO WEEKS LATER SOMEONE PULLED UP NEXT TO ME WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO TELL ME ALL MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER 2016 I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND DURING THE INSPECTION THE TECH TOLD ME MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT AND THAT THE LIGHT AT THE TOP DID NOT GO ON RIGHT AWAY AND FLICKERED WHEN IT DID. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO GM ABOUT A SOLUTION TO THE LIGHT ISSUE - I HAVE TO TAKE MY TRUCK IN TO BE SERVICED AT A GM DEALERSHIP, IT IS GOING TOMORROW SEPT 29TH TO BRYNER CHEVROLET IN JENKINTOWN, PA.
Engine, Sep 26, 2016
ENGINE LIGHT ON CODE SAYS TIMING CHAIN ON 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX 98,000 MILES.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 11, 2016
FUEL ODOR AND SPOTTING ON GROUND WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND A CRACKED PLASTIC FUEL LINE ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. NO AREA DAMAGE OR CAUSE FOUND FOR THIS CRACK TO OCCUR. UNKNOWN REASON OTHER THAN DEFECT. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Air bags, Aug 20, 2016
MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ANYONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT OR NOT.
Engine, Aug 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT A FACTOR WHEN DETERMINING THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.