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.
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
Air bags, Aug 1, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 102,000 MILES. WON'T GO OFF TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD NEED A NEW PPS MODULE. IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SO DIDN'T GET IT FIX WOULD HAVE COST $900. SEEN ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL WITH SAME PROBLEM. AND THAT 2007 WERE RECALLED BUT NOT 2008. AND CONSIDERING THE RECALL WAS MADE IN 2008 DON'T YOU THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED 2008 MODELS AS WELL?? HOPING THEY WILL STILL ISSUE A RECALL SOON SO WE CAN GET IT FIXED!!! TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A PROIRITY AND FIXED!!!
Air bags, Jul 25, 2016
I HAD TO HAVE MY SENORS REPLACED IN MINE AND WONDER WHY MINE WAS NEVER RECALLED. COST ME $1,000. I SEE HERE THE SAME ISSUED AND IT HAS A RECALL. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 05, 2016 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 289,254 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL CLOSE VEHICLE MAKEMODELMODEL YEAR(S) CHEVROLETIMPALA2009-2010
Engine, Jul 23, 2016
MY VEHICLE HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR CODE P0008. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW THE DEALER DISCOVERED I HAD A STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $3,000. I HAVE CHANGED MY OIL AS STATED IN THE MANUAL AND CHECK THE OIL LEVELS PERIODICALLY. THE SERVICE SCHEDULE IN THE MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE BELTS NEED TO BE CHECKED FOR WEAR AT 150,000. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD SURELY LAST LONGER THAN THE BELTS. CHEVY ISSUED A CUSTOMER SERVICE BULLETIN WITH REGARD TO PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN WEAR ON ALL 2008 EQUINOX'S EXCEPT THE SPORT (WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE). AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE DIGGING I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE 2008 SPORT THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY STATED SINCE MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 16, 2016
LEAKING GAS FROM THE TANK UNDER REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE.
Air bags, Jul 7, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Power train, Jul 4, 2016
I PURCHASED MY EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN JULY OF 2008 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING INTO 3RD SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW WAVE PLATE. CHEVROLET HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE AND I FALL WITHIN THE DATE AND MILEAGE LIMITS, BUT GM IS CLAIMING THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS WARRANTY.
Electrical system, Jul 1, 2016
2008 EQUINOX - MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I CAN'T TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE ISN'T REGISTERING THAT IT'S IN PARK. IT'S SOME ISSUE WITH THE SHIFTER. THE KEY WAS STICKING FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT WOULD ALWAYS TURN OFF UNTIL NOW. NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT CHEVY HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM OR ISSUED A RECALL.
Electrical system, Jun 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK AND WAS UNABLE TO BE EJECTED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
Engine, Jun 28, 2016
I BOUGHT MY EQUINOX IN OCTOBER OF 2015. AFTER HAVING IT JUST 6 MONTHS AND DRIVING IT APPROX. 3,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP, AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE (THEY SUSPECTED STOP LEAK WAS PUT IN TO MASK THE PROBLEM BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE). THEY ARE QUOTING $3,400 FOR A REFURBISHED ENGINE (THAT COULD RUN INTO THE SAME ISSUE) OR $5,900 FOR A NEW ENGINE. GM HAS BEEN NO HELP AT PROVIDING ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE. AS I'VE DONE MORE RESEARCH, I SEE COUNTLESS OTHER CASES OF THIS HAPPENING WITH LOW MILES. WE HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED GM VEHICLES, AS MY HUSBAND'S STEPDAD AND UNCLE WERE BOTH GM EMPLOYEES. MY FAITH HAS NOW BEEN SHAKEN IN THE COMPANY, AND I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ANOTHER GM VEHICLE ANYTIME SOON.
Other or unspecified, Jun 25, 2016
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO MY KEY STARTED STICKING IN THE CYLINDER AND I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT. IT WOULD TAKE 2-5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL RELEASE THE KEY. IT HAS GOTTEN MORE FREQUENT SO I HAD SOMEONE CHECK IT OUT. HE FOUND A RECALL REFERENCE #09-02-35-005C WHICH STATES THAT CHEVROLET EQUINOX FROM 2007-2009 BUILT PRIOR TO 7/2008 WILL NEED TO HAVE A NEW CYLINDER IGNITION LOCK PART #20869121 INSTALLED FOR IGNITION KEY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, BINDS OR STICKS. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 2007 YET THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY VIN# WHICH ACCORDING TO YOUR RECALL NOTICE IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP ABOUT THIS MATTER. [XXX] OR EMAIL ME @ [XXX]. THANK YOU. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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
Air bags, Jun 5, 2016
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. FOR YEARS THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED, OR GOES OFF AND ON DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER, AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN. OCCUPANTS HAVE NO SECURITY OF KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Jun 2, 2016
I HAVE A LIGHT ON SAYING SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY AIRBAG .ALSO A TAPPING IN MY ENGINE
Air bags, May 27, 2016
SERVICE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR LAST YEAR ALL THE TIME
Fuel/propulsion system, May 22, 2016
SMELL OF GASOLINE WITH 78,000 MILES.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 10, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 4, 2016
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN. CHEVROLET, ALTHOUGH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPORT THIS REFUSES TO FIX. COST TO FIX AT DEALER IS AROUND $1000.00. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHEVROLET SHOULD FIX THIS
Electrical system, Apr 25, 2016
DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE WITH REMOTE AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH REMOTE. WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK, AND WHEN VEHICLE PLACED IN PARK DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK.
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
Exterior lighting, Apr 15, 2016
I WAS COMING HOME AND MY HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY OUT NO FUSE IS OUT NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG . I AM DISABLE AND I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS . NEED SOME ANSWERS . SEEMS LIKE A ON GOING PROBLEM FROM THE COMPLAINTS I READ . THANK YOU *TR
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.
Exterior lighting, Apr 5, 2016
BOTH HEADLIGHTS CONTAIN MOISTURE DUE TO FAULTY SEALS. BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEED REPLACING ON A MINIMUM OF TWICE A YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, BREAK AND/OR TAIL LIGHTS SEEM TO FAIL AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR AS WELL.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 1, 2016
BAD WIRING HARNESS.