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, May 21, 2015
SOMETHING SQUEALS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR ANY TIME I TURN.
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.
Steering, Apr 28, 2015
AS I'M DRIVING AT ANY SPEED MY STEERING COLUMN RUBS AND MAKES IT HARD TO TURN CORNERS. HAVE TO FORCE MORE JUST TO DRIVE CAUSE IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT HAS POWER STEERING. *TR
Steering, Apr 17, 2015
STEERING SQUEALS WHEN TURNING. 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORT. *TR
Steering, Apr 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Exterior lighting, Apr 9, 2015
I HAD TO START REPLACING HEAD LIGHTS DUE TO MOISTURE IN MY HEAD LIGHTS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I HAVE MENTION THIS TO CHEVY SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE HAD THE CAR SERVICE. THE RESPONSE WAS THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY WANTED ME TO PAY HALF OF THE COST. I REFUSED. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I PRAY ONE NIGHT THAT I'M NOT DRIVING AND GET INTO A ACCIDENT DUE TO LIGHT FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALL TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND ADDED EXPENSE DUE TO CHEVY NEGLIGENCE. I HAVE OWN MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD MOISTURE IN MY HEAD LIGHTS. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE CORRECTED BY CHEV. I'M NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE DATES FROM LAST YEAR, WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION WHEN THE CAR GOT SERVICE .CHEVY EQUINOX 2008. *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, Mar 17, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ACCELERATOR SENSOR AND THROTTLE BODY SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2015
RECENTLY, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR ELECTRIC WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK, NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL UNLESS I PUSH THE DOOR OPENED. THIS WEEKEND THE WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. SINCE I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL BACKGROUND, I STARTED TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM. AFTER 20 MINUTES I FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM TO BE COMPLETELY BROKEN WIRES THAT ARE PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS RIGHT BEFORE IT GOES THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND PROTECTED BY A RUBBER BOOT/SLEEVE . ALMOST ALL WIRES THAT ARE PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS AT THIS LOCATION WERE EITHER BROKEN AS I MENTIONED OR THE INSULATION WAS SO BRIDLE AND CRACKED THAT THE COPPER WIRE STRANDS WERE EXPOSED. I WOULD NOT EXPECT A VEHICLE BARELY OVER 50,000 MILES TO HAVE WIRES THAT ARE IN A LOCATION WHERE THEY ARE NOT EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, TO BE IN A CONDITION LIKE THIS. I TOOK A COUPLE OF PICTURES TO SUPPORT WHAT I AM WRITING. AS IT RELATES TO SAFETY AND BEING THAT I WORK IN THE ELECTRICAL FIELD, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD, IF THE EXPOSED WIRES EVER COME IN CONTACT WITH CHASSIS GROUND. *TR
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
Structure, Mar 3, 2015
PAINT IS FALLING OFF PAINT SHOP SAID IT IS ORANGE PEEL A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Steering, Feb 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE POWER STEERING RESUMED AFTER THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN UPDATED 04/09/15
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
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
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 1, 2015
LOCKS ON CAR HAVE GOT TO WHERE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. NOT ONLY VERY INCONVENIENT TO GET IN OR OUT OF CAR BUT COULD VERY WELL BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK AND NOT ABLE TO GET OUT. *TR
Air bags, Feb 1, 2015
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NOT ON WHICH WAS ODD SINCE MY 250 LB HUSBAND WAS IN THE SEAT. NEVER HAS WORKED RIGHT SINCE. IT SAYS NO ONE IN SEAT AND AIR BAG NOT ON WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN SEAT OR VISA VERSA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE MORE SO NOW THAT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Air bags, Jan 29, 2015
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN NO ONE IN SEAT THE DASH AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND SAYS SERVICE AIRBAG. IT START AROUND SEPT 14 . I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN JAN 4 2015 AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE I WAS HIT IN FRONT HEAD ON BY OTHER VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND SLAMMED INTO FRONT OF MY SUV I HIT MY BRAKES AND SLOWED DOWN BEFORE I WAS HIT. *TR
Air bags, Jan 25, 2015
PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF WITH A FULL SIZE ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. APPARENTLY THIS WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 MODEL THAT GM RECALLED, BUT FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN BUILDING FUTURE CARS AND NEVER RECALLED NEWER MODELS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE THE MAJORITY OF THE SYSTEM AS THEY ARE UNSURE WHAT IS CAUSING THE FAULT EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN WIGGLE IN THE SEAT AND GET THE SENSOR TO ACTIVATE AND AS A RESULT THE SYSTEM WILL WORK. WIGGLE AGAIN AND THE SYSTEM WILL SHUT OFF AND THE SERVICE AIR BAGS LIGHT WILL RETURN. ANYONE SEE A PATTERN IN GM IGNORING CRITICAL SAFETY VIOLATIONS? *TR
Electrical system, Jan 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Structure, Jan 10, 2015
PAINT COMING OFF CAR FOR NO REASON. *TR
Air bags, Dec 13, 2014
AIR BAG SENSOR FOR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TURNS THE AIR BAG ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, EVEN WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER (OVER 100 LBS) IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Power train, Dec 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE GEARS BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,782.
Electrical system, Equipment, Dec 8, 2014
MY 2008 EQUINOX HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING, IT'S FINE WHEN IT'S SAT OVER NIGHT HOURS BUT DURING THE DAY WHEN IT'S ONLY SAT A COUPLE OR A FEW HOURS IT WILL HESITATE AND I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY KEPT SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO IT, SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW DOESN'T GO DOWN AND I HAD BEEN TAKING IT TO BE LOOKED AT FOR THE STARTING PROBLEM WAY BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS CORRECTED.) *TR
Electrical system, Equipment, Dec 8, 2014
MY 2008 EQUINOX HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING, IT'S FINE WHEN IT'S SAT OVER NIGHT HOURS BUT DURING THE DAY WHEN IT'S ONLY SAT A COUPLE OR A FEW HOURS IT WILL HESITATE AND I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY KEPT SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO IT, SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE WRONG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW DOESN'T GO DOWN AND I HAD BEEN TAKING IT TO BE LOOKED AT FOR THE STARTING PROBLEM WAY BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS CORRECTED.) *TR