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2008 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

298 reports with mileage · 72 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

110 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

I HAVE PURCHASED A CHEVY EQUINOX 2008 AND THE MESSAGE CENTER FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS DISPLAYED SERVICE AIR BAG. THERE SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRICAL ISSUE I CAN HEAR STATIC OR SOMETHING COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR EVERY TIME I OPEN AND CLOSE IT. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I ONLY HAVE A 30 DAY WARRANTY. I CHECKED THIS CAR ON AUTO CHECK…

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I HAVE PURCHASED A CHEVY EQUINOX 2008 AND THE MESSAGE CENTER FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS DISPLAYED SERVICE AIR BAG. THERE SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRICAL ISSUE I CAN HEAR STATIC OR SOMETHING COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR EVERY TIME I OPEN AND CLOSE IT. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I ONLY HAVE A 30 DAY WARRANTY. I CHECKED THIS CAR ON AUTO CHECK AND THE MILEAGE WAS EVEN WRONG, WHEN INSPECTED LAST THE MILES WERE 118,000 WHEN I GOT IT IT HAD 115,769 DID THEY ROLL IT BACK. WHAT SITES ARE ACCURATE? I CHECKED AUTOCHECK VIN PRO THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SAME ISSUES AIR BAG SENSOR ETC CHEVY SUCKS!

NHTSA ODI #10789551

114,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE SYSTEM WILL NOT ARM DUE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, THE SYSTEM WILL SOMETIMES WORK IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OR MAY SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHEN THE PASSENGER MOVES IN THE SEAT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR AND IT WAS RECALLED, WHY NOT THE 2008 MODEL? …

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AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE SYSTEM WILL NOT ARM DUE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, THE SYSTEM WILL SOMETIMES WORK IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OR MAY SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHEN THE PASSENGER MOVES IN THE SEAT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR AND IT WAS RECALLED, WHY NOT THE 2008 MODEL? VERY POOR RELIABILITY OF A SAFETY SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10783212

96,000 miles · Sep 11, 2015
Air Bags

BEGINNING LAST YEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR BEGAN TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAD THE SERVICE CODES CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO CODE FOR THE REPEATED WARNING LIGHT TO SERVICE AIR BAG. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE. WHEN PASSENGERS OF ANY WEIGHT ARE IN THE SEAT THE INDICATOR AND SERVICE LIGHTS WILL COME ON RANDOMLY. MOST TIME …

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BEGINNING LAST YEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR BEGAN TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAD THE SERVICE CODES CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO CODE FOR THE REPEATED WARNING LIGHT TO SERVICE AIR BAG. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE. WHEN PASSENGERS OF ANY WEIGHT ARE IN THE SEAT THE INDICATOR AND SERVICE LIGHTS WILL COME ON RANDOMLY. MOST TIME MY FAMILY IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAG DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEND TO THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR AND A RECALL WAS DONE. NOT FOR THIS MODEL. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A SOLUTION CREATED BY CHEVORLET.

NHTSA ODI #10763149

120,000 miles · Aug 15, 2015
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER DOES NOT MATTER. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO FLASHES INTER…

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THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER DOES NOT MATTER. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #10748854

76,000 miles · Aug 7, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Injury

PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN SOMEONE IS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVERS WINDOW & LOCK STOPPED WORKING(HAS BEEN REPAIRED). SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL & SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS ARE ON. EGR VALVE CODE, TORQUE CONVERTER CODE, EVAP SYSTEM CODE, AND ABS CODE. THERE IS ALSO A SQUEEKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. …

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PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN SOMEONE IS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVERS WINDOW & LOCK STOPPED WORKING(HAS BEEN REPAIRED). SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL & SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS ARE ON. EGR VALVE CODE, TORQUE CONVERTER CODE, EVAP SYSTEM CODE, AND ABS CODE. THERE IS ALSO A SQUEEKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR & HAS LESS THAN 77K MILES. ALSO LIKE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED I TOO GET HURT ON THE BACK OF MY LEG WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10747136

78,000 miles · Aug 4, 2015
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DOES NOT COME ON WHEN ANYBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MILTON RUBEN CHEVROLET IN AUGUSTA, GA. FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS $980.00. MY WIFE AND I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SPEND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HAVE…

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THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DOES NOT COME ON WHEN ANYBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MILTON RUBEN CHEVROLET IN AUGUSTA, GA. FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIR. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS $980.00. MY WIFE AND I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SPEND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND MY QUESTION WAS "WHY WAS THE 2008 EQUINOX'S NOT RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE". CHEVROLET STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT FORCED THEM TO RECALL THE 2008 EQUINOX'S. I WISH THAT I HAD GOTTEN THE MAN'S NAME. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE BBB WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP MY WIFE AND I. I ALSO STATED TO THE BBB THAT IF SOMEONE GETS HURT IN A WRECK DUE TO THE FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG, I WOULD BE LOOKING TO THEM FOR ANSWERS. THE ONLY HELP THAT MILTON RUBEN CHEVROLET WOULD GIVE MY WIFE AND I WAS TO GIVE US A DISCOUNT ON A NEW CHEVROLET. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10746194

125,291 miles · Jul 15, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!?!!?! AFTER MULTIPLE FAILED ATTEMPTS OF THE DEALER TRYING TO FIX THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM/STABILITRACK LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND STILL DING! TIRES ARE DOUBLE CHECKED REGULARLY. PASSENGER AIR BAG ONLY COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO, WEATHER THE PERSON WEIGHS 70LBS OR 250LBS. THE KEY SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE …

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WHERE DO I BEGIN?!?!!?! AFTER MULTIPLE FAILED ATTEMPTS OF THE DEALER TRYING TO FIX THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM/STABILITRACK LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND STILL DING! TIRES ARE DOUBLE CHECKED REGULARLY. PASSENGER AIR BAG ONLY COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO, WEATHER THE PERSON WEIGHS 70LBS OR 250LBS. THE KEY SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WON'T TURN OR COME OUT, I USUALLY GIVE UP FIGHTING IT AND FORGET ABOUT IT FOR AWHILE THEN IT MAGICALLY WORKS. NONE OF THE DOORS WILL LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE FOB OR ELECTRIC BUTTON INSIDE, KEY FOB ONLY SETS THE ALARM ON/OFF, SO I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS. WHICH IS A A PAIN WITH THREE KIDS, NOT ONLY THAT BUT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE TRAVELING WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BELIEVING IT WOULD BE SAFE AND RELIABLE. I'M ABOUT READY TO PUSH IT OFF A CLIFF. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS WILL YOU IGNORE, CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT, BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS?!?! I WILL NOT BE INVESTING IN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE THAT'S FOR SURE! SHOULD OF STUCK WITH FOREIGN!

NHTSA ODI #10734338

73,000 miles · Jun 10, 2015
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I'VE HAD PEOPLE UP TO 250 POUNDS SITTING ON PASSENGER SIDE AND IT STILL WON'T TURN ON AIRBAG. THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK OF INJURY OR FATALITY TO PASSENGER IF AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. SO MANY OTHERS ARE SAYING SAME THING HOW IS THIS NOT ON…

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PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I'VE HAD PEOPLE UP TO 250 POUNDS SITTING ON PASSENGER SIDE AND IT STILL WON'T TURN ON AIRBAG. THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK OF INJURY OR FATALITY TO PASSENGER IF AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. SO MANY OTHERS ARE SAYING SAME THING HOW IS THIS NOT ON A RECALL LIST YET OR AT LEAST BEING INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI #10724460

48,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Air Bags

AT FIRST, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND AN AIRBAG WARNING WOULD COME ON MY DASH. NOW, IT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS CONCERNS ME AS I FREQUENTLY HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY FRONT SEAT AND THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IF I GET IN A CRASH. THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND THE SAME IS…

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AT FIRST, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND AN AIRBAG WARNING WOULD COME ON MY DASH. NOW, IT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THIS CONCERNS ME AS I FREQUENTLY HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY FRONT SEAT AND THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IF I GET IN A CRASH. THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING ON THE 2007 MODEL, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET ON THE 2008 MODEL?!

NHTSA ODI #10717694

110,000 miles · Mar 5, 2015
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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 EXPERI…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10692334

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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