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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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59,400 miles · Oct 21, 2013
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR, LOCATED WITHIN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION, HAS FAILED. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHOW THE AIRBAG TO BE OFF, NOW CONSTANT. ERROR LIGHT ON DASH INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH AVERAGE MILEAGE. THE PASSENGER SEAT R…

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PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR, LOCATED WITHIN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION, HAS FAILED. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHOW THE AIRBAG TO BE OFF, NOW CONSTANT. ERROR LIGHT ON DASH INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH AVERAGE MILEAGE. THE PASSENGER SEAT RARELY OCCUPIED AND NOT SUBJECT TO ANY WEIGHT OR WEAR THAT WOULD DAMAGE THIS VITAL SENSOR. THIS APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE OR WORN OUT PREMATURELY. THERE IS NO BYPASS TO ENSURE AIRBAG INFLATION IN A FRONTEND COLLISION WHEN THE SEAT SENSOR FAILS. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548754

43,000 miles · Sep 30, 2013
Air Bags

MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS HAD THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE INTERMITTENTLY ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. NOW IT IS JUST ON. CURRENTLY HAS 47K MILES ON IT SO OUT OF WARRANTY. THE SAID THE SENSOR UNIT UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH MEAN REPLACING THAT WHOLE SEAT CUSHION OVER $800, THE PART IS OVER $500. WITH…

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MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS HAD THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE INTERMITTENTLY ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. NOW IT IS JUST ON. CURRENTLY HAS 47K MILES ON IT SO OUT OF WARRANTY. THE SAID THE SENSOR UNIT UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH MEAN REPLACING THAT WHOLE SEAT CUSHION OVER $800, THE PART IS OVER $500. WITH THIS AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT ACTIVATE ON IMPACT SO THIS IS A SAFETY RISK. WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE PART OF A RECALL SINCE I READ THE 2007'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THAT SEAT, THIS IS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546129

55,186 miles · Sep 27, 2013
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,000K. WILL NOT REGISTER PASSENGERS OVER 110LBS. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE SENSOR ($903.24). CHEVROLET WOULD NOT REPLACE CITING "OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY." THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10545676

38,010 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Air BagsExterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN THERE'S A CHILD OR PERSON UNDER 110 LBS IN THE SEAT. HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533151

48,450 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Air Bags

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND CONSTANT, PREVENTING PASSENGER AIR BAG FUNCTION. RETRIEVED CODES ARE: B0081, B1370 AND B0074. NEEDS PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE PART # 19207140 @ $533.33 PLUS LABOR AND TAX. I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED INFREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532281

30,000 miles · May 7, 2013
Air BagsExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

MY 2008 EQUINOX HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF WATER WHICH MAKE THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT VERY BAD. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL ONLY OPEN THE LOCKS PART OF THE WAY AND YOU CAN'T GET IN THE CAR, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED MORE WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THE VEHICLE. IT ACTS LIKE THE LOCKS WON'T WORK IN THE HEAT. I ALSO HAVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LI…

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MY 2008 EQUINOX HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF WATER WHICH MAKE THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT VERY BAD. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL ONLY OPEN THE LOCKS PART OF THE WAY AND YOU CAN'T GET IN THE CAR, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED MORE WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THE VEHICLE. IT ACTS LIKE THE LOCKS WON'T WORK IN THE HEAT. I ALSO HAVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON ANYTIME SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS SUCH A COMFORTING FEELING, AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE ISSUES ARE NOT RECALLED BY THE AUTO MAKER. CAN ANYONE HELP US? THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT ARE NOT SAFE......... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511029

31,000 miles · Apr 20, 2013
Air Bags

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH LIGHTS UP INTERMITTENTLY.... TOOK TO MECHANIC...STATES PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE DEFECTIVE....MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS NOTED ON LINE FOR SAME ISSUE...RECALL OF 2007?? WHY NOT MAKE THEM RECALL 2008, AS SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE OFF WHEN LIGHT ON...COULD BE SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGER....DEALER SAYS $800 …

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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH LIGHTS UP INTERMITTENTLY.... TOOK TO MECHANIC...STATES PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE DEFECTIVE....MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS NOTED ON LINE FOR SAME ISSUE...RECALL OF 2007?? WHY NOT MAKE THEM RECALL 2008, AS SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE OFF WHEN LIGHT ON...COULD BE SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGER....DEALER SAYS $800 TO REPLACE.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508902

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10504405

60,000 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN 2008 AND CURRENTLY WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1- DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW- WILL ONLY ROLL DOWN AND/OR UP INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL ROLL BACK UP IF THE INTERIOR PANEL IS HIT SEVERAL TIMES. 2- DOOR LOCKS/ALARM- THE ALARM WILL SET BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH …

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I PURCHASED MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN 2008 AND CURRENTLY WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1- DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW- WILL ONLY ROLL DOWN AND/OR UP INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL ROLL BACK UP IF THE INTERIOR PANEL IS HIT SEVERAL TIMES. 2- DOOR LOCKS/ALARM- THE ALARM WILL SET BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. WHEN USING THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE CAR, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL CONSISTENTLY LOCK. THE BACK DOOR LOCKS WILL GET STUCK HALF WAY AND WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK EXCEPT MANUALLY. 3- STABILITRAC- THE STABILITRAC WILL DISABLE RANDOMLY. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS OR WET CONDITIONS, ON WARM AND COLD DAYS AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS BEING STARTED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 4- AIRBAGS- THE "SERVICE AIRBAGS" LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. IT WILL COME ON ONE DAY AND BE ON FOR A WEEK AND THEN GO OFF FOR A MONTH OR TWO AND THEN COME BACK ON AGAIN. 5- DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER HOLDS A LOT OF MOISTURE 6- CHECK TIRE PRESSURE COMES ON QUITE A BIT FOR NO REASON. ALL TIRE PRESSURES ARE DOUBLE CHECKED AND ARE AT THE PERFECT PRESSURE RECOMMENDED BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503454

39,990 miles · Mar 8, 2013
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNDER 110 LBS. MY GRAND SON IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND I'M AFRAID TO LET HIM SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSE THE AIRBAG DOESN'T WORK WHEN HIM OR ANY LIGHT WEIGHT PERSON SITS IN THE SEAT.I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY CAN'T OR WON'T…

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THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNDER 110 LBS. MY GRAND SON IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND I'M AFRAID TO LET HIM SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSE THE AIRBAG DOESN'T WORK WHEN HIM OR ANY LIGHT WEIGHT PERSON SITS IN THE SEAT.I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY CAN'T OR WON'T SPEND THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE SEAT SENSOR IN THE SEAT WHICH THEY SAY IS THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502057

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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