← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

46 reports
Clear category filter
83,500 miles · May 21, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineExterior Lighting

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 T…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10717598

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…

Read full complaint

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

120,000 miles · Feb 1, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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 …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10680346

51,224 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SEAT WOULD WORK AND NOT WORK AND HAS NOW COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. DOOR LOCKS ON FRONT WILL NOT LOCK ELECTRONICALLY. HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE FRONT DOORS AT ALL TIMES. STABILIZER TRACK STAYS OFF. USE TO COME AND NO AND NOW WILL NOT COME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659894

128,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

SINCE MID-AUG, MY EQUINOX HAS BEEN RANDOMLY/INTERMITTENTLY LOSING ENGINE POWER (AS WELL AS STEERING/BRAKING) FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THANKFULLY, WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, (NOW AT LEAST WEEKLY) IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. WHEN CHECKING SERVICE CODES, THE INDICATED PROBLEM SYSTEMS ARE "SECONDARY IGNITION CIRC…

Read full complaint

SINCE MID-AUG, MY EQUINOX HAS BEEN RANDOMLY/INTERMITTENTLY LOSING ENGINE POWER (AS WELL AS STEERING/BRAKING) FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THANKFULLY, WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, (NOW AT LEAST WEEKLY) IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. WHEN CHECKING SERVICE CODES, THE INDICATED PROBLEM SYSTEMS ARE "SECONDARY IGNITION CIRCUIT" AND "STABILITRAK." I DO NOT FEEL THE CAR IS SAFELY DRIVABLE, BUT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER CANNOT OFFER ME EVEN A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT EARLIER THAN DEC 1. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659384

120,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STABILITRACK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10640105

85,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10632064

81,777 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

1.)THIS MORNING, I STARTED MY CAR, IT STALLED OUT, LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO START. I SWEPT THAT UNDER THE RUG. AFTER WORK, I STARTED MY CAR AND IT STALLED AGAIN WHILE TRYING TO START. AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD GOTTEN UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED/RECONNECTED MY BATTERY. I HAD TO RESET MY CLOCK AND RADIO STAT…

Read full complaint

1.)THIS MORNING, I STARTED MY CAR, IT STALLED OUT, LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO START. I SWEPT THAT UNDER THE RUG. AFTER WORK, I STARTED MY CAR AND IT STALLED AGAIN WHILE TRYING TO START. AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD GOTTEN UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED/RECONNECTED MY BATTERY. I HAD TO RESET MY CLOCK AND RADIO STATIONS.2.)ALSO, WHILE I AM COMPLAINING, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BRAKE LIGHTS AT LEAST 4 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY JUST SAID "YOU DO KNOW YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE BULBS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE"---YES! BUT NOT SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE YEAR. 3.)THERE IS ALSO MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS--EVEN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP "FIXING IT". 4.) MY KEY FOB DOES NOT LOCK THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. (SOMETIMES THEY LOCK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. I HAVE READ SOME OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS, BUT YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628544

124,500 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WIFE DRIVING CAR AT SLOW SPEED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (APPROX. 20 MPH); STEERING BECAME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE, SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION, AND STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ON. CLEARED UP AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES. WAS DRIVEN LATER TODAY WITH NO PROBLEM RECURRENCE. HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC OR AT HIGHER SPEED, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY …

Read full complaint

WIFE DRIVING CAR AT SLOW SPEED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (APPROX. 20 MPH); STEERING BECAME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE, SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION, AND STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ON. CLEARED UP AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES. WAS DRIVEN LATER TODAY WITH NO PROBLEM RECURRENCE. HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC OR AT HIGHER SPEED, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628255

75,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH 2008 EQUINOX, PURCHASED IN JULY 2008.. KEY WILL GET STUCK IN IGNITION AND TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO REMOVE IT. CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY AND PASSENGER AIRBAG SHUTS OFF. *TR CHECK STABILITRAC LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY AND SHUTS OFF WHEN ON INTERSTATE AND/OR WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET DRIVERS SIDE…

Read full complaint

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH 2008 EQUINOX, PURCHASED IN JULY 2008.. KEY WILL GET STUCK IN IGNITION AND TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO REMOVE IT. CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY AND PASSENGER AIRBAG SHUTS OFF. *TR CHECK STABILITRAC LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY AND SHUTS OFF WHEN ON INTERSTATE AND/OR WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS INOPERABLE ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME, BUT WILL WORK,SOMETIMES, WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUTTING OR WHEN YOU HIT THE DOOR PANEL. VEHICLE ALARM WILL SET BUT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NEVER LOCKS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR RARELY LOCK, SAME FOR WHEN CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE. WILL NOT LOCK BY USING THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON LOCATED INSIDE VEHICLE BOTH BACK DOOR LOCKS GET HUNG AND MUST BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621475

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems