← 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

Engine complaints

27 reports
Clear category filter
85,000 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT A FACTOR WHEN DETERMINING THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10897083

84,000 miles · Jul 23, 2016
Engine

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 SCHED…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10887917

73,000 miles · Jun 28, 2016
Engine

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 P…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10877092

90,000 miles · Jun 2, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

I HAVE A LIGHT ON SAYING SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY AIRBAG .ALSO A TAPPING IN MY ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #10872224

59,050 miles · Mar 2, 2016
EngineFuel System, Diesel

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A FUEL ODOR FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A FUEL ODOR FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE UNDER A COVERAGE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,050.

NHTSA ODI #10839440

78,800 miles · Feb 2, 2016
Engine

VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH THE DTC P0008. THIS CODE IS IN REFERENCE TO THE TIMING CHAINS NEEDING REPLACED. THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ENGINE AND THE EXACT SAME CODE.

NHTSA ODI #10823757

73,000 miles · Jan 14, 2016
Engine

I HAVE ONLY 73000 MILES ON 2008 EQUINOX AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IN INDICATING THE TIMING CHAIN HAD TO BE CHANGED. THERE IS A SPECIAL COVERAGE BULLETIN #11340 THAT COVERS THE 3.6L V6 ENGINES IN AUTOS BETWEEN 2007-2009 BUT GM IS TELLING ME THAT MY 3.6L LY7 ENGINE IS NOT COVERED I HAVE THE SPORT MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10820350

66,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10785914

92,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015
EngineSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "STABILIZER BAR OFF TRACK" AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY A DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10781095

91,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS MISALIGNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS MISALIGNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10781014

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