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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

What owners actually said

370 reports
100,000 miles · Aug 11, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

MY 74 YEAR OLD BROTHER BOUGHT HIS 2008 EQUINOX NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS THE BIGGEST HEAP OF CRAP CHEVROLET INVENTED!!!! 5. POWER STEERING WENT OUT COSTING $2500.00 TO FIX JAN 2015 6. TRANSMISSION STARTS JERKING WHEN HITTING 45 MPH DEALERSHIP INFORMED US OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WE TOOK IN FOR A RECA…

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MY 74 YEAR OLD BROTHER BOUGHT HIS 2008 EQUINOX NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS THE BIGGEST HEAP OF CRAP CHEVROLET INVENTED!!!! 5. POWER STEERING WENT OUT COSTING $2500.00 TO FIX JAN 2015 6. TRANSMISSION STARTS JERKING WHEN HITTING 45 MPH DEALERSHIP INFORMED US OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WE TOOK IN FOR A RECALL ON A DEFECTIVE GAS MODUAL THAT THEY NEVER REPLACED SAYING THE PART WAS OK. THEY DROVE IT AND SAID THAT ITS THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED $500.00 TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. STARTED FEB 2016 7. THE STABLE LINK LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ON SAYING TO SERVICE THE STABLE TRAC THEN GOES OFF STARTED MARCH OF 2016 8. THE TOP OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE BACK HATCH IS GONE WHERE IT FELL OFF AT SOME POINT HAS MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG. TURN SIGNAL GEARS TO TURN OFF SIGNALS FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIGNAL DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER FLUID MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. DRIVERS DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTOR BROKE FROM WINDOW.DRIVERS DOOR HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THIS VEHICLE IS A CLEAN AND IN EXCELLENT SHAPE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS OWNED BY AN ELDERLY MAN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED HAS LESS THAT 120,000 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ODI #10894969

102,000 miles · Aug 1, 2016
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 102,000 MILES. WON'T GO OFF TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD NEED A NEW PPS MODULE. IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SO DIDN'T GET IT FIX WOULD HAVE COST $900. SEEN ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL WITH SAME PROBLEM. AND THAT 2007 WERE RECALLED BUT NOT 2008. AND CONS…

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AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 102,000 MILES. WON'T GO OFF TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD NEED A NEW PPS MODULE. IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SO DIDN'T GET IT FIX WOULD HAVE COST $900. SEEN ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL WITH SAME PROBLEM. AND THAT 2007 WERE RECALLED BUT NOT 2008. AND CONSIDERING THE RECALL WAS MADE IN 2008 DON'T YOU THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED 2008 MODELS AS WELL?? HOPING THEY WILL STILL ISSUE A RECALL SOON SO WE CAN GET IT FIXED!!! TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A PROIRITY AND FIXED!!!

NHTSA ODI #10892200

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2016
Air Bags

I HAD TO HAVE MY SENORS REPLACED IN MINE AND WONDER WHY MINE WAS NEVER RECALLED. COST ME $1,000. I SEE HERE THE SAME ISSUED AND IT HAS A RECALL. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 05, 2016 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 289,254 ALL PRODUCTS AS…

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I HAD TO HAVE MY SENORS REPLACED IN MINE AND WONDER WHY MINE WAS NEVER RECALLED. COST ME $1,000. I SEE HERE THE SAME ISSUED AND IT HAS A RECALL. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JUL 05, 2016 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V507000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 289,254 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL CLOSE VEHICLE MAKEMODELMODEL YEAR(S) CHEVROLETIMPALA2009-2010

NHTSA ODI #10888080

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…

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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

20 miles · Jul 16, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

LEAKING GAS FROM THE TANK UNDER REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #10885280

65,000 miles · Jul 7, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10883399

109,000 miles · Jul 4, 2016
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN JULY OF 2008 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING INTO 3RD SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW WAVE PLATE. CHEVROLET HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY O…

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I PURCHASED MY EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN JULY OF 2008 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING INTO 3RD SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW WAVE PLATE. CHEVROLET HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE AND I FALL WITHIN THE DATE AND MILEAGE LIMITS, BUT GM IS CLAIMING THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10882446

130,000 miles · Jul 1, 2016
Electrical System

2008 EQUINOX - MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I CAN'T TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE ISN'T REGISTERING THAT IT'S IN PARK. IT'S SOME ISSUE WITH THE SHIFTER. THE KEY WAS STICKING FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT WOULD ALWAYS TURN OFF UNTIL NOW. NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT CHEVY HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM OR ISSU…

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2008 EQUINOX - MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I CAN'T TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE ISN'T REGISTERING THAT IT'S IN PARK. IT'S SOME ISSUE WITH THE SHIFTER. THE KEY WAS STICKING FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT WOULD ALWAYS TURN OFF UNTIL NOW. NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT CHEVY HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM OR ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10882008

90,000 miles · Jun 29, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK AND WAS UNABLE TO BE EJECTED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10881630

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…

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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

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