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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
68,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T GO ON OR GOES ON AND THEN TURNS OFF WHILE IN CAR DRIVING OR STATIONARY. MOVING AROUND ON SEAT MAKES IT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE FROM THE 2007 RECALL, BUT NOT EXTENDED TO 2008. HAVEN'T TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP YET, BUT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WAS SOLD TO ME LA…

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PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T GO ON OR GOES ON AND THEN TURNS OFF WHILE IN CAR DRIVING OR STATIONARY. MOVING AROUND ON SEAT MAKES IT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE FROM THE 2007 RECALL, BUT NOT EXTENDED TO 2008. HAVEN'T TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP YET, BUT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WAS SOLD TO ME LAST MONTH FROM A USED CAR DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10817263

54,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10816461

57,801 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Electrical System

DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN INSIDE THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET OUT. WINDOW MUST BE ROLLED DOWN IN ORDER TO REACH OUTSIDE AND OPEN THE DOOR . VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND I WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE HANDLE AND SOMETHING CAME LOOSE …

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DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN INSIDE THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET OUT. WINDOW MUST BE ROLLED DOWN IN ORDER TO REACH OUTSIDE AND OPEN THE DOOR . VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND I WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE HANDLE AND SOMETHING CAME LOOSE AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK.

NHTSA ODI #10809436

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

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…

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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

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

130,000 miles · Oct 10, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TWICE NOW, MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I STOP PUSHING THE GAS. BOTH TIMES, I HAVE BEEN MERGING WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, SO I AM PUSHING THE GAS PRETTY HARD TO GET UP TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. THIS LAST TIME, I SPENT ABOUT FIVE SECONDS TRYING TO BRAKE, FEELING THE ACCELERATOR STILL PUSHING THE CAR FORWARD.…

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TWICE NOW, MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I STOP PUSHING THE GAS. BOTH TIMES, I HAVE BEEN MERGING WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, SO I AM PUSHING THE GAS PRETTY HARD TO GET UP TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. THIS LAST TIME, I SPENT ABOUT FIVE SECONDS TRYING TO BRAKE, FEELING THE ACCELERATOR STILL PUSHING THE CAR FORWARD. I DIDN'T WANT TO DESTROY MY BRAKES, ESPECIALLY SINCE BY THEN I WAS GOING DOWNHILL, SO I TRIED A QUICK TAP OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THAT LET IT UP TO WHERE I HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE WAY HOLDING THE PEDAL DOWN, (NOT THE FLOOR MAT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT) SO MY ASSUMPTION IS THERE IS SOME SORT OF SPEED CONTROLLING SOFTWARE FOR THE CAR THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI #10781236

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…

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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

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2015
Steering

MY CAR WOULDN'T START. SO I BROUGHT A NEW BATTERY THEN MY CAR STARTED AND THEN I NOTICED STABILITRAK LIGHT WAS ON. I TRY TO DRIVE CAR BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10779909

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