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2009 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox are lower than the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

77 reports with mileage · 17 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

26 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System

WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER (ADULT OR CHILD) SIT ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SEAT) THE AIR BAG LIGHT SOMETIMES ILLUMINATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS "ON" AND SOMETIMES IT'S "OFF" WHILE THE PASSENGER IS SITTING. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT IF MY PASSENGER IS SITTING STILL, THE LIGHT WILL STAY "ON" BUT AS SOON AS THE PASSENGER MOVES, THE LIGHT WILL C…

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WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER (ADULT OR CHILD) SIT ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SEAT) THE AIR BAG LIGHT SOMETIMES ILLUMINATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS "ON" AND SOMETIMES IT'S "OFF" WHILE THE PASSENGER IS SITTING. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT IF MY PASSENGER IS SITTING STILL, THE LIGHT WILL STAY "ON" BUT AS SOON AS THE PASSENGER MOVES, THE LIGHT WILL CHANGE TO "OFF". AT FIRST IT SEEMED LIKE A "TEMPERAMENTAL" ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT JUST STAYED ON THE "ON" POSITION WHILE THE PASSENGER SAT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE GM DEALER WHEN THE ISSUE BECAME MORE OFTEN AND THEY DIAGNOSED AN ISSUE RECOMMENDED TO HAVE THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE REPLACED. ON RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT ON EARLIER CHEVY MODEL CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10944339

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2016
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN ITSELF OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING OR IF VEHICLE IS AT A STANDSTILL. EVEN IF NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR TURNS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933671

45,000 miles · Oct 16, 2016
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS INTERMITTINGLY ON AND OFF. IN MOTION AND SITTING STILL. GET "SERVICE AIR BAG" ON DIC, AND PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/ OFF INDICATOR SHOWS OFF WITH PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. NO PATTERN - JUST SPORADIC. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT NOT WORKING IN A CRASH, AS WELL AS GOING OFF ON ITS OWN. HAPPENS STATIONARY AND IN…

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PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS INTERMITTINGLY ON AND OFF. IN MOTION AND SITTING STILL. GET "SERVICE AIR BAG" ON DIC, AND PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/ OFF INDICATOR SHOWS OFF WITH PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. NO PATTERN - JUST SPORADIC. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT NOT WORKING IN A CRASH, AS WELL AS GOING OFF ON ITS OWN. HAPPENS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #10916316

125,000 miles · Jul 26, 2016
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING DISPLAYED IN INFORMATION CENTER. THIS NOW OCCURS EVEN WHILE STATIONARY. CAN NO LONGER HAVE A PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10888781

142,000 miles · Jul 8, 2016
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE PASSENGER "ON / OFF" LIGHT STAYS ON THE OFF POSITION WHEN A PASSENGER IS SETTING IN THE SEAT

NHTSA ODI #10883680

60,000 miles · Apr 21, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10860697

55,000 miles · Jun 18, 2015
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR IS FAULTY AND DOESN'T TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN THERE IS AN OCCUPANT. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF FMVSS 208.

NHTSA ODI #10725993

90,050 miles · Jun 6, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON - TOOK TO MECHANIC YESTERDAY AND THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING "B0074 & B0081 SET. DIAGNOSED AND FOUND PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE INTERNALLY FAILED". THEY TOLD ME IT'S A 800+ REPAIR. CALLED DEALER PRIORITY CHEVEROLET IN CHESAPEAKE VIRGINIA AND THEY SAID TO CHECK CONNECTIONS BELOW SEAT AS THEY SOMETIMES COME LO…

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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON - TOOK TO MECHANIC YESTERDAY AND THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING "B0074 & B0081 SET. DIAGNOSED AND FOUND PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE INTERNALLY FAILED". THEY TOLD ME IT'S A 800+ REPAIR. CALLED DEALER PRIORITY CHEVEROLET IN CHESAPEAKE VIRGINIA AND THEY SAID TO CHECK CONNECTIONS BELOW SEAT AS THEY SOMETIMES COME LOOSE. AS AN ENGINEER I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH A VITAL LIFE SAVING DEVICE WOULD HAVE SUCH AN EASY SINGLE POINT FAILURE TO BE SO EASY TO COME LOOSE AS BY SIMPLE MOVING THE SEAT. WHEN YOU OBSERVE THE SWITCH MODULE BELOW THE SEAT IT IS JUST THERE DANGLING! THIS NEEDS TO GET ROLLED UP AS A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10723744

85,500 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ERROR CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ONSTAR SYSTEM. ONSTAR RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT THAT WAS LINKED TO THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ERROR CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ONSTAR SYSTEM. ONSTAR RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT THAT WAS LINKED TO THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,500.

NHTSA ODI #10722638

68,490 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE LIGHT ON MY DASH TOLD ME TO CHECK AIR BAGS. IT WOULD NUTMEG OFF. I TOOK IT TO RYDELL CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE "SWITCH" WAS NOT WORKING AND MY AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED AND WOULD COST ME OVER $900.00. IN WAS FURIOUS AND SPOKE TO CHEVROLET CUS…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE LIGHT ON MY DASH TOLD ME TO CHECK AIR BAGS. IT WOULD NUTMEG OFF. I TOOK IT TO RYDELL CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE "SWITCH" WAS NOT WORKING AND MY AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED AND WOULD COST ME OVER $900.00. IN WAS FURIOUS AND SPOKE TO CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE . THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD TALK TO THE DEALER. THEY GAVE ME $70.00 OFF. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN. I STILL THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE SUV. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705249

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