← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Power Train complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
110,000 miles · Jul 13, 2020
EnginePower Train

WHEN YOU DRIVE IT THE TRANSMISSON WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. IT MAKES IT HARD TO GET ANYWHERE. IT ONLY HAW 110,000 MILES ON IT AND JUST HAD THE TIMING CHAIN DONE ON IT AND THE DAY WENT TO GET IT WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND WON'T COME OUT OF 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11339154

110,000 miles · Jun 4, 2020
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

THE TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDES WENT BAD AT ONLY 110K MILES. AND IF IT WAS RECALLED LIKE THE 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE WAS THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO FIX IT. IT HAS THE SAME MOTOR. IT IS THE 3.6L MOTOR. BECAUSE IT IS THE SPORTS MODEL. IT WAS THROWING P0008 P0018 P0017 AND TWO TRANSMISSION CODES SO I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD NOW. I…

Read full complaint

THE TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDES WENT BAD AT ONLY 110K MILES. AND IF IT WAS RECALLED LIKE THE 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE WAS THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO FIX IT. IT HAS THE SAME MOTOR. IT IS THE 3.6L MOTOR. BECAUSE IT IS THE SPORTS MODEL. IT WAS THROWING P0008 P0018 P0017 AND TWO TRANSMISSION CODES SO I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD NOW. IT IS THROWING CODES P0752 AND P0700. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327300

200,000 miles · Oct 29, 2018
Air BagsPower TrainUnknown Or Other

MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11143684

129,700 miles · Jan 24, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THE CONTACT USED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL.THE STABILIZATION SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (AUTO PLAZA CHEVROLET MARBLE HILL, 100 CONRAD ST, MARBLE HILL, …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THE CONTACT USED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL.THE STABILIZATION SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (AUTO PLAZA CHEVROLET MARBLE HILL, 100 CONRAD ST, MARBLE HILL, MO 63764) STATED THAT THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,700.

NHTSA ODI #11064627

162,900 miles · Feb 2, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

WHEN I HIT 20-30 MPH THE SUV HAS A HESITATION AND THEN I HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THEN SERVICE STABILITREK AND THER IS ANOTHER I FORGET WHAT IT SAYS AND WHEN I TURN SOMETIMES THE WHOLE DASH LIGHTS UP

NHTSA ODI #10949161

103,011 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

MY 2009 CHEVY EQUINOX IS SLOWING DOWN WHEN I REACH 4 RPMS AND WILL NOT SPEED BACK UP UNTIL I GO BACK DOWN TO 3 RPMS NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW I AN GOING ONCE IT REACHES 4 RPMS IT SLOWS DOWN. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF SOMETHING IS STILL RUNNING UNDER THE HOLD BECAUSE I CAN HEAR IT. IT WAS 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT FINALLY SHUT OFF COMP…

Read full complaint

MY 2009 CHEVY EQUINOX IS SLOWING DOWN WHEN I REACH 4 RPMS AND WILL NOT SPEED BACK UP UNTIL I GO BACK DOWN TO 3 RPMS NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW I AN GOING ONCE IT REACHES 4 RPMS IT SLOWS DOWN. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF SOMETHING IS STILL RUNNING UNDER THE HOLD BECAUSE I CAN HEAR IT. IT WAS 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT FINALLY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI #10787910

71,627 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2014, I WAS HEADED HOME FROM WORK TRAVELING 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE MESSAGE STABILITRAKING OFF APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS A CLEAR AND SUNNY DAY. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN AS I WAS IN ROUTE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DASHBO…

Read full complaint

ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2014, I WAS HEADED HOME FROM WORK TRAVELING 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE MESSAGE STABILITRAKING OFF APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS A CLEAR AND SUNNY DAY. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN AS I WAS IN ROUTE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DASHBOARD MESSAGE WAS FLASHING STABILITRAKING OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAKING, ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED THEN THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND WOULD NOT TURNOVER. IT WOULD NOT MAKE A SOUND. I CALLED ONSTAR SERVICE FOR TOWING. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AT MY REQUEST AND THE FOLLOWING CODES WERE GIVEN: P0502, P0513, P0606 AND P0700. AFTER 45 MINUTES OF WAITING BESIDE THE ROAD, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT CRANKED. HOWEVER, STILL FLASHING THE SAME MESSAGES ABOVE; IT WOULD NOT PICK SPEED. THE ENGINE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. I HAD TO HAVE A TOWING COMPANY TOW IT FROM MY YARD TO THE DEALER. I PICKED IT UP TWO DAYS LATER FROM THE DEALER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, CLEARED ALL CODES AND I PICKED UP MY VEHICLES AND WENT HOME WITH NO ANSWERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648516

23,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Power Train

ON GOING ISSUE WITH TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAK SYSTEM. INTERMITTENTLY A WARNING WILL COME UP ON DASH STATING . . . TRACTION CONTROL OFF - SERVICE STABILITRAK. MOST TIMES, ONCE YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN START IT BACK UP THE WARNING WILL GO AWAY. RECENTLY THE WARNING HAS REMAINED ON DASH AND NEITHER THE TRACTION CONTRO…

Read full complaint

ON GOING ISSUE WITH TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAK SYSTEM. INTERMITTENTLY A WARNING WILL COME UP ON DASH STATING . . . TRACTION CONTROL OFF - SERVICE STABILITRAK. MOST TIMES, ONCE YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN START IT BACK UP THE WARNING WILL GO AWAY. RECENTLY THE WARNING HAS REMAINED ON DASH AND NEITHER THE TRACTION CONTROL OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE FUNCTIONED. TWO MONTHS AGO THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED. OVER A YEAR AGO THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED. NOW THE STUPID THING IS ACTING UP AGAIN AND HEADED TO THE SHOP FOR ABOUT THE TWELFTH TIME FOR THIS ONE ISSUE. THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE UNSAFEST AND SCARY VEHICLES I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL WILL STOP WORKING OR IF YOUR GOING TO LOOSE ENGINE POWER AT A CRITICAL TIME WHEN DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632066

105,000 miles · Jan 17, 2014
EnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN I SLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE STABILITRAK NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IT WAS "OFF TRAK" AND TO SERVICE "TRACTION CONTROL" AND THAT "ENGINE SPEED IS REDUCED". I COULD DRIVE NO FASTER THAN 5 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE SPEED WAS…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN I SLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE STABILITRAK NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IT WAS "OFF TRAK" AND TO SERVICE "TRACTION CONTROL" AND THAT "ENGINE SPEED IS REDUCED". I COULD DRIVE NO FASTER THAN 5 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE SPEED WAS NORMAL AGAIN BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT AND SOLID. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW CONCERNING THE FIRST INCIDENT ABOUT 18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BAD THROTTLE BODY. THE PART WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED BUT I WAS NOT GIVEN THE BAD PART SO I AM NOT SURE THAT THE WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE SINCE THERE WAS A DEBATE ABOUT WHO WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE. NOW, THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560377

66,225 miles · Jul 28, 2012
Power Train

I BOUGHT THIS EQUINOX IN TEXAS USED WITH 24,071 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT BACK TO OHIO WITH NO PROBLEMS WHAT'S SO EVER. THEN WITH 43,396 MILES, THE IGNITION WIRES STARTED TO FAIL. IRONICALLY I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR HAD I HAD IT DONE AT A SHOP.BEING A GM AND UPS MECHANIC,NO ONE TOUCHES MY VEHI…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT THIS EQUINOX IN TEXAS USED WITH 24,071 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT BACK TO OHIO WITH NO PROBLEMS WHAT'S SO EVER. THEN WITH 43,396 MILES, THE IGNITION WIRES STARTED TO FAIL. IRONICALLY I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR HAD I HAD IT DONE AT A SHOP.BEING A GM AND UPS MECHANIC,NO ONE TOUCHES MY VEHICLES OR FAMILY'S BUT ME! NAPA HAD THE WIRES[$22.00} AN I INSTALLED THEM IN LESS THAN 20MINS.AROUND 52000 MILES I NOTICED A WHEEL BEARING SOUND OR FLAT SPOT IN TIRE SOUND FROM LEFT SIDE. I'M THING GM SHOULD HAVE SOLVED THIS ISSUE BY NOW,SO I WAS THINKING NEW TIRES AFTER VACATION. WHEN WE CAME HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH THE SOUND INTENSIFIED TO WHERE I JACKED UP THE FRONT ON TO JACK STANDS,SET PARK BRAKE, STARTED ENGINE AN PUT IT IN GEAR. I PUT MY STETHOSCOPE ON FRONT BEARING AN FOUND THE LEFT FRT MAKING ALL KINDS OF NOISE BY THIS TIME.I CALLED AROUND AN FOUND A TIMKEN REPLACEMENT AT AUTOZONE FOR 259.99-3YR.WARRANTY AN AT SAME TIME REPLACED THE FRT PADS AN RESURFACED THE ROTORS. SO WITH ALL SAID, LEFT FRT BEARING AN PADS $302.79. THE BEARING REPLACEMENT MAKES THE CAR RIDE AN HANDLE LIKE NEW AGAIN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR 80+ MILES A DAY TO AN FROM WORK,SO IT HAS TO BE SAFE AN RELIABLE AN GRAND KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON WEEKENDS.FUNNY THAT I GOT NO VIBRATING FEELING IN STEERING WHEEL LIKE ON THE OLDER GM'S THAT I HAD WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468073

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