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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

What owners actually said

94 reports
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

75,000 miles · Mar 21, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

ON THURSDAY 3/19/2015 AS WAS DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED THAT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT THE STABILITRAKING OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLLED AND SERVICE STABILITRAKING AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ON MY WAY HOME THERE WAS NO MESSAGE ON THE DASH, BUT THE NEXT DAY 3/20/2015 ON MY WAY TO WORK THAT SAME MESSAGE CAME ON AND IT STAYED ON, S…

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ON THURSDAY 3/19/2015 AS WAS DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED THAT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT THE STABILITRAKING OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLLED AND SERVICE STABILITRAKING AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. ON MY WAY HOME THERE WAS NO MESSAGE ON THE DASH, BUT THE NEXT DAY 3/20/2015 ON MY WAY TO WORK THAT SAME MESSAGE CAME ON AND IT STAYED ON, SO I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY TRIED TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEY COULD NOT FIN OUT WHAT IT WAS AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700883

80,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
Electrical System

OUR VEHICLE'S RADIO BEGAN TO NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED, AND THE KEYS WERE OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS CONVINCED THAT IT WAS EITHER THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE RADIO. HAVING A MAJOR GUARD PROTECTION PLAN, THE RADIO WASN'T TO BE COVERED AND THE DOOR SWITCH WOULD. I CHOSE NOT …

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OUR VEHICLE'S RADIO BEGAN TO NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED, AND THE KEYS WERE OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS CONVINCED THAT IT WAS EITHER THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE RADIO. HAVING A MAJOR GUARD PROTECTION PLAN, THE RADIO WASN'T TO BE COVERED AND THE DOOR SWITCH WOULD. I CHOSE NOT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED THINKING THAT WE'D CONTINUE TO SHUT THE RADIO OFF. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND I REPLACED THE MOTOR (TO NO AVAIL) AND DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE DID I FIND THAT SIMILAR OWNERS HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I EVENTUALLY RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL PATHWAY FROM THE CAR BODY TO THE DOOR CAUSED THE WIRES INSIDE TO STRETCH, CRACK, AND BREAK. THE 2 WIRES THAT WERE BROKEN WERE THE DOOR SENSOR WIRE AND THE POWER WINDOW WIRE. TAKING IT BACK TO PARKWAY CHEVROLET TO HAVE THEM RESEARCH THIS AND DIAGNOSE, THEIR REMEDY WAS TO HAVE THE WIRES RE-SAULDER. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE WIRING HARNESS BE REPLACED. LOOKS AND SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694907

98,300 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Air Bags

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON - TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662352

85,600 miles · Dec 4, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility

WINDOW DRIVER SIDE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, PRESSED SWITCH TO LOWER WINDOW HEARD A POP AND DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT WINDOW DID NOT GO DOWN WINDOW STILL WILL NOT GO DOWN AND THE DRIVER SIDE POWER MIRROR WILL NOT FUNCTION AS WELL DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH IN 5 WEEKS WHEN YOU PRESS THE WINDOW DOWN…

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WINDOW DRIVER SIDE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, PRESSED SWITCH TO LOWER WINDOW HEARD A POP AND DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT WINDOW DID NOT GO DOWN WINDOW STILL WILL NOT GO DOWN AND THE DRIVER SIDE POWER MIRROR WILL NOT FUNCTION AS WELL DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH IN 5 WEEKS WHEN YOU PRESS THE WINDOW DOWN BUTTON OR OPEN THE DOOR THE HEAD LIGHT WILL BLOW AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL YOU HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO PUT IT UP IF IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662144

72,545 miles · Oct 17, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

ON OCTOBER 16, 2014, I WENT TO THE DEALER TO PICKUP MY VEHICLE STILL WITH NO ANSWERS TO WHY THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE IS READING: STABILITRAKING OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAKING AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTING FLASHING RA…

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ON OCTOBER 16, 2014, I WENT TO THE DEALER TO PICKUP MY VEHICLE STILL WITH NO ANSWERS TO WHY THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE IS READING: STABILITRAKING OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAKING AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTING FLASHING RAPIDLY, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER, IT WAS BACKFIRING AND SMELLED OF A FOUL ODOR. THE SALES MANAGER CAME OUTSIDE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOOSE ENGINE POWER. BY THE TIME HE CAME BACK INSIDE TO SPEAK WITH US, HE STATED THAT HE COULD NO LONGER TURN THE VEHICLE ON. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD NOT TURNOVER AT ALL. I AM NOW AWAITING THE FINDINGS AND GRATEFUL TO GOD THAT PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE DEALER'S LOT AND NOT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648520

72,545 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014, I WAS LEAVING WORK HEADED TO MY PHYSICAL THERAPY APPOINTMENT. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. WHILE IN ROUTE, A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD: STABILITRAKING OFF. I PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT AND GET INTO THE LEFT TURNING LANE HEADING TO MY APPOINTMENT. ONCE, I GOT INTO THE TURNING LANE THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE W…

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ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014, I WAS LEAVING WORK HEADED TO MY PHYSICAL THERAPY APPOINTMENT. IT WAS A RAINY DAY. WHILE IN ROUTE, A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD: STABILITRAKING OFF. I PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT AND GET INTO THE LEFT TURNING LANE HEADING TO MY APPOINTMENT. ONCE, I GOT INTO THE TURNING LANE THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE WAS FLASHING: STABILITRAKING OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRAKING AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. I ATTEMPTED START THE VEHICLE AND IT MOVED A FEW INCHES THEN SHUTDOWN. ABOUT A FEW MINUTES LATER, I ATTEMPTED A SECOND TIME TO TURN IT ON. ONCE AGAIN, IT MOVED ABOUT A FEW MORE INCHES AND SHUTDOWN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED A THIRD TIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I CALLED ONSTAR FOR ASSISTANCE, THEY CONTACTED 911 BECAUSE I WAS A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. THEY ALSO CONTACTED CHEVROLET ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR TOWING. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND PUSHED MY VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY UNTIL THE TOWING COMPANY ARRIVED. THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. ABOUT 25 TO 30 MINUTES LATER MY HUSBAND ARRIVED AND STARTED THE VEHICLE WITH NOT PROBLEM, BUT THE SAME MESSAGES APPEARED. ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2014, DEALER CONTACTED ME AND STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICKUP AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NOR READ THE GM CODES. THEY CLEARED ALL CODES AND RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648519

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…

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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

56,000 miles · Oct 5, 2014
Air Bags

SERVICE AIR BAG APPEARS EVERYTIME I START CAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT IS GOING TO COST OVER $700 TO GET IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THE PART WAS OVER $600. ALSO I HAD TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS ILLEGAL TO LEAVE IT AS IT WAS. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW, IS THERE ANY RECALL NOTICE THAT COULD HELP ME? MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH RETIRED…

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SERVICE AIR BAG APPEARS EVERYTIME I START CAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT IS GOING TO COST OVER $700 TO GET IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THE PART WAS OVER $600. ALSO I HAD TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS ILLEGAL TO LEAVE IT AS IT WAS. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW, IS THERE ANY RECALL NOTICE THAT COULD HELP ME? MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME. MY DEALERSHIP IS BACHMAN BERNARD CHEVROLET IN GREENEVILLE, TN THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641500

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10638852

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