Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Chevrolet Equinox problems

Owners filed 370 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA between Jan 2008 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (110).

Complaints
370
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags110
  2. Electrical system65
  3. Electronic stability control (esc)46
  4. Steering44
  5. Fuel/propulsion system39
  6. Structure33
  7. Engine27
  8. Exterior lighting22
  9. Latches/locks/linkages18
  10. Power train16
  11. Visibility13
  12. Fuel system, gasoline8
  13. Vehicle speed control8
  14. Seats8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20088
20095
201014
201116
201224
201338
201470
201555
201654
201731
201817
201911
20209
20214
20223
20236
20243
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

110 reports7 crashes
“The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2022Air bagsODI 11446125

Electrical system

65 reports3 crashes
“Occasionally, when finished driving and the key is turned towards the off position it will not fully turn back in order to pull the key out. It will shut off the engine but generally stops in approx. the accy position. If you restart the engine and drive a little more it has then backed all the way off and been able to remove the key. (It has been ongoing for some time but my father has been just dealing with it.)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2023Electrical systemODI 11500308

Electronic stability control (esc)

46 reports3 crashes
“THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS AND OVERHEAT. EVEN WHEN NEW PARTS ARE PUT ON .AFTER 10 MIN OF DRIVING OLD PROBLEMS DUE EXIST. FROM BRAKE CALIPER TO BRAKE LINE TO BRAKE BOOSTER CHANGED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2020Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11338190

Steering

44 reports5 crashes
“2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SPORT MAKES A LOUD POPPING/CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. IT ALSO POPS LOUD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON STRAIGHT AND SMOOTH ROADS, THERE IS NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO FOUR DIFFERENT SHOPS AND HAD IT LOOKED AT BY EIGHT DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY GENERAL MOTORS IMMEDIATELY! I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS CAN BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2020Steering, SuspensionODI 11319341

Fuel/propulsion system

39 reports
“I am constantly having to fix my "learn remote" settings, vehicle stereo volume does not always match the level of it's output, blinker continues to get stuck on even after the steering wheel is in the position for the blinker to have ceased, door locks are sometimes stuck unlocked and sometimes stuck locked, ignition sometimes locked in ACC and will not allow for key to be removed, lug nuts have somehow become "swollen" and the dealership could not remove them in order to do a rotation, there is no protection plate under the vehicle causing easy access to vital items, the AC (for the third time since I got the car a year ago) has mysteriously stopped working, the fan motor continues to run for approximately 35 minutes after the vehicle has been turned off, fuel injectors are clogged (second time and I have already had this issue cleaned), headlights have collected water on inside, there is no rubber hose barrier(s) for any door, the hood, the hatch, the door windows, charging outlets are loosely fitted and do not add life to my electronics(they are for whatever reason being drained), the entire underside of the vehicle has become damaged, has begun to rust and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2023Wheels, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11518546

Structure

33 reports1 fire
“Problem with transmission not shifting properly. Also, the subframe is rusting out because water from the air conditioning unit falls directly on the subframe at that point both are safety hazards My service provider told me about the subframe rusting when I had my oil changed and why it was rusting and I have my transmission checked by a transmission specialist and the oil changed at that point in time”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2025Power train, StructureODI 11695595
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.