Problems · by component
2008 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox cite engine, 7% of all 370 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The car overheats within a very few minutes. Faster when idelling at a stop light or sign waiting to enter a busy street. I have replaced the thermostat, water pump, temperature sensor, antifreeze (with GM antifreeze) after flushing out the radiator, and it still gets hot. The dashboard heat gauge is not working but the warning “ENGINE HOT. AC OFF” flashes all the time. We took the thermostat out so the coolent could circulate while the weather is warm. I am aware that the computer in the car has been replaced at least once and I think it may be malfunctioning now. I have an appointment with the Service Dept at McLaughlin Chevrolet dealer in Milwaukie Oregon on Tuesday June 22, 2021. I hope they will check the compression on the chambers and the computer. I want them to replace the sensor, thermostat, water pump and radiator cap with GM parts. I am slow income 80 years old grandma who helps her single daughter who works full time take care of her kids. I need to have a dependable car and I worry that if the computer does like first one did, we will get stranded on the freeway with a completely dead vehicle. Please let me know if there is any help with the…”
“THE WHEEL TRANSFER CASE LEAKING AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. PULLING LOTS OF DIFFERENT CODES. TIMING CHAIN IS AFFECTED AND NOT 100% SURE IF IT'S ALSO THOSE OTHER CODES.”
“APRIL 26, 2019 THE ENGINE IN MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWEST TIRE & AUTO IN THE CICERO,IL FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. A WEEK AFTER RETRIEVING MY SUV ON JUNE 20,2019 FROM THE SHOP IT HAD AN EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE THE OCCUPANCY OF MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN AGES 7,4, AND 2 WERE WITHIN 11 MILES OF TRAVEL FROM OUR RESIDENCE ALONG THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECOGNIZABLE FROM THE INTERIOR, FROM FRONT TO CENTER OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY IT WAS A GRAYISH COLOR. SHOWING THE FIRE'S INTENSITY.”
“I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHICH HAS 32,650 MILES ON IT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED JERKING, AS IT SOMEONE WAS PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A SPEED OF 45 TO 50 DURING ACCELERATION! I AM A HEART TRANSPLANT SURVIVOR OF 15 YRS AND DID NO NEED TO BE PUT THROUGH THIS KIND OF SCARE! I DUG THROUGH SOME PAPERS AND FOUND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE THAT STATED NOT TO BRING IT IN UNTIL IT STARTED TO DO THIS. OF COURSE THE TIME OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT AND CHEVY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND REPAIR THEIR MISTAKE! I INHERITED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY MOTHER IN 2015 WITH 29,000 MILE ON IT! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH RELEASING THIS VEHICLE TO THE PUBLIC WITH THIS ISSUE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN! THEY SHOULD HAVE STEPPED UP AND REPAIRED THESE VEHICLES BEFORE THIS COULD HAPPEN. THE CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION WAS A CRACKED SPARK PLUG OF THE THIRD CYLINDER! WILL NEVER BY A GM PRODUCT! I WAS CONTACTED BY CHEVROLET AND BECAUSE IT HAD OVER 19,500 MILES THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS! THEY REPLIED THT THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY, HOW WHEN THEY CAN LET SOMETHING LIKE THIS OUT INTO THE PUBLIC.”
“"TAKATA RECALL" THE TIMING BELT. TIMING BELT STRETCHED. KNOW FOR FACT THAT 5 OTHER CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2008 HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BROUGHT TO THE SAME AUTOMACANIC SHOP. OURS WOULD BE THE 6TH KNOWN IN HASTINGS MINNESOTA. WOULD LIKE A RECALL AND HAVE PROBLEM FIXED AND PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND WHEN BROUGHT IN SEVERAL TIMES, THEY KEPT SAYING IT WAS THE GAS CAP. REPLACED GAS CAP AND STILL SEVERAL TIMES ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE DEALERSHIP KEPT SAYING IT WAS THE GAS CAP, EVEN AFTER THEY REPLACED GAS CAP. THE SAME THING KEPT HAPPENING OVER AND OVER. THEY DENIED ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THE TIMING BELT STRETCHED AND CANNOT DRIVE. FOR A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS THIS WENT ON AND ON. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS WE PAY 2000 DOLLARS PLUS TO REPAIR TIMING BELT. THE DEALERSHIP IS THE ONES THAT WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO. HAD A SECOND OPINION DONE AND THEY CLAIMED WE WHERE THE 7TH CAR WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICAL FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ALWAYS BROUGHT TO THEM WITH ANY MECHANICAL PROBEMS TP BE REPAIRED.ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE…”
“WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS (CAR IN PARK ON FLAT SURFACE) I HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A RUSHING OF WATER. ALSO WHEN CAR SITS IN THE SUN, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW INOPERABLE AND BACK DOOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK INOPERABLE. ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE FOR ABOUT A YEAR.”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.