Problems · by component
2008 Chevrolet Equinox steering problems
44 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox cite steering, 12% of all 370 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
44
12% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“I BOUGHT MY EQUINOX USED IN 2015 WITH 87,000. SINCE HAVING IT, I'VE REPLACED THE TIRE VALVE SENSORS (BROKE AGAIN). I WAS TOLD THAT FIXING THEM ARE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION. I'VE REPLACED TURN SIGNAL HANDLE. A MONTH LATER, I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN OFF MY TURNING SIGNALS NO MATTER HOW SHARP OR WIDE MY TURNS ARE. SINCE I FIRST GOT MY VEHICLE, MY STABILITY TRACTION SERVICE LIGHT, I THINK THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON. CAN'T TAKE TO MECHANIC DUE TO THE ISSUES NOT BEING CONSTANT. ONCE I CAUGHT ENGINE LIGHT ON,IT WAS A EGR VALVE, REPLACED THAT. ISSUE CONTINUES. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, MY VEHICLE SEEMS TO HESITATE AND/OR STALL.”
“I HAVE A NEW BATTERY (PURCHASED 2-3MONTHS AGO) & A NEW ALTERNATOR (INSTALLED YESTERDAY). TODAY DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS SOON AS I STARTED TO DRIVE. THERE IS NO PLACE TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY EMPLOYEES AT ADVANCE AUTO PART BECAUSE IT IS EITHER ELECTRIC OR HYDRAULIC. PLEASE HELP? ..... P.S. IT WAS LOCKED JUST B4 REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR (ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO) AND REMAINS LOCKED TODAY.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH HIS DAUGHTER, WIFE, AND NEPHEW, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A ROAD SIGN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED A CONTUSION ON THE CHEST WALL AND HIS WIFE SUSTAINED SHOULDER PAIN. THE DAUGHTER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.”
“MY 74 YEAR OLD BROTHER BOUGHT HIS 2008 EQUINOX NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS THE BIGGEST HEAP OF CRAP CHEVROLET INVENTED!!!! 5. POWER STEERING WENT OUT COSTING $2500.00 TO FIX JAN 2015 6. TRANSMISSION STARTS JERKING WHEN HITTING 45 MPH DEALERSHIP INFORMED US OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WE TOOK IN FOR A RECALL ON A DEFECTIVE GAS MODUAL THAT THEY NEVER REPLACED SAYING THE PART WAS OK. THEY DROVE IT AND SAID THAT ITS THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED $500.00 TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. STARTED FEB 2016 7. THE STABLE LINK LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ON SAYING TO SERVICE THE STABLE TRAC THEN GOES OFF STARTED MARCH OF 2016 8. THE TOP OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE BACK HATCH IS GONE WHERE IT FELL OFF AT SOME POINT HAS MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG. TURN SIGNAL GEARS TO TURN OFF SIGNALS FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIGNAL DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER FLUID MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. DRIVERS DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTOR BROKE FROM WINDOW.DRIVERS DOOR HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THIS VEHICLE IS A CLEAN AND IN EXCELLENT SHAPE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS OWNED BY AN ELDERLY MAN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED HAS LESS THAT 120,000 MILES ON IT”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STABILITY AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED NO POWER STEERING HAS WIRING, FLUID LEAK, AND BOLTS WERE MISSING. UPDATED 06/20/18*JB”
Showing 6 of 44 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.