Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Chevrolet Equinox problems

Owners filed 94 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA between Dec 2009 and May 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (26).

Complaints
94
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags26
  2. Electrical system23
  3. Engine18
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)12
  5. Vehicle speed control11
  6. Power train10
  7. Fuel/propulsion system8
  8. Steering5
  9. Visibility5
  10. Tires5
  11. Fuel system, gasoline4
  12. Structure3
  13. Exterior lighting3
  14. Wheels3

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 9, 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
20091
20102
20113
20125
20136
201424
201511
20168
20176
201813
20195
20206
20212
20220
20231
20240
20250
20261

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

26 reports2 crashes
“THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SAYS "OFF" AND NOTIFICATION MESSAGE SAYS "SERVICE PASSENGER AIRBAG". EVERY SHOP I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO SAYS THEY SEE NO PROBLEMS, BUT A DEALER HAS TO TAKE A LOOK. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN 2018 AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THIS IS PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL OF EQUINOX AROUND THIS TIME IN ITS LIFE. THE STABLE TRACK IS SIMILAR. EVERY SO OFTEN, IT STOPS WORKING BUT THEN MOST OF THE TIME IS FINE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 4, 2020Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11337461

Electrical system

23 reports1 crash
“Odometer Fraud - The contact purchased a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 186,425 as stated on the contract. The contact stated that the speedometer was possibly tampered with because the odometer reading was not displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic c reading was provided and the speedometer reading was repaired and the mileage was 300,107.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2026Electrical systemODI 11736341

Engine

18 reports1 crash1 fire
“I WAS HEADING DOWNTOWN WITH MY KIDS AND THIS CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORSE DAYS OF MY LIFE CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED ALL THEM EQUINOX NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES THIS CAR SET A LITTLE BLAZE STALLED OUT IVE ONLY SEEN CHEVY EQUINOX DO THIS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2020Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11363319

Electronic stability control (esc)

12 reports
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT AND 'SERVICE AIR BAG' LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT AND STABALIZE TRACK LIGHT WERE ALL ON FOR A FEW WEEK AND I TOOK IT TO LOCAL SHOP WHO SAID THE SENSOR FOR THE BRAKES UNDER DRIVER SEAT WAS BAD SO THAT COST $580.00 FOR NEW MODULE. THAT TOOK CARE OF ABS/STABILIZE LIGHTS. HAD TO TO GO DEALER FOR AIRBAG LIGHTS AND THEY CHARGED $1070.00 BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MODULE UNDER PASSENGER SEAT WAS OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE (PART 560 PLUS LABOR). I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE AIRBAGS!! THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NEVER WENT OFF SO I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF IT...NO MATTER IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN SEAT OR NOT, OR WHETHER IT WAS IDLE, IN MOTION, ETC.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2019Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11279690

Vehicle speed control

11 reports
“VEHICLE DISPLAYED WILL IN MOTION MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY. THAT WHEN YOU TAKE OFF A DELAY HAPPENS AT OVER 4000 RPMS OR AT ANYTIME YOU TRY TO GO OVER 4000RPMS. ITS LIKE THE ENGINE CUTS OFF OR LOSES ACCELERATION AN STAYS AT 40 MPH AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THE GAUGE FOR RPMS GOES BACK DOWN UNDER 4000 RPMS. THEN THE ENGINE WILL START TO ACCELERATE AGAIN LIKE A NORMAL VEHICLE UNTIL YOU TRY TO PICKUP SPEED OR ACCELERATE OVER 4000 RPMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2017Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11034342

Power train

10 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11339154
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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