Problems · by component

2011 Chevrolet Equinox air bags problems

52 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox cite air bags, 7% of all 783 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
52
7% of all complaints
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I was in a rear end collision on May 14th 2026 the impact of the speed totaled my car in my airbags did not deploy and from my understanding where the sensors are on my vehicle they should have I ended up getting a concussion and soft tissue damage because my head hit the steering wheel my seat belt did not lock either.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2026Air bags, Structure, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11738139
“The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the message to “Service Air Bags” was displayed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,243.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2024Air bagsODI 11624716
“The contact owned a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving up a hill on a 2-lane road at approximately 45 mph, an oncoming vehicle in the opposing lane had taken too wide of a turn and had entered her lane, to avoid a head-on collision the contact swerved into the guard rail. Upon crashing, the air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated before the crash. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence and deemed a total loss. The contact has an appointment with a doctor to determine whether any injuries were sustained. Nobody outside of the vehicle was injured. A police report was filed. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,357.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2024Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11617523
“There is a SB-10058723-5799, that addresses airbags. I have a 2011 Chevy Equinox with 94k miles on it. The ‘service airbag’ error stays on the screen. I called Chevy to ask if I can bring vehicle in under SB 10058723-5799, and they told me my vehicle does not fall under this, AND they say the SB 10058723-5799 is expired. I asked they lady, so if the airbag deploys while I’m driving 65mph on the freeway, you’re not going to fix it under a recall that you say is expired. This makes absolutely no sense, and I believe it should fall under NHTSA’s special bulletin. Please help me. Thank you for your time.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2023Air bagsODI 11528602
“The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated was driving at approximately 35 MPH when another vehicle cut in front of the contact's vehicle and the contact crashed into the passenger's front side door. The contact stated that she was unable to depress the brakes and her vehicle began to climb the side of the other person's vehicle. The contact stated that the driver and passenger air bags and side air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the vehicle disengaged from the other contact's vehicle and rolled off the roadway onto a grassy shoulder and stopped. The contact had lacerations and bruises on her neck, and neck vertebrae injuries. Also, she had bruises on both arms and wrists and lower back pain. The contact did not know what injuries the other driver suffered. The contact was taken to the ER by ambulance. The contact's vehicle was towed to her residence where the other driver's insurance adjuster inspected the contact's vehicle and declared it a total loss. The vehicle had not been repaired, however, the contact purchased the vehicle back from the other person's insurance provider. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11482270
“The airbag light stays on. It’s a known problem with this vehicle. Hundreds of owners online with complaints. I believe it has to do with faulty wiring under drivers seat. I’m scared the bag will intermittently inflate. GMC has to know about it. It’s happening on all the equinox vehicles. Thank you”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2022Air bagsODI 11465562

Showing 6 of 52 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.