2008 Chevrolet EQUINOX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
370 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 296 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 108 of 370 complaints (29.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 51 | 13.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 9.2% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 31 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 108 |
| Electrical System | 64 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 46 |
| Steering | 44 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 39 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Structure:Body | 24 |
| Exterior Lighting | 20 |
Air Bags: 108; Electrical System: 64; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 46; Steering: 44; Fuel/Propulsion System: 39; Engine: 27; Structure:Body: 24; Exterior Lighting: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 58 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 70 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 69 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 62 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 58; 50,000 to 74,999: 70; 75,000 to 99,999: 69; 100,000 to 149,999: 62; 150,000 and above: 19
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (70). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 70 |
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2016 | 54 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 14; 2011: 16; 2012: 24; 2013: 38; 2014: 70; 2015: 55; 2016: 54; 2017: 31; 2018: 17; 2019: 11; 2020: 9; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 34 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10341350 · 2010-07-03 (July 3, 2010)
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10341350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367220 · 2010-11-23 (November 23, 2010)
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORTS AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE I WAS DRIVING AND STOP THE TRUCK FOR ON COMING TRAFFIC AND WHEN IT WAS CLEAR TO GO THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE AND ALSO I HAD THE STEERING COLLAR REPAIRED AND THE NOISE IS BACK AGAIN THOSE TWO THINGS NEED TO LOOKED AT AND EVALUATED BECAUSE THAT IS DANGEROUS THEIR IS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND ITS BACK AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226975 · 2008-05-07 (May 7, 2008)
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE 1963 AND THIS CAR HAS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST PROBLEM WITH STATIC ELECTRICITY THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. I THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS JUST ME, BUT AT A COMPANY MEETING (IT IS A COMPANY CAR) I DISCOVERED THAT EVERYONE I SPOKE TO THAT HAS AN EQUINOX HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN IF THE CAR ISN'T RUNNING AND YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHOCKED, IF YOU MOVE AROUND SLIGHTLY IN THE SEAT YOU WILL GET ANOTHER SHOCK THE NEXT TIME YOU TOUCH SOMETHING METAL. THE SHOCK IS SOMETIMES SO SEVERE THAT AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE BATTERY HAD A SHORT TO GROUND.…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266547 · 2009-04-23 (April 23, 2009)
2008 CHEVY EQUINOX - PURCHASED MAY 2008. NINE (9) OF THE LAST ELEVEN (11) MONTHS, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS; 'SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM', 'SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM", & "SERVICE STABILITRAK"ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EACH. EACH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT A MODULE RELAY WAS REPLACED. THEY ALSO EVENTUALLY GAVE US A NEW BATTERY AND CHANGED THE STARTER. NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT UP, AND THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT IS COMING BACK ON. THE REAR WIPER WILL MAKE A SINGLE SWEEP EVEN WHEN IN THE OFF POSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263372 · 2009-03-20 (March 20, 2009)
2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CAN NOT BE USED IF THE ARM REST/CUP HOLDER IS IN USE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10263372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353059 · 2010-08-31 (August 31, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED TO 85 MPH. THE CALLER HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE SLOWED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE BRAKES RESPONDED OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY THE BRAKES. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,449 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357826 · 2010-09-27 (September 27, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FAILURES YET THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE SOME TYPE OF FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME THE REDUCE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER, A/C UNIT TRACTION CONTROL MODULE, ECM, EGR VALVE, …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460248 · 2012-06-01 (June 1, 2012)
GAS TANK LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 58,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367292 · 2010-11-23 (November 23, 2010)
2008 SPORT EQUINOX NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT 2 YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 6 MILES. 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORTS & THE TRANSMISSION WANT AT 40,000ISH MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM. TOOK THE DEALER ONE MONTH TO REPAIR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE PARTS. ALSO HAD THE STEERING REPAIRED 4 TIMES, COLAR REPAIRED. THE OLD DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE ME AND THE NOISE WAS THERE AGAIN & AGAIN. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE RACK.IT WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHICH SHOULD LIKE MY ABS, BUT IT WAS THE STEERING RACK AND A LOUD SQUEALING IN THE STEERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453543 · 2012-03-30 (March 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ECM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,580.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498349 · 2013-02-16 (February 16, 2013)
I AM HAVING ACCELERATION HESITATION ISSUES DURING TRAFFIC WHICH CAUSES A TRANSMISSION TO MISFIRE AND STALL OUT DURING TRAFFIC. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN TURNERSVILLE NJ TO FIX THIS ISSUES SINCE CHEVY EQUINOX 2008 HAS OVER 39 RECALLS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498349 at NHTSA ↗