IllustrationPASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOESN'T WORK AND MAY BE BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF GM VEHICLES. *TR
2008 Chevrolet Equinox
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Equinox years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
5825–50K
7050–75K
6975–100K
62100–150K
21150K+
298 reports with mileage · 72 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
110 reportsPASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK, DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A PASSENGER. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON TO SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO MY STABIL CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. A COUPLE MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER, THEY COME ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS SENSOR WAS REPLACE AT A COST OF $900.00 ANDSTABIL CONTROL LIGHT…
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PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK, DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A PASSENGER. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON TO SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO MY STABIL CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. A COUPLE MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER, THEY COME ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS SENSOR WAS REPLACE AT A COST OF $900.00 ANDSTABIL CONTROL LIGHTS REPAIR WAS $350 AND CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS . ALSO BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS, AFTER REPLACING ONE BULB THAT NIGHT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE , BULB BURNED OUT AGAIN.I TALKED TO THE DEALER NO RECALLS ON ANY OF THE PROBLEMS AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH GMC PRODUCTS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
READ OUT ON DASH, FLASHES " SERVICE AIR BAG SOON " THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR.I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT RECALL ON SOME VEHICLES AND THE WORRY THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY ON THEIR OWN. *TR
PASSENGER AIR BAGS DON'T WORK, DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A PASSENGER. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON TO SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO MY STABIL CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. A COUPLE MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER, THEY COME ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. FIND NOTHING. ALSO BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLA…
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PASSENGER AIR BAGS DON'T WORK, DOESN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A PASSENGER. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON TO SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO MY STABIL CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. A COUPLE MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER, THEY COME ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED OUT. FIND NOTHING. ALSO BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS WHICH ARE A PAIN TO GET TO. I HAD A BLAZER THAT DID THE SAME THING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT SHOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BUT FAILED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT SHOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BUT FAILED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,911.
THE SERVICE AIR BAG KEEPS COMING OFF AND ON THE DASH AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. IF MY OLDER CHILD OR ANYONE OVER 90LBS SITS THERE OR MOVES IT COMES ON. GM STATES THERE ARE NO ISSUES AND WILL NOT BE A COVERED REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE OTHER 2008 MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUES WITH…
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THE SERVICE AIR BAG KEEPS COMING OFF AND ON THE DASH AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. IF MY OLDER CHILD OR ANYONE OVER 90LBS SITS THERE OR MOVES IT COMES ON. GM STATES THERE ARE NO ISSUES AND WILL NOT BE A COVERED REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE OTHER 2008 MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUES WITH RECALLS BUT NONE FOR THE EQUINOX. *TR
SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE EVERY TIME MY 10 YEAR OLD GRANDSON OR ANY SMALL ADULT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER ALWAYS HAS SOME EXCUSE WHY THEY CAN'T FIX IT. *TR
THE PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TO SERVICE AIRBAG IS ILLUMINATED, AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BEEN TURNED OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SENSOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 11-04-13 *BF UPDATED 11/8/…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 11-04-13 *BF UPDATED 11/8/2013 *JS
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.