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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Power Train complaints

16 reports
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93,000 miles · Oct 20, 2013
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION QUIT GOING INTO 3RD GEAR COMPLETELY ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS BECAUSE I WAS A YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REASON THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT WAS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY WAVE PLATE. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE GENERAL MOTORS MIGHT COVER THIS BECAUSE OF IT BEING A MANUFACTURER…

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MY TRANSMISSION QUIT GOING INTO 3RD GEAR COMPLETELY ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS BECAUSE I WAS A YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REASON THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT WAS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY WAVE PLATE. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE GENERAL MOTORS MIGHT COVER THIS BECAUSE OF IT BEING A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT. THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO TELL ME THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BUT THEY WILL GIVE $1500 TOWARDS THE $3500 IT IS GOING TO COST TO FIX IT. I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY TO REPLACE A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OUT YET. GENERAL MOTORS ADMITS TO THERE BEING A BULLETIN OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A RECALL THEY WON'T FIX IT. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING GO WRONG WITH THEIR GM VEHICLE. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ONLINE AND SPEAKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE I THINK A RECALL IS WELL OVERDUE. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548601

43,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

THE CAR WAS JERKING INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHILE PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS TWICE AND HIT THE HOOD THIS LAST TIME AND IT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S NOT SEALED…

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THE CAR WAS JERKING INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHILE PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS TWICE AND HIT THE HOOD THIS LAST TIME AND IT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S NOT SEALED PROPERLY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AFTER A THUNDERSTORM. THE MECHANIC SAID THE CAR IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND MOISTURE IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE LIGHTS. THE COST TO REPLACE AN $11 BULB WAS $24 IN LABOR BECAUSE ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COST $$54 IN LABOR BECAUSE YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE BUMPER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504456

66,000 miles · Feb 16, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10498349

70,000 miles · Dec 7, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE FROM 6/08-CURRENT - CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR A NEW PROBLEM. CAR 24 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASE NEW AND HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES AND HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES FOR BREAKDOWNS. HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER 5YRS AND TERRIFIED TO DRIV…

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SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE FROM 6/08-CURRENT - CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR A NEW PROBLEM. CAR 24 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASE NEW AND HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES AND HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES FOR BREAKDOWNS. HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER 5YRS AND TERRIFIED TO DRIVE WITH ISSUES. HAVE COPIES OF ALL DEALERSHIP PAPERWORK, REPAIRS. REPAIRS INCLUDE, NOT LIMITED TO TRANSMISSION REPLACED, HEATER/COOLER SYSTEM LEAK, LIGHTING/DASH REPLACED, TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED BUT CURRENTLY BROKE, CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT APPROX COST $5000 REPAIR, LEATHER CRACKING, WINDSHIELD WIPER REAR NOT WORKING, CARPETING COMING OUT IN NEED OF REPAIR, FRONT HEADLIGHT LEAK AND FOGGY IN NEED OF REPAIR. THIS CAR IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP, GETTING NOWHERE WITH GENERAL MOTORS. HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN WHEN BROKE DOWN. DANGEROUS NOW KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369470

10 miles · Nov 23, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

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 REPAI…

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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 STEERING WHEEL. I FOUND A NICE DEALER WHO FINALLY BELIEVED ME AND FIXED IT LAST WEEK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH THE NEW DEALER & GM'S HELP. JUST MAKES ME NERVOUS WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR ME SINCE THE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS OTHER ISSUES TOO, LIKE THE CO SENSOR, COMPUTER AND BRAKE IS FRONT HEAVY. THE TRUCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, MAKES YOU WONDER WHILE THIS MODEL WAS ONLY MADE FOR 1 YEAR. BUT SINCE I AM A WOMEN I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! TRIED TO TAKE IN, LOL, NOT WORTH ANYTHING AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO START OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367292

32,000 miles · Nov 23, 2010
Power TrainSteering

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10367220

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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