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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

Steering complaints

44 reports
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64,255 miles · Dec 29, 2013
Electronic Stability ControlSteeringTraction Control System

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME LATE WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON THEN SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. MADE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT, LIKE OLD TIME TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN. LUCKILY KEPT CONTROL OR COULD HAVE RESULTED INTO SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS! BAD PART NO EARLY WARNIN…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME LATE WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON THEN SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. MADE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT, LIKE OLD TIME TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN. LUCKILY KEPT CONTROL OR COULD HAVE RESULTED INTO SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS! BAD PART NO EARLY WARNINGS, VEHICLE BATTERY HAS NEVER BEEN JUMPED OR USED TO JUMP (READ SOMETHING ABOUT BLOWING MEGA FUSE ) VEHICLE 5 MONTHS PAST 5 YR. WARRANTY WITH ONLY 64265 MILES ON IT .I HAVE READ OF THIS OCCURRING TO MANY OTHERS, HOPEFULLY NO INJURIES.THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557625

116,000 miles · Dec 9, 2013
Steering

GOT INTO MY CAR THAT MORNING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO DAYCARE AND I WAS TURNING THE CURB TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS HARD TO MANAGE. LOOKED DOWN AND THERE WERE TWO LIGHTS ON TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND SERVICE STABILITRACK SYSTEM. NO WARNING JUST GAVE OUT. ME & MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF WE WERE GO…

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GOT INTO MY CAR THAT MORNING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO DAYCARE AND I WAS TURNING THE CURB TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS HARD TO MANAGE. LOOKED DOWN AND THERE WERE TWO LIGHTS ON TRACTION CONTROL OFF AND SERVICE STABILITRACK SYSTEM. NO WARNING JUST GAVE OUT. ME & MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF WE WERE GOING ANY FASTER. THEN IT COST OVER $1200 DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE READ SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE SAME THING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. THERE IS NO WAY THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS THE 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX IS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. NOT ONLY IS MY TRUCK STILL IN THE SHOP ($1200 PLUS) IM STILL HAVING TO PAY A TRUCK NOTE ALSO. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS. ITS TO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS TO BE PAYING SUCH HIGH EXPENSES ON A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555360

90,000 miles · Dec 9, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000

NHTSA ODI #10555335

109,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013
Steering

I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DAUGHTERS DRS APP WITH HER FRIEND IN MY 2008 CHEV EQUINOX,THIS APP WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 HR AWAY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET ME TURN , MANAGED TO FORCE A SMALL ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD.IT WAS VERY SCARY ,WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MANAGE TO OFF HIGHWAY DOWN TO…

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DAUGHTERS DRS APP WITH HER FRIEND IN MY 2008 CHEV EQUINOX,THIS APP WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 HR AWAY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET ME TURN , MANAGED TO FORCE A SMALL ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD.IT WAS VERY SCARY ,WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MANAGE TO OFF HIGHWAY DOWN TO COMMUNITY TO NEAREST GM DEALER SAFELY.THEY TOLD ME ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE,AND NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE,MY WARRANTY IS OUT,STILL PAYING ON THIS AND IT COULD HAVE KILLED US! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552516

111,023 miles · Jun 13, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrashInjury

STABILITY TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, LOST POWER STEERING, TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER, SAID LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION, REPLACED BATTERY, WORK FOR ABOUT A MONTH, SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. NOT THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519687

76,265 miles · May 13, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

STABILITY TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, LOST POWER STEERING, TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER, SAID LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION, REPLACED BATTERY, WORK FOR ABOUT A MONTH, SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. NOT THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511816

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2012
Steering

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH IT, IS THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE WHEEL. AT TIMES IT WON'T TURN AT ALL. I CAN BARELY TURN THE CAR. I CAN'T SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. THIS CAME ON SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480031

37,000 miles · Jun 17, 2011
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND SHE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE DEALER MADE FIVE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN APRIL 2009, THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND SHE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE DEALER MADE FIVE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN APRIL 2009, THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #10407309

66,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN DEC. 2007 AND HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE JAN. 2008. AT FIRST IT WAS SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REPLACING THE RADIO IN APR. 2008 (UNDER WARRANTY), FAULTY WIPER SWITCH IN SEPT. 2009 (UNDER WARRANTY). THEN IN OCT. 2010 I HAD TO PAY $175.54 TO REPLACE A FAULTY SPARK PLUG AND WIRE. BUT FEBRUARY 2011 HAS BEEN THE W…

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I PURCHASED MY CAR IN DEC. 2007 AND HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE JAN. 2008. AT FIRST IT WAS SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REPLACING THE RADIO IN APR. 2008 (UNDER WARRANTY), FAULTY WIPER SWITCH IN SEPT. 2009 (UNDER WARRANTY). THEN IN OCT. 2010 I HAD TO PAY $175.54 TO REPLACE A FAULTY SPARK PLUG AND WIRE. BUT FEBRUARY 2011 HAS BEEN THE WORST! ON 2/10/11 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN BAD WEATHER ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP, STABILITRACK DISABLED, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL TURNED OFF, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; I COULDN'T DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH WITHOUT MY CAR SLIDING ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WAS TERRIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE VACUUM LINE WASN'T PLUGGED BACK IN DURING MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND THAT'S WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. I DROVE HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ALL THE LIGHTS LIT UP AGAIN. BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2/16/2011. DIRTY SENSOR, THEY CLEANED IT. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN SO THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR COSTING ME $174.54. EIGHT DAYS LATER MY CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STABILITRACK LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS ELECTRICAL AND I MOST LIKELY WONT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AT ALL ANYMORE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AND SOME ARE WORSE THAN MINE. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE. AND FOR YEARS MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HASN'T WORKED PROPERLY. I'M 112LBS AND IT DOESN'T TURN ON WHEN I'M SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE!

NHTSA ODI #10385788

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringWheels

I PURCHASED MY 2008 EQUINOX NEW IN DECEMBER 2008 AT ROD HATFEILD CHEVROLET IN LEXINGTON, KY. WITHIN 1 MONTH THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING CAME ON, SIMULTANEOUSLY THE POWER STEERING LOCKED. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD IT SERVICED. ON NOV 19, LESS THAN 60 DAYS AGO, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE REPAIRS CO…

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I PURCHASED MY 2008 EQUINOX NEW IN DECEMBER 2008 AT ROD HATFEILD CHEVROLET IN LEXINGTON, KY. WITHIN 1 MONTH THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING CAME ON, SIMULTANEOUSLY THE POWER STEERING LOCKED. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD IT SERVICED. ON NOV 19, LESS THAN 60 DAYS AGO, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE REPAIRS COST ME 276.00. THE WARNING CAME ON AGAIN TONIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING! I BARELY MADE IT HOME UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULD ALSO HEAR A WOBBLING TYPE OF NOISE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC REPORT STATED THE STABILITRAK HAD ONCE AGAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED WITHIN 7 DAYS. I AM NOW WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION UNTIL MONDAY MORNING WHEN THE DEALERSHIP OPENS. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, MYSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES FOR FEAR THAT THE PROBLEM WILL ONCE AGAIN BE IMPROPERLY CORRECTED. I FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10374348

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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