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2009 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox are lower than the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

77 reports with mileage · 17 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
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115,000 miles · Jul 16, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING, AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE GROUND, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO LOCK IN PL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING, AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE GROUND, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE WHILE IN USE, AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED FOUR TIMES WITHIN THE YEAR AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11232404

50,000 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WITH OTHER WARNING LIGHTS (CAN'T REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY SAID) AS I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH. CAR SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES. THE WARNING LIGH…

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STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WITH OTHER WARNING LIGHTS (CAN'T REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY SAID) AS I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH. CAR SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE SAME WILL COME ON PERIODICALLY BUT ONLY AS I START THE CAR .. MAYBE 1X EVERY 3 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR IS [XXX]. MY AUTOMATIC DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THE REAR WIPER NO LONGER WORKS. SOUND ON THE DRIVER SIDE NO LONGER WORKS. ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK NO LONGER WORKS ON DRIVER SIDE I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THAT DOOR. I'VE HAD MY CAR BROKEN INTO BECAUSE IT APPEARED UNLOCKED. FORTUNATELY THE ALARM SYSTEM STILL WORKED. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRIC. THE SMELL IS OBVIOUS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS UNDER THE HOOD. I'M WORRIED THE CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE AND MY DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT FUNCTION AND SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #10620819

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DIMMED DUE TO MOISTURE IN THE LIGHT FIXTURE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10619271

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems