WATER HAS GOTTEN INTO THE DASH. AS THE WEATHER BECAME WARM - THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS PERMEATED WITH MOLD AND MILDEW. THERE IS STILL A SLOSHING SOUND UNDER THE DASH. *TR
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.
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
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.
What owners actually said
94 reportsWHILE DRIVING, THE CHROME CLAD WHEEL COVER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MACHINE PRESSED ON TO THE ALUMINUM 17 INCH RIM, SHOT OFF THE RIM TOWARDS INCOMING TRAFFIC. WE WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. IT FLEW OFF AND ALMOST HIT A CAR PASSING US. TWO MONTHS LATER ANOTHER ONE CAME OFF, BUT I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT B…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE CHROME CLAD WHEEL COVER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MACHINE PRESSED ON TO THE ALUMINUM 17 INCH RIM, SHOT OFF THE RIM TOWARDS INCOMING TRAFFIC. WE WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. IT FLEW OFF AND ALMOST HIT A CAR PASSING US. TWO MONTHS LATER ANOTHER ONE CAME OFF, BUT I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT BEFORE WE WERE IN TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN WALKING BESIDE THE CAR. DOING ON-LINE RESEARCH A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL OWNERS OF THE 2009 EQUINOX WITH THE CHROME CLAD COVERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ACCELERATION POWER REDUCED DRAMATICALLY AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 3 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ACCELERATION POWER REDUCED DRAMATICALLY AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 3 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3 MONTHS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO OTHER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,179...UPDATED 01/3…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,179...UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AND THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REPAIRED SINCE IT WAS A RECALLED FAILURE. UPDATED 2/1/2013*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYST…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,774.
I BOUGHT THIS EQUINOX IN TEXAS USED WITH 24,071 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT BACK TO OHIO WITH NO PROBLEMS WHAT'S SO EVER. THEN WITH 43,396 MILES, THE IGNITION WIRES STARTED TO FAIL. IRONICALLY I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR HAD I HAD IT DONE AT A SHOP.BEING A GM AND UPS MECHANIC,NO ONE TOUCHES MY VEHI…
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I BOUGHT THIS EQUINOX IN TEXAS USED WITH 24,071 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT BACK TO OHIO WITH NO PROBLEMS WHAT'S SO EVER. THEN WITH 43,396 MILES, THE IGNITION WIRES STARTED TO FAIL. IRONICALLY I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR HAD I HAD IT DONE AT A SHOP.BEING A GM AND UPS MECHANIC,NO ONE TOUCHES MY VEHICLES OR FAMILY'S BUT ME! NAPA HAD THE WIRES[$22.00} AN I INSTALLED THEM IN LESS THAN 20MINS.AROUND 52000 MILES I NOTICED A WHEEL BEARING SOUND OR FLAT SPOT IN TIRE SOUND FROM LEFT SIDE. I'M THING GM SHOULD HAVE SOLVED THIS ISSUE BY NOW,SO I WAS THINKING NEW TIRES AFTER VACATION. WHEN WE CAME HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH THE SOUND INTENSIFIED TO WHERE I JACKED UP THE FRONT ON TO JACK STANDS,SET PARK BRAKE, STARTED ENGINE AN PUT IT IN GEAR. I PUT MY STETHOSCOPE ON FRONT BEARING AN FOUND THE LEFT FRT MAKING ALL KINDS OF NOISE BY THIS TIME.I CALLED AROUND AN FOUND A TIMKEN REPLACEMENT AT AUTOZONE FOR 259.99-3YR.WARRANTY AN AT SAME TIME REPLACED THE FRT PADS AN RESURFACED THE ROTORS. SO WITH ALL SAID, LEFT FRT BEARING AN PADS $302.79. THE BEARING REPLACEMENT MAKES THE CAR RIDE AN HANDLE LIKE NEW AGAIN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR 80+ MILES A DAY TO AN FROM WORK,SO IT HAS TO BE SAFE AN RELIABLE AN GRAND KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON WEEKENDS.FUNNY THAT I GOT NO VIBRATING FEELING IN STEERING WHEEL LIKE ON THE OLDER GM'S THAT I HAD WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WARNINGS SUDDENLY TURNED ON INDICATION THAT STABILI-TRAC AND TRACTION CONTROL WENT OFF AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. AT THIS TIME ENGINE LOST POWER AND VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED. *TR
PERIODICALLY WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE RIGHT AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. THE PASSENGER CAN MOVE AND BOUNCE AROUND ON THE SEAT WITHOUT TURNING THE LIGHT TO "ON". THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THEY HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME WAS MAY 25, 2012 A…
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PERIODICALLY WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE RIGHT AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. THE PASSENGER CAN MOVE AND BOUNCE AROUND ON THE SEAT WITHOUT TURNING THE LIGHT TO "ON". THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THEY HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME WAS MAY 25, 2012 AFTER I HAD TAKEN THE AUTO BY THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THE "OFF" LIGHT WAS ON AND THERE WAS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE "OFF" LIGHT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. THE ONLY SUGGESTION RECEIVED WAS A *.PDF DOCUMENT FROM GM DESCRIBING WHAT TO DO WHEN THIS OCCURS AS FOLLOWS: 1. TURN VEHICLE OFF 2. REMOVE ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FROM THE SEAT..... 3. PLACE THE SEATBACK IN THE FULLY UPRIGHT POSITION 4. HAVE THE PERSON SIT UPRIGHT IN THE SEAT, CENTERED ON THE SEAT CUSHION, WITH LEGS COMFORTABLY EXTENDED 5. RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAVE THE PERSON REMAIN IN THIS POSITION FOR TWO OR THREE MINUTES AFTER THE ON INDICATOR IS LIT. NOT ONLY ARE THE PRECEDING INSTRUCTION ENORMOUS AND DIFFICULT TO PERFORM WHEN IN A NORMAL DRIVING SCENARIO, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE NECESSITY OF PERFORMING THESE RESET OPERATIONS INDICATES A SYSTEM FAULT THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED, PARTICULARLY IF THE AIR BAG IS INDEED OFF WHEN THE INDICATOR SAYS IT IS "OFF". ALSO, THE VERY FACT THAT GM HAS DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO ISSUE THESE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY GM. THAT BEING THE CASE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
DIC (DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER) DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS INADEQUATE FOR DAYLIGHT/SUNLIGHT VISIBILITY. NO LISTED MEANS TO ALTER/BRIGHTEN.
TWO MONTHS AFTER REPAIR OF VEHICLE, GRANDDAUGHTER REPORTED THAT CAR VEERED TO RIGHT AND SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR. SHE HIT A POLE AND THE CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND BRUISES. PICTURES OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
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.
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