2008 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

535 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 45/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 67,500 miles.

535Complaints
45/100Trouble index
0Recalls
75,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2008 sits among all Equinox years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 112 complaints (21%) · typically ~67,500 miles
“Someone sat in the passenger seat that weighs about 100 lbs. Since then the light has stayed on to service airbag. The car was in motion at the time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Equinox
Electrical 90 complaints (17%) · typically ~70,000 miles
“Doors will not lock/unlock with button or fob, driver side window will not operate”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Equinox
Other 76 complaints (14%) · typically ~82,639 miles
“Airbag lights coming on and off passenger air bag works sometimes on and off electrical with the lights brake light comes on and off been having problems with the air bags a lot and the electrical system.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Equinox
Fuel system 48 complaints (9%) · typically ~97,000 miles
“Very strong fuel/gasoline smell in and around vehicle. Some fuel dripping from above fuel tank area. Had the vehicle diagnosed at local mechanic. He stated that the fuel line on the main fuel pump is cracked/damaged.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Equinox
Steering 44 complaints (8%) · typically ~79,500 miles
“The steering column rubs. The repairmen say theory can't find anything wrong. The fluid is fine also”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Equinox
Engine 35 complaints (7%) · typically ~75,504 miles
“I have a light on saying something is wrong with my airbag .also a tapping in my engine”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Equinox

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 408 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 75,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls

No recall campaigns on file for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2008peak 104 in 20142025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox drew 535 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 45/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).

What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Equinox problems?

The top reported problems for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox are airbags (112 complaints), electrical (90), and other (76).

At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Equinox problems show up?

Owners most often report 2008 Chevrolet Equinox problems around 75,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

Does the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?

No recall campaigns are on file for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.