RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Equinox Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
32
Latest Oct 25, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 370 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words

Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 25, 2025

Problem with transmission not shifting properly. Also, the subframe is rusting out because water from the air conditioning unit falls directly on the subframe at that point both are safety hazards My service provider told me about the subframe rusting when I had my oil changed and why it was rusting and I have my transmission checked by a transmission specialist and the oil changed at that point in time

NHTSA ID
11695595
Incident
May 1, 2025
Body & structureEngine
Filed Oct 2, 2019
Fire reported

APRIL 26, 2019 THE ENGINE IN MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORT LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIDWEST TIRE & AUTO IN THE CICERO,IL FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. A WEEK AFTER RETRIEVING MY SUV ON JUNE 20,2019 FROM THE SHOP IT HAD AN EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE THE OCCUPANCY OF MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN AGES 7,4, AND 2 WERE WITHIN 11 MILES OF TRAVEL FROM OUR RESIDENCE ALONG THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECOGNIZABLE FROM THE INTERIOR, FROM FRONT TO CENTER OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY IT WAS A GRAYISH COLOR. SHOWING THE FIRE'S INTENSITY.

NHTSA ID
11265781
Incident
Jul 3, 2019
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 29, 2018

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM DO TO PAINT PEELING AND FALLING TO THE GROUND BACK AROUND 2013 I SEE NOW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WITH THIS YEARS VEHICLE. IT HAS IT METAL EXPOSED AND I LOVE MY EQUINOX BUT I'M NOT LIKING IT MORE EACH DAY DO TO SIDE BACK PANELS PEELING ON BOTH SIDES IT DEFECTED MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS ALWAYS BEEN PLACED IN THE GARAGE

NHTSA ID
11143959
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 21, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR NEW TIRES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN JONES CHEVROLET BUICK CADILLAC OF SALEM (1450 IN-60, SALEM, IN 47167, (812) 883-3081) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11130670
Incident
Sep 21, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 31, 2018

THE PAINT ON MY VEHICLE BUBBLED UP AND PEEL OFF. THE PAINT CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY AND RUST.

NHTSA ID
11114700
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Jan 26, 2018

MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX PAINT IS PEELING ABOVE THE PASSENGER WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES AND PEELING DOWN TO THE METAL. IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR REPAINTED. I FIND IT TO COINCIDENTAL THAT WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM OF 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX PAINT PEELING IT IS HAPPENING FOR EVERYONE IN THE SAME SPOT. I ONLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR BECAUSE MY COMMUTE IS ONLY 3 MILES. THE CAR HAS HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE AND ANY REPAIRS AT CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALERSHIPS. IT IS VERY GENTLY USED AND ALTHOUGH IT IS A 2008 I DON'T BELIEVE MY TEENAGERS BEATER CAR SHOULD LOOK BETTER THAN MY $35,000 CHEVY EQUINOX NO MATTER HOW OLD IT IS. IT IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AT THIS POINT OR PAY FOR. RIGHT NOW THE DAMAGE IS $1000 AS QUOTED BY GM AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THIS IS A COMPLETE VIOLATION TO CONSUMERS AND SINCERELY HOPE FOR ANYONE BUYING THE NEW CHEVY EQUINOX THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO THEM OVER TIME. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR FAULTY PAINT JOB AND JUST DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ID
11065010
Incident
Jan 10, 2018
Mileage
66,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 12, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL ON THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS CORRODED PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNRISE CHEVROLET IN GLENDALE HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60139, PHONE: (630-942-8300) FOR THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
11033130
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 9, 2017

PART ON LIFTGATE ABOVE WINDOW AND BELOW THE BREAK LIGHT POPPED OFF. ENTIRE GM PART NEEDS TO BE ORDERED OVER $1000 AND THEN HAS TO BE PAINTED AND PAY LABOR. WAS TOLD THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. NOW MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE PARKED IN DOORS UNTIL I GET AFFORD TO GET FIXED DUE TO WATER WILL LEAK IN. SIMPLY OPENED THE BACK AND IT FELL OFF.

NHTSA ID
11013860
Incident
Aug 5, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 17, 2017

DASHBOARD CRACKING , THE DASHBOARD IS ALSO CRACKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA

NHTSA ID
10955216
Incident
Feb 17, 2017
Mileage
64,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 17, 2017

MY WIFE WAS AT WORK DURING A THUNDERSTORM. WENT TO THE CAR TO LEAVE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FLOORBOARD WAS SOAKING WET. I LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE FRONT DRIVER MD PASSENGER SIDE WAS STILL SOAKING WET. I TOOK A BUCKET OF WATER AND POURED IT FROM THE ROOF DOWN THE WINDOW SEAL TOWER IF ANY WATER WAS GOING TO LEAK ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. YES WATER WAS ENTERING THE THE CARE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I CHECKED THE WEATHERING STRIP TO SEE IF WAS DAMAGED DRY ROTTED WHICH IT WAS NOT. I BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I'VE READ DIFFERENT FORUMS STATING THE SAME ISSUES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THIS FORUM THAT GIVE A BULLETIN NUMBER OF SOME SORT 08-08-57-001A DATED FOR 10-08-08 MODELS 05-09 EQUINOX TALKING ABOUT INSUFFICIENT BODY SEALER WATER ENTERING V THROUGH SEAMS IN THE FLOOR PAN ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. CORRECTION REMOVE CARPET AND RESEAL THE SHEET METAL SEAM. IF THIS ISN'T THE ISSUE PLEASE FIND OUT WHAT IS BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
10945866
Incident
Jan 15, 2017
Mileage
118,550 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 20, 2016

OUR 2008 EQUINOX PAINT HAS STARTED TO PEEL ON THE TOP. WE NOTICE A SPOT A WEEK AGO AND NOW IT IS ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG IT IS BUBBLING AND PEELING TO WHERE THE WHITE IS SHOWING. PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MATTER WE HAVE ONLY 72000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT

NHTSA ID
10936603
Incident
Dec 20, 2016
Mileage
72,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Oct 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO LOCK AND HAD TO BE LOCKED MANUALLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID
10920152
Incident
Sep 30, 2016
Mileage
76,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Apr 19, 2016

POWER STEERING WAS MAKING WHINING SOUND WHEN TURNING AND HAD A FLUID LEAK. WATER LEAKED INTO TRUNK AND FILLED UP AREA WHERE SPARE TIRE IS LOCATED, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOTOR BROKE AND STOPPED WORKING, ONE OF THE BACK SEAT BELTS DOES NOT ALWAYS STAY CLICKED, SOME PAINT CHIPPING, AND TRANSMISSION WENT AT 76,000 MILES

NHTSA ID
10860228
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Body & structure
Filed Jan 11, 2016

WHITE PAINT BEGAN PEELING OFF BACK RIGHT CORNER OF VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. WHEN PARKED, PAINT WAS FINE- NEXT MORNING IT WAS COMPLETELY PEELED. NO VANDALISM OCCURRED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH- THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 MODEL.

NHTSA ID
10819455
Incident
Feb 20, 2015
Mileage
45,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GAS CHARGE LIFT SUPPORT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID
10733628
Incident
May 27, 2014
Mileage
32,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 26, 2015

THE PAINT ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE IS PEELING OFF. IT ISN'T HAPPENING A LITTLE AT A TIME. I WALKED OUT TO LEAVE ONE DAY AND AN ENTIRE STRIP DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS MISSING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE METAL. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID MY EQUINOX WAS NOT THE FIRST ONE THEY HAD SEEN DO THIS AND IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE PAINT IS BUBBLED AND WAS NEVER PUT ON RIGHT. I CALLED CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS SENT TO A LOCAL CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER TO BE REVIEWED. THE SERVICE MANAGER DEEMED IT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT BUT THE AREA GM CLAIMS BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF PAINT WARRANTY, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. MY CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD, WITH ONLY 130,000 MILES. PAINT SHOULD NOT BE COMING OFF LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10701856
Incident
Feb 7, 2015
Mileage
128,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 3, 2015

PAINT IS FALLING OFF PAINT SHOP SAID IT IS ORANGE PEEL A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691799
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
1,160,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 2015

WINDOW ON PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WILL NOT WORK. IT WENT DOWN AND WITH EXTREME SLOWNESS FINALLY GOT IT TO ROLL BACK UP. CANNOT USE AT ALL NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680330
Incident
Jun 26, 2014
Mileage
111,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 10, 2015

PAINT COMING OFF CAR FOR NO REASON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671611
Incident
Jan 6, 2015
Mileage
63,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 4, 2014

INTERIOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE MECHANISMS ARE BREAKING AND BROKEN. GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT EXIT OUR VEHICLE, THIS WOULD STRIKE ME AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! GIVEN THE FACT THAT 3 OUT OF 4 TOTAL HANDLES ARE NOW BROKEN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT JUST A ONE-TIME FLUKE. GM CUSTOMER CARE ON TWITTER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY CONCERN EXISTS AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $51 PLUS TAX MINIMAL FOR NEW PARTS ON A SAFETY-RELATED ITEM. AFTER ALL, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS AND YOU GET INTO A FIERY ACCIDENT, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE? THE AFFECTED INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKEN THUSFAR ARE AS FOLLOWS: LF, LR, AND RF. MY BOYFRIEND HAS TAKEN AND POSTED TWO YOUTUBE VIDEOS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS SEVERE DEFECT. THE LINKS ARE (SEPARATED BY 10 ASTERISKS EACH): ********** HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YBJ8CS5I3_W ********** HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=7WQ1XL1KXFY ********** THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A 2008 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE AND THIS(IN MY OPINION) IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662113
Incident
Dec 1, 2012
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 19, 2014

PAINTING FALLING OFF METAL ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659428
Incident
Nov 18, 2014
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jul 5, 2014

I NOTICED THAT AFTER A LARGE THUNDERSTORM THAT HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER POURING DOWN, MY CAR HAD A INCH OF WATER ON THE BACK FLOOR IN FRONT OF 2ND ROW. THE SEATS WERE NOT WET AND ONLY THE FLOOR IN BACK WAS WET AND WAS SEEPING TOWARDS FRONT. THIS MEANT THAT MY WINDOWS WERE NOT OPEN BECAUSE MY SEATS WHERE NOT WET. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AS THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE MY FAULT. WELL A YEAR LATER THEY FINALLY AGREED MOLD WAS GROWING AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THEY STRIPPED MY CAR DOWN TO THE METAL AND FOUND WATER SITTING ALL OVER IN ANY NOOK AND CRANNY THAT WAS IN THE FRAME. THEY BELIEVE ANYTIME I WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH OR IT RAINED ON MY CAR, I WAS GETTING WATER INSIDE. SERVICE ADVISEMENT NUMBER 08-08-57-001A STATES THAT THEY MAY HAVE NOT SEALED UP TO 15 POINTS ON THE EQUINOX BETWEEN 2005-2009. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS ADVISEMENT AS I HAD TO READ THROUGH SOME BLOGS TO FIND IT AND IT WAS THE REAL DEAL. I HAD OVER 4 INCHES OF WATER SITTING IN MY SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10608287
Incident
Aug 5, 2012
Mileage
61,250 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jun 30, 2014

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS NON RESPONSIVE TO KEY FOB OR ELECTRONIC LOCK CONTROL. EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607126
Incident
Jun 30, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON VEHICLE WAS CHIPPING OFF AND EXPOSING THE METAL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAINTED TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 106,000.

NHTSA ID
10573396
Incident
Jan 9, 2014
Mileage
106,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 20, 2014

I LEFT MY DENTIST IN THE MORNING OF THURS 2-16-2013 AND PROCEEDED TO WALGREENS AND TRIED TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND NOW MY DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. IT WAS BELOW ZERO AND I HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN AND OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, NOT VERY SAFE INCASE U WANT TO GET OUT IN A HURRY. I HAD SO MANY CARS IN THE 50 YEARS I BEEN DRIVING AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. IT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560685
Incident
Jan 16, 2014
Mileage
83,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .