2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel system Problems

Head gasket failure as well as intake manifold

NHTSA ID

11683736

Incident

Aug 20, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there was an abnormally strong fuel odor on the outside of the vehicle and the odor was entering into the cabin of the vehicle. The contact noticed that fuel was leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 182,000.

NHTSA ID

11631207

Incident

Dec 14, 2024

Mileage

182,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and allowing the vehicle to idle for a minute or two, the contact started smelling an abnormally strong gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated an orange-colored engine symbol was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle was constant. The contact became aware that there was a small puddle of fuel on the passenger side rear tire underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11570325

Incident

Dec 21, 2023

Mileage

115,000 mi

The contact's mother owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered a major fuel leak coming from the vehicle. The contact called the dealer and was given an estimate for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11553211

Incident

Oct 19, 2023

Mileage

170,000 mi

I am constantly having to fix my "learn remote" settings, vehicle stereo volume does not always match the level of it's output, blinker continues to get stuck on even after the steering wheel is in the position for the blinker to have ceased, door locks are sometimes stuck unlocked and sometimes stuck locked, ignition sometimes locked in ACC and will not allow for key to be removed, lug nuts have somehow become "swollen" and the dealership could not remove them in order to do a rotation, there is no protection plate under the vehicle causing easy access to vital items, the AC (for the third time since I got the car a year ago) has mysteriously stopped working, the fan motor continues to run for approximately 35 minutes after the vehicle has been turned off, fuel injectors are clogged (second time and I have already had this issue cleaned), headlights have collected water on inside, there is no rubber hose barrier(s) for any door, the hood, the hatch, the door windows, charging outlets are loosely fitted and do not add life to my electronics(they are for whatever reason being drained), the entire underside of the vehicle has become damaged, has begun to rust and bolts/plugs/other vital components have needed to be replaced once again due to there being no protection for the underside of the vehicle. These are just the components that I can think of off the top of my head!

NHTSA ID

11518546

Incident

Mar 10, 2022

I could smell gas Took it in for inspection it has not been fixed yet so we know it’s something to do with the fuel and the mechanic said if you drive it could blow up

NHTSA ID

11437681

Incident

Sep 2, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11242244

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR OF CAR, TOOK IT TO A AUTO SERVICE STATION THERE WHEN IT WAS CHECKED THE SERVICE PEOPLE FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINE ROTTED AT ONE OF CONNECTIONS AND IT STARTED TO LEAK, AFTER I HAD IT REPLACED I TOLD ME THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11241463

Incident

Nov 2, 2017

Mileage

70,593 mi

MY DEFROST DOESN'T WORK NOR DOES MY HEAT AND EVERY TIME I PUT GAS IN THE TRUCK IT DOESN'T WANT TO START UP RIGHT AWAY. IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I CAN'T SEE OUT MY WINDOWS I LIVE IN WISCONSIN. I'VE HAD MY BEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR FIXED TWICE EVEN HAD ALL MY FLUIDS DRAINED AND REFILLED. IT DOESN'T HEAT UP THE TRUCK AT ALL EVEN WITHOUT DEFROST ON I STILL GET COLD AIR NO MATTER THE SETTING AND SERVICE AIR BAG HAS BEEN POPPING UP SINCE IVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11205428

Incident

Jan 12, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP FRONT LEFT SIDE OF FUEL TANK.

NHTSA ID

11176070

Incident

Feb 10, 2019

FIRST THERE WAS SMELL IN DRIVER SIDE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. THEN THE SMELL GOT STRONGER OUTSIDE CAR, RIGHT DRIVER WHEEL WELL. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HE VERIFIED SMELL AND WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS HAND UP AND FEEL WET SPOT ON TOP/ SIDE OF GAS TANK. BOTH WITH CAR IN MOTION AND STOPPED. THE 2007 EQUINOX HAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT, GAS SMELL IN DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SEAT AND WHEEL WELL. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THERE IS A NOTICE BUT NO RECALL. THEY ARE USING THE SAME PLASTIC PART ON THE BOTH CARS AND THE PART MAY DETERIORATE OR DEFECTIVE ON BOTH YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11162915

Incident

Nov 6, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED AND A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAVY ODOR OF FUEL WAS POIGNANT NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AFTER AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11155612

Incident

Nov 30, 2018

Mileage

74,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL- I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND IT SEEMS LIKE GAS IS LEAKING ABOVE THE GAS TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY CAR MAY CATCH ON FIRE WHILE I AM DRIVING. NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A RECALL. WHEN I FIRST SMELLED IT, I WAS PARKED AT THE STORE BUT NOW I SMELL IT WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE IT IS PARKED!!

NHTSA ID

11140560

Incident

Oct 14, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE TWO RECALLS; FIRST THE AIRBAGS. WHEN MY PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON TELLING ME TO CHECK MY AIRBAG AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL DEPLOY IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF IT WILL ON ITS OWN ONE DAY HURTING MY PASSENGER. SECOND, MY VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE. IT SMELLS WORSE WHEN I FILL THE TANK UP AND ITS DOESN'T START RIGHT AWAY. I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE WERE THE 2007 EQUINOX HAD A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG AND GAS TANK. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

11084303

Incident

Nov 13, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

I RECEIVED SPECIAL COVERAGE LETTER 12191 JULY 2013 THAT STATED REPAIRS NEEDED TO BE MADE TO MY VEHICLE IN A CHEVY LOCATION BY 7/31/14. THESE REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE IF THE VEHICLE PRESENTED A PROBLEM BY THEN (PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN ON FUEL PUMP MAY CRACK/LEAK FUEL/VAPORS; IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY CAUSE VEHICLE FIRE). ON 9/18/17 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC (I DIDN'T REMEMBER CHEVY'S EXPIRED LETTER FROM 2013) SCARED OF SMELLING FUEL. HE REPAIRED MY CAR THE NEXT DAY & INFORMED ME OF A SPECIAL COVERAGE NOTE ON 2007 MODELS OF MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED CHEVY VIA LETTER ASKING IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE WORK DONE. THEIR 1ST RESPONSE WAS THEY SIMPLY WOULDN'T BECAUSE I HAD IT DONE AT MY OWN PRIVATE MECHANIC. I SHOULD HAVE DRIVEN MY FUEL SMELLING VEHICLE TO CHEVY (WHOM I DO NOT HAVE A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH) SO ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS CAN SEE IF THERE WAS IN FACT A PROBLEM FIRST. I THEN REPLIED, THAT AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE (HTTPS.//NYTI.MS/2HWDWED), DATED 10/1/12, THAT STATED THAT CHEVY WAS GOING TO ORIGINALLY SEND OUT A LETTER STATING THAT I HAD 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES TO HAVE PART REPLACED, BUT MY LETTER STATES ONLY UNTIL 7/31/14. THEIR VERBAL RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY SENT ME AN ADDITIONAL LETTER & MAYBE IT WENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS (I LIVE AT MY CURRENT LOCATION FOR 46 YEARS). EITHER WAY I SHOULD HAVE DONE THE INVESTIGATING ON MY OWN TO FIND OUT ABOUT SAID LETTER (FOUND ONLINE AFTER THE FACT 12191B; DOCUMENT ID 4233868, DATED 7/8/15) WHICH BELIEVE IT OR NOT STILL STATED THAT REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 7/31/14. THEY SIMPLY TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR REIMBURSE US BECAUSE WE WENT TO OUR OWN MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN DOING OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11045620

Incident

Sep 19, 2017

Mileage

78,438 mi

I HAVE PUT 3 FUEL PUMPS PLUS IT WILL HAVE TO HAVE INSTALLED AGAIN AND WILL HAVE TO SHELL OUT 725.00 THIS TIME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND IF GM DON`T REPLACE I MAY FILE THE LEMON LAW AND MY AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL SHOWS IT IS NOT WORKING SOMETIMES.

NHTSA ID

11024939

Incident

Sep 12, 2017

Mileage

45,703 mi

HAVING TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TEMP GAUGE AND GAS METER NOT READING

NHTSA ID

11020274

Incident

Aug 29, 2017

FAULTY RETURN PORT IN FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKING FUEL (SEVERE LEAK) STARTED NOTICING A SMELL WITH NO VISIBLE LEAK, NOW WHEN CAR IS PARKED LOOSING ALL FUEL PRESSURE (CAR WON'T START ON FIRST TRY) AND PARKED WITH 1/2 TANK NOW NO FUEL LEFT IN CAR. DISTINCT SMELL OF FUEL AND CAR IS PARKED. IS THIS PART OF RECALL?

NHTSA ID

11019848

Incident

Aug 26, 2017

Mileage

180,595 mi

FUEL PUMP LEAKING FROM MAIN FUEL LINE GOING INTO PUMP. THE 2007 MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A MAJOR LEAK, PUDDLES ONTO THE GROUND. VERY DANGEROUS, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY YEAR WAS NOT RECALLED, AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE FUEL PUMP/SYSTEM!

NHTSA ID

11012739

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

FIRST THE CAR FUEL TANK' THE GAS GAGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN THE GAS TANK FULL IT SHOWS HALF OR EMPTY, SECOND THE HEAD LIGHT BULB BLOWS LIKE EVERY TWO WEEKS BECAUSE WATER IS GETTING INTO THE CONSOLE OR THE HEAD LIGHT ,THE TURN SIGNAL NEVER TURN OFF AFTER YOU SWISH IN ON AND MAKE THE TURN I HAVE TO MANUALLY SWISH IT OFF AT ALL TIMES WEATHER YOU ARE IN CITY HIGH WAY DO NOT MATTER .

NHTSA ID

11010420

Incident

Jun 30, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED OTHERWISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALMEDA AUTO (CAR INSPECTION STATION) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE/SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE CONTACT LEFT THE INSPECTION STATION, THE VEHICLE STALLED, WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11002489

Incident

Jun 17, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CRACK WAS IN THE INLET OR THE OUTLET LINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP INLET OR OUTLET WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH DRIPPED ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10968160

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY CAR HAS BEEN SMELLING LIKE GAS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. I DON'T SEE ANY LEAKS AT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

10937761

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

"TAKATA RECALL" MY CAR HAS A VERY STRONG ORDOR OF GAS WHILE ITS PARKED AND WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE OR OR IS VERY STRONG IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10925113

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10924314

Incident

Nov 3, 2016

Mileage

98,000 mi