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2008 Chevrolet Equinox Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
28
Latest Mar 30, 2023
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.
8%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 28 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 interior

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Mar 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the front driver's and passenger's side interior door handles were fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11514561
Incident
Mar 30, 2023
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Feb 8, 2018

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM SOMEONE WHO LET ME KNOW OF THIS ISSUE AND COULD NOT GET IT FIXED. THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT NO MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THERE IS A "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE CENTER CONSOLE IS ALWAYS SET TO OFF NO MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE WHETHER THE PEOPLE BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN IT WAS NEW OR USED. IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND IT COSTS $800-$1000 FOR GM TO FIX IT WHICH IS LUDICROUS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD FAULTY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY INSTALLED. THIS WAS THE SAME ISSUE IN THE 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THAT WAS RECALLED HOWEVER GM WILL NOT RECALL THE 2008????

NHTSA ID
11071731
Incident
Jan 22, 2018
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 31, 2015

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T GO ON OR GOES ON AND THEN TURNS OFF WHILE IN CAR DRIVING OR STATIONARY. MOVING AROUND ON SEAT MAKES IT SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE FROM THE 2007 RECALL, BUT NOT EXTENDED TO 2008. HAVEN'T TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP YET, BUT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WAS SOLD TO ME LAST MONTH FROM A USED CAR DEALER.

NHTSA ID
10817263
Incident
Dec 31, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 1, 2015

LOCKS ON CAR HAVE GOT TO WHERE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. NOT ONLY VERY INCONVENIENT TO GET IN OR OUT OF CAR BUT COULD VERY WELL BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK AND NOT ABLE TO GET OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680328
Incident
May 18, 2011
Mileage
75,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 14, 2014

DOOR LOCKS ON ALL 4 SWINGING DOORS ACT INCONSISTENTLY. WHEN LOCKING VALUABLE ITEMS WITH THE REMOTE, ONLY SOME OF THE DOORS WOULD LOCK. VERY DANGEROUS AND I SEE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WIFE DOESN'T ON FEEL SAFE IF SHE NEED TO GET IN HER CAR AND LOCK THE DOORS ONLY TO FIND 2 OF THE DOORS DID NOT LOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10633024
Incident
Mar 9, 2014
Mileage
98,500 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 13, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT IT WAS DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10621987
Incident
Jan 10, 2012
Mileage
25,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM FOR THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID
10616208
Incident
Apr 14, 2014
Mileage
53,000 mi
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
Interior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 2, 2014

POWER LOCKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSAGE SIDE DOES NOT WORK WITH THE KEY OR REMOTE. DIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607889
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
77,194 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
Interior & seats
Filed May 21, 2014

REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED/UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE (100% OF THE TIME) THE DRIVER DOOR NOW HAS TO MANUALLY LOCKED FROM THE INSIDE, AND UNLOCKED USING A KEY (50% OF THE TIME) REAR DRIVER DOOR LOCK HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED/UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE (50% OF THE TIME). *TR

NHTSA ID
10593109
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 12, 2014

DOORS DO NOT LOCK ANYMORE. THE KEY FOB ALSO WILL NOT LOCK THE DOORS. I HAVE TO GO AROUND TO EACH DOOR AND LOCK THEM MANUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587847
Incident
Apr 9, 2014
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 28, 2014

ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK , OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS I TALK TO , HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585384
Incident
Jul 4, 2010
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Apr 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10584902
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 23, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10536925
Incident
Feb 20, 2013
Mileage
84,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Aug 22, 2013

THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR WILL SOMETIMES UNLOCK WITH THE KIOSK AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR LOCK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. NOW MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL SOMETIMES ROLL DOWN AFTER SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO ROLL IT DOWN. OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS WITH THEIR 2008 EQUINOX? *TR

NHTSA ID
10536692
Incident
Jul 2, 2012
Mileage
65,500 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 12, 2013

DOOR LOCKS OCCASIONALLY FAILING TO LOCK/UNLOCK WHEN USING KEYLESS ENTRY OR INTERNAL DOOR LOOK SWITCH. WARMER WEATHER APPEARS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FREQUENCY IN WHICH THE DOORS FAIL TO LOOK/UNLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10534868
Incident
Apr 9, 2011
Mileage
100,100 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed May 7, 2013

MY 2008 EQUINOX HEADLIGHTS ARE FULL OF WATER WHICH MAKE THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT VERY BAD. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL ONLY OPEN THE LOCKS PART OF THE WAY AND YOU CAN'T GET IN THE CAR, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED MORE WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THE VEHICLE. IT ACTS LIKE THE LOCKS WON'T WORK IN THE HEAT. I ALSO HAVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON ANYTIME SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS SUCH A COMFORTING FEELING, AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE ISSUES ARE NOT RECALLED BY THE AUTO MAKER. CAN ANYONE HELP US? THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT ARE NOT SAFE......... *TR

NHTSA ID
10511029
Incident
May 25, 2010
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Mar 18, 2013

I PURCHASED MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN 2008 AND CURRENTLY WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1- DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW- WILL ONLY ROLL DOWN AND/OR UP INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL ROLL BACK UP IF THE INTERIOR PANEL IS HIT SEVERAL TIMES. 2- DOOR LOCKS/ALARM- THE ALARM WILL SET BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. WHEN USING THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE CAR, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL CONSISTENTLY LOCK. THE BACK DOOR LOCKS WILL GET STUCK HALF WAY AND WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK EXCEPT MANUALLY. 3- STABILITRAC- THE STABILITRAC WILL DISABLE RANDOMLY. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS OR WET CONDITIONS, ON WARM AND COLD DAYS AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS BEING STARTED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 4- AIRBAGS- THE "SERVICE AIRBAGS" LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. IT WILL COME ON ONE DAY AND BE ON FOR A WEEK AND THEN GO OFF FOR A MONTH OR TWO AND THEN COME BACK ON AGAIN. 5- DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER HOLDS A LOT OF MOISTURE 6- CHECK TIRE PRESSURE COMES ON QUITE A BIT FOR NO REASON. ALL TIRE PRESSURES ARE DOUBLE CHECKED AND ARE AT THE PERFECT PRESSURE RECOMMENDED BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503454
Incident
Jun 6, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Oct 10, 2012

DRIVERS SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW SLOWLY BEGAN TO FAIL. WOULD WORK WHEN IT WANTED TO AND THEN STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. SEEMS LIKE THE SAME RECALL AS THE 250K MIDSIZE SUV'S BASED ON THE TRAILBLAZER(2006,2007). *TR

NHTSA ID
10479650
Incident
Apr 3, 2012
Mileage
33,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 12, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID
10465423
Incident
May 1, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Sep 28, 2011

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR DAYS AND GO OFF FOR DAYS AND CONTINUED DOING THIS FOR A MONTH TILL WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM WAS RIGHT FRONT SEAT MODULE SHORTED OUT AND WAS REPLACED. MODULE KIT 14.865 (PART FP 19207140) TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $416.75. AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL PER GM. I DO HAVE A FILE NUMBER WITH GM AND THEY WILL NOTIFY ME SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL. *TT

NHTSA ID
10427729
Incident
Aug 29, 2011
Mileage
48,388 mi
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jun 16, 2011

ON 5/27/11 MY REAR WIPER FROZE UP IN THE ON MODE WHICH CAUSED MY BATTERY TO GO DEAD. IN TRYING TO JUMPER THE CAR WE NOTICED THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN EVEN WITH THE HANDLE. THE PASSENGER DOORS WOULD OPEN. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE CONSOLE TO FLIP THE HOOD RELEASE SO WE COULD START THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT & BATTERY WAS DISLODGED YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THE DRIVER OUT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AS I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS 2008 EQUINOX. HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THIS SAFETY HAZARD? I TALKED WITH THE DEALER & HE WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10407190
Incident
May 27, 2008
Mileage
52,000 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Dec 7, 2010

SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE FROM 6/08-CURRENT - CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR A NEW PROBLEM. CAR 24 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASE NEW AND HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES AND HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES FOR BREAKDOWNS. HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER 5YRS AND TERRIFIED TO DRIVE WITH ISSUES. HAVE COPIES OF ALL DEALERSHIP PAPERWORK, REPAIRS. REPAIRS INCLUDE, NOT LIMITED TO TRANSMISSION REPLACED, HEATER/COOLER SYSTEM LEAK, LIGHTING/DASH REPLACED, TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED BUT CURRENTLY BROKE, CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT APPROX COST $5000 REPAIR, LEATHER CRACKING, WINDSHIELD WIPER REAR NOT WORKING, CARPETING COMING OUT IN NEED OF REPAIR, FRONT HEADLIGHT LEAK AND FOGGY IN NEED OF REPAIR. THIS CAR IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP, GETTING NOWHERE WITH GENERAL MOTORS. HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN WHEN BROKE DOWN. DANGEROUS NOW KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369470
Incident
Jun 29, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsSteering+1 more
Filed Nov 23, 2010

2008 SPORT EQUINOX NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT 2 YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 6 MILES. 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORTS & THE TRANSMISSION WANT AT 40,000ISH MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM. TOOK THE DEALER ONE MONTH TO REPAIR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE PARTS. ALSO HAD THE STEERING REPAIRED 4 TIMES, COLAR REPAIRED. THE OLD DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE ME AND THE NOISE WAS THERE AGAIN & AGAIN. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE RACK.IT WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHICH SHOULD LIKE MY ABS, BUT IT WAS THE STEERING RACK AND A LOUD SQUEALING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I FOUND A NICE DEALER WHO FINALLY BELIEVED ME AND FIXED IT LAST WEEK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH THE NEW DEALER & GM'S HELP. JUST MAKES ME NERVOUS WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR ME SINCE THE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS OTHER ISSUES TOO, LIKE THE CO SENSOR, COMPUTER AND BRAKE IS FRONT HEAVY. THE TRUCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, MAKES YOU WONDER WHILE THIS MODEL WAS ONLY MADE FOR 1 YEAR. BUT SINCE I AM A WOMEN I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! TRIED TO TAKE IN, LOL, NOT WORTH ANYTHING AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO START OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367292
Incident
Jan 2, 2008
Mileage
10 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .