RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Equinox Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
13
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.
4%
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.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 13 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 powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 18, 2022

Transmission Control Module is a known problem on these vehicles. When it fails, it causes a failure in the clutch wave plate resulting in a catastrophic failure in the transmission. I believe this problem is a safety issue and needs to be reported to GM Motor Corporation!!! I am currently experiencing the delayed shifting from park to drive. On some occasions, the vehicle drops into limp mode and will not go over 15 mph. It occurs at random times and when it does, it will downshift violently almost to the point of over-running the engine. It is a real safety hazard and needs a recall!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11457330
Incident
Mar 18, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2020

HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLE I HAVE HEARD MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANNYS

NHTSA ID
11348584
Incident
Nov 14, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Aug 11, 2016

MY 74 YEAR OLD BROTHER BOUGHT HIS 2008 EQUINOX NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 120,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS THE BIGGEST HEAP OF CRAP CHEVROLET INVENTED!!!! 5. POWER STEERING WENT OUT COSTING $2500.00 TO FIX JAN 2015 6. TRANSMISSION STARTS JERKING WHEN HITTING 45 MPH DEALERSHIP INFORMED US OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WE TOOK IN FOR A RECALL ON A DEFECTIVE GAS MODUAL THAT THEY NEVER REPLACED SAYING THE PART WAS OK. THEY DROVE IT AND SAID THAT ITS THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED $500.00 TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. STARTED FEB 2016 7. THE STABLE LINK LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ON SAYING TO SERVICE THE STABLE TRAC THEN GOES OFF STARTED MARCH OF 2016 8. THE TOP OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE BACK HATCH IS GONE WHERE IT FELL OFF AT SOME POINT HAS MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG. TURN SIGNAL GEARS TO TURN OFF SIGNALS FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIGNAL DO NOT WORK. THE WASHER FLUID MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. DRIVERS DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTOR BROKE FROM WINDOW.DRIVERS DOOR HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THIS VEHICLE IS A CLEAN AND IN EXCELLENT SHAPE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS OWNED BY AN ELDERLY MAN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED HAS LESS THAT 120,000 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ID
10894969
Incident
Aug 10, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 4, 2016

I PURCHASED MY EQUINOX BRAND NEW IN JULY OF 2008 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING INTO 3RD SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW WAVE PLATE. CHEVROLET HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE AND I FALL WITHIN THE DATE AND MILEAGE LIMITS, BUT GM IS CLAIMING THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
10882446
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
109,000 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
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS MISALIGNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID
10781014
Incident
Aug 31, 2015
Mileage
91,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Aug 21, 2015

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP WHEN SHE PULLED OVER TO GET GAS. THE DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF JUST AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO SOUND BEFORE THEN. SHE HAD NO CONTROL OF HER CAR. NO STEERING, NOTHING. SHE HAD JUST PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO THANK GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH OR SHE WOULD BE DEAD. COST TO HAVE TOWED AND FIXED OVER $1000.ALSO PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH FRONT END. HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS, FRONT AXLE, TIE RODS 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS DUE TO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE WAY IT DRIVES OR IS MADE. CONSTANT "RUBBING, GRINDING" NOISE WHEN YOU TURN TIRES. GAS FUMES ARE VERY STRONG IN THE CAR, ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, AND REPAIR SHOPS CANNOT FIND ANY LEAKS. SHE CANNOT SELL IT, AS IT IS WORTH VERY LITTLE DUE TO ALL THESE DEFECTS AND NO RECALLS, AND SHE IS STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. STUCK WITH A VERY DANGEROUS LEMON.

NHTSA ID
10750217
Incident
Jun 2, 2015
Mileage
105,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE GEARS BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,782.

NHTSA ID
10663195
Incident
Nov 24, 2014
Mileage
79,782 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 2, 2014

PURCHASED A USED CHEVY EQUINOX SPORT 2008 IN AUGUST 2013(8 MONTHS AFTER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY) I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND MY CAR STOPPED GOING FORWARD, SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE 3 KIDS IN THE CAR AND IT JUST STOPS GOING. THANK GOD WE DIDN'T WRECK BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL, NO DUMMY LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, NO JERKING BEFORE HAND, NOTHING EVEN WHEN IT STOPPED MOVING, ACTUALLY JUST HAD A TUNE UP DONE ON THE CAR LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF THIS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CAN'T AFFORD REPAIRS RANGING FROM $1700-3500. I FEEL LIKE WITH SO MANY REPORTED TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND PARTS ASSOCIATED THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION THROUGH GM OR RECALL ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586167
Incident
Apr 29, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 20, 2013

MY TRANSMISSION QUIT GOING INTO 3RD GEAR COMPLETELY ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS BECAUSE I WAS A YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REASON THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT WAS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY WAVE PLATE. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE GENERAL MOTORS MIGHT COVER THIS BECAUSE OF IT BEING A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT. THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO TELL ME THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BUT THEY WILL GIVE $1500 TOWARDS THE $3500 IT IS GOING TO COST TO FIX IT. I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY TO REPLACE A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OUT YET. GENERAL MOTORS ADMITS TO THERE BEING A BULLETIN OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A RECALL THEY WON'T FIX IT. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AT LEAST TEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING GO WRONG WITH THEIR GM VEHICLE. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ONLINE AND SPEAKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE I THINK A RECALL IS WELL OVERDUE. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10548601
Incident
Oct 12, 2013
Mileage
93,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 25, 2013

THE CAR WAS JERKING INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHILE PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR THE NEXT MORNING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS TWICE AND HIT THE HOOD THIS LAST TIME AND IT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S NOT SEALED PROPERLY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AFTER A THUNDERSTORM. THE MECHANIC SAID THE CAR IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND MOISTURE IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE LIGHTS. THE COST TO REPLACE AN $11 BULB WAS $24 IN LABOR BECAUSE ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COST $$54 IN LABOR BECAUSE YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE BUMPER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504456
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
43,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 16, 2013

I AM HAVING ACCELERATION HESITATION ISSUES DURING TRAFFIC WHICH CAUSES A TRANSMISSION TO MISFIRE AND STALL OUT DURING TRAFFIC. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN TURNERSVILLE NJ TO FIX THIS ISSUES SINCE CHEVY EQUINOX 2008 HAS OVER 39 RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498349
Incident
Feb 15, 2013
Mileage
66,000 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 .