RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Equinox Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
17
Latest May 3, 2019
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.
5%
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

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 17 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 visibility

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

AirbagsFuel systemVisibility
Filed May 3, 2019

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
Visibility
Filed Oct 19, 2018

WHEN I PUT MY EQUINOX IN GEAR AND GO, YOU HEAR LIKE A WATER WASHING IN THE DASH. MY WINDSHIELD AND DRIVES WINDOWS FOG UP WHILE I HAVE MY HEAT, OR DEFROST ON DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11141429
Incident
Oct 19, 2018
Visibility
Filed Jan 16, 2017

JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2016 MY WIFE'S CAR STARTED ALTERNATING BACK AND FORTH LUKE WARM AIR TO COLD AIR. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CORE, THE BLEND MOTOR DOOR, BLED THE LINES FOR AIR BUBBLES, AND TODAY THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. NOTHING HAS CHANGED THE HEATER PROBLEMS. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS SITTING OR MOVING, IT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. IF IT'S COLD I CAN'T KEEP MY WINDOWS CLEAR FROM FOGGING UP OR FROST ON MY WINDOWS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10945578
Incident
Nov 21, 2016
Mileage
198,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 17, 2015

ELECTRICAL - MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER DRIVES THE EQUINOX - THE LOCKS DO NOT LOCK UNLESS SHE PHYSICALLY GOES AROUND AND LOCKS ALL OF THE DOORS. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE - ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT - NOT SAFE WHEN SHE IS WORKING AND ALONE AND HAVING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL DOORS - ALSO SOMETIMES A MANUAL UNLOCK WILL SET OFF THE CAR ALARM!!! AND SHE HAS TO JUMP IN AND PUT KEY IN IGNITION TO GET IT TO STOP. SO WORRIED. HAD CHEVROLET LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAY ALL 4 DOOR ACTUATORS HAVE TO BE FIXED FOR A COST OF OVER 1200.00. COLLEGE KIDS CANNOT AFFORD THAT AND IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ANYWAY. NEED IMMEDIATE HELP WITH THIS. VISIBILITY/WIPER - WINDSHIELD FLUID LEAKING INTO FLOOR ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN WIPER FLUID FILLED. CHEVROLET SAID COST OVER 500.00 TO REPLACE FLUID BOTTLE??? COLLEGE KIDS CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND IT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ANYWAY. SAFETY HAZARD WITH VISIBILITY CONCERNS SINCE BOTTLE EMPTY AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
10749083
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
95,000 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
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
Visibility
Filed Apr 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED BUT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF TEH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10578232
Incident
Feb 15, 2014
Mileage
100,000 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
Visibility
Filed Jul 26, 2013

GOT IN CAR TO GO TO WORK UPON CRANKING THE VEHICLE THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10531978
Incident
Jul 25, 2013
Mileage
75,000 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 & 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
Visibility
Filed Jun 13, 2010

M7 2008 EQUINOX REAR WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT AND IS TIED IN DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY, THUS KILLING MY BATTERY AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10336095
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
43,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 8, 2010

MY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT CAUSE THE INSIDE OF MY CAR TO BE FILLED WITH A SMOKE. I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED AND THE CAR CLEANED TO GET THE SMELL OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10335279
Incident
Apr 16, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 23, 2009

2008 CHEVY EQUINOX - PURCHASED MAY 2008. NINE (9) OF THE LAST ELEVEN (11) MONTHS, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS; 'SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM', 'SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM", & "SERVICE STABILITRAK"ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EACH. EACH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT A MODULE RELAY WAS REPLACED. THEY ALSO EVENTUALLY GAVE US A NEW BATTERY AND CHANGED THE STARTER. NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT UP, AND THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT IS COMING BACK ON. THE REAR WIPER WILL MAKE A SINGLE SWEEP EVEN WHEN IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE RADIO WILL START SEARCHING FOR A STATION EVEN WITH A STRONG SIGNAL FROM AN AREA STATION. IF I HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE CD'S WILL SKIP SONGS OR RESTART ITSELF. MOST TIMES, I AM TOLD THAT THE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING WHEN I BRING IT IN. UNFORTUNATELY, IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR AFTER HOURS. THEREFORE, NOTHING IS DONE TO CORRECT THE CONSTANT PROBLEMS. I REALLY FEEL LIKE I PURCHASED A LEMON AND EVEN GAVE MY DEALER A COPY OF THE TEXAS LEMON LAW, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING EVEN SHORT LENGTH ROAD TRIPS FOR FEAR MY CAR WILL FAIL TO RUN PROPERLY. I FEEL AS THOUGH I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A "LEMON" CAR FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266547
Incident
May 7, 2008
Mileage
1,300 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 17, 2008

HVAC CONTROL DEFECTS. WHEN RECIRCULATION AIR BUTTON IS ACTIVATED, THE COMPRESSOR IS ENGAGED WITH AC ON, EVEN IF THE AC BUTTON IS NOT ACTIVATED (PUSHED). *TR

NHTSA ID
10242676
Incident
Aug 1, 2008

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 .