RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
94
Latest May 7, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Dec 1, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 94 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 94 · page 1 of 4

Electrical
Filed May 7, 2026

Odometer Fraud - The contact purchased a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 186,425 as stated on the contract. The contact stated that the speedometer was possibly tampered with because the odometer reading was not displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic c reading was provided and the speedometer reading was repaired and the mileage was 300,107.

NHTSA ID
11736341
Incident
Apr 15, 2026
Mileage
300,107 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a fuel leak coming from the gas tank. The contact also stated that the check engine warning light was illuminating while driving up an incline; however, the light disappeared shortly afterwards. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

NHTSA ID
11524399
Incident
Sep 1, 2018
Mileage
46,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 26, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the traction control warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID
11418604
Incident
Apr 25, 2021
Mileage
160,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 12, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.*DT*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11402620
Incident
Feb 28, 2021
Mileage
66,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 8, 2020
Fire reported

I WAS HEADING DOWNTOWN WITH MY KIDS AND THIS CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING THIS WAS ONE OF THE WORSE DAYS OF MY LIFE CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED ALL THEM EQUINOX NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES THIS CAR SET A LITTLE BLAZE STALLED OUT IVE ONLY SEEN CHEVY EQUINOX DO THIS

NHTSA ID
11363319
Incident
Oct 7, 2020
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2020

HAD A FOUL FUEL SMELL, FOUND OUT GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR FACILITY STATED THAT CHEVY HAD THE TANK IN 'READY',NO ISSUE TO ORDER ONE. SOUNDS LIKE SOME ONE WAS READY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALER OR CHEVROLET. DRIVERS SIDE FROM DOOR TO REAR OF CAR PAINT IS FALLING OFF. I CAN SEE AND FEEL SOME SORT OF 'BUBBLES' UNDER THE PAINT. LOOKS LIKE NO RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11349183
Incident
Jun 2, 2020
Mileage
98,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 13, 2020

WHEN YOU DRIVE IT THE TRANSMISSON WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. IT MAKES IT HARD TO GET ANYWHERE. IT ONLY HAW 110,000 MILES ON IT AND JUST HAD THE TIMING CHAIN DONE ON IT AND THE DAY WENT TO GET IT WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND WON'T COME OUT OF 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA ID
11339154
Incident
Jun 15, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 4, 2020

THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SAYS "OFF" AND NOTIFICATION MESSAGE SAYS "SERVICE PASSENGER AIRBAG". EVERY SHOP I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO SAYS THEY SEE NO PROBLEMS, BUT A DEALER HAS TO TAKE A LOOK. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN 2018 AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THIS IS PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL OF EQUINOX AROUND THIS TIME IN ITS LIFE. THE STABLE TRACK IS SIMILAR. EVERY SO OFTEN, IT STOPS WORKING BUT THEN MOST OF THE TIME IS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11337461
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 4, 2020

THE TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDES WENT BAD AT ONLY 110K MILES. AND IF IT WAS RECALLED LIKE THE 2009 CHEVY TRAVERSE WAS THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO FIX IT. IT HAS THE SAME MOTOR. IT IS THE 3.6L MOTOR. BECAUSE IT IS THE SPORTS MODEL. IT WAS THROWING P0008 P0018 P0017 AND TWO TRANSMISSION CODES SO I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD NOW. IT IS THROWING CODES P0752 AND P0700. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327300
Incident
May 12, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2020

THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326991
Incident
May 12, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 26, 2019

THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND AFTER REVIEW OF THIS INFO ONLINE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS SAME ISSUE NOT SURE WHY NO ONE WILL LOOK INTO THE RECALL NEEDED FOR THESE AIRBAGS THE DEALER IS SAYING IT WILL 1200 TO REPLACE SENSOR LIGHT PUT IN BY MANUFACTURER THIS IS INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE ON THE RIDE THIS IS MUST HAVE ITEM IN A CAR

NHTSA ID
11291303
Incident
Dec 20, 2019
Steering
Filed Dec 20, 2019

KEY WON'T RELEASE RIGHT AWAY AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO RELEASE . IT'S HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES

NHTSA ID
11290404
Incident
Dec 14, 2019
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 12, 2019

MY AIRBAG LIGHT AND 'SERVICE AIR BAG' LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT AND STABALIZE TRACK LIGHT WERE ALL ON FOR A FEW WEEK AND I TOOK IT TO LOCAL SHOP WHO SAID THE SENSOR FOR THE BRAKES UNDER DRIVER SEAT WAS BAD SO THAT COST $580.00 FOR NEW MODULE. THAT TOOK CARE OF ABS/STABILIZE LIGHTS. HAD TO TO GO DEALER FOR AIRBAG LIGHTS AND THEY CHARGED $1070.00 BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MODULE UNDER PASSENGER SEAT WAS OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE (PART 560 PLUS LABOR). I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE AIRBAGS!! THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NEVER WENT OFF SO I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF IT...NO MATTER IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN SEAT OR NOT, OR WHETHER IT WAS IDLE, IN MOTION, ETC.

NHTSA ID
11279690
Incident
Oct 24, 2019
BrakesElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 16, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING, AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE GROUND, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE WHILE IN USE, AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED FOUR TIMES WITHIN THE YEAR AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
11232404
Incident
Nov 8, 2017
Mileage
115,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2019

"TAKATA RECALL" SERVICE AIR BAG , THAT IS WHAT COMES UP ON DASH EVERY TIME I START THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
11190563
Incident
Jan 19, 2019
Mileage
63,000 mi
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Dec 3, 2018

THE STEERING PUMP HAS GONE OUT, AND THE FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT JUST CAME ON . THE CAR IS MISFIRING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES!

NHTSA ID
11155791
Incident
Dec 3, 2018
Mileage
83 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 29, 2018

MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
11143684
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
200,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. SERVICE AIR BAG FOR PASSENGER SEAT IS ON AND AIR BAG IS OFF. BEGAN WHILE STATIONARY WITH PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11142655
Incident
Aug 30, 2018
Mileage
57,500 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 4, 2018

THE STEERING WHEEL IT GETS SO HARD TO TURN FOR NO REASON TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT PLEASE DO A RECALL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ALL OF US

NHTSA ID
11133381
Incident
Mar 12, 2015
Steering
Filed Sep 14, 2018

2009 CHEVY EQUINOX AWD HAS STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT NORMAL SPEEDS FOR TURNS, THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AND VERY HARD TO TURN AS IT SEEMS THE POWER STEERING ENDS. IT RECOVERS BUT INTERMITTENTLY. DOES NOT HAPPEN ON ALL TURNS BUT USUALLY HAPPENS MANY TIMES IN A DAY. HAPPENS DURING COOL OR WARM DAYS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER WEATHER SITUATIONS. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER GM VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED DUE TO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A VOLTAGE DROP AND THEIR FIX IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS ISSUE IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS. THE TURNS GET HARD AND THEN SEEMS TO RECOVER WHEN ACCELERATING INTO THE TURN. THIS HAS TO BE A VOLTAGE DROP ISSUE OR SIMILAR. THIS CAN CAUSE.AN ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS AT THE WRONG TIME. PLEASE.HELP GET A RECALL.ON THIS.

NHTSA ID
11129457
Incident
Aug 3, 2018
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 22, 2018

THE AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS 'OFF' WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT PASSENGER RIDING IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKING AROUND THE AIRBAG. THE CRACK IS OUTLINING THE SPACE WHERE THE AIRBAG WOULD POP OUT FROM. IT APPEARS UNSAFE AS IF IT'S FAULTY AND COULD INITIATE AT ANY MINUTE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT LOOKS AS IF OTHER MODELS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS MODEL BUT NO RECALLS ARE SHOWN. THERE ARE OTHER 2009 GMS THAT HAVE RECALLS ISSUED.

NHTSA ID
11103495
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
88,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 11, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. I SEE THAT THE 2009 CHEVY EQUINOX IS NOT ON THE SCHEDULE TO BE RECALLED, HOWEVER, THERE ARE SO MANY WITH THE SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM. IT'S A SCANDAL THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH NOT RECALLING. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STABILLINK, TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS. IT IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL OF THESE VEHICLES!

NHTSA ID
11093374
Incident
May 11, 2018
Electrical
Filed Apr 23, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (DICK SHIRLEY CHEVROLET AT (336) 792-1922, LOCATED AT 2616 ALAMANCE RD, BURLINGTON, NC 27215) AND WAS ADVISED TO PLACE WD-40 ON THE IGNITION SWITCH TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT DID AS ADVISED AND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11089620
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 12, 2018

CHEVY EQANOX RECALL. WHEN RAINING OR ON WET ROADS OR SNOW THIS LIGHT POPS UP AND SAYS ENGINE REDUCING POWER AND SAYS SERVICE STABILITY TRACK THEN SHUTS THE CAR DOWN I THINK THAT THIS IS A RECALL BECAUSE SEVERAL OF INDIVIDUALS I KNO HAVE CHEVYS AND HAVE THIS ISSUE I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY NEVER. FIGURED OUT FOR ME .

NHTSA ID
11084730
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 4, 2018

THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS CRACKING AROUND THE AIRBAG. THE CRACK IS OUTLINING THE SPACE WHERE THE AIRBAG WOULD POP OUT FROM. IT APPEARS UNSAFE AS IF ITS FAULTY AND COULD INITIATE AT ANY MINUTE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT LOOKS AS IF OTHER MODELS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I'M REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I SAW AN EXPOSE ON THE TAKATA AIRBAGS AND GM WAS MENTIONED. I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THIS MODEL BUT NO RECALLS ARE SHOWN. THERE ARE OTHER 2009 GMS THAT HAVE RECALLS ISSUED. A BODY SHOP TOLD US WE SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE THERE WERE RECALLS ON THEIR AIRBAGS BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE ARE NONE. I'M TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A FREE ESTIMATE AFTER NOTIFYING THEM THE CRACK HAS BEEN DEVELOPING FOR SOME TIME AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11083278
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
100,000 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.

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