Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 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.
The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words
I was in a rear end collision on May 14th 2026 the impact of the speed totaled my car in my airbags did not deploy and from my understanding where the sensors are on my vehicle they should have I ended up getting a concussion and soft tissue damage because my head hit the steering wheel my seat belt did not lock either.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the message to “Service Air Bags” was displayed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,243.
The contact owned a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving up a hill on a 2-lane road at approximately 45 mph, an oncoming vehicle in the opposing lane had taken too wide of a turn and had entered her lane, to avoid a head-on collision the contact swerved into the guard rail. Upon crashing, the air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated before the crash. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence and deemed a total loss. The contact has an appointment with a doctor to determine whether any injuries were sustained. Nobody outside of the vehicle was injured. A police report was filed. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,357.
There is a SB-10058723-5799, that addresses airbags. I have a 2011 Chevy Equinox with 94k miles on it. The ‘service airbag’ error stays on the screen. I called Chevy to ask if I can bring vehicle in under SB 10058723-5799, and they told me my vehicle does not fall under this, AND they say the SB 10058723-5799 is expired. I asked they lady, so if the airbag deploys while I’m driving 65mph on the freeway, you’re not going to fix it under a recall that you say is expired. This makes absolutely no sense, and I believe it should fall under NHTSA’s special bulletin. Please help me. Thank you for your time.
Traveling at low speed in driveway. When the side airbags deployed for seemingly no reason. There was no collision, did not run over anything etc.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated was driving at approximately 35 MPH when another vehicle cut in front of the contact's vehicle and the contact crashed into the passenger's front side door. The contact stated that she was unable to depress the brakes and her vehicle began to climb the side of the other person's vehicle. The contact stated that the driver and passenger air bags and side air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the vehicle disengaged from the other contact's vehicle and rolled off the roadway onto a grassy shoulder and stopped. The contact had lacerations and bruises on her neck, and neck vertebrae injuries. Also, she had bruises on both arms and wrists and lower back pain. The contact did not know what injuries the other driver suffered. The contact was taken to the ER by ambulance. The contact's vehicle was towed to her residence where the other driver's insurance adjuster inspected the contact's vehicle and declared it a total loss. The vehicle had not been repaired, however, the contact purchased the vehicle back from the other person's insurance provider. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and had assigned an investigator to check the air bags. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
The airbag light stays on. It’s a known problem with this vehicle. Hundreds of owners online with complaints. I believe it has to do with faulty wiring under drivers seat. I’m scared the bag will intermittently inflate. GMC has to know about it. It’s happening on all the equinox vehicles. Thank you
THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ONE YESTERDAY 05/11/2021 BUT THEN TURNED OFF. IT WILL ALERT WHEN I START THE CAR AND INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.
MY ABS AND STABILITRACK LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WAS TOLD IT'S A BAD SENSOR AND REPLACE WHEN POSSIBLE. ON THE WAY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, (NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENTED) I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I DEPRESSED MY BRAKES. IMMEDIATELY THE ABS AND STABILITRACK LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS MORE THAN 1/2' AND MADE A GEAR LOCKING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP USING MANUAL DOWNSHIFT AND PUMPING THE BRAKES. WHEN PRESENTING TO MECHANIC, I WAS ADVISED TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE. READ THAT AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE A BRAKE FAILURE.
I HAVE A 'SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ' GOING OFF ON MY 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX. LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING IT
CHEVY EQUINOX WAS TRAVELING IN THE SLOW LANE ON HIGHWAY. SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY, NO CONTACT TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON.IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 8 YEARS AGO. CHEVY HAS FIXED IT BEFORE NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT SHOULD BE RECALL ON THE CHEVY EQUINOX I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I START THE CAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON.CHEVY DIAGNOSED IT AND SAID THE CAUSE IS B0074-00 AND B0074-OD THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER A $1000.00 THEY KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW.
TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON CITY STREET, 30 MPH, WAS T-BONED IN CENTER OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY? DAMAGE TO BOTH DOORS, CENTER AND LOWER PILLAR, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL BAR BENT. CONCUSSION AND BRUISING FROM INSIDE PILLAR TO DRIVER. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT AT TIME OF COLLISION
TAMARA RECALL THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I START MY VEHICLE AND STAYS ON FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND SCARES ME THAT IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. I FEEL AS IF MY LIFE IS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS.
DRIVING HOME I WAS APPROACHING INTERSECTION IN WHICH A FEW CARS WERE BEGINNING TO MOVE AS I APPROACHED THE RED LIGHT. ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY, UPON SEEING THE SLOW START, I BEGAN BREAKING. UNFORTUNATELY I CONTINUALLY PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP AND RAN MY VEHICLE UNDER BACK END OF A FEDEX DELIVERY TRUCK. ONE HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED MY AIRBAG CANISTERS INITIATED BUT BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACT I DID RECEIVE INDICATOR NOTIFICATION STATING AIRBAG SERVICE REQUIRED. PRIOR TO THE COLLISION O HAVE HAD TOTAL REBUILD OF MOTOR FROM BLOCK UPWARD BY GMC I REPORTED THAT NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE ON HWY MY CARD WOULD SUDDENLY STALL/ LAG . GOING FROM 65-70MPH DOWN TO 20-30MPH. HAVE HAD ENGINE MAINTAINED WELL AND CHANGING OIL ETC WAS TOLD ALL 3 TIMES I TOOK IT IS IT RESULTED NOTHING THAT COULD BE REPLICATED. DESPITE HAVING BEEN LUCKY SINCE IT COMMON APPARANTLY FOR MY VEHICHLE TO BEGIN LOSES OIL AND HAS TO BE REFILLED Q-2 X WEEK LY.( SEEMS TO BE COMMON COMPLAINT FROM AUTOMOTIVE MEN TO STATE ALL IS GOOD. 1) IT IS NOT ALL GOOD. 2) I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF STALLING, FAILED BREAKING SYSTEM AND LACK OF AIR BAG.DEPLOYMENT.I ALSO TOOK SEVERAL TIMES FOR TIMING BELT REPAIR AND EVEN HAD MOTOR REBUILT AND ALSO DESPITE JUST HAVING PUT ON WHEN THIS STARTED 3 MONTHSEAGO, HAVE HAD ISSUES SINCE 4 MO AFTER BUYING VEHICLE ( HAD 20,000 MILES ON IT . OF COURSE AM ALWAYS TOLD NOT IN WARRANTY TIME LIMIT OR MY VIN # NOT INCLUDED IN CARS IDENTIFIED OF INCREASED RISK AND ALWAYS TOLD THERE IS AN INABILITY TO REPLICATE COMPLAINTS. WELL NOW I HAVE A TOTALLED CAR BUT PRAISE BE TO GOD HE STILL WRITING MY STORY AND I AM UNHARMED AND WILL NEED NEW VEHICHLE
VECHICAL WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, VECHICAL WAS TOTALED. AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF. ON A HIGHWAY ABOUT 50-60 MPH.
THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON EVEN THOUGH STUFF WAS REPLACED
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON NEEDS TO BE SERVICED IT KEEPS SAYING AIRBAGS ARE OFF THIS LIGHT COMES ON EVERYTIME EQUINOX IS IN MOTION AND CONTINUES TO BEEP ALL THE TIME!
WHEN SEATING IN THE DRIVER SEAT TURN ON THE CAR MY AIR BAG WARREN COME ON EVEN WHEN I TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT COME ON AND I DID GET WARRANT CARD AND I CALL A CHEVY DEALER IN QUINCY FLA AND THEY SAID THEY DID IT STILL IT KEEP POPPING UP LET TALK ABOUT THAT OIL THAT I KEEP LOSING WITH IN 4WEEK BOUT THE OIL WHEN I GET A OIL CHARGE WHEN IN A 3 WEEK CHECKING MY CAGE AND CHECKING MY OIL STICK NOW I KNOW WHAT THE CAGE ON THE OIL STICK LEVEL SHOULD BE I HAVE A UNCLE THAT WORKS FOR CHEVROLET DEALER IN UPPER STATE THAT SHOW ME WHAT TO LOOK FOR NOW THIS DON'T MAKE SENSE SO
THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON UPON STARTING IT ONE MORNING , BUT HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 58,863 MILES ON IT. CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED!
AIRBAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. DEALER FIXED IT BUT IT KEEP COMING ON. COMES ON WHEN I AM STATIONARY AND DRIVING. IT ALWAYS READ SERVICE AIRBAG.
JUNE 9, 2017 AT 10:00 PM I HIT A DEER ON SOUTH DAKOTA HWY 11 IN LINCOLN COUNTY. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH AND I WAS GOING 68 MPH WHEN I HIT THE DEER HEAD ON. I DROVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES MY WIFE AND I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRE. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STARTED TO WALK AWAY AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE WHOLE THING WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. IF WE WOULD HAVE WENT IN THE DITCH AND BEEN UNCONSCIOUS WE WOULD HAVE BURNT UP WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON THAT VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE. GMC WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON SAYING AIRBAG MAINTENANCE. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR. THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETED DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. I ESTIMATE THE SPEED AT COLLISION TO BE AROUND 30MPH. I WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND AT ABOUT 630PM IN THE EVENING, ON A FOUR LANE CITY ROAD WITH A CENTER TURN LANE. I WAS IN MY LANE AND FAILED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY WIFE SPOKE WITH THE REPAIR SHOP CLERK WHO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY EQUINOX'S UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF AND THEREFORE I
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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