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2012 Chevrolet Equinox Airbags Problems

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

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
18
Latest Apr 16, 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.
3%
of 682 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.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 airbag

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

Airbags
Filed Apr 16, 2025

About six months ago, my steering wheel would get hot in the middle of it, but I kind of didn’t know what that was but then now my airbag sensor came on and then went off. I’m not really sure but I feel like something’s not right with it. Gonna go get it fixed, but I don’t feel like it should be something that was not recalled because it’s not right

NHTSA ID
11654990
Incident
Apr 15, 2025
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2024
Crash reported

Accident involving frontal impact with a deer. Heard and smelled propellant charge for airbag and service airbag light came on, no airbag inflation anywhere I could find it. Front grille/bumper cap, AC core, passenger fender are scrap. Any other cases of this.

NHTSA ID
11563655
Incident
Jan 4, 2024
AirbagsEngine
Filed Oct 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while having the vehicle serviced, the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil consumption. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,687. The contact stated the passenger airbag light stays on, even though there is no passenger present in the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11550588
Incident
Jul 11, 2023
Mileage
129,687 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2020

PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS REGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT.

NHTSA ID
11349068
Incident
Aug 13, 2020
Mileage
95,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 18, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, HE SUFFERED A MEDICAL CONDITION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO A THREE FEET HIGH CEMENT BOULDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS LATCHED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

NHTSA ID
11329614
Incident
May 31, 2020
Mileage
133,000 mi
AirbagsEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 29, 2020

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH FUMES COMING INTO THE CAB OF MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT VENTS WHEN SET TO DEFROSTER OR CIRCULATING AIR FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE FUMES SMELL OF GAS OR EXHAUST AND ARE VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN SITTING STILL WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS NOTICEABLE MAINLY WHEN SITTING STILL IN VEHICLE WITH ENGINE RUNNING. THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING. I HAVE DEVELOPED BREATHING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA AND AM HAVING TO TAKE BREATHING TREATMENTS. I HAD THE FIRST ASTHMA ATTACK IN DECEMBER 2019. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON. WHEEL INFORMATION IS ALSO INCORRECT. INFORMATION SYSTEM MAY INDICATE THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL PRESSURE IS LOW, WHEN IN FACT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE PRESSURE IS LOW.

NHTSA ID
11312238
Incident
Feb 27, 2020
Mileage
104,629 mi
AirbagsBody & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2019

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM - AIRBAG MESSAGE CAME ON CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON HUSBAND MESSAGE SHOWS UP AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. . FOR NO REASON. THE FRONT BUMPER POPS OUT ALSO, FOR NO REASON AND IMTHE PLASTIC PARTS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE ARE BROKEN AND DON'T KEEP THE BUMPER IN PLACE. AND MY CAR MAKES A WEIRD RATTLING NOISE . AND IT STOPPED PICK UP UP SPEED WHEN I TURN MY AC ON .BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WON'T PICK UP SPEED . I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A WARRANTY AT THE TIME SO WHEN I CALLED HEY SAID THEY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR . THE AC STARTED GOING OUT 2 AND A HALF YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT . THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY JUMP , IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT MY VEHICLE BUT IT WILL JUMP JUMP WHEN I'M WAITING AT A RED LIGHT AND I THINK THE COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ID
11204337
Incident
Feb 5, 2017
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 6, 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS ON (NOT FLASHING). SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE ON MESSAGE DISPLAY. NOT CAUSED BY ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ID
11118127
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 27, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

"TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAG WAS EJECTED BUT IT WAS DEFLATED, OFFERING NO PROTECTION UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT, GOING LESS THAN 30MPH SLOWING DOWN, WHEN VEHICLE IMPACTED ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT.

NHTSA ID
11048662
Incident
Nov 18, 2017
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 2017
Crash reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. MY CRUISE WAS SET AT 57 MPH AND I DID NOT APPLY BRAKES. BECAUSE CRUISE WAS SET, I HIT ONCE, BOUNCED BACK AND HIT AGAIN. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ID
10979985
Incident
Mar 31, 2017
Mileage
153,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ISSUE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,700. UPDATED 07/14/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10871789
Incident
May 27, 2016
Mileage
30,700 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 1, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEMI-TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WITH FORCE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, UPPER AND LOWER BACK PAINS, NECK PAIN, AND ARM PAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,271.

NHTSA ID
10731416
Incident
Jun 22, 2015
Mileage
62,271 mi
Airbags
Filed May 3, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE MAKING A TURN. I WAS THEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 30MPH. THIS CAUSE ME TO BE PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE FRONT AND REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, ONSTAR CALL ME TO AS IF I NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION, BECAUSE THERE SYSTEM ALERTED THEM OF A AN ACCIDENT. NOW BOTH MY FRONT SEATBELTS ARE LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I WAS PUSHED SO HARD INTO THE VEHICLE INFRONT OF ME THAT MY METAL BUMPER SUPPORT IS CRACKED 80% OF THE WAY THROUGH. I SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. WITH ALL THE DAMAGE FRONT AND REAR, THOSE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714242
Incident
May 2, 2015
Mileage
46,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 19, 2014

SUDDENLY, "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT STARTED TO APPEAR WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE OVERHEAD DISPLAY SHOWED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AS OFF. NO WRECK OR ANYTHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED. BROUGHT IT TO CHEVROLET DEALER, PAID $115 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID WE NEED A NEW AIRBAG SENSOR THAT WILL COST $800. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD, 45K MILES AND HAS NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1000 TO GET AN AIRBAG FIXED? I CAN'T AFFORD THIS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO BE SURE AND THEY CONFIRMED IT ISN'T COVERED BY ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. PLEASE ADD THIS CAR TO THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER STATING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667323
Incident
Dec 17, 2014
Mileage
45,657 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2014

THE PASSENGER SEAT GOT WET AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT TOOK 3 DAYS FOR THE SEAT TO DRY OUT BEFORE THE AIR BAG WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE SENSOR SHOULD BE WATER PROOF IF A CHILD WERE TO WET THEIR PANTS AS IN THIS INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631461
Incident
Sep 5, 2014
Mileage
15,200 mi
AirbagsBody & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 4, 2013
Crash reported

WE WERE SITTING STILL AT TRAIN CROSSING WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR AND WAS SHOVED FORWARD 8-10 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WITH ALL OF THE REAR AND FRONT DAMAGE, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. ALSO, BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SEAT BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEATS TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE (PASSENGER SEAT) NOT ONLY BROKE LOOSE BUT THE SEAT TWISTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554862
Incident
Nov 22, 2013
Mileage
21,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 30, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AS ANOTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING NORTH. THE CAR TRAVELING NORTH MADE A RAPID LEFT TURN DIRECTLY IN MY TRAVELING PATH. WE COLLIDED AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL PRETTY HARD BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HOW SHOULD I PROCEED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10546238
Incident
Sep 20, 2013
Mileage
39,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 26, 2012
Crash reported

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A VEHICLE REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AROUND 40-50 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT PUSHED ME FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE CAUSING VEHICLE AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO ACTIVATE WHICH PROMPTED ONSTAR TO COME ON. THE AIRBAGS NEVER ACTUALLY ACTIVATED. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CRASH WAS $17,000 TO REPAIR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UPON INSPECTION SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490152
Incident
Dec 10, 2012
Mileage
19,000 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 .