RoadVitals

2018 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.
13
Latest May 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.
3%
of 396 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.
11

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 2018 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 airbag

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

AirbagsBody & structureDriver assistance
Filed May 25, 2025

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NHTSA ID
11663014
Incident
Dec 27, 1992
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 2024

On or about 10/10/24 …2018 EQUINOX my SRS light came on my digital control along with the body holding a ball indicating the I had an airbag(s) issue. I immediately called my dealership that wanted me to bring it in (a week later) and cost to put it on the machine would cost $180 for diagnostics. Later the next day, honked my hour..everything back to normal. Next morning, back on. Est costs to fix$1,000 approx. no accidents. No other issues. Diag indicates R/FRT & L.RT AIRBAG SENSOR needs replace. NHTSA #10137388 & 10164117 cases

NHTSA ID
11621391
Incident
Oct 10, 2024
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 18, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I was in an accident when my 2018 Chevy Equinox rear ended a stopped vehicle at a traffic light. There was significant damage to the front of my vehicle 12k plus. The emergency braking system did not activate, nor did the airbags. My wife experienced severe contusions to the chest area.we wonder why the emergency braking system or airbags failed to deploy.

NHTSA ID
11550646
Incident
Sep 29, 2023
Mileage
19,712 mi
AirbagsBody & structureFuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

At 12pm on June 11, 2023 I was parked in a church sparking lot in East Rochester and was facing the church's stone wall. My vehicle was only 2 feet from the was when the car accelerated toward the wall and all of the airbags opened and the hood and side panels were affected causing the vehicle was considered totaled by my insurance. My foot was on the brake and I was preparing to put the car in park when the car lurched forward and hit the wall at a high rate of speed. GM examined the car and gave me a report I could not understand but their report indicated that there was not a vehicle defect. I find this highly improbable. I can send the report and perhaps your organization can read it or do your own inspection of my vehicle. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. This same thing has happened to 2 other people I know who drive Equinoxes. Best Regards, [XXX] [XXX] Cell [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11538740
Incident
Jun 11, 2023
Airbags
Filed Mar 29, 2023

The air bag system failed.

NHTSA ID
11514354
Incident
Mar 27, 2023
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 26, 2021

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON WHEN FRONT PASSENGER BUCKLES UP, IF PASSENGER UNBUCKLES LIGHT DISAPPEARS, IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, BACKING UP, ALL SPEED, ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, ANY ROADS. IT LOOKS THE SEATBELT ACTIVATE THAT SERVICE LIGHT . I BOUGHT THE CAR USED 11/28/20 AND STILL HAVE DMV WARRANTY 60 DAYS, HOWEVER STEPHEN AUTOMALL CENTRE, BRISTOL CT DOESN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY!

NHTSA ID
11390074
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Mileage
21,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 7, 2020
Crash reportedFire reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. NO OTHER PASSENGERS BESIDES DRIVER OF VEHICLE WAS IN CAR. THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID
11363156
Incident
Oct 6, 2020
Mileage
65,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET GILBERT (LOCATED AT 3215 S AUTO WAY, GILBERT, AZ 85297, (480) 359-2264) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE RETRIEVED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,050.

NHTSA ID
11184935
Incident
Sep 4, 2018
Mileage
3,050 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 2019
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK PAINS AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND A BROKEN RIGHT ELBOW. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED AND "NO SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

NHTSA ID
11170139
Incident
Nov 25, 2018
Mileage
19,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 8, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION OF THE REAR END AND FRONT END ....AIR BAGS SMOKED BUT DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN REAR ENDED AND THEN HIT STATIONARY CAR IN FRONT WHILE TRAVELING ON CITY STREET

NHTSA ID
11139055
Incident
Aug 24, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. RED WING CHEVROLET BUICK CADILLAC (2500 US-61, RED WING, MN 55066, (651) 388-4777) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.

NHTSA ID
11104283
Incident
Jun 8, 2018
Mileage
9,500 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 12, 2018
Crash reported3 injuries reported

TAKATA RECALL, I WAS TURNING INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO STOP. I CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, BUT IT CONTINUED TO BE LOCKED. WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THE AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO BE LOCKED. WHEN THE OFFICERS ARRIVED THEY LOOKED AT THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND THEY WERE STILL LOCKED IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID
11078811
Incident
Mar 10, 2018
Mileage
7,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 16, 2018
Crash reported

INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. MY VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE TO MINE. RECEIVED EMAIL FROM INSTEAD INDICATING A CRITICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS AND THEIR DEPLOYMENT. THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF UPON IMPACT BUT SMOKE CAME FROM THE SIDE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID
11073327
Incident
Feb 16, 2018
Mileage
12,000 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 .