2008 Chevrolet Equinox Reliability
The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox has 370 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Compared with other Equinox model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Equinox's typical year, while the 2010 drew 784 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
370
NHTSA owner complaints
0
Recall campaigns
9
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Chevrolet Equinox complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2008 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 110 | 30% |
| Electrical system | 65 | 18% |
| Stability control | 48 | 13% |
| Steering | 44 | 12% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 39 | 11% |
| Body structure | 33 | 9% |
| Engine | 27 | 7% |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 6% |
2008 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
No recall campaigns are listed for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox in NHTSA's recall database.
How the 2008 compares with nearby Equinox years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Equinox analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 695 | 0 | Visibility / wipers | Solid |
| 2007 | 685 | 4 | Fuel / propulsion system | Caution |
| 2008 (this page) | 370 | 0 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2009 | 94 | 0 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 784 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Chevrolet Equinox can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Chevrolet Equinox reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox has 370 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Compared with other Equinox model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Equinox's typical year, while the 2010 drew 784 complaints.
What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Equinox problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox are air bags (110), electrical system (65), stability control (48), steering (44). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?
No recall campaigns are listed for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox in NHTSA's recall database.
How does the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 685 complaints and 4 recalls (caution); the 2009 has 94 complaints and 0 recalls (better year). The 2008 has 370 complaints and 0 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Chevrolet Equinox?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Equinox research
Other Chevrolet Equinox model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 Equinox, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.