2008 Chevrolet Equinox Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FAILURES YET THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE SOME TYPE OF FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME THE REDUCE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER, A/C UNIT TRACTION CONTROL MODULE, ECM, EGR VALVE, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. NONE OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,650.

I PURCHASED MY 2008 EQUINOX NEW IN DECEMBER 2008 AT ROD HATFEILD CHEVROLET IN LEXINGTON, KY. WITHIN 1 MONTH THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING CAME ON, SIMULTANEOUSLY THE POWER STEERING LOCKED. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD IT SERVICED. ON NOV 19, LESS THAN 60 DAYS AGO, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE REPAIRS COST ME 276.00. THE WARNING CAME ON AGAIN TONIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING! I BARELY MADE IT HOME UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULD ALSO HEAR A WOBBLING TYPE OF NOISE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC REPORT STATED THE STABILITRAK HAD ONCE AGAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED WITHIN 7 DAYS. I AM NOW WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION UNTIL MONDAY MORNING WHEN THE DEALERSHIP OPENS. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, MYSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES FOR FEAR THAT THE PROBLEM WILL ONCE AGAIN BE IMPROPERLY CORRECTED. I FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS.

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON, ALWAYS . AIR BAG IS OFF ALWAYS. THIS CAR IS ONE PIECE OF TRASH.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL GAUGES WERE POORLY ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, HE IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY READ THE WARNING INDICATORS AND OTHER MESSAGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. SPORADICALLY, THE CLUSTER WILL HAVE SPONTANEOUS SURGES OF BRIGHT LIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THESE WERE NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

HVAC CONTROL DEFECTS. WHEN RECIRCULATION AIR BUTTON IS ACTIVATED, THE COMPRESSOR IS ENGAGED WITH AC ON, EVEN IF THE AC BUTTON IS NOT ACTIVATED (PUSHED). *TR

PASSENGER FRONT SEAT IN 2008 EQUINOX. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE YOUR RIGHT LEG PINCHED BETWEEN THE SEAT ITSELF AND THE SIDE MOLDING TO THE SEAT. THOUGH THIS NOT A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION OR A CRITICAL HAZARDS, IT IS NEITHER THE LESS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP WILL SIMPLY LOOK AT THE SEAT AND SHAKE THEIR HEAD AND LOOK AT YOU AS WHAT THEY WANT THE DEALERSHIP TO DO ABOUT IT. THIS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE FROM 6/08-CURRENT - CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR A NEW PROBLEM. CAR 24 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASE NEW AND HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES AND HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES FOR BREAKDOWNS. HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER 5YRS AND TERRIFIED TO DRIVE WITH ISSUES. HAVE COPIES OF ALL DEALERSHIP PAPERWORK, REPAIRS. REPAIRS INCLUDE, NOT LIMITED TO TRANSMISSION REPLACED, HEATER/COOLER SYSTEM LEAK, LIGHTING/DASH REPLACED, TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED BUT CURRENTLY BROKE, CURRENTLY AWAITING PARTS FOR TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT APPROX COST $5000 REPAIR, LEATHER CRACKING, WINDSHIELD WIPER REAR NOT WORKING, CARPETING COMING OUT IN NEED OF REPAIR, FRONT HEADLIGHT LEAK AND FOGGY IN NEED OF REPAIR. THIS CAR IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP, GETTING NOWHERE WITH GENERAL MOTORS. HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN WHEN BROKE DOWN. DANGEROUS NOW KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, SPEEDOMETER STUCK ON 35 MPH, GAS GAGE SAID I HAD 1 1/4 TANK OF GAS, AND IT SAID MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING. WHEN WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT STAYED THE SAME. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL EXCEPT FOR THE GAS GAGE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T DOING IT ANYMORE. WE BOUGHT THIS AS OUR FIRST ALL NEW CAR BECAUSE WE WERE TIRE OF PROBLEMS INHERITED WITH USED CARS. ALOT A GOOD THAT DID, WE HAD IT 3 MONTHS BEFORE PROBLEMS STARTED. *TR

THE A/C WHEN TURNED ON, WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF BEING TURNED ON, WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN FOR 20 SECONDS , MINIMUM, BLOW HOT AIR DESPITE BEING ON THE COLDEST SETTING. THERE IS ALSO A RATTLE OR VIBRATION HEARD WHEN THE AC IS ON AND THE CAR IS IDLING ( INTERMITTENTLY) AND AT ABOUT 1700 RPM 9 EVERYTIME THE RPM IS 1700 THE VIBRATION NOISE CAN BE EASILY HEARD. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE ( WITH 9000 MILES ) TO THE DEALER, THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DEALER HAD THE EQUINOX THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS AFOREMENTIONED. THEN ON THE 3RD VISIT TO THE DEALER, I PERSONALLY DROVE THE EQUINOX WITH THE MECHANIC. DURING THIS DRIVE IT BECAME EVIDENT THE VIBRATION NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WITH THE AC ON AND AT 1700 RPM ( ROUGHLY) THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD PUT A AC CONTROLLER VALVE ON. AFTER THE NEW VALVE IS PLACED ON THE AC THE VIBRATION NOISE IS STILL EVIDENT AND THE AIR IS STILL BLOWING WARM EVERY SO OFTEN ON EACH CAR TRIP. THE MECHANIC SAID HE CALLED CHEVROLET AND CHEVROLET SAID THE AC IS " WORKING TOO WELL, THAT IS WHY IT BLOWS WARM AIR OUT OCCASIONALLY" EVEN ON THE COLDEST THERMOSTAT SETTING. *TR

ON 5/27/11 MY REAR WIPER FROZE UP IN THE ON MODE WHICH CAUSED MY BATTERY TO GO DEAD. IN TRYING TO JUMPER THE CAR WE NOTICED THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN EVEN WITH THE HANDLE. THE PASSENGER DOORS WOULD OPEN. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE CONSOLE TO FLIP THE HOOD RELEASE SO WE COULD START THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT & BATTERY WAS DISLODGED YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THE DRIVER OUT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AS I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS 2008 EQUINOX. HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THIS SAFETY HAZARD? I TALKED WITH THE DEALER & HE WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2008 CHEVY EQUINOX - PURCHASED MAY 2008. NINE (9) OF THE LAST ELEVEN (11) MONTHS, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS; 'SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM', 'SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM", & "SERVICE STABILITRAK"ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EACH. EACH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT A MODULE RELAY WAS REPLACED. THEY ALSO EVENTUALLY GAVE US A NEW BATTERY AND CHANGED THE STARTER. NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT UP, AND THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT IS COMING BACK ON. THE REAR WIPER WILL MAKE A SINGLE SWEEP EVEN WHEN IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE RADIO WILL START SEARCHING FOR A STATION EVEN WITH A STRONG SIGNAL FROM AN AREA STATION. IF I HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE CD'S WILL SKIP SONGS OR RESTART ITSELF. MOST TIMES, I AM TOLD THAT THE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING WHEN I BRING IT IN. UNFORTUNATELY, IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR AFTER HOURS. THEREFORE, NOTHING IS DONE TO CORRECT THE CONSTANT PROBLEMS. I REALLY FEEL LIKE I PURCHASED A LEMON AND EVEN GAVE MY DEALER A COPY OF THE TEXAS LEMON LAW, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING EVEN SHORT LENGTH ROAD TRIPS FOR FEAR MY CAR WILL FAIL TO RUN PROPERLY. I FEEL AS THOUGH I AM STUCK PAYING FOR A "LEMON" CAR FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. *TR

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 08 CHEVY EQUINOX THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH MY A/C. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES AND STILL CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. EVEN WITH THE AIR SET ON THE COLDEST SETTING THE AIR STILL OCCASIONALLY BLOWS HOT THEN COLD THEN HOT. THIS CONTINUOUS CONSTANTLY WHILE I AM DRIVING AROUND THE CITY. IT DOES NOT DO IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I HAVE FIGURED OUT THE RPM IS HIGH. WHENEVER THE RPM DROPS BELOW AROUND 1800 TO 1600 THE AIR BEGINS TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOME PARTS AND RECHARGED THE FREON IN THE CAR TWICE. I AM FED UP AND NEED SOME ADVICE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE 1963 AND THIS CAR HAS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST PROBLEM WITH STATIC ELECTRICITY THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. I THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS JUST ME, BUT AT A COMPANY MEETING (IT IS A COMPANY CAR) I DISCOVERED THAT EVERYONE I SPOKE TO THAT HAS AN EQUINOX HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN IF THE CAR ISN'T RUNNING AND YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHOCKED, IF YOU MOVE AROUND SLIGHTLY IN THE SEAT YOU WILL GET ANOTHER SHOCK THE NEXT TIME YOU TOUCH SOMETHING METAL. THE SHOCK IS SOMETIMES SO SEVERE THAT AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE BATTERY HAD A SHORT TO GROUND. *TR

MY 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PINCHES YOU WHEN YOU ARE EXITING THE CAR. IT GRABS YOUR BOTTOM / LEG ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE, THEY SAY THAT IS THE WAY THE CAR IS MADE AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE OF ALL SIZES TRY GETTING IN AND OUT , FAT OR SKINNY IT HURTS EVERYONE. I HAVE EVEN ASKED ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME CAR IF IT DOES IT TO THEM , AND THEY SAID YES AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. MY HUSBAND IS THE PASSENGER MOST OF THE TIME AND HE IS ON BLOOD THINNERS FOR HIS HEART. HE HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE SLIGHTEST INJURY TO WATCH FOR INTERNAL BLEEDING. CURRENTLY WE HAVE TO STICK A PIECE OF FOAM ON THERE SO WHEN HE GETS OUT OF CAR IT WONT PINCH HIM. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE TO DO THIS. I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW CAR I PAID 25 K FOR TO DO THIS AND THE MANUFACTURE NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS DEFECT. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE WE BROUGHT THE CAR HOME IN FEB. WE HAVE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO RESOLVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MOVED SIDEWAYS UNCONTROLLABLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE GAS CAPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE TYPICALLY RESURFACES SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR. THIRDLY, THE RADIO:CD:TAPE:DECK FAILS SPORADICALLY AND PREVENTS A MUSIC CD FROM BEING EJECTED. LASTLY, THE AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT BLOW OUT OF THE SIDE VENTS, WHICH PREVENTS AIR FROM DISSEMINATING PROPERLY. AS OF MARCH 31, 2009, THE TECHNICIANS ARE RE-INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,000. UPDATED 04/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/21/09.*JB

THE 2008 EQUINOX MADE BY GENERAL MOTORS HAS BOTH REAR UNDERBASE WHEEL WATER ENTRY INTO THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT ENTERS INTO THIS AREA FILLS AND RUNS FORWARD TO THE BRAKE AND GAS AREA. THE ENTIRE FLOOR BASE SUBJECT TO WATER DAMAGED AND HEADACHES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FLOOR CARPET, PLACED SOME SORT OF BLACK GLUE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ENTRY AREA. BUT, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN METAL. PLEASE HELP! *TR

2008 SPORT EQUINOX NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT 2 YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 6 MILES. 2008 CHEVY EQUINOX SPORTS & THE TRANSMISSION WANT AT 40,000ISH MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM. TOOK THE DEALER ONE MONTH TO REPAIR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE PARTS. ALSO HAD THE STEERING REPAIRED 4 TIMES, COLAR REPAIRED. THE OLD DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE ME AND THE NOISE WAS THERE AGAIN & AGAIN. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE RACK.IT WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHICH SHOULD LIKE MY ABS, BUT IT WAS THE STEERING RACK AND A LOUD SQUEALING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I FOUND A NICE DEALER WHO FINALLY BELIEVED ME AND FIXED IT LAST WEEK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH THE NEW DEALER & GM'S HELP. JUST MAKES ME NERVOUS WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR ME SINCE THE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS OTHER ISSUES TOO, LIKE THE CO SENSOR, COMPUTER AND BRAKE IS FRONT HEAVY. THE TRUCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, MAKES YOU WONDER WHILE THIS MODEL WAS ONLY MADE FOR 1 YEAR. BUT SINCE I AM A WOMEN I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! TRIED TO TAKE IN, LOL, NOT WORTH ANYTHING AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO START OVER. *TR

FRONT BUMPER COVER CRACKED INSIDE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL WHERE BUMPER WRAPS AROUND. CRACK BEGAN WHEN OBJECT IN GARAGE WAS "BUMPED". COVER MATERIAL SO THIN THAT COVER WAS DAMAGED. COST TO REPLACE WAS $888.00 AT DEALERSHIP. IF MATERIAL AND/OR DESIGN WAS BETTER, THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. MANUFACTURER WANTS NO PART IN REPLACING OR FIXING THE PROBLEM. TOLD ME TO SEND IT TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER. MY COMPLAINT IS THE POOR MATERIAL INVOLVED AND THAT GM WANTS REPAIRS FOR POOR QUALITY REPAIRED OR REPLACED ON THE BACK OF A CONSUMERS INSURANCE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN DEC. 2007 AND HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE JAN. 2008. AT FIRST IT WAS SIMPLE THINGS LIKE REPLACING THE RADIO IN APR. 2008 (UNDER WARRANTY), FAULTY WIPER SWITCH IN SEPT. 2009 (UNDER WARRANTY). THEN IN OCT. 2010 I HAD TO PAY $175.54 TO REPLACE A FAULTY SPARK PLUG AND WIRE. BUT FEBRUARY 2011 HAS BEEN THE WORST! ON 2/10/11 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN BAD WEATHER ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP, STABILITRACK DISABLED, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL TURNED OFF, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; I COULDN'T DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH WITHOUT MY CAR SLIDING ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WAS TERRIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE VACUUM LINE WASN'T PLUGGED BACK IN DURING MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND THAT'S WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. I DROVE HOME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ALL THE LIGHTS LIT UP AGAIN. BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2/16/2011. DIRTY SENSOR, THEY CLEANED IT. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN SO THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR COSTING ME $174.54. EIGHT DAYS LATER MY CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STABILITRACK LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS ELECTRICAL AND I MOST LIKELY WONT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AT ALL ANYMORE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AND SOME ARE WORSE THAN MINE. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE. AND FOR YEARS MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HASN'T WORKED PROPERLY. I'M 112LBS AND IT DOESN'T TURN ON WHEN I'M SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE!

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *TR