Is the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox a bad year?
369 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Equinox years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox are in line with other Equinox years. Air bags, stability control and steering stand out for this year: see below.
4th quietest of 15 Equinox years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Equinox owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 68,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 110 (30%) | 41k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 48 (13%) | 65k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 44 (12%) | 60k–104k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 64 (17%) | 55k–94k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 34 (9%) | 59k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 33 (9%) | 40k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 22 (6%) | 39k–74k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (5%) | 53k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 16 (4%) | 39k–108k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 8 (2%) | 54k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 7 (2%) | 37k–94k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 48 (13%) | 71k–119k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Latches and locks | 18 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 68,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 369 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 8 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
When I push on the gas (Car in park on flat surface) I hear what sounds like a rushing of water. Also when car sits in the sun, drivers side window inoperable and back door drivers side door lock inoperable.
"Takata recall" The timing belt. Timing belt stretched. Know for fact that 5 other Chevrolet equinox 2008 has had the same problem brought to the same automacanic shop.
Engine light on code says timing chain on 2008 chevy equinox 98,000 miles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 68,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 297
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Neighbouring years
2007 Equinox: 684 complaints, keep it · 2009 Equinox: 94 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Equinox year
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Equinox years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Traverse · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox a bad year?
369 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Equinox years. At 68,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (110), stability control (48), steering (44), electrical system (64), engine (34).
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.