YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

20/100

#17 most-complained of 21 Equinox years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox has 370 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 20 out of 100 — #17 highest of 21 Equinox model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is airbags (110 complaints, 30% of the total). Complaints report 9 crashes, 1 fire, and 12 injuries.

Complaints
370
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
9 / 1
Injuries / deaths
12 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16.5 city / 24 hwy

Top 2008 Chevy Equinox problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags110 (30%)
  2. Electrical System83 (22%)
  3. Brakes58 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body57 (15%)
  5. Fuel System48 (13%)
  6. Steering44 (12%)
  7. Engine43 (12%)
  8. Other22 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain16 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers15 (4%)
2008 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter392008 Q12010 Q42012 Q42014 Q42016 Q42018 Q42020 Q42023 Q3
517 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2025 Q4; peak 2014 Q3 (39).

2008 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Equinox years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Good45695018.5
2007Caution50685419.5
2008Good20370019
2009Good094019.5
2010Avoid90784321.5

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #17 of 21 among Equinox model years (Complaint Index 20/100, verdict: Good). It has 370 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (110 complaints), electrical system (83 complaints), and brakes (58 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA rates the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox at 19 MPG combined (16.5 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.