YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 19 airbag complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, 3% of its 685 total complaints for the year, with 9 crashes and 6 injuries reported. No airbag-related recall is listed for this component in this data. The median mileage at failure was 62,271 miles.

Airbags complaints
19
3% of 685
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
62,271 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end or frontal collisions, even with visible frame or bumper damage.
  • Some describe airbags deploying but deflated or ejected without offering protection during impact.
  • Several reports mention the passenger-side airbag sensor malfunctioning, showing a false 'off' status or triggering a 'service airbag' warning light with no collision involved.
  • One owner reported the passenger seat getting wet, which caused the airbag to stay in an 'on' or fault state for several days.
  • Owners in crash-related reports frequently mention injuries such as concussions, back pain, and neck pain after airbags failed to activate.

When 2012 Chevrolet Equinox airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 26, 2012, latest Sep 20, 2026.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox airbags complaints: complaints filed per month1Dec 2012Sep 2014Jul 2015Nov 2017Feb 2020Oct 2023Sep 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2012 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2012 (1).

Airbags recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Equinox model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200538 (6%)
  2. 200611 (2%)
  3. 2007146 (21%)
  4. 2008110 (30%)
  5. 200926 (28%)
  6. 201057 (7%)
  7. 201152 (7%)
  8. 201219 (3%)
  9. 201325 (3%)
  10. 201429 (5%)
  11. 201537 (5%)
  12. 201612 (3%)
  13. 201719 (7%)
  14. 201815 (4%)
  15. 201911 (4%)
  16. 20207 (2%)
  17. 20214 (4%)
  18. 20224 (2%)
  19. 20232 (2%)
  20. 20243 (4%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA lists 19 airbag complaints for the 2012 Equinox, which is 3% of the 685 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox?
No related recall is listed in this data for the airbag component on the 2012 Equinox.
Did the 2012 Equinox airbag problems cause crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data tied 9 crashes and 6 injuries to the airbag complaints filed for the 2012 Equinox.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2012 Equinox?
The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints was 62,271 miles.
Are airbag complaints worse in the 2012 Equinox than other years?
The 2012 Equinox's 3% share of complaints tied to airbags is lower than the 2010 and 2011 model years, which each had a 7% share.

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.