Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
There is a strange sound of water sloshing under the dashboard. There is moisture build up in my headlights which have been replaced. My brake light go out several times a year. The most recent occurrence was just after my annual inspection - the driver side brake light was replaced, not two weeks later someone pulled up next to me while stopped at a light to tell me all my lights were out. The beginning of September 2016 I had an oil change and during the inspection the tech told me my driver side brake light was out and that the light at the top did not go on right away and flickered when it did. I have reached out to GM about a solution to the light issue - I have to take my truck in to be serviced at a GM dealership, it is going tomorrow sept 29th to bryner Chevrolet in jenkintown, pa.
Over a year and a half ago I had the engine light come on in my 2008 Equinox. Took it into the Chevy dealer and the diagnostic tool said timing chain/engine position. Here I am today, did not do the $1,600 recommended repair and the car is still driving fine and no issues. The engine light has been reset multiple times only to keep coming back. I also have both headlights filled with moisture and it affects the brightness of the lights at night. Finally, I have had multiple times when the stabilitrac light comes on and then by day end it will be off.
I was coming home and my head lights go out completely out no fuse is out not sure what is wrong . I am disable and I need to know how to fix this . Need some answers . Seems like a on going problem from the complaints I read . Thank you
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the headlight assembly would become filled with water, affecting the illumination of the lights when in operation. The contact was told by both the dealer and the manufacturer that if he allowed the vehicle to run for six hours, the water would burn from the headlight assembly. The contact stated that the remedy that the dealer provided did not seem to correct the failure. In addition, the failure would recur whenever it would rain or when the vehicle was taken through the car wash. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that there was not a remedy available for the particular failure. The failure mileage was 27,000 and the current mileage was 31,350. Updated 3/13/13 the consumer has since experienced another headlight failure.
I had to start replacing head lights due to moisture in my head lights. This is a manufacturing problem. I have mention this to Chevy several times when we had the car service. The response was this is normal. This is not normal. They wanted me to pay half of the cost. I refused. They said that because it's not under warranty. I pray one night that I'm not driving and get into a accident due to light failure. This should be recall to prevent accidents and added expense due to Chevy negligence. I have own many cars and never had moisture in my head lights. I would like this to be corrected by chev. I'm not able to provide dates from last year, when I brought it up to the Chevy dealership. They would have that information when the car got service .Chevy Equinox 2008.
The car was jerking into gear, especially while putting it into reverse. The car would not go into gear the next morning and had to be towed to the shop. I had to get the transmission replaced at 43,000 miles. I have replaced the headlights twice and hit the hood this last time and it came on. The mechanic said it's not sealed properly. I had to replace the rear brake lights after a thunderstorm. The mechanic said the car is not properly sealed and moisture is trapped inside the lights. The cost to replace an $11 bulb was $24 in labor because its impossible to get to the headlight. The brake lights cost $$54 in labor because you literally have to disassemble the entire bumper.
Passenger air bags did not work, doesn't even acknowledge a passenger. Light is always on to service airbags. Also my stabil control lights come on then go off. A couple months or even longer, they come on again. I have had them checked out. The passenger air bags sensor was replace at a cost of $900.00 andstabil control lights repair was $350 and continue to have problems . Also both my headlights are full of moisture and I continue to have to replace the bulbs, after replacing one bulb that night was pulled over by the police , bulb burned out again.I talked to the dealer no recalls on any of the problems and I know a lot of people with GMC products having the same problems.
My 2008 Equinox headlights are full of water which make the visibility at night very bad. The door locks will only open the locks part of the way and you can't get in the car, and this seems to be affected more when the sun shines on the vehicle. It acts like the locks won't work in the heat. I also have the passenger air bag light coming on anytime someone sits in the passenger seat. I have been told by the dealership that the air bag will not deploy in an accident. This is such a comforting feeling, and I really don't understand why these issues are not recalled by the auto maker. Can anyone help us? There are thousands of these vehicles on the road that are not safe.........
I purchased my 2008 Equinox in March 2010; there was slight moisture building up in both headlight assemblies; now major moisture. After replacing both headlights and multiple bulbs, the entire left side went out in July 2014. I took to a dealership and GM part was replaced for $350 (had work discount). My right side is building up with moisture and will eventually have to be replaced once my headlight goes out. This is a known GM issue; however, GM does not seem to want to accept responsibility for a poorly manufactured headlight assembly in the Equinox.
Headlight complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the lights of the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox, 6% of the model year's 370 complaints. The component named most often is turn signal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Chevrolet Equinox headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Equinox headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.