Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated was driving at approximately 35 MPH when another vehicle cut in front of the contact's vehicle and the contact crashed into the passenger's front side door. The contact stated that she was unable to depress the brakes and her vehicle began to climb the side of the other person's vehicle. The contact stated that the driver and passenger air bags and side air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the vehicle disengaged from the other contact's vehicle and rolled off the roadway onto a grassy shoulder and stopped. The contact had lacerations and bruises on her neck, and neck vertebrae injuries. Also, she had bruises on both arms and wrists and lower back pain. The contact did not know what injuries the other driver suffered. The contact was taken to the ER by ambulance. …
The contact owned a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving up a hill on a 2-lane road at approximately 45 mph, an oncoming vehicle in the opposing lane had taken too wide of a turn and had entered her lane, to avoid a head-on collision the contact swerved into the guard rail. Upon crashing, the air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated before the crash. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence and deemed a total loss. The contact has an appointment with a doctor to determine whether any injuries were sustained. Nobody outside of the vehicle was injured. A police report was filed. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,357.
I was in a rear end collision on May 14th 2026 the impact of the speed totaled my car in my airbags did not deploy and from my understanding where the sensors are on my vehicle they should have I ended up getting a concussion and soft tissue damage because my head hit the steering wheel my seat belt did not lock either.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the message to "Service Air Bags" was displayed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,243.
There is a SB-10058723-5799, that addresses airbags. I have a 2011 Chevy Equinox with 94k miles on it. The 'service airbag' error stays on the screen. I called Chevy to ask if I can bring vehicle in under SB 10058723-5799, and they told me my vehicle does not fall under this, AND they say the SB 10058723-5799 is expired. I asked they lady, so if the airbag deploys while I'm driving 65mph on the freeway, you're not going to fix it under a recall that you say is expired. This makes absolutely no sense, and I believe it should fall under NHTSA's special bulletin. Please help me. Thank you for your time.
The airbag light stays on. It's a known problem with this vehicle. Hundreds of owners online with complaints. I believe it has to do with faulty wiring under drivers seat. I'm scared the bag will intermittently inflate. GMC has to know about it. It's happening on all the equinox vehicles. Thank you
June 9, 2017 at 10:00 pm I hit a deer on south dakota hwy 11 in Lincoln county. The speed limit was 65 MPH and I was going 68 MPH when I hit the deer head on. I drove over to the side of the road and the vehicle stopped. After a few minutes my wife and I smelled burning electrical wire. We got out of the car and started to walk away and within 10 minutes the whole thing went up in flames. The car was totaled and the airbags did not go off. If we would have went in the ditch and been unconscious we would have burnt up with the vehicle. There is no reason that vehicle should have started on fire. GMC will not acknowledge that there was anything wrong with the vehicle.
Involved in an accident where I collided with another car. The front end of my car was completed damaged to the point where the car was totaled. The problem with this accident was the air bags did not go off causing injury to myself and my wife. I estimate the speed at collision to be around 30mph. I was traveling west bound at about 630 pm in the evening, on a four lane city road with a center turn lane. I was in my lane and failed to stop before hitting the car in front of me. My wife spoke with the repair shop clerk who informed that this was a common issue with many Equinox's under the same conditions. I believe the air bags should have gone off and therefore I
Large pickup truck with snow plow ran stop sign at intersection, snow plow blade hit left side/left front of car, at speed of about 45 MPH. Impact forced car off the road, into a pile of frozen ice and snow. Damage was severe enough that left front door was almost sliced off the car with serious body damage to left front and left front corner. All doors were jammed shut. Neither front nor side airbags deployed. Seat belt on driver did not tighten up either. Damage also to seat frame and dashboard.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact was involved in a frontal crash. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was declared destroyed by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
Airbag complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, 7% of the model year's 782 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Chevrolet Equinox airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, though it has 3 recalls for other components. 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 2011 Chevrolet Equinox airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 1 fire and 15 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.