2008 Chevrolet Equinox FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I could smell gas Took it in for inspection it has not been fixed yet so we know it’s something to do with the fuel and the mechanic said if you drive it could blow up
FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP FRONT LEFT SIDE OF FUEL TANK.
VERY STRONG FUEL/GASOLINE SMELL IN AND AROUND VEHICLE. SOME FUEL DRIPPING FROM ABOVE FUEL TANK AREA. HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT LOCAL MECHANIC. HE STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE ON THE MAIN FUEL PUMP IS CRACKED/DAMAGED.
A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR OF CAR, TOOK IT TO A AUTO SERVICE STATION THERE WHEN IT WAS CHECKED THE SERVICE PEOPLE FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINE ROTTED AT ONE OF CONNECTIONS AND IT STARTED TO LEAK, AFTER I HAD IT REPLACED I TOLD ME THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
FIRST THERE WAS SMELL IN DRIVER SIDE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. THEN THE SMELL GOT STRONGER OUTSIDE CAR, RIGHT DRIVER WHEEL WELL. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HE VERIFIED SMELL AND WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS HAND UP AND FEEL WET SPOT ON TOP/ SIDE OF GAS TANK. BOTH WITH CAR IN MOTION AND STOPPED. THE 2007 EQUINOX HAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT, GAS SMELL IN DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SEAT AND WHEEL WELL. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THERE IS A NOTICE BUT NO RECALL. THEY ARE USING THE SAME PLASTIC PART ON THE BOTH CARS AND THE PART MAY DETERIORATE OR DEFECTIVE ON BOTH YEARS.
TAKATA RECALL- I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND IT SEEMS LIKE GAS IS LEAKING ABOVE THE GAS TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY CAR MAY CATCH ON FIRE WHILE I AM DRIVING. NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A RECALL. WHEN I FIRST SMELLED IT, I WAS PARKED AT THE STORE BUT NOW I SMELL IT WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE IT IS PARKED!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED AND A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAVY ODOR OF FUEL WAS POIGNANT NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AFTER AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
I RECEIVED SPECIAL COVERAGE LETTER 12191 JULY 2013 THAT STATED REPAIRS NEEDED TO BE MADE TO MY VEHICLE IN A CHEVY LOCATION BY 7/31/14. THESE REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE IF THE VEHICLE PRESENTED A PROBLEM BY THEN (PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN ON FUEL PUMP MAY CRACK/LEAK FUEL/VAPORS; IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY CAUSE VEHICLE FIRE). ON 9/18/17 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC (I DIDN'T REMEMBER CHEVY'S EXPIRED LETTER FROM 2013) SCARED OF SMELLING FUEL. HE REPAIRED MY CAR THE NEXT DAY & INFORMED ME OF A SPECIAL COVERAGE NOTE ON 2007 MODELS OF MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED CHEVY VIA LETTER ASKING IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE WORK DONE. THEIR 1ST RESPONSE WAS THEY SIMPLY WOULDN'T BECAUSE I HAD IT DONE AT MY OWN PRIVATE MECHANIC. I SHOULD HAVE DRIVEN MY FUEL SMELLING VEHICLE TO CHEVY (WHOM I DO NOT HAVE A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH) SO ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS CAN SEE IF THERE WAS IN FACT A PROBLEM FIRST. I THEN REPLIED, THAT AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE (HTTPS.//NYTI.MS/2HWDWED), DATED 10/1/12, THAT STATED THAT CHEVY WAS GOING TO ORIGINALLY SEND OUT A LETTER STATING THAT I HAD 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES TO HAVE PART REPLACED, BUT MY LETTER STATES ONLY UNTIL 7/31/14. THEIR VERBAL RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY SENT ME AN ADDITIONAL LETTER & MAYBE IT WENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS (I LIVE AT MY CURRENT LOCATION FOR 46 YEARS). EITHER WAY I SHOULD HAVE DONE THE INVESTIGATING ON MY OWN TO FIND OUT ABOUT SAID LETTER (FOUND ONLINE AFTER THE FACT 12191B; DOCUMENT ID 4233868, DATED 7/8/15) WHICH BELIEVE IT OR NOT STILL STATED THAT REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 7/31/14. THEY SIMPLY TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR REIMBURSE US BECAUSE WE WENT TO OUR OWN MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN DOING OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
FAULTY RETURN PORT IN FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKING FUEL (SEVERE LEAK) STARTED NOTICING A SMELL WITH NO VISIBLE LEAK, NOW WHEN CAR IS PARKED LOOSING ALL FUEL PRESSURE (CAR WON'T START ON FIRST TRY) AND PARKED WITH 1/2 TANK NOW NO FUEL LEFT IN CAR. DISTINCT SMELL OF FUEL AND CAR IS PARKED. IS THIS PART OF RECALL?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED OTHERWISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALMEDA AUTO (CAR INSPECTION STATION) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE/SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE CONTACT LEFT THE INSPECTION STATION, THE VEHICLE STALLED, WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
FUEL PUMP LEAKING FROM MAIN FUEL LINE GOING INTO PUMP. THE 2007 MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A MAJOR LEAK, PUDDLES ONTO THE GROUND. VERY DANGEROUS, I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY YEAR WAS NOT RECALLED, AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE FUEL PUMP/SYSTEM!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CRACK WAS IN THE INLET OR THE OUTLET LINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP INLET OR OUTLET WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH DRIPPED ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
MY CAR HAS BEEN SMELLING LIKE GAS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. I DON'T SEE ANY LEAKS AT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR.
FUEL ODOR AND SPOTTING ON GROUND WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND A CRACKED PLASTIC FUEL LINE ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. NO AREA DAMAGE OR CAUSE FOUND FOR THIS CRACK TO OCCUR. UNKNOWN REASON OTHER THAN DEFECT. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
"TAKATA RECALL" MY CAR HAS A VERY STRONG ORDOR OF GAS WHILE ITS PARKED AND WHILE I'M DRIVING. THE OR OR IS VERY STRONG IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE STARTING AND THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
LEAKING GAS FROM THE TANK UNDER REAR DOOR PASSENGER SIDE.
SMELL OF GASOLINE WITH 78,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD A CRACK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
I PURCHASED THIS 2008 CHEVROLET, EQUINOX FROM HENDERSON CHEVROLET IN HENDERSON, NEVADA IN 2007. ON JULY 2013 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM JIM MOLONEY, GENERAL DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER AND RELATIONSHIP SERVICES. ON JULY 15, 2015 I WENT SHOPPING AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE HERE IN LAS VEGAS, NV. I STOPPED AT THE FIRESTONE REPAIR BECAUSE I SMELL GAS AND I DID NOT WANT TO MOVE MY CAR ANY MORE FOR FEAR OF FIRE ACCORDING TO THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM CHEVROLET. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, THEY LIFTED MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING GAS AND COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP AREA. I TOLD THEM TO REPAIR IT FOR I CAN'T DRIVE ANY FURTHER DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE ACCORDING TO THE LETTER FROM CHEVROLET. ON JULY 17, 2015 I WENT TO HENDERSON CHEVROLET TO SEE IF I COULD GET A REFUND ON REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS PART OF A SAFETY RECALL. I WAS DENIED A REFUND STATING THAT THE COVERING PERIOD EXPIRED ON JULY 31, 2014. THE COST OF REPAIRING THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP TOTAL WAS $1, 137.80 THIS IS WHAT I PAID FIRESTONE AND ASKING CHEVROLET FOR A REFUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM TWO CONNECTIONS ON THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ITS ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A GAS LEAK AND THAT I WAS DRIVING A TIME BOMB. I BOUGHT MY CAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND IT ONLY HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT AND IT NOW ONLY HAS 47,000 MILES AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD BE LEAKING GAS. A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I ALSO TRIED TO USE THE WASHER CLEANER TO CLEAN MY WINDOWS AND IT DOES NOT WORK EITHER, AT THIS POINT, I AM AT A LOST FOR WORDS, I JUST STARTED A NEW JOB AND I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK. FRUSTRATED!!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUMES EMITTING FROM THE INNER PART OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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Quick Summary
The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox has 32 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.