42 complaints reported

2010 Chevrolet Equinox Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
42
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
10

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2023 Injury

Airbags deployed while driving

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2023
Apr 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while slowing to stop the vehicle, the side curtain air bags erroneously deployed. The contact stated that the front and rear driver’s side and passenger’s side curtain air bags deployed without a crash. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2023
Feb 2023

Came on after purchasing

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2023
Oct 2020

ON FEBRUARY 26, I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 EQUINOX TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION AND TO FIND OUT WHY MY SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. AS I WAS DRIVING SMOKE STARTED FLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT THINKING IT WAS GOING TO GO ON FIRE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE SMOKE STOPPED AND I PROCEEDED TO MY MECHANIC. ON MARCH 10TH MY MECHANIC HAD THE CAR IN HIS GARAGE AND WAS COMPLETING THE INSPECTION AND HE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE WHY THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN SMOKING. HE DECIDED TO LET THE CAR IDLE IN THE SHOP TO SEE IF IT WOULD START SMOKING. AS MOMENTS PASSED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HEARD A 'FIRECRACKER' SOUND AND LOOKED TO SEE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC TO TAKE IT TO A CHEVY DEALER. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS STORY AND THEY WERE UNSURE WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT YET HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECTIFY IT WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE HORROR THAT WOULD HAVE ENSUED IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2020
Dec 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2019
Nov 2019 Injury

I GOT INTO MY CAR FRIDAY AT 12:30 SHUT THE DOOR STARTED IT AND THE SIDE AIRBAG HIT ME SHOVED ME SIDEWAYS I TURN THE CAR OFF BECAUSE I COULD SMELL THE POWDER AND I WAS AFRAID ANOTHER ONE WOULD GO OFF. MY ARM AROUND THE ELBOW AREA HURTS AND MY ARM FEELS BURNED FROM ABOUT MY ARMPIT TO MY WRIST. BETWEEN MY SHOULDER BLADES AND MY NECK HURT AND I'VE HAD A HEADACHE SINCE. I DEPEND ON MY CAR BEING ON THE AMBULANCE AND THE DEPUTY CORONER FOR BOISE COUNTY I COULD BE IN MY CAR DURING THE DAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I'M AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2019
Apr 2019

SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED GOING DOWN ROAD FOR NO REASON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2019
Dec 2018

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT HAVING MAJOR IMPACT. DRIVER BRUSHED A CURB WHILE DRIVING THE AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO SIGN OF IMPACT OR DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THIS HAPPENING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2018
Jan 2018

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM STOPPED OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2018
May 2017

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON...I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A TAKATA. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL...APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM? THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Mar 2017

GOTA LETTER FROM THEM SAYING THIEIR AN ISSUSE WITH THE AIRBAGS WANT TO KNOW IF MINE ARE DEFECTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED NOW...

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Jan 2017 Injury

TAKATA RECALL. BUMPED A CURB (FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE) AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (ON A REGULAR ROAD MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN) AND ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. FRONT TIRE WAS RESTING AT CURB (DID NOT GO OVER CURB BECAUSE WAS NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH). ENDED UP WITH A BROKEN NOSE, STITCHES ON FOREHEAD, EYEBROW, TWO AREAS OF NOSE BECAUSE OF CUTS FROM AIRBAGS. ALSO EXTREMELY SWOLLEN HAND WITH FRACTURES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2016 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF THREE LANE TRAFFIC, A SEMI-TRUCK MERGED FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE LEFT LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND RECEIVED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE WRISTS, BACK, AND NECK AND HAD A CT SCAN FOR LOWER BACK PAINS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A YARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,070.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2016
Nov 2016 Crash Injury

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT ON 11/25/2016

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2016
Oct 2016

DRIVERS SEATBELT PRETESIONER CONNECTOR SHORTED. AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. REPAIR COST WAS &161.60. I FEEL THIS SAFETY RELATED ITEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. GM AND THE DEALER SAY SERVICE BULLETIN 14710 ONLY APPLIES TO CERTAIN 2010 EQUINOXES AND THAT MINE ISN'T INCLUDED BASED ON THE SERIAL NUMBER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2016
Aug 2016

ON DECEMBER 27, 2015, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 465 IN INDIANAPOLIS; WE WERE ON THE LEFT LANE, APPROX. 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WE HEARD A HUGE EXPLOSION. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL DE CAR AND DRIVE TO THE RIGHT WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THE SMELL OF BURNING WAS PRETTY INTENSE, WE WERE NERVOUS AND SHOOK UP FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED SO MY HUSBAND STEPS OUTSIDE TO VIEW THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A SCRATCH NOTHING SHOWING THAT WE HIT SOMETHING, HE LOOKED AT THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. WE CALL OUR INSURANCE FOR A TOWING TRUCK AND THEY TOLD US TO CALL 911 FOR A FASTER SERVICE. WHEN I CALL 911 THEY TOLD ME THE POLICE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. AFTER 1 HOUR WAITING FOR TOWING TRUCK, MY HUSBAND DECIDES TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, AND IT DID. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, TIERS, NOTHING. WE PULL THE SIDE AIRBAGS UP AND HOLD THEM WITH THE CAR WINDOWS AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. GM IS TELLING US THEY CAN'T FIND WHY DE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THEY TOLD ALLSTATE THAT WE MUST OFF HIT SOMETHING CLOSE TO THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL, AND WE HAVE ALREADY RESEARCH ALL THE ISSUES, AND IT'S TELLING US THAT THE AIRBAGS CAN'T BE DEPLOYED FOR THAT REASON. WE WERE VERY LUCKY WITH SOME BRUISES IN OUR ARMS AND NECK, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH ANY RECALLS OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2015
Mar 2016

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 EQUINOX, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT DISABLES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM? SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHY HAS THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2016
Oct 2015 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER AND STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE EMERGENCY ONSTAR SYSTEM RESPONDED AND CALLED THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISON CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, BACK, AND HANDS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Aug 2015 Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE SIDE TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER AND THE INFANT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES AND BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Jun 2015 Crash Fire Injury

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I READ ENDED HIM GOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. I EXITED THE CAR AND BEGAN SPEAKING WITH THE OTHER DRIVER WHEN WE HEARD A POP IN MY CAR. SMOKE STARTING COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY MY CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. I INJURED MY KNEE AND SHOULDER IN THE INCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Dec 2014

I HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD, ON AND OFF BY TIME. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTORS WERE FAULTY. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG HARNESS CUSHING TERMINAL KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,050.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2014
Sep 2014

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG CONNECTORS UNDER BOTH FRONT SEATS. THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE AT THE TIME SO THE CONNECTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEW. AFTER 2 AND A HALF YEARS LATER THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY APPLIED A DIELECTRIC GEL TO THE CONNECTIONS. AS I WAITED FOR MY VEHICLE, I WENT ONLINE AND NOTICED THIS HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THIS CAR COMPANY AS A RECALL. I WAS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING A CHEVY IMPALA BUT I MIGHT HAVE TO RETHINK THIS DECISION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2012
May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT BY MOVING A WIRE LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. GM PAID HALF OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WILL RECEIVE WHAT HE PAID. BOTH UNITS UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO 1/3 OF COST OF TIRES. UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
May 2014

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN AROUND MID-JANUARY OF 2014. TWO WEEKS AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. AFTER A DAY OR SO WE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND THE ALERT WAS GONE. TWO WEEKS AFTER TAKING IT IN TO GET FIXED, THE ALERT POPS UP AGAIN. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT ON 12 MAY 2014 THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS POPPED UP FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR MONTHS. IS THERE SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE OR THIS PART? I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING AND ALL WE CAN DO IS TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO GET FIXED. LUCKILY THE LAST TIME THAT WE TOOK IT IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ALERT CAME UP WHILE IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. REGARDLESS, THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS IN DANGER DUE TO THE SAFETY BAGS NOT BEING ENGAGED WHEN THE ALERT POPS UP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has 42 Air Bags complaints on file. 6 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.