FaultScore

2012 Chevrolet Equinox airbag problems

18 of the 943 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox are about the airbag system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 62,271 miles.

F

18

Complaints

9

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 18 100.0%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Equinox year

2005 39 6.4%
2006 12 2.0%
2007 149 24.3%
2008 112 18.3%
2009 26 4.2%
2010 58 9.5%
2011 52 8.5%
2012 18 2.9%
2013 25 4.1%
2014 29 4.7%
2015 37 6.0%
2016 12 2.0%
2017 19 3.1%
2018 13 2.1%
2019 11 1.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Bourbon, MO

AIR BAGS

About six months ago, my steering wheel would get hot in the middle of it, but I kind of didn’t know what that was but then now my airbag sensor came on and then went off. I’m not really sure but I feel like something’s not right with it. Gonna go get it fixed, but I don’t feel like it should be something that was not recalled because it’s not right

NHTSA complaint #11654990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victor, IA Crash

AIR BAGS

Accident involving frontal impact with a deer. Heard and smelled propellant charge for airbag and service airbag light came on, no airbag inflation anywhere I could find it. Front grille/bumper cap, AC core, passenger fender are scrap. Any other cases of this.

NHTSA complaint #11563655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 129,687 miles New Britain, CT

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while having the vehicle serviced, the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil consumption. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,687. The contact stated the passenger airbag light stays on, even though there is no passenger present in the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11550588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Owensboro, KY

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS REGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #11349068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,000 miles Erie, PA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, HE SUFFERED A MEDICAL CONDITION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO A THREE FEET HIGH CEMENT BOULDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS LATCHED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

NHTSA complaint #11329614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,629 miles Collierville, TN

AIR BAGS

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH FUMES COMING INTO THE CAB OF MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT VENTS WHEN SET TO DEFROSTER OR CIRCULATING AIR FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE FUMES SMELL OF GAS OR EXHAUST AND ARE VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN SITTING STILL WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS NOTICEABLE MAINLY WHEN SITTING STILL IN VEHICLE WITH ENGINE RUNNING. THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING. I HAVE DEVELOPED BREATHING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA AND AM HAVING TO TAKE BREATHING TREATMENTS. I HAD THE FIRST ASTHMA ATTACK IN DECEMBER 2019. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON. WHEEL INFORMATION IS ALSO INCORRECT. INFORMATION SYSTEM MAY INDICATE THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL PRESSURE IS LOW, WHEN IN FACT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE PRESSURE IS LOW.

NHTSA complaint #11312238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Corpus Christi, TX

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM - AIRBAG MESSAGE CAME ON CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON HUSBAND MESSAGE SHOWS UP AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. . FOR NO REASON. THE FRONT BUMPER POPS OUT ALSO, FOR NO REASON AND IMTHE PLASTIC PARTS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE ARE BROKEN AND DON'T KEEP THE BUMPER IN PLACE. AND MY CAR MAKES A WEIRD RATTLING NOISE . AND IT STOPPED PICK UP UP SPEED WHEN I TURN MY AC ON .BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WON'T PICK UP SPEED . I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A WARRANTY AT THE TIME SO WHEN I CALLED HEY SAID THEY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR . THE AC STARTED GOING OUT 2 AND A HALF YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT . THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY JUMP , IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT MY VEHICLE BUT IT WILL JUMP JUMP WHEN I'M WAITING AT A RED LIGHT AND I THINK THE COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA complaint #11204337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Galveston, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS ON (NOT FLASHING). SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE ON MESSAGE DISPLAY. NOT CAUSED BY ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11118127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesa, AZ Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAG WAS EJECTED BUT IT WAS DEFLATED, OFFERING NO PROTECTION UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT, GOING LESS THAN 30MPH SLOWING DOWN, WHEN VEHICLE IMPACTED ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT.

NHTSA complaint #11048662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Cross, SC Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. MY CRUISE WAS SET AT 57 MPH AND I DID NOT APPLY BRAKES. BECAUSE CRUISE WAS SET, I HIT ONCE, BOUNCED BACK AND HIT AGAIN. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10979985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,700 miles Albuquerque, NM

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ISSUE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,700. UPDATED 07/14/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10871789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,271 miles Indianapolis, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEMI-TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WITH FORCE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, UPPER AND LOWER BACK PAINS, NECK PAIN, AND ARM PAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,271.

NHTSA complaint #10731416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Hopewell Junction, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE MAKING A TURN. I WAS THEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 30MPH. THIS CAUSE ME TO BE PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE FRONT AND REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, ONSTAR CALL ME TO AS IF I NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION, BECAUSE THERE SYSTEM ALERTED THEM OF A AN ACCIDENT. NOW BOTH MY FRONT SEATBELTS ARE LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I WAS PUSHED SO HARD INTO THE VEHICLE INFRONT OF ME THAT MY METAL BUMPER SUPPORT IS CRACKED 80% OF THE WAY THROUGH. I SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. WITH ALL THE DAMAGE FRONT AND REAR, THOSE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10714242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,657 miles Chelsea, AL

AIR BAGS

SUDDENLY, "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT STARTED TO APPEAR WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE OVERHEAD DISPLAY SHOWED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AS OFF. NO WRECK OR ANYTHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED. BROUGHT IT TO CHEVROLET DEALER, PAID $115 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID WE NEED A NEW AIRBAG SENSOR THAT WILL COST $800. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD, 45K MILES AND HAS NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1000 TO GET AN AIRBAG FIXED? I CAN'T AFFORD THIS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I CALLED CHEVROLET TO BE SURE AND THEY CONFIRMED IT ISN'T COVERED BY ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. PLEASE ADD THIS CAR TO THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER STATING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10667323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,200 miles Kent, WA

AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER SEAT GOT WET AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT TOOK 3 DAYS FOR THE SEAT TO DRY OUT BEFORE THE AIR BAG WOULD TURN OFF WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE SENSOR SHOULD BE WATER PROOF IF A CHILD WERE TO WET THEIR PANTS AS IN THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10631461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,000 miles Avon, IN Crash

AIR BAGS

WE WERE SITTING STILL AT TRAIN CROSSING WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR AND WAS SHOVED FORWARD 8-10 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WITH ALL OF THE REAR AND FRONT DAMAGE, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. ALSO, BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SEAT BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEATS TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE (PASSENGER SEAT) NOT ONLY BROKE LOOSE BUT THE SEAT TWISTED.

NHTSA complaint #10554862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Minneapolis, MN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AS ANOTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING NORTH. THE CAR TRAVELING NORTH MADE A RAPID LEFT TURN DIRECTLY IN MY TRAVELING PATH. WE COLLIDED AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL PRETTY HARD BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HOW SHOULD I PROCEED?

NHTSA complaint #10546238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,000 miles Canal Winchester, OH Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A VEHICLE REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AROUND 40-50 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT PUSHED ME FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE CAUSING VEHICLE AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO ACTIVATE WHICH PROMPTED ONSTAR TO COME ON. THE AIRBAGS NEVER ACTUALLY ACTIVATED. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CRASH WAS $17,000 TO REPAIR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UPON INSPECTION SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10490152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Chevrolet Equinox problems

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