2009 Chevrolet Equinox: common problems and reliability

The 2009 Chevrolet Equinox has 94 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and electrical system. Owners most often flag severe engine problems (oil consumption, timing chain issues, pcv valve failures leading to blown seals, complete engine failure) – very frequent.

Safety record for the 2009 model year

94
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
5
Crash reports
1
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2009 Chevrolet Equinox vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2009 a good year for the Equinox?

Across the 7 Equinox model years we track, complaint volume runs from 86 (2021) to 682 (2012). With 94 complaints, the 2009 Equinox sits belowthe model's median of 270.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

air bags
26
electrical system
23
engine
18
electronic stability control (esc)
12
vehicle speed control
11

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is sharply divided by powertrain and generation. For the internal combustion engine (ICE) models, particularly from the 2010s (e.g., 2011-2019), sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, dominated by reports of severe and recurrent…

  • Internal Combustion Engine Models (2010s, e.g., 2011-2019):
  • Severe engine problems (oil consumption, timing chain issues, PCV valve failures leading to blown seals, complete engine failure) – very frequent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Equinox. See the full Equinox owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used Equinox listings typically run $13,995–$27,354 across 2014 to 2026 model years.

Other Equinox model years

Compare every Equinox year side by side to see how 2009 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Equinox against its rivals