2009 Chevrolet Equinox: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
On the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 75,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other driver assistance problem, reported by a median of 70,000 miles. Overall it scores 66 out of 100, high risk for a 2009.
High risk for a 2009 — 224th riskiest of the 295 2009 vehicles we can rate. 151 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 38 named failure modes on the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox, and the three most-reported carry 21% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other engine problem leads with 11 reports, about 0.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 65k to 80,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 11 reports, usually reported between 46k to 90,000 miles.
Other driver assistance problem follows with 10 reports, usually reported between 54k to 75,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (22), electrical (22) and adas (20).
The mileage the reports cluster at
124 of the reports on the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 77,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 18% by 50,000 miles, 72% by 100,000 miles and 93% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 3 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 70,000 and 80,000 miles, which alone holds 15% of the dated reports.
10% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other driver assistance problem around 70k, other engine problem around 73k, other speed control problem around 74k and other electrical problem around 80k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 38. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 3 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 4 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 3 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.30, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other driver assistance problem at $250–$1,800 and other speed control problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
23% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 11 | 9 | 65k | 73k | 79k | 0.5 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 11 | 8 | 46k | 80k | 90k | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 10 | 10 | 54k | 70k | 76k | 0.4 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 10 | 10 | 52k | 74k | 78k | 0.4 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 7 | 6 | — | 171k | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 7 | 7 | — | 57k | — | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 6 | 6 | — | 110k | — | 0.3 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 5 | 5 | — | 94k | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 80k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 5 | 3 | — | 63k | — | 0.2 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 5 | 5 | — | 105k | — | 0.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 73k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 115k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 98k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 3 | 2 | — | 150k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 3 | 2 | — | 86k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 3 | 1 | — | 106k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 83 | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 2 | 2 | — | 49k | — | 0.1 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 2 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 2 | 2 | — | 6k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 90k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 136k | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Window regulator or power window failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 52k | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 1 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 50k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 1 | 1 | — | 79k | — | 0.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 20 | 18 | 55k | 65k | 96k | 0.9 | — | Moderate |
This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox draws about 6.7 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 90th percentile of complaint rates among 2009 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model.
The working figure is 22,588 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2009 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
I was driving at a speed of 40 MPH when I slowed to make a right turn. The stabilitrak notification stated that it was "off trak" and to service "traction control" and that "engine speed is reduced". I could drive no faster than 5 MPH. I pulled over and turned my car off for a few minutes. When I started it back up the speed was normal again but the engine light remained lit and solid. This is the second time in 2 years that this problem has occurred. I took it to the dealership where I purchased the vehicle brand new concerning the first incident about 18 months after purchase. I was told that I had a bad throttle body. The part was supposedly replaced but I was not given the bad part so I am not sure that the work was actually done since there was a debate about who was going to pay for the service. Now, the same problem is happening again. *tr
The throttle body went bad in my car for the 2nd time in 3 years. I had the throttle body replaced in january of 2011, after only owning the car a month. It now needs replaced again today in january of 2014. I press the gas peddle and car doesn't go anywhere, then all of the sudden it will take off and runs as if the engine is being pushed and pulled. It also stalled out on me once while driving it. This is a safety hazard when sitting in the middle of an intersection to make a left turn and the car will not go forward. *tr
Other electrical problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet equinox. The contact stated that the tire pressure monitoring light illuminated continuously while the vehicle was on. The contact also stated that while driving 25 MPH, acceleration power reduced dramatically and the vehicle decelerated to 3 MPH. The contact also stated that both headlights failed and needed to be replaced every 3 months and the brake lights had failed and needed to be replaced. In addition, the windshield wipers failed to operate when activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the throttle body had failed and needed to be replaced. No other repairs were completed. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 300.
We have had a problem with the key getting stuck in the ignition for some time now. Some times it takes several minutes of working with it before it will come out. I have taken it back to superior chevrolet of siloam springs two times and have spent a total of $720.72 and it's still not fixed. They told me they had something else to try but it would cost an additional $200 to $300 dollars and it still might not be fix. After charging me this much for what should be a simple fix they should make sure it repaired on their own time. *tr
Other driver assistance problem
While driving in the highway, vehicle warnings suddenly turned on indication that stabili-trac and traction control went off and needed to be serviced. At this time engine lost power and vehicle was sluggish when accelerator pedal was pressed. *tr
Car hesitated, slowed down, lost power. Warning lights included stabilitrak off, traction control off, and reduced engine power. Repair was to clean throttle body. Jan of 2014, (83,000 miles) same problem occurred, and throttle body cleaned at dealer after diagnostics. March 1, 2014 (85000 miles) while on interstate 80 same warnings came on but I lost all engine power although the car was in gear and the car rpms would go up with pressing the gas petal, and semi almost hit me from behind. Car was brought to shoulder, stopped turned off and reset with restarting the engine.. I left the interstate and made a left turn, the car sputtered and hesitated, and oncoming traffic almost hit me. Reduced engine power warning then came on along with stabiltrak and traction control off messages. On the way to the dealer it occurred several times. And I had to restart the car after turning it off. The dealer stated that the throttle body had to be replaced. They had a 1 month wait time for the part? When I brought the car in january, the cars ahead and behind me had the same problem. A lady at the service counter also had the same problem. It is…
How it ranks in the 2009 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2009 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2009 — 224th riskiest of the 295 2009 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 22 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 65 and 2019 worst at 83, with 2009 itself at 66.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2009, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2005–2009 generation specifically, 2008 is the strongest year at 65 and 2005 the weakest at 76.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2005-2009 generation, 2008 Chevrolet Equinox scores best at 65 and 2005 Chevrolet Equinox worst at 76.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other electrical problem from about 46k, other speed control problem from about 52k, other driver assistance problem from about 54k and other engine problem from about 65k.
On a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
151 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 151 reports, 124 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 82% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (11 reports, median 75,000 miles), other electrical problem (11 reports, median 80,000 miles) and other driver assistance problem (10 reports, median 70,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Equinox problems start?
Other driver assistance problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 70,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 55,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 77,000 miles.
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
It scores 66 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 224th riskiest of the 295 2009 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2009 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Equinox is best?
Within the 2005–2009 generation, 2008 scores best at 65 out of 100 and 2005 worst at 76. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed