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What 270 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (270)Crash / fire / injury (23)Engine (178)Transmission & drivetrain (32)Fuel system (20)Airbags (19)Electrical system (17)Engine & cooling (16)Visibility & wipers (11)Brakes (8)Speed control (6)Body & structure (5)

14 of 270 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jan 21, 2026AirbagsCrash

The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a deer. During the crash, the air bags became inoperable and failed to inflate or expose themselves out of the housing, and an “Air Bag Needs Service” warning message was displayed. The contact also noticed a strong fume-like odor following the impact and stated that the air bag system appeared to engage but did not deploy. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed, and law enforcement advised the contact that the vehicle could be safely driven home. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was later deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance agency. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ODI 11712450

Jul 17, 2025AirbagsCrash1 injury

I was in a car accident (car total loss), my air bags did NOT deploy and a light came on after the crash to say the airbags malfunctioned.

NHTSA ODI 11674264

Dec 2, 2024AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while stopped in traffic, he was involved in a rear end crash. The contact stated that the vehicle was pushed forward by the impact into the rear end of another vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end of the vehicle was crushed in to the rear wheel wells, and the front end of the vehicle, the hood, front bumper, and grill were also crushed back into the front wheel wells. The contact stated that the front air bags had not deployed after being pushed into the rear of the other vehicle. The contact was not sure what happened to the other two vehicles. The contact stated that the Police were called and EMS was also on scene. The contact stated that a Police report was filed. The contact stated that he was not transported to the hospital, but later had been taken by a friend to seek medical attention. The contact stated that the jolt of the impact had caused a concussion. Additionally, there were some bruising from the seat belt to the left shoulder. The contact stated that after the crash the seat belt failed to retract and the issue might be due to a sensor failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the Insurance Company. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

NHTSA ODI 11628275

Feb 1, 2024AirbagsBrakesCrash

Was in an accident, where my front bumper was hit going about 60 and air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11569239

Aug 17, 2022AirbagsFuel systemCrash

I was in a vehicle accident the 4th of August. After the accident I noticed the airbag light on. I check the passenger seat belt and it wouldn't budge, but the air bags never deployed from the accident. About a month ago I had an issue with the car. I was driving down the road and I took a sharp left turn and the car acted like it was starving for gas. It was on a full tank and I was stranded for a few hrs until the car cooled down to where it was operational.

NHTSA ODI 11479774

May 18, 2022AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that as his wife attempted to make a left turn at 5 MPH, another vehicle hit the front passenger side of her vehicle at approximately 40 MPH. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. His wife was taken to the hospital by ambulance and was treated for an injury to her right knee as well as chest pain. The other driver sought medical treatment after the accident; however, their injuries, if any, are unknown. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was deemed a total loss. A police report was filed. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11465107

Mar 10, 2022AirbagsSeat beltsCrash

In February 26, 2022, my wife was driving and I was in passenger seat. At approximately 2123 hours, we came over a slight hill and hit a cow at 70 miles an hour on state Highway 95 between Academy, Texas and Temple, Texas. Our airbags did not deploy and my seatbelt malfunctioned as I hit my head on dash.

NHTSA ODI 11456097

Jan 30, 2021AirbagsBrakesCrash

ON JANUARY 16, 2021, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN MAIN STREET IN ROUND ROCK, TEXAS WHERE I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. AS I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO STOP, I FELT MY BRAKES STARTED PULSATING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY CAR WAS DEEMED UNREPAIRABLE, AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED, AND THE FRAME WAS BENT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE DOOR. I HAD A COUPLE BRUISES NOT SEVERE THAT I NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT, WHICH TO MYSELF DID NOT SEEM TO BE NORMAL. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR, IT WAS CONSIDERED NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAD TO BE TOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11390806

Jan 27, 2021AirbagsBody & structureDriver assistanceCrash

AIRBAGS DID'T DEPOLY WITH FRONT END CFRASH GOING ABOUT 25TO30HMPH HWY 278 WEST CULLMAN

NHTSA ODI 11390265

Sep 21, 2020AirbagsBody & structureBrakesCrash2 injuries

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR COME OUT UPON EXTREMELY HIGH IMPACT: THE AIR BAGS IN MY 2017 EQUINOX DID NOT DEPLOY OUT OR COME OUT WHEN WE WHERE HIT AT A EXTREMELY HIGH IMPACT FROM THE HIT AND RUN DRIVER AND THE IMPACT CAUSED US TO HIT HEAD ON INTO AN WHITE SUV THAT WAS IN FRONT OF US ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET GOING SOUTH ON LARAMIE. MY FIANC WAS DRIVING AND I WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN WE WAS GOING WEST ON EXPRESSWAY AND WE HAD EXITED OF LARAMIE AND HARRISON. FIANC LASHANTI SCOTT THAT'S ON MY INSURANCE ON THE MY 2017 EQUINOX WAS DRIVING SO WE MADE AN RIGHT TURN ON LARAMIE GOING NORTH TOWARDS LARAMIE AND HARRISON. AS WE WHERE APPROACHING AND CROSSINGS THE LIGHT THAT WAS GREEN AT THE NEXT LIGHT, AS WE PROCEEDED CROSSING THE GREEN LIGHT, AN SS BLACK SUV WAS COMING FROM WEST OF HARRISON TOWARDS US AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED 60-65 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS NO TIME TO ADJUST AND RECOVER TO AVOID THE SUV THAT HIT US AT SUCH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE SS BLACK SUV THAT HIT US IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2017 EQUINOX IN WHICH CAUSED MY 2017 EQUINOX FROM THE IMPACT TO CRASH HEAD ONTO AN WHITE SUV THAT WAS DRIVING THE OPPOSITE SIDE GOING SOUTH OF LARAMIE TOWARDS HARRISON. AND FROM THE HIGH IMPACT OF THE SS BLACK SUV THAT HIT US SPENT AROUND AND HIT US AGAIN ON THE BACK REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2017 EQUINOX ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11360174

Dec 13, 2018AirbagsBrakesCrash

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON FREEWAY. I TRIED SLOWING THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO STOP THE SLOW THE CAR HENCE CAME THE SITUATION WHERE I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO ABLE TO STOP THE CAR TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO BREAK AT ALL AND IT ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS SURPRISING TO ME THAT NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WAS POPPED OPEN, GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF AN ACCIDENT AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED (ESTIMATED DAMAGE OVER $10,000). I HAD MY SON AND TWO OF HIS FRIENDS IN THE CAR. IT IS VERY SHOCKING THAT THE AIRBAGS OR BREAK DID NOT WORK IN BRAND NEW SUV.

NHTSA ODI 11161139

Sep 15, 2018AirbagsCrash3 injuries

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE ANOTHER CAR HIT ME IN THE PASSENGER SIDE UP FRONT IN A HARD CRASH.THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED FRAME RAILS WERE BENT AND AC COMPONENTS WAS IN THE MOTOR.AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY INSURANCE TOTALED THE VEHICLE 17,200 OF DAMAGES

NHTSA ODI 11129674

Dec 5, 2017AirbagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE IT BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A HARD CRASH. THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. FRAME RAILS WERE BENT AND THE MOTOR MOVED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INSURANCE TOTALED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11052527

Jan 1, 2017AirbagsCrash

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH ON A HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLES IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME WERE STOPPED FOR AN OBSTRUCTION. A VEHICLE FROM THAT LANE TRAVELED INTO MY LANE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE - I ESTIMATE THE COLLISION TO HAVE OCCURRED AT 30-40MPH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 10938981

Working with the data? Download all 270 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 13, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Chevrolet Equinox verdict →