2007 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a gasoline smell and visible fuel leaks traced to the fuel pump or fuel tank area, and about the passenger-seat air bag sensor leaving the air bag warning light on. A third recurring theme is a cluster of stability-control warnings with reduced engine power and heavy steering, plus a key that will not come out of the ignition. Reports span a wide mileage range, from near-new vehicles to ones past 180,000 miles.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from the fuel pump / tank area

   • 240 complaints (35%)
   • median 80,750 mi at 6.0 yrs old (196 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 37 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2022

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor inside or around the vehicle, sometimes noticed while parked and sometimes while driving, often with fuel visible on the ground or running down the side of the tank. Several say a shop or dealer traced it to a cracked or leaking fuel pump module and quoted replacement, which some note requires dropping the tank or removing rear components. A number mention checking the fuel-pump recall and being told their vehicle's identification number was not covered. Reported from about 24,000 to 200,000 miles, with many reports clustered between roughly 46,000 and 132,000 miles.

   Recall 12V4590002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records on the fuel pump module and check for a gasoline smell around the rear of the vehicle and under the tank. Confirm with a dealer whether this vehicle's identification number was included in the fuel-pump recall campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started smelling gas fumes on the 14th of june 2012. They got worse until I took the chevy to a dealer in kingman az. They found that their was a gas leak at the top of the gas tank. To correct this problem you have to remove the whole rear end to correct. The car is an awl which makes it more difficult to remove. The dealer suggested that we do not drive the car as of the fuel danger. Because of this we were forced to buy a new car which we really did not want to do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10463016, filed 2012-06, 80,437 miles

   “Several months back I started noticing a strong gas smell coming from the right side rear near the exhaust of my vehicle. I have been told that the tank has to be dropped (a very expensive service) to determine the issue with fuel and that there is a visible leak when the car is parked and running. I have noticed that there are numerous complaints about this same problem from other 2007 chevy Equinox owners. This is obviously a manufacture defect that needs to addressed by a proper recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10475732, filed 2012-09, 95,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag sensor / warning light on

   • 141 complaints (21%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (112 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $850 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2023

   Complaints describe the passenger air bag indicator staying on, or turning off, whether or not someone is in the seat, so owners are unsure the air bag would work in a crash. Some say the dealer diagnosed a faulty seat sensor or calibration module but did not repair it, and several note their vehicle was not included in the air bag-related recall. Others report the service air bag message appearing and staying on. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 189,000 miles, often noticed at start-up or with a passenger seated.

   Recall 07V344000Recall 07V520000

   What to check: With the ignition on, watch the passenger air bag status indicator with the seat empty and with a passenger seated. Ask whether the passenger sensing system was ever diagnosed or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My chevy Equinox lt has the passenger air bag light on. It says it needs to be serviced but my car doesn't fall under the recall. I purchased this car off of someone, there has been no accident reports. It just suddenly stopped working. My car only has 98,000 miles.it's a safety issue that should be covered by chevy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11350504, filed 2020-08, 95 miles

   “The passenger airbag sensor was not working correctly. It would sometimes not register if someone was sitting in the seat or not. Then the service airbag light came on and has stayed on. This means that the airbags will not deploy in case of a crash. This is a major safety issue. I looked up to see if there was a recall on it. There isn't an open recall on my particular VIN number but there is on some of the same model. I have seen many complaints from other owners of 2007 chevy equinoxes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11405452, filed 2021-03, 182,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist drops out, steering very hard

   • 70 complaints (10%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 7.3 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $740 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming very stiff, sometimes right after starting the vehicle or at low speed, with the Stabilitrak message appearing at the same time. Owners say they had to wrestle the wheel to get the vehicle off the road, and some had the power steering motor replaced at their own expense. Some note their vehicle was not part of a related recall campaign. Mostly reported between roughly 68,000 and 140,000 miles, often just after start-up or while maneuvering at low speed.

   What to check: During the test drive, check that steering effort is normal at a standstill and at parking speeds, and ask whether the power steering motor or column has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was leaving my driveway and my electric power steering quit working. I ended up in the other lane because my car wouldn't turn. Luckily there was no one else using that lane at the time. Now I see a recall in the news in which GM says they want to get all vehicles that could be effected, but they don't include the Equinox.?”

   NHTSA complaint #10576366, filed 2014-04, 95,000 miles

   “I took my car in for inspection and general maintenance. For almost a year and a half I'd been getting an intermittent stabilitrak alarm. It would reset itself upon restart.. At the dealer (tom clark Chevrolet, mckeesport, pa.) the power steering locked up. The service manager informed me that the power steering motor had failed. My out-of-pocket expense for replacement is $480.00. Apparently my warranty does not cover the expense. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10439056, filed 2011-12, 108,000 miles
4. 4
   Electronic stability control

   Stabilitrak and engine power reduced warnings

   • 83 complaints (12%)
   • median 77,949 mi at 7.0 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,099 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners describe the Stabilitrak, traction control and check engine lights coming on together, sometimes with the message that engine power is reduced or that the stability system needs service. In many reports the vehicle slows sharply or will not accelerate past a low speed, and some say restarting clears it temporarily. Several mention the throttle position sensor as the suspected part, and more than one owner says the dealer could not reproduce the warning. Reported across a wide range, from about 9,000 up to 200,000 miles, often while driving at moderate speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle position sensor or throttle body has been replaced, and scan for stored codes even if no warning light is currently on. A test drive that includes steady and rolling-throttle acceleration can help reveal it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving suddenly stablitrak service light and engine light comes on. Door locks start unlocking and locking, all lights start flashing and car slows down. At the same time steering wheel becomes very tight and unable to turn. Happen while driving any speed. Have had many visits to mechanics: ECM replaced and programmed was the last attempt prior to that I had a new started put on. This is a known issue for Chevrolet's from my research. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11352064, filed 2020-08, 3 miles

   “Engine light turns on and says the stabilitrak needs servicing as well as the traction control and that they are off, also says that engine power is reduced. This has happened about 5 times in the past 2 months and each time that I have an appointment, the light goes off and the dealer says they cannot diagnose without a check engine light on. This concerns me. Autozone hooked up there little gadget while it was on once and indicated that the throttle position sensor may be the culprit, said it came up three times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10377808, filed 2011-01, 9,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Ignition key sticks and will not come out

   • 51 complaints (7%)
   • median 64,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Owners report the key staying in the ignition after the vehicle is shifted into park, sometimes for a couple of minutes and sometimes requiring repeated on-off cycles or use of the manual release in the steering column. A few link it to a dead battery after the key was left in. Complaints say dealers offered no fix and that no recall covered it. Reported from very low mileage up to about 189,000 miles, typically when parking and switching the engine off.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Park the vehicle, shift to park and switch off, then try removing the key several times to see whether it releases cleanly. Ask whether the ignition lock cylinder or shifter assembly has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I turn the vehicle off, the ignition key stays stuck. Even if I turn it back and forth it does not come out, I have to wait about two minutes before I can take it out. Sometimes, if I move the key extremely fast, I am able to take it out on the first try. I have seen this complaint on this vehicle before but there is still no recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10596285, filed 2014-06, 65,000 miles

   “When I put my vehicle in park and try to turn off my car, the key gets stuck in the ignition more often than not. I then have to turn it on, back up, pull forward, and turn it off again to see if it will let me take the key out. Sometimes I have to do this 5-6 times!”

   NHTSA complaint #10607919, filed 2014-07, 84 miles

Buying note. Look closely at fuel system records and any gasoline smell, and confirm with a dealer which recall campaigns actually apply to the specific vehicle by its identification number. Budget for possible steering, sensor or ignition switch repairs on a vehicle of this age, and check that the air bag and stability-control warning lights behave normally before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.