2011 Chevrolet Equinox Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 52about this part
- Share
- 7%of 782 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 61,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 52 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, 7% of the 782 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,000 miles. 17 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was recently in a pretty bad front end vehicle accident going about 45 MPH when I rear ended someone. My car has been totaled do to the damage to the front end of the vehicle. My air bags did not deploy in this accident, everyone one I have talked to from the towing company to the paramedic on seen said that it should have deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10391449, filed 2011-03, 20,000 miles“Involved in an accident where I collided with another car. The front end of my car was completed damaged to the point where the car was totaled. The problem with this accident was the air bags did not go off causing injury to myself and my wife. I estimate the speed at collision to be around 30mph. I was traveling west bound at about 630pm in the evening, on a four lane city road with a center turn lane. I was in my lane and failed to stop before hitting the car in front of me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10949808, filed 2017-02, 124,000 miles“While driving this being with a malfunctioning tcmp I was coming up on a light at about 45 MPH and the brakes failed and upon impact the seat belt did not lock but actually let me move right into the steering wheel thus causing serious damage to my sternum and also breaking 2 ribs and my head cracked my windshield and the vehicle was totaled out by the insurance company who of course did not pay anything near what I did go figure.”
NHTSA complaint #10639490, filed 2014-09, 53,000 miles“Driving home I was approaching intersection in which a few cars were beginning to move as I approached the red light. On a county highway, upon seeing the slow start, I began breaking. Unfortunately I continually pushed brake pedal to floor numerous times with no ability to stop and ran my vehicle under back end of a fedex delivery truck. One head on collision occurred my airbag canisters initiated but but the air bags never deployed after impact I did receive indicator notification stating airbag service required. …”
NHTSA complaint #11192087, filed 2019-03, 187,000 miles“I got a warning that said service airbags. I brought my car in and they found out it was the passenger air bag. They reset the sensor and it never came back and so they said it was fine. About a week went by and the light came on and then disappeared again. I called and they said they would need it for 3 days and it could cost quite a lot of money. When I read all the reports of others who had seen this signal it seems very similar because it doesn't stay on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10572607, filed 2014-03, 56,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 3 | 4% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 4 | 2% |
| 2021 | 4 | 4% |
| 2020 | 8 | 3% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 15 | 4% |
| 2017 | 19 | 7% |
| 2016 | 12 | 3% |
| 2015 | 38 | 6% |
| 2014 | 29 | 5% |
| 2013 | 25 | 3% |
| 2012 | 19 | 3% |
| 2011 | 52 | 7% |
| 2010 | 57 | 7% |
| 2009 | 26 | 28% |
| 2008 | 110 | 30% |
| 2007 | 146 | 21% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 38 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
386 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
145 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
76 complaintsFuel system
75 complaintsElectrical system
74 complaintsOther or unknown
58 complaintsElectronic stability control
55 complaintsVehicle speed control
50 complaintsSteering
43 complaintsEngine cooling
34 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology