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2008 Chevrolet Equinox

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Equinox.

Body SUV

The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox is a compact SUV built on Chevrolet’s midsize platform and powered by an engine that requires 4.0 qt of 5W‑30 API‑rated oil. Across the model’s 2005‑2026 production span, the 2008 year sits near the lower end of reported issues, contributing to a total of 370 owner complaints for the model year and registering no recalls, with air‑bag systems identified as the most frequent concern. Compared with the peak of 784 complaints recorded in 2010 and the current low of 58 complaints in 2026, the 2008 Equinox reflects a relatively moderate reliability profile within the line’s history.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 650 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-65R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175 alt 12690386
Engine air filter	22676970
Spark plug	12681664 alt 19300872
Front wiper blades	22703507 alt 22703508
Serpentine belt	12576750 alt 12584310
Thermostat	24507563 alt 10226107
Cabin air filter	15781507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	188.6 in
Overall width	71.3 in
Overall height	66.9 in
Wheelbase	112.6 in
Curb weight	3777 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.4 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Equinox of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 2008 Sport V6

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2008	Sport V6 3.6L V6	6.90 sec	15.40 sec	264 hp	AWD
2005	LT V6 3.4L V6	8.30 sec	16.70 sec	185 hp	AWD
2005	LT V6 3.4L V6	9.10 sec	16.80 sec	185 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	12 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	NVG900: 11.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	NVG900: 18.0, Gertag 760: 29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.30 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	47

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-60
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-60

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	136 ft-lbs / 89 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.080
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.002 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.001 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.079 in / 0.724 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 150

74 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Equinox sits at a low point in the first-generation complaint trend, with 370 complaints—a sharp drop from the 685–695 range seen in 2006–2007 and far below the 784 peak that arrived with the redesigned 2010 model. It also recorded zero recalls, a notable improvement over the four recalls issued for the 2007 model year and the three recalls that would follow in 2010. While Technical Service Bulletins were high at 971, these are not mandatory fixes and often reflect diagnostic guidance rather than widespread defects. The top complaint category for 2008 was air bags (71), but the data does not specify root causes, and the year’s nine crash complaints and single fire complaint are relatively modest. Overall, the 2008 Equinox appears to be a comparatively stable year within the generation, making it a reasonable used purchase candidate for those prioritizing a lower complaint and recall history.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

971

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

370

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’05 ’06 ’07’08’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 370 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags71

Fuel/Propulsion System32

Steering24

Structure23

Electrical System17

Engine14

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)11

Exterior Lighting10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 971 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
13598	2025-09-09	Unknown Or Other	New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M	2025-08-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Equinox. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 22676970 Spark plug 12681664 Front wiper blades 22703507

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Equinox take?

4.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Equinox have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.