I purchased my 2008 Equinox LS less than 3 months ago with approx 48k miles on it. i like the vehicle. pretty much issue free since i purchased it until Feb when i was driving with my family locally, total of 4 adults. Vehicle began to hesitate during mild acceleration. This was on a Saturday. no check engine light at the time, but was noticeable by all in the vehicle. slight jerking and hesitation. The issue was intermittent from that day forward. that Monday when going to work, the issue was even more noticeable when accelerating to speed from on ramp to highway. Hesitation, slight jerking and intermittent Check engine light flashing. Vehicle would ultimately get up to speed but not smooth and slower than normal. I checked online and found others experienced the same issue. I also found out that this is a known issue by GM and covered by a TSB for spark plug wires and affected plugs. The TSB covers you up to 120k miles or the year 2019. Armed with this information, i contacted my local Chevy Dealer Bobby Murray in Raleigh, NC. I provided my VIN # and they confirmed the TSB, however, i get the feeling they only provide the information on a don't ask, don't tell basis. So, you must take an aggressive, " i know what i'm talking about" tone when dealing with the service department re this issue. An appointment was scheduled for 2/13/13. They will tell you that the diagnostic service is $99 if the issue turns out not to be related to the TSB. I told them that not only was i certain that this was the issue, but i would wager that it's also the # 3 or # 1 spark plug. They changed all the wires and 1 plug all covered by the TSB and no cost to me. They recommended replacing all plugs at a cost of $179, but i declined as that is an outrageous cost just to change spark plugs. not to mention that the factory plugs are supposed to last up to 100k miles. Vehicle running normally and smoothly since the repair. Experience at Bobby Murray wasn't bad at all. If your Equinox has similar issues, and is not covered under the TSB, try replacing the plugs and wires and you should be good to go.

The '08 Chevy Equinox overall is a good vehicle (unless it's you that's having a problem, then it's crap until it's fixed) and I'd probably buy another. Approx a year+ ago, I had a hesitation problem while driving, somewhat like a jerking motion, a miss. The engine light did not come on. I'm thinking, ohh gawdd, a fuel pump, water in the gas tank--everything that would cost over a million $$. Took it to the dealership where I bought it (big mistake---and for those that haven't caught on---take it to a good mechanic who has a great reputation when you find out it isn't under warranty---not a dealership, who just can't wait until you bend over ). Was advised it was a burnt ignition wire+ the spark plug---unknown cause and replaced both which cost less than $200. I was just thrilled it was fixed and drove off w/o a care in the world---UNTIL 6 months later when it occurred again, but a different wire and plug. Took it back to the same dealership ( I know, stupid grows on trees). In 2011, again another wire and plug ( a different one---that's 3 different ones so far), Took it to a repair garage in the town where I live. The cause was between the wire and plug. There is supposed to be an insulation coating where the wire meets the plug to prevent water contact--and there wasn't, which probably occurred at the factory where the vehicle was built. When water from a rain on the highway or a carwash throws water up from the bottom onto the engine, water finally gets in between the wire and plug causing a short. The price was far less than the dealership. Two other quickies---do not but RainX windshield wipers---they don't last longer than it takes to eat a bean and cheese burrito and start to peel the rubber from either end. The last issue are my turn signal blinkers. On the dash turn lights, they flash (and also outside the vehicle) but now fail to make the "click, click" sound when you make a turn. You have to be alert when you change lanes or make a short turn not reaching the point where they automatically turn off by themselves and you have to turn them off by hand. You know, the little old lady (now man) who has their blinker on for 100 miles and you don't know when they are going to turn and when you pass them on a multiple lane road and try to tell them their blinker is still on , they flip you off----ohh well, even in Texas, we can't shoot them for being stupid. Ex-wives yes, but not drivers.