2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 396 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 14 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 22 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, other, labelsJun 21, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles manufactured October 16, 2015. The certification labels may have incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
If the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires or rims or may improperly inflate the tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1050, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 46600.
Campaign 16V449000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
209 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Jan 30, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR MY ENGINE STARTED TO FLUTTER WHEN NOTICING THAT I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND MY ENGINE SHUT OFF. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE DEALERSHIP TOOK A LOOK AT IT THEY REALIZED IT WAS A PCV CLOG FROM CONDENSATION GETTING IN TO THE PCV VALVE. I HAVE 72000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE SO THERE IS NO MORE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT COVER CLOGS. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND OUT THAT CHEVY HAD A LOT OF THESE AND ACTUALLY EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON VEHICLES FROM 2010 TO 2014 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THEY HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FIXING THE ISSUE IN THE ARTICLES I HAVE READ. UPON HEARING THIS INFORMATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHICH THAT THEY HAD 6 VEHICLES IN THEIR FOR THIS SAME EXACT THING THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS COLD. CHEVROLET WILL NOT COVER THIS KNOWING IT IS A PROBLEM. ATTACHED IS THE SERVICE BULLETIN WHERE IT LIST THE MODELS AND WHERE CHEVY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THOSE MAKE AND MODELS.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 26, 2018
DROVE CAR 10 MILES, THEN TOOK A LEFT TURN AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF AND WHEEL LOCKED. NO POWER OR ANY WARNING SIGNS OF A BREAK DOWN. RESTARTED CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. TOOK IN FOR A CHECK UP AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO 'RECREATE THE INSTANCE'.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 28, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSS BROS. AUTO GROUP (12625 AUTO MALL DRIVE, MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 92555, (951) 485-3500) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. AFTERWARDS, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOM BELL CHEVROLET (800 ALABAMA STREET, REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA 92374, (909) 283-0690) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED "LOW VOLTAGE". THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN 2016. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WERE ERASED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE "LOW VOLTAGE" FAILURE READING. ADDITIONALLY, AN ALARM SOUNDED, THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE READINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4836904116. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,155.
Engine, Aug 16, 2018
AFTER IGNITION STARTED AND PLACED IN REVERSE THE CAR WOULD THEN SHUT OFF WHILE IN REVERES. IT WOULD ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. BUT ONLY WHILE FIRST TAKING OFF. EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON REGULAR ROADS AND IN PARKING LOTS. FUEL TANK FULL
Engine, Jun 19, 2017
THE CAR CONSUMES MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL, LIKE THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS. NO WARNING IS GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF OIL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS, TIMING CHAINS AND ENGINE. GM DROPPED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO 60 K KNOWING THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUES SINCE 2011- TO CURRENT. THE FAILURE HAPPENS AT 58-60 K MILES MAKING IT THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THIS ENORMOUS REPAIR. IN TALKING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE YET NO ONE HAS INFORMED THE OWNERS THAT OIL CONSUMPTION ON A BRAND NEW CAR WOULD NEED TO BE MONITORED OR THAT NO ENGINE LIGHT WOULD BE TRIGGERED. LEAVING THE CUSTOMER WITH A CAR WITH LESS OF A POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY AND THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY COULD DO A COST ASSISTANCE BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR, BECAUSE MY MILEAGE IS JUST OUTSIDE THE 60K MARK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY COWORKER HAS THE SAME VEHICLE AND BECAUSE HIS CAR FAILED AT 58 K IT WAS PAID FOR. GM KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN LOWERING THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY ON THIS CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER AND GM NEEDS TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES THEY KNOW ARE DEFECTIVE.
Power train, Engine, Jul 20, 2016
CAR STARTED SMELLING HORRIBLE ANYTIME IT WAS RUNNING, WOULD MAKE ME AND MY KIDS PHYSICALLY SICK BREATHING THE AIR COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE.MY DAUGHTER HAD PNEUMONIA 4 MONTHS AGO, AND MY HUSBAND HAD A SEVERE CASE OF PNEUMONIA 2 WEEKS AGO. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE RESPIRATORY RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE LAST YEAR THE ENTIRE FAMILY HAS BEEN HAVING. CHEVY WOULD NOT LOOK AT MY CAR, I CALLED MULTIPLKE TIMES TELLING THEM MY CAR IS SO FOUL SMELLING I CANT DRIVE IT ANYMORE AND ITS NOT A DEAD ANMIAL BECAUSE WE SEARCHED EVERY COMPARTMENT THERE IS....AND THEY SAID ITS A DEAD MOUSE OR ANIMAL AND THAT WARRANTY DOESNT COVER THAT SO ITS NOT THERE PROBLEM..AFTER OVER A WEEK OF ME CALLING AND HAVING MY HUSBAND (A CERTIFIED MECHANIC) CALLING THEM NON STOP, THEY AGREED TO LOOK AT IT..ITS NOT AN ANIMAL IT IS JUST ALOT OF MOLD THAT IS GROWING ALL OVER THE CARS HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER SYSTEM! AND ALL THIS TIME ITS JUST BEEN FLOWING MOLD BACTERIA INTO MY VENTS! ITS SUMMER I USE A/C EVERYDAY IF I AM DRIVING.... WE'VE JUST BEEN BREATHING IT IN FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG...I BOUGHT THIS CAR 9 MONTHS AGO BRAND NEW AND NOW AFTER ONLY 16,000 MILES ITS A BREEDING GROUND FOR MOLD INSIDE MY HVAC UNIT? I WONT BE ABLE TO GET RID OF THAT SMELL, AND WHAT ABOUT MY SEATS OR CLOTHING OR DAMAGE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE FROM THIS MOLD AND BACTERIA? THEY SAID GM WILL GIVE ME A RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS.....BUT PARTS WILL TAKE UP TO 4 TO EVEN COME IN BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN START FIXING THE "ISSUE". MY DAUGHTER IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD PNEMONIA 2 TIMES ALREADY.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 24, 2016
PLEASE REFERENCE NHSTA COMPLAINT NUMBER 10862571,10865740 SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT TO G.M. THIS VEHICLE MADE MY FAMILY SICK. I HAD TO PICKET DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT CAR, BECAUSE G.M HEAD QUARTERS CLOSED THE CASE AND LEFT ME WITH THIS TOXIC VEHICLE. A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN MY QUEST TO HAVE THE CAR REPLACED. A GM DEALERSHIP WHERE I DID NOT BUY CAR FROM, BOUGHT ME OUT OF MY LEASE AND GOT ME INTO A NEW VEHICLE. I PHYSICALLY PICKETED DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT CAR FROM AND OTHERS TO GET MY POINT ACROSS. I STILL HAVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING AND THE DEALERSHIP IS STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW, AND I STILL HAVE HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT MY FAMILY. I HAVE CALLED THE EPA, AND OTHER AGENCIES AND NONE OF THEM CAN HELP. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER GET INTO ANOTHER INDIVIDUALS POSSESSION. I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES AND FILES.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 19, 2016
THIS VEHICLE MADE MY FAMILY SICK. I HAD TO PICKET DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT CAR, BECAUSE G.M HEAD QUARTERS CLOSED THE CASE AND LEFT ME WITH THIS TOXIC VEHICLE. A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN MY QUEST TO HAVE THE CAR REPLACED. A GM DEALERSHIP WHERE I DID NOT BUY CAR FROM BOUGHT ME OUT OF MY LEASE AND GOT ME INTO A NEW VEHICLE. I PHYSICALLY PICKETED DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT CAR FROM AND OTHER GM DEALERSHIPS TO GET MY POINT ACROSS. I STILL HAVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING AND THE DEALERSHIP IS STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW, AND I STILL HAVE HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT MY FAMILY. I HAVE CALLED THE EPA, AND OTHER AGENCIES AND NONE OF THEM CAN HELP. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER GET INTO ANOTHER INDIVIDUALS POSSESSION. I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES AND FILES. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT. ORIGINAL NHSTA COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10862571 EXHAUST FUMES SEEPED INTO VEHICLE FROM EXHAUST LEAK AND CONTAMINATED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE MAKING MY WIFE AND CHILD SICK.DEALERSHIP REPLACED EXHAUST SYSTEM BUT CAR WAS STILL CONTAMINATED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT GMCARGOTMYFAMILYSICK@GMAIL.COM
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 2, 2016
EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO DRIVER CABIN, HORRIBLE TOXIC ODOR, FAMILY GOT SICK FROM BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION. TOXIC ODORS AND SAME HEALTH EFFECTS WHEN NOT RUNNING. ODER ON CLOTHING, HAIR, SKIN. IMMEDIATE ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN VEHICLE ARE HEADACHE, CHEMICAL TASTE IN MOUTH, SORE THROAT. I NOTICED CONDITION 1/22/2016 BUT IT WAS PRESENT PRIOR TO THIS AS I DO NOT USE VEHICLE OFTEN. MY WIFE AND YOUNGEST DAUGHTER HAD MOST EXPOSURE AND IT BUILT UP OVER TIME, FOR THEY WERE DESENSITIZED TO THE ODOR. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF NOT USING VEHICLE MY WIFE DID SMELL THE TOXIC ODOR. AN EXHAUST LEAK WAS THE CAUSE AND VERIFIED BY DEALER. AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE VEHICLE STILL HAS HORRIFIC ODOR AND THE SAME ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS WERE EXPERIENCED. OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPOSED TO VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED SAME HEALTH SYMPTOMS.