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
396 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2020
WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM SAYING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD FAIL, HOWEVER THEY AREN'T FIXING THE ISSUE UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY FAIL. HOW IS THIS A SAFE SITUATION? THEY HAVE A KNOW ISSUE BUT WON'T FIX IT UNLESS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN A STORM AND MY WIPERS FAIL? IS THIS REALLY ACCEPTABLE? ATTACHING A COPY OF THE LETTER.
Engine, Feb 19, 2020
WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT. PRESS THE GAS, CAR SPUTTERS AND STALLS OUT. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUES HAPPEN TO ME 6 TIMES.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 12, 2020
WHILE DRIVING MY EQUINOX IN THE RAIN THROUGH TOWN, THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND PUSH THEM DOWN WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT THE WIPER BLADES DID NOT MOVE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT AND SAID THEIR WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE WIPER TRANSMISSION ARM AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION ARM TO BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE.
Engine, Visibility/wiper, Feb 8, 2020
THE TIMING BELT ON MY ENGINE WENT OUT RESULTING IN MY VEHICLE DYING WHENEVER MY CAR IDLED LOW. IF I DIDN?T CONSTANTLY GIVE IT SOME GAS, THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGN WHERE I COULDN?T GIVE THE CAR GAS, SO I?D END UP STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH INCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED AND TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS (ONE AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP) SAID THAT TIMING BELTS ARE AN ISSUE WITH CHEVY EQUINOX. THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST REPAIR I NEEDED DONE ON MY CAR AND AT ONLY 77,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID I?D MOST LIKELY ONLY GET ANOTHER 50,000 MILES OUT OF THE ENGINE. THAT WOULD BE SHORT OF 130,000 MILES. I THINK IF TIMING BELTS ARE SUCH AND ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE THEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THEM.
Engine, Feb 6, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITH NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER ARRIVING HOME, THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND BECAME AWARE OF AN OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CLOGGED PCV VALVE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 30, 2020
INITIALLY THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING OR BROKEN; ALL THE OIL DRAINED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER SPENDING $992.60 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHANGE AND GUIDES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD THE VVT CELANIDE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT SENSORS; THE VVT GEARS AND AN OIL PUMP REBUILD...$2017.60 LATER, MY TRUCK DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WHERE IT DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR (ASIDE FROM THE 3 MILES) IN NEARLY 2 MONTHS. NOW I'M BEING TOLD THEY THINK IT MAY BE ELECTRICAL. MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS GOGGLE SEARCHES THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES WITH THIS MOTOR/VEHICLE AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4; I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW TO SAFELY TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE. THIS CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE DEAD OF WINTER COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY...IT LITERALLY STOPPED IN MID ACCELERATION. HOW LONG BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED?
Engine, Jan 29, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING ILLUMINATED WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE IT STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ON THE GROUND HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A VISIBLE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO (STILLWATER MOTORS CHEVROLET & BUICK 5900 STILLWATER BLVD N, STILLWATER, MN 55082 (651) 439-4333) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND PCV VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 27, 2020
WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN FRONT STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER
Engine, Jan 21, 2020
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS DROVE CAR WITH NO OIL IN ENGINE
Power train, Engine, Jan 21, 2020
PCV VALVE FROZE CAUSING REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK. CAR BEGAN TO LEAK EXCESSIVE OIL.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 4, 2020
MY COMPLAINT & SAFETY CONCERN RELATES TO THE DEEP WINDOW TINTING THAT IS ALLOWED IN MANY OF THE SOUTHERN STATES AND IT'S IMPACT ON ACCIDENTS -- PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLISTS, AND OTHER MOTORISTS (MOTORCYCLES INCLUDED). THE AMOUNT OF ALLOWABLE TINTING HAS TO IMPACT PEOPLE'S SAFETY -- ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, DURING RAINSTORMS, FOG, ETC. WITH MORE MOTORISTS ON THE ROADS, I SHOULD THINK IT'S TIME TO REVISIT THE TINTING LAWS. THANK YOU!
Engine, Jan 2, 2020
ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2019, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON INTERSTATE 694 IN ARDEN HILLS MN, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, AND THEN EVENTUALLY STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A PROBLEM EVER CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALERSSHIP, AND 2 DAYS LATER WAS INFORMED BY THEM THAT THE ENGINE HAD RUN OUT OF OIL, AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE THAT WOULD COST ME $8500. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MOTOR, THE 2.4L ECOTEC. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST GM RESULTED IN A $42 MILLION JUDGEMENT AGAINST GM, BUT IT ONLY COVERED MODEL YEARS 2010-2013. A 2ND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST GM TO COVER MODEL YEARS 2014-2017, THIS LAWSUIT IS STILL WORKING IT'S WAY THROUGH THE COURTS. GM HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. INFORMATION ON THESE LAWSUITS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.CLASSACTION.ORG, AND WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. I AM ASKING THAT GM REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE, NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 30, 2019
VEHICLE WAS PARKED,STARTED FINE BACKED UP OUT OF SPACE. WHEN PULLING FORWARD THE WARNING BUSSER CAME ON AND DISPLAY READ STABIL TRACK. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED OFF ENGINE AFTER 2MIN. I RESTARTED ENGINE, THE WARNING STAYED ON. DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES TO DEALERSHIP,WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT AS APPT NOT AVAILBLE TILL TUES. ENGINE SLOWED DOWN COULD ONLY GET TO 35MPH. AFTER ANOTHER 5MILES IT STARTED WORKING SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET HOME. I HAVE DONE ALL REQUIRED MATENIACE HAVE 69,000 MILES ON IT, NOW. IF THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN I REACH THIS MILAGE, WHAT IS MY RECOURSE?
Visibility/wiper, Dec 13, 2019
WIPERS SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHEN DRIVING
Power train, Dec 11, 2019
THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED WHILE THE SUV WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WITHIN A WEEK AFTER AN OIL CHANGE / TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH & FILL SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT THE PART AND IT IS ON BACK ORDER SO, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 1, 2019
I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND IT'S BEEN CAUSING ISSUES FROM DAY ONE. AT FIRST, IT WAS THE BLUETOOTH, THEN IT WAS MY WINDSHIELD WIPER, THEN MY CAMSHAFT, AND NOW MY CA FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I HAVE DONE ALL THE REPAIRS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER MY LAST SERVICE MADE ME NOT TRUST THEM NO MORE. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT, BUT MY CAR STILL DRIVES THE SAME WAY AND EVEN WORSE NOW.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2019
WHILE DRIVING EARLY IN THE MORNING TO WORK IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE AS TIME HAS NOT CHANGED YET ABOUT 45 DEGREES. I DROPPED MY DAUGHTER TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR AND IT WAS RAINING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHEN I TURNED THE CORNER ONTO TWO WAY HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATED ABOUT 25-30 MPH. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT VISIBLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET OFF OF ROAD FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES, NEARLY CAUSED HEAD ON COLLISION AND SIDE SWIPED CARS. I HAD TO DRIVE AND STOP OR PULL OVER IN A MEDIAN TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD AND EVEN HANG OUT DRIVER WINDOW TO PULL THE WIPERS IN ORDER TO GET TO A SECURE PLACE. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP STATED WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION, LATER CALLED TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED AND HE TOLD THEM IT WAS FASTENER OR BALL JOINT TO KEEP IN PLACE CORRODED AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE COST IS ABOUT $565 TO BE REPLACED. THEN THE CHEVY SERVICE REP STATED THEY DONT HAVE THE PART TO BE REPLACED, WOULD TAKE ABOUT A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE OF GM ISSUES WITH STRIKE. AS WELL AS CHEVY DOESN'T HAVE ANY LOANER CARS WHILE MY EQUINOX STAYED AT THE DEALER. IT WAS ALSO RAIN EXPECTED AGAIN DURING THE DAY. TRULY UNACCEPTABLE WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN PRECIOUS ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 8, 2019
ON 10/7/19 WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 CHEVY EQUINOX HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, IT BEGAN TO RAIN TORRENTIALLY. I TURNED MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON HIGH. SUDDENLY THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE WIPER FLUNG TO THE LEFT RIGHT OFF OF THE WINDOW HANGING BY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND MIRROR. I WAS LEFT WITH JUST ONE WIPER IN NEAR DARKNESS AND POURING RAIN 10 MILES FROM HOME. IT WAS PRETTY SCARY. ONCE HOME, MY HUSBAND AN ELECTRICIAN LOOKED AND ADVISED ME THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS ON THE WIPER TRANSMISSION JUST CAME APART. HE FEELS IT WAS POORLY ENGINEERED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT MY SAFETY IN JEOPARDY AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. NOTE: I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.
Air bags, Engine, Oct 6, 2019
PASSENGER AIR BAG ALARM GOES OFF WHEN SEAT IS EMPTY AND OCCASIONALLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG TURNS OFF WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTOR. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY DURING ALL TYPES OF DRIVING, IDLING OR WHILE PARKED. THE CONCERN THAT DURING AN IMPACT THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL CAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY WHILE A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT IS HIGHLY WORRY SOME AND EVEN THOUGH CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE CONDITION, THEY WON'T RECALL OR FIX THE ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAN CAUSE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SUDDEN STALLING DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION LEADING TO POSSIBLE COLLISIONS AS THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUES IN THEIR 2.4L ENGINES AND YET HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL EVEN THOUGH CATROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AND PROBABLY LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL COLLISIONS. ENGINE SHUTOFF DUE TO CHAIN STRETCH OR FAILURE CAN OCCUR AS ANY TIME DURING DRIVING OR ENGINE RUNNING CONDITIONS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HANK GRAFF CHEVROLET (800 N STATE RD, DAVISON, MI 48423, (810) 412-0547), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 1, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF. I WILL THEN HAVE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO BEGIN DRIVING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 22, 2019
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. YOU CAN HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THE WIPERS DO NOT MOVE
Engine, Sep 16, 2019
ENGINE BURNS OIL... SUV ACTUALLY SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE NO OIL. LUCKILY IT SHUT OFF WHEN I WAS BY MYSELF WITHOUT MY FAMILY WHILE AT A RED LIGHT AND NOT WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A KNOWN GM ISSUE WITH OLDER EQUINOX'S AND NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BC OF THIS ISSUE! IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT A LOT OF OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED! GM HAS FAILED THEIR CUSTOMERS AND IS ACTING NEGLIGENT!
Visibility/wiper, Sep 8, 2019
TAKATA RECALL MY WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF POURING RAIN YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR WORKING BUT WIPERS JUST STOPPED DRIVING IN THE CITY BRINGING THE KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL CITY STREET TRAVELING 25-29 MPH CHECKED TO FUSE IT WAS SOK WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT THEN GET A UBER IT WAS SCARY!!!!
Engine, Aug 21, 2019
DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE JANUARY 22 2019 FREEZING COLD OUT DAY 15' AND MY CAR JUST DIES. I CAME TO A ROLLING STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TRIED STARTING CAR AND NOTHING, THEN I HEAR A GRINDING NOISE AS I TURN THE KEY, GET OUT AND OPEN THE HOOD. I TURN KEY AGAIN AND I HEAR THIS GRINDING NOISE AGAIN. NO WARNING LIGHTS NO INDICATORS NOTHING. CALL AAA BUT THEY CAN'T PICK ME UP ON THE TURNPIKE NEEDS TO BE A SEPARATE TOW TRUCK COMPANY. AFTER 45 MINUTES FREEZING IN THE CAR THE TOW TRUCK GUY SHOWS UP. TAKES A LOOK AT THE TRUCK CHECK OIL AND SAYS I HAVE NO OIL. TURNED KEY AND DASH DID NOT SHOW ANY OIL LIGHTS LIT. LOOKED AT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER IT SEE PICS. HAD TO GET TOWED TO YARD THEN CALLED AAA TO TAKE ME TO ELKINS CHEVY. ELKIN'S CHEVY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE PCV VALVE FROZE CAUSING THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO BREAK CAUSING ENGINE TO LOSE ALL OIL AND CEASE UP WITH POSSIBLE PIECES IN THE TRANSMISSION. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SENSORS LIT UP AT ALL STILL. DEALER SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY 88,575 MILES SO I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING. NEW ENGINE $6,000 USED $4,500 PLUS WHAT EVER OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION, PVC AND CASE. ESTIMATED 7,000 TO 9000. TO FIX THE TRUCK WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND ALWAYS GOT SERVICED OIL CHANGES ECT. I BOUGHT ANOTHER EQUINOX 2019 AND WHILE TRANSFERRING MY STUFF FROM 1 TRUCK TO ANOTHER SERVICE GUY SAID THIS A COMMON THING WITH THIS ECOTEC ENGINE AND CHEVY IS AWARE. I WENT HOME AND GOOGLE WHAT HAPPENED AND SURE ENOUGH THEY HAVE A CLASS ACTION SUITE AGAINST THEM. THEY SAID IT SHOULD ONLY BE ON THE OLDER MODELS AND IT IS FIXED ON NEWER YEARS. I COULD ENTER MY VIN TO SEE IF MY TRUCK WAS PART OF THE RECALL WHICH IT WAS NOT. I CALLED CHEVY, ESCALLATION AND MANAGERS THEY SAID SINCE I SOLD\TRADED THE TRUCK IN FOR A NEW ONE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.