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.
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'.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED. PINE BELT CHEVROLET (1088 NJ-88, LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, NJ 08701, (732) 523-0826) WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAD NOT HAPPENED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT THIS WAS A FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A ROCK MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR *TT VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*JB
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.
Air bags, Nov 12, 2018, crash
DRIVING SOUTHBOUND GOING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. 5X4 BUCK STRUCK HEAD-ON WITH EQUINOX AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS RESTRAINED BY HER SEATBELT, HOWEVER, WITH THE SPEEDS AND IMPACT THERE WAS FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO DEPLOY.
Air bags, Nov 7, 2018, crash
NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ALTHOUGH HEAD ON COLLISION INTO 2 PARKED CARS
Air bags, Nov 2, 2018, crash
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER DRIVER RAN A STOP SIGN AND I RAN INTO THE SIDE OF HIS CAR HEAD ON, I WAS GOING BETWEEN 35-40MILES PER HOUR. I WAS DRIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, THE CAR CENTER CONSOLE STATED THAT THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN LITTLETON COLORADO.
Suspension, Structure, Oct 29, 2018, crash
MY SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT OCT 26, 2018 @ APPROXIMATELY 7:30 PM.. HE WAS TURNING LEFT ON HIGHWAY RT. 50 IN MT. STORM, WV WITH SIGNAL LIGHT ON TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. A TRUCK DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FROM BEHIND ATTEMPTED TO PASS HIM ON THE LEFT EVEN THOUGH MY SON WAS ALREADY TURNING LEFT. THE TRUCK HIT DIRECTLY ON HIS FRONT LEFT TIRE BY A VEHICLE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED AND WE ARE UNSURE OF ADDITIONAL DAMAGES UNTIL THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER INSPECTS IT. THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN MY SON HITTING THE SIDE WINDOW AND DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL SPRAIN. DRIVER WAS DRINKING AND ADMITTED TO DRIVING 65-70 MPH. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED.
Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2018
CAR IDLES ROUGHLY WHEN AT STOP SIGN, STOP LIGHT, WHILE IN REVERSE OR IN STOPPED TRAFFIC. CAR WILL CUT OFF WHILE IDLING ROUGHLY AT A STOP UNLESS IT IS PUT IN NEUTRAL. DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED CODE P0010 CAM ACTUATOR SOLENOID/INTAKE.
Air bags, Sep 17, 2018
THE CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON.
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
Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2018
FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS STARTING IN JULY 2017, I'VE HAD TO BRING IT BACK 5 TIMES (LAST WEEK WAS #5) TO THE DEALER DUE TO FLOODING INSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. TWICE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BODY JOINT SEAL (BULLETIN PI1090A), TWICE I WAS TOLD MY SUNROOF DRAINS WERE CLOGGED AND ONCE WAS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC DIDN'T ALIGN MY SUNROOF BACK CORRECTLY.
Air bags, Aug 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WESELOH CHEVROLET, 5335 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 28, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN. THEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. THEY WERE MAKING A SOUND, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. I COULD HAVE WRECKED AND GOTTEN HURT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH, WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS APPARENTLY A RECALL ON THIS FOR SPECIFIC CHEVERLOT EQUINOXES MADE IN 2015, WHICH IF THIS VEHICLE IS A 2016, WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN THAT TIME FRAME. WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME?
Electrical system, Jul 4, 2018
MY CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNING WIRES. MY AC TURNS FROM COLD TO HOT WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING ANY BUTTONS. MY PHONE CHARGER IN THE MIDDLE COUNCIL DOESN'T WORK. I ONLY HAVE 53000 MILES ON THIS CAR.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 17, 2018
WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING DURING RAIN STORM. INTERNET SHOWS 1000'S OF THE SAME ISSUE GOING BACK TO 2010 AT LEAST. WIPER MODULE IS WHAT THEY CALL IT.$325.00 PER CAR TO FIX. ?? BUSHINGS THAT HOLD ARM BREAK. WHY IF THIS MANY PEOPLE FOR THIS MANY YEARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM DOES CHEVROLET NOT CHANGE THE PART.OR BUY BETTER PARTS. THIS IS A SCAM TO MAKE MONEY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. YOU SHOULD NEVER RUN YOUR WIPERS ON HIGH OR IT WILL BREAK AGAIN ?????WHAT THE ??? THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST CHEVY I WILL EVER BUY...I DO NOT LIKE BEING SCAMMED AND WILL NEVER BE BY GM AGAIN !!!!
Electrical system, Mar 26, 2018
WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN HIGHWAY I HEARD A CLICK AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND HEATER TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. WAS UNABLE TO TURN THEM ON. THANK GOD I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRIP AND NOT A CURVE. CONTACTED ON STAR. FIGURED OUT THAT THE HIGH BEAMS COULD BE ACTIVATED BY HOLDING THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH TOWARD ME WHILE DRIVING. DROVE HOME DRIVING WITH ONE HAND AND HOLDING HIGH BEAM SWITCH WITH OTHER. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WONDERED IF THE CAR WOULD START SO I TURNED IT OVER AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND HEATER CAME BACK ON.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2018
I DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO A 7" RAMP TO CHANGE THE OIL. WHEN I STARTED TO BACK OFF THE RAMPS, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 3, 2017
THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED ON ITS OWN INTO THOUSANDS OF TINY PIECES, ALTHOUGH IT REMAINED INTACT UNTIL I OPENED AND CLOSED THE CAR DOORS, THEN IT FELL APART INTO THE BACK END OF VEHICLE. I WAS SITTING STATIONARY IN THE CAR WITH ANOTHER PASSENGER IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. ENGINE WAS OFF FOR 5 MINUTES. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP 48, INSIDE 65. NO BULLET HOLE, NO ROCK MARK OR ANY OTHER EXTERNAL CAUSE.
Service brakes, Sep 25, 2017, crash
BACKING DOWN A STEEP DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WORKING FINE THE FIRST SEVERAL SECONDS THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND CAR ROLLED ACROSS A BUSY STREET JUMPING THE CURB AND HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE AND FENCE. NO PERSON OR VEHICLE NOR MY VEHICLE WAS HIT FORTUNATELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE RENTAL COMPANY BROUGHT ME A NEWER EQUINOX AND THE DAY AFTER WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN HOTEL GARAGE APPLYING BRAKES THE BRAKE WENT TO FLOOR HITTING WALL AS I PUT GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK BUT IT HAD ALREADY HIT THE WALL.
Other or unspecified, Sep 5, 2017
ONSTAR BRACKET DOES NOT STAY TIGHT CAUSING A RATTLING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED (VEHICLE MOVING)
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.
Visibility/wiper, May 9, 2017
THIS SAFETY PROBLEM COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I AM 5'4'' AND SIT UPRIGHT WITH THE CORRECT DISTANCE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING THE FRONT VIEW TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND SOMEWHAT ALSO WHEN LOOKING LEFT, IS OBSTRUCTED BY THE SIDE MIRRORS. LOOKING TO THE SIDES TOWARDS EACH SIDE'S MIRROR (NOT INTO THE MIRROR BUT TO SEE CROSS TRAFFIC WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION OR TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT) THE VIEW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS IS IN A BLIND SPOT. THE VIEW IS BLOCKED BY THE SIDE MIRROR AND THE ARM OF THE MIRROR ATTACHING THE MIRROR TO THE CAR. ALSO THE WIDENESS OF THE FRAME OF THE FRONT WINDOW ON EACH SIDE TO ACCOMMODATE THE AIRBAG CONTRIBUTES TO THE BLOCKED VIEWING TOO. THIS HAS LED TO ME NEARLY HITTING SOMEONE CROSSING THE STREET AND NEARLY BEING T-BONED BY A CAR THAT WAS COMPLETELY INVISIBLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL IT PASSED OUT OF THE BLOCKED AREA. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THERE ARE NO ALTERNATE SIDE MIRRORS TO PURCHASE OR ANY CAMERAS THAT THEY KNEW OF FOR THIS FRONT SIDE BLIND SPOT. (THIS IS NOT THE BLIND SPOT THAT CAMERAS ARE USED FOR THE SEE SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER.)
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Seats, Apr 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SURGED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE ELECTRONIC SEAT FUNCTION WAS DEACTIVATED, THE SEATS CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2017*JS
Vehicle speed control, Apr 17, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT 80 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Power train, Apr 13, 2017
I PARKED THE CAR ON MY DRIVE WAY I DID NOT TURN IT OFF I RETURN TO THE CAR TO TURN IT OFF IT ROLL BACK I HAD THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN IT NOCKED ME DOWN AND THE ROLLED OVER MY RIGHT KNEE IT WAS IS IN PARK IT AND MY IT SELF WENT IN TO NEUTRAL THE DRIVES SIDE TIRE WAS ON MY RIGHT KNEE