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, Sep 22, 2022
While driving in a heavy rain storm one night, my windshield wipers just quit. I couldn’t see to drive. I put my flashers on to warn other drivers and had to resort to sticking my head out the window to see where I was on the road. I finally got a chance to pull off the road, moved the wipers by hand, still they did not operate. I called the dealer where I bought my car and an extended warranty. I drove it to them on a non-rainy day and left my car. I was told they would check it out and call me. They said wipers were not part of the warranty, that there was no recall for my car, and charges to fix it could be in excess of $550.00. As I did not have enough money at that time, they told me to leave it, but would not work on it till I had the money. Also, if I did not have them fix it, fee would be $100 for evaluation. When I went to pick up the car, nothing had been done, there was no fee, and the person I had been dealing with was no longer there. My car had sat there for a month, no one checked it, no one returned my calls, I picked it up still with non-working wipers. I have been driving my mothers car in the meantime.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 12, 2022
While driving in a thunderstorm last night my windshield wipers failed completely and stopped partially blocking my vision. The motor runs but the wipers do not even try to move, I had to stop and move the wiper wipers out of the line of vision. I have called several dealers and they don’t seem to be up on the issue! It was very scary and dangerous as I was in a really bad thunderstorm crossing the Coleman bridge in Hayes Va when they went out. Something needs to be done before people are killed! Chevrolet knows about the defect but does not seem to have done anything about it!
Suspension, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 6, 2022
Purchased vehicle certified pre owned May 2019 with 56,000 miles. In June 2019 replaced front tire that were new due to passenger tire wear also New battery and oil change..Jan 2020 had to have front main seal oil ring replaced. Oil changes done every 3 to 7 thousand miles. Have a 2 sets of tires put on .Have had some hesitation problems throughout while.driving. But never did find cause. Took to chevy dealer on Nov 3rd for windshield wiper motor replacement. Picked up on Nov. 5th. Have had issues with starting since picked up had to carry jump start box in car. Car was parked until I could get a new battery approx 1 week. Put new battery in drove to work for about 2 days still.had issues. Traction stability light had came on never went off. Parked car for another week or so Drove 2 miles down road to store. While driving car was loosing power. Screen went out and engine reduced power light came on and died. Waited about 15 min jump.started .got about 10 feet car went into.Limp mode got it home . Would not start ..got a list of codes. Replaced starter, camshaft and crankshaft sensor, new pcm, valve cover. Amd another battery. Car has not ran since. Motor is blown. Car has been down since Dec. 15th 2021. I have lost my job. Due to not being dependent on getting to work. Have looked into repair cost about 7 to 8 thousand that I cam not afford and still Makin car payments. This is a Manufacture defect and could have been alot worse if I was going any faster or been out in the dark stranded somewhere. Hard to believe a regular maintain vehicle would just die the way it did. Someone or something needs to be done ..Not fair to have to pay over $15000 and still making payments on a lawn ornament. When Chevrolet has none about this issue and refuses to fix. Knowing the engines will blow a rod do to the oil issue ..
Visibility/wiper, Sep 4, 2022
During a heavy rainstorm, my windshield wipers stopped functioning after use for 15 minutes. I turned the car off and then back on and the front wipers would not turn back on. The back wiper still works.
Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2022
Water pump failure. Was driving and vehicle overheated and lost coolest. Was confirmed at service station bad water pump and should not have went bad with only 48000 miles. Received warning message vehicle is overheated. Pulled over when able and vehicle was leaking.
Power train, Jul 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while the vehicle gear was in park; he switched from the driver's seat to the passenger seat with his wife. His wife was taking over to become the driver. While attempting to change drivers, the vehicle inadvertently reversed. The wife was trying to stop the vehicle while being partially in and partially out of the vehicle. The vehicle dragged the wife into an area of bushes. The contact stated while the passenger door was still open, when it accidentally hit him and knocked him over. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The police and medical team arrived on the scene. The contact believed a police report was filed. There was no medical treatment on the scene. The contact stated the wife was bruised from the waist to both feet. The contact believed he cracked his rib. The wife will be examined by a urologist and nephrologist. The right front passenger door and entire rear bumper were damaged. The vehicle was strapped together, and the contact drove it home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to transmission issues. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while changing the engine oil, she noticed that the oil consumption was not normal. The contact stated that approximately two to three quarts of oil needed to be added every week. Additionally, the vehicle had stalled while driving up the driveway. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the engine was making a ticking sound while driving. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and the contact was referred to a dealer to schedule a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Engine, Visibility/wiper, Jul 25, 2022
oil was dripping for the past two months. I took it to the dealer and they said they could find nothing. It kept dripping and now the rear main seal must be replaced. auto has 13,005 miles on it
Engine, Jul 12, 2022
Excessive oil consumption causing malfunction
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 2, 2022
Timing chain has gone bad . Fuel pressure regulator went bad Down pipe to the catalytic converter has gone bad
Visibility/wiper, Jun 30, 2022
I was driving while it was pouring down rain. The wipers were working one minute and then suddenly stopped mid-sweep. I was unable to see clearly and had to slow down significantly, put on my hazards, and pull over. I shut off and turned the car back on, the wipers were still not functioning. I had to wait until the rain had passed to continue my drive safely. We took the vehicle to the dealership the next day. It was determined that the wiper motor transmission came apart.
Engine, Jun 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at the local dealer, the contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump was inoperable causing fuel to leak into the oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000. The VIN was not available.
Engine, Jun 14, 2022
Vehicle has a significant oil leak, as stated by other owners with the year and model vehicle. Could cause critical engine failure if unresolved. The leak is on the passenger side of the engine, causing the oil to drip on the belt and spray throughout the engine compartment. This causes drivers to have to spend more money on oil changes due to excessive oil loss. One of the pictures submitted below was of the ground with two half dollar size amounts of oil from 20 minutes of being parked.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 9, 2022
The windshield wipers quit working in the middle of a downpour while on the highway, and they still are not working.
Visibility, May 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated after attempting to activate the windshield wipers, the wipers failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the motor and arms needed to be replaced on the windshield wipers. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,306.
Visibility/wiper, May 31, 2022
On May 25th it was pouring rain when my windshield wipers completely stopped working on the interstate. Within seconds I had completely lost visibility. Once I made it to safety I co reacted the dealership to see if it was covered under my warranty. They stated they were aware of the issue and that it was going to be part of a recall but that recall hadn’t been issued yet. The parts to fix the wipers haven’t even been made yet. As of now they have offered no loaner or options to make sure I can safely drive. I have lost my job because I can not afford a rental car out of pocket, and it’s the rainy season. Please be aware that they are putting peoples safety at risk knowingly.
Engine, May 25, 2022
The engine failed abruptly and without warning. It is at a mechanics now and is available to look at. When the engine suddenly lost power I was driving up to a red light. If this happened when I was on a highway it could’ve been catastrophic. An independent mechanic has told me they’ve replaced multiple engines because of the same issues. It hasn’t been inspected by anyone other than a mechanic. There was no warning lamps, messages prior to the engine failure.
Visibility/wiper, May 13, 2022
About a month ago my four year old and I were driving in the rain at night and my windshield wipers suddenly stopped working. I ended up paying over $500 to get the wiper transmission and motor fixed. Now fast forward one month later , I’m driving in the rain storm again and my wipers suddenly stopped working again which was not only scary but extremely dangerous, I was on a freeway and suddenly could not see properly because of the windshield wiper motor stopping again. I had to pull over while my vision of the road was almost non existent and honestly was scared an accident was going to happen if I didn’t get to the side of the road fast enough.
Visibility/wiper, May 7, 2022
It was storming on Thursday, May 5, 2022 and my front windshield wipers just stop working. I could not see anything. I had to let my glass down so that I would not have a head on collision with cars in the other lane going in the other direction. I made it to a safe location until it stopped raining. This incident scared me.
Visibility/wiper, May 5, 2022
Windshield Wiper transmission failed, front wipers inoperable No visibility while driving when raining No warning lamps or indication other than failure of operation
Visibility/wiper, Apr 10, 2022
Wiper motor stopped working in severe heavy rain storm. Had zero visibility at night. Had to drive 2 miles before I could safely park vehicle and not go in a ditch or hit another car. Next day went to Auto store got replacement $124 later its fixed by myself. Same issue as recall on 2014-2015 models 2016 needs to be included.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 2, 2022
windshield wipers broke . repaired and broke again
Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2022
The wipers on our 2016 chevy equinox suddenly stopped working, early yesterday morning, while driving on the interstate, in the rain and in the dark. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION!!! Contacting the dealer today. We have not had the car inspected by anyone! There have been no previous problems with the wipers. After a long search on the internet, I found a special coverage adjustment N192266180, dated December 2019. This is not recall. It states that the owners will be notified. AS OF 3/22/2022, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED!!!!
Exterior lighting, Mar 19, 2022
The ambient light sensor is very sensitive. There can be full sunlight, but if I go in the shadow of a truck or a tree, the sensor dims the dashboard lighting. If I go under any sort of bridge, no matter how short, the dash goes dark. Sometimes it takes over 10 minutes for it to go back to normal. The ambient light sensor should be facing straight up at the sky. Also, the sensor should be connected to the vehicles GPS and the clock for the time of day. I rely on the info center on the dash for the GPS and other items. If I cannot see the info center, it can lead to a collision. I have brought my vehicle to the dealer and they refuse to do anything. Also, during the day, I use prescription sunglasses while driving, so it makes it really difficult. Thank you.
Engine, Mar 16, 2022
My vehicle is burning too much oil. I have to put a quart of oil in less than every thousand miles. This is a problem for me and my family, when it comes to safety. I took it to the dealer they say that's normal.