2016 Chevrolet EQUINOX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
395 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 172 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 201 of 395 complaints (50.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 53 | 13.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 5.8% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 3.3% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 201 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 113 |
| Unknown Or Other | 32 |
| Power Train | 24 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
Engine: 201; Visibility/Wiper: 113; Unknown Or Other: 32; Power Train: 24; Electrical System: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 19; Air Bags: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 41 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (41). 223 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2022 | 53 |
| 2023 | 74 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2025 | 43 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2015: 1; 2016: 14; 2017: 14; 2018: 17; 2019: 38; 2020: 43; 2021: 30; 2022: 53; 2023: 74; 2024: 54; 2025: 43; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 53 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10820198 · 2016-01-14 (January 14, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRON…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154622 · 2018-11-28 (November 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, [phone removed]) 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, [phone removed]) WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,155 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10918091 · 2016-10-22 (October 22, 2016)
ON OCTOBER 1, MY MOTHER (PASSENGER) AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLL BACK ACCIDENT AT MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I REMAINED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR 1-2 MINUTES. I RETURNED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OPENED THE DOOR, AND PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE CABIN. UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACK, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE VEHICLE DOOR, WITH HALF OF MY BODY/EXTREMITIES (THE RIGHT SIDE) IN THE CABIN, AND MY LEFT EXTREMITIES OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRAGGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11245519 · 2019-08-21 (August 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 SA…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,575 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898775 · 2016-08-22 (August 22, 2016)
I'M WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE IN HUNTINGTON STATION, NEW YORK. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 12,022 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AS TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN AHEAD OF ME I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I WAS IMMEDIATELY SHOCKED WITH DISBELIEF THAT MY VEHICLE SLIGHTLY IMPACTED WITH THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME INSTEAD OF STOPPING 5 OR 10 FEET BEFORE THAT VEHICLE. THE BRAKES…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,022 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10943817 · 2017-01-09 (January 9, 2017)
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION!! WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH WITHOUT THE CRUISE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WAS UNDER FULL ACCELERATION. MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY ASKED "WHAT IS HAPPENING". MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO APPLY THE BRAKE WHICH CAUSED THE ACCELERATION TO CEASE. I THEN CALLED ONSTAR TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY RESPONDED THAT MY TIRE PRESSURES ARE OK AND NO CODES WERE DETECTED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY CHECKED FOR CODES, DROVE IT , INSPECTED AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS BASI…
Owner-reported narrative. 875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10943817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10969419 · 2017-03-29 (March 29, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE RIGHT HAND POSITION. TO AVOID A CRASH, I QUICKLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THIS OCCURRED TWO TIMES PRIOR , DURING THE COURSE OF A YEAR OF OWNING THE CAR. WHEN IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME, I JUST ASSUMED I SLIPPED ON A PIECE OF ICE THAT WAS LEFT OVER FROM A STORM. HOWEVER, ON THE THIRD TIME, AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MY KEY CHAIN BROKE OFF FROM THE KEY FOB AND THE REMAINDER OF KEYS ON THE KEY CHAIN. (I HAD MULTIPLE K…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10984403 · 2017-05-09 (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 AT…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11303062 · 2020-01-30 (January 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 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11303062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120401 · 2018-08-16 (August 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
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316876 · 2020-03-08 (March 8, 2020)
THE OLDER MODEL EQUINOX HAD AN ISSUE WITH IT'S HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, SO DID MY NEWER 2016. IT FAILED AND WAS PUSHING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE AT EXTREME LEVELS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING PROPERLY AND FAIL. THE GM TECHNICIANS SAID THEY FIXED THE ISSUE RECENTLY, BUT WOULD NOT GO ON. I WAS DRIVING IN A POTENTIAL FIRE STARTER. THE ACTUAL ISSUE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND LUCKILY DID NOT START A FIRE WITH THE AMOUNT OF GAS THAT WAS IN THE ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316876 at NHTSA ↗