2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. This model year has 388 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2016 Chevrolet Equinox Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Visibility/Wiper
Uncategorized Issues
Considering a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 206 | 2 | 3 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 111 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 31 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 26 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 24 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 12 | 6 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 6 | 3 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 388 most recent complaints
Excessive oil consumption with no warning light, loss of power, and stalling. Also caused the master seal to leak and plugged the PCV valve. I have records for the repairs. It continues to excessively use oil and is not a reliable vehicle. When it stalls, power steering is lost a…
engine constantly eats oil, no oil leak
Engine failure. There is a class action that has been filed for this exact make, model, and engine size. There were no lights indicating an issue and the car had recently been serviced with an oil change and oil filter change and was being regularly maintained on oil changes. Whe…
Transfer case and front differential failure. No warning lights came on beforehand
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle on a cold, snowy day, there was oil on the driveway. There was a fuel odor inside the vehicle, and the engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mech…
I am writing to formally document a series of catastrophic mechanical failures regarding the aforementioned vehicle. Despite rigorous maintenance and significant financial investment, the car remains non-drivable, posing a severe safety risk. Chronology of Failures: October 202…
The wiper blade motor is gone out. The tire pressure sensor is off : the oil seems to disappear faster than the sensor
Clogged PCV caused engine pressure resulting in failure of rear main seal
While driving with windshield wipers on, they suddenly stopped working. The wipers were stuck in position in the center of my windshield. Upon inspection, it appeared that one of the arms had become disconnected from the piece it was connected to. Snapped right off during unsafe …
I just got this used car in seemingly great shape, was told it was garage kept and well cared for. Dealer had oil changed before I drove it off the lot. I only had it about one month, had driven about 1,000 miles so far, I check the oil, and dipstick was nearly dry. I threw oil i…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that two weeks after the vehicle was purchased, while the vehicle was being serviced, the contact was informed that the engine was very low on oil. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact…
This car used so much oil that I had to put it in constantly. Eventually the time belt broke, and the car stopped because it literally had no oil in it causing the engine to blow. This is a known problem I found out later on.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The warning light remained illuminated constantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the weight…
When I was driving home from the grocery store a very heavy thunderstorm started I turned my wipers off because of the sudden rain just to realize that they were not working. I had to pull over because I couldn’t see. Causing me to almost get rear ended with my 6 month old, 18 mo…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle vibrated and idled abnormally. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle jumped unintendedly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued…
The high pressure fuel pump leaking into crankcase and leaking gasket the fuel in the oil was so much it lit on fire.
oil consumption is bad. according to mechanic it has now caused problems with timing chain and tensioner. I have to get that replaced ASAP before engine ties up. There is a class action lawsuit in Missouri for same reason with cars like mine. My car has not even hit 114,000.
Front wipers stop working in the middle of a rain storm while driving down the highway we were unable to see anything(road/cars)out of the window. We had to put on flashers and stick head out of a rolled down window to (which with rain slapping you in the face is not safe either)…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that one and a half quarts of oil needed to be added every two days. The vehicle was taken …
The concern is the oil consumption. The car looses a quart of oil a month. I average only 620 miles per month. There is no leak. A mechanic has been keeping track of it every month since April 2025. No warning lights alerted me of the problem. This has been an ongoing problem wit…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox.
Recalls for 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2016 Chevrolet Equinox — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has 388 NHTSA owner complaints, 14 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (206 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?▾
#1: Engine Problems (206 complaints). #2: Visibility/Wiper (111 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (31 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?▾
The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has 14 crash-related complaints and 3 fire reports out of 388 total NHTSA complaints. 22 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The largest issue: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?▾
The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Equinox reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.