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2016 Chevrolet Equinox Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 399 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about the engine (53% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles). It is 11th of 23 Equinox model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Equinox problems
Engine
211 complaints · 53%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 32 MPH, the contact was veering off the highway exit ramp and noticed in the rear-view mirror that there was black smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact got off the exit ramp and became aware that the check engine warning…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the contact continued driving to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine and that the pcv valve was…
Visibility and wipers
120 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer, windshield, sun/moon roof assembly.
Windshield wipers abruptly became inoperable through no fault of my own. Nothing stuck it/them, there was no accident, etc. One minute they were working and the next the minute completely stopped moving and haven't worked since. Sounds similar to current investigation/complaint opened in 11/2018.
Traveling on hwy 61 south during heavy rain when windshield wipers stopped working out of the blue. Had to brake and move to inside lane shoulder. Wipers appeared to have over traveled all the way to the driver side edge of windshield. Had to take it in to local dealership.
Other or unspecified
32 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles.
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.
My car started on its own while I was standing outside talking to my parents on thanksgiving day of last year. My keys and my cell phone both were in the car at the time, so I am certain that there was no way that I may have accidentally started my car myself and am confused as to why it cranked on its own. I am…
Transmission
27 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
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.
I was driving down a highway at 65 miles per hour my engine started to flutter when noticing that I pulled over right away and my engine shut off. I had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership after the dealership took a look at it they realized it was a pcv clog from condensation getting in to the pcv valve. I…
Electrical
24 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, adas.
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…
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'.
Fuel system
21 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 113,000 miles.
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 mechanic, who determined that the failure…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud sound coming from the vehicle with a gasoline odor coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed…
Air bags
12 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 29,500 miles.
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that his vehicle had been involved in two accidents and that the airbags failed to deploy as needed in both accidents. In the first accident, the contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed, a tree had fallen right in front of his vehicle. The…
Speed control
9 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 20 MPH and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact was able to restart the engine and the vehicle regained normal function. The contact drove the vehicle to…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the accelerator was depressed to the floorboard for the vehicle to respond. The service stabili trac warning light was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
Equipment: labels
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Front wiper transmission inoperative
Summary
On december 13, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) upgraded rq18-002 to an engineering analysis (ea19-005) to further assess the my2010-2016 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16v-582, addressing this issue in the my2013 subject vehicles, my2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, odi had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.general motors (gm) initiated safety recall 16v-582 on august 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the model year (my) 2013 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain. Failures were attributed to wa
Windshield wiper transmission failure
Summary
On november 2, 2018, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a recall query (rq18-002) to assess the scope of recall 16v-582.general motors (gm) initiated safety recall 16v-582 on august 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the model year (my) 2013 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (211 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); visibility and wipers (120 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); other or unspecified (32 complaints, typically around 38,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 21, 2016 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Chevrolet Equinox?
- It is 11th of 23 Equinox model years by number of complaints, with 399 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.