2016 Chevrolet Equinox Safety Report
2016 Chevrolet Equinox Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (387) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 17 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox with 78 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox before buying across this generation. |
Chevrolet Equinox Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Chevrolet Equinox years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Chevrolet Equinox | 267 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Chevrolet Equinox | 673 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Chevrolet Equinox | 371 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Chevrolet Equinox | 277 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Chevrolet Equinox | 264 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Chevrolet Equinox | 78 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Chevrolet Equinox Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
133 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Chevrolet onlyVisibility/Wiper
102 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Chevrolet onlyUnknown Or Other
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train,Engine
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Chevrolet onlyAir Bags
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Chevrolet onlyEngine,Fuel/Propulsion System
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Reliability Score
The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Oil Consumption High oil consumption without visible leaks, leading to engine failure. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Failures Engine failures have been reported, leading to class-action lawsuits. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bag Malfunction Air bag warning lights have illuminated unexpectedly, indicating potential safety issues. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| High-Pressure Fuel Pump Issues High-pressure fuel pump leaking into the crankcase, causing oil to ignite. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox:
Engine issues are the most common problem, including oil consumption and failures.
Air bag malfunctions have been reported, though less frequently.
Wiper system failures, including sudden stoppage, are reported.
Fuel system issues, such as high-pressure pump leaks, are reported.
Recall Details for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox by NHTSA:
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."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
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. When it was brought to a mechanic, they told me the entire engine had failed and there was no power to one of the spark plu...
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 mechanic, who determined that the failure was related to the PCV system. The mechanic stated that the PCV valve was clogged,...
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 2024: Four months post-purchase, the timing chain failed on I-94. Atwater Chevrolet replaced the component; however, this d...
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 driving conditions.
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 in it and took it for an oil change just in case. No oil leaks, etc. No indication, no oil light, nothing to alert me to ...
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 stated that an oil change was performed on the vehicle. Two weeks later, the contact took the vehicle back to be checke...
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 sensor on the front passenger’s seat had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufa...
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 month old and 6 year old I was finally able to start driving 45 minutes later when the rain stopped. This was a very dange...
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 to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the timing chain had fa...
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) try and get to a shoulder on the highway safely. My hubby and I were terrified and thought we were going to die or caus...
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 to the local dealer to be diagnosed and it was determined that the failure was caused by the timing belt sagging, and th...
While driving on the highway, it was barely raining so I turned my wipers on low and about 5 minutes into my drive the rain picked up, and I tried to turn my wipers up at which point the stopped working altogether. I had to pull off on the shoulder and wait for the rain to end, which was about 20 minutes later. Afterwards I proceeded to the nearest gas station and purchased a squeegee to use while...
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 with the Chevy Equinox. My last one had the same problem but it was fixed thru a recall. It is frustrating for me to have t...
Showing 20 of 387 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Visibility
Opened 2018-11-02 · Closed 2019-12-19
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...
Component: Visibility
Opened 2019-12-13 · Closed 2022-11-28
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...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Has the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX have?
The 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX has 387 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 14 involved crashes. 22 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
The 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX involve engine (133 complaints), visibility/wiper (102 complaints), unknown or other (20 complaints). Other affected components include power train,engine, air bags, engine,fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX have?
There are 14 crash reports associated with the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX out of 387 total complaints (3.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX have?
There are 3 fire reports for the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX out of 387 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
22 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 387 complaints, 1 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX are: 1. ENGINE (133 complaints), 2. VISIBILITY/WIPER (102 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (20 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (11 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS (9 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 133 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
Be cautious of engine oil consumption and unexpected air bag warnings. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing. The 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX has 387 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
The 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 387 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 17 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Oil Consumption and Engine Failures.
What are the known issues with the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
Known issues with the 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX include: Engine Oil Consumption, Engine Failures, Air Bag Malfunction, High-Pressure Fuel Pump Issues. These are based on patterns found across 387 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any known engine issues with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
Yes, engine oil consumption without visible leaks and engine failures are common issues.
What should I look for when inspecting a used 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
Check for signs of oil consumption, engine performance, and air bag system functionality.
Can wiper system failures affect driving safety?
Yes, sudden wiper stoppage can reduce visibility and affect driving safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine oil consumption and unexpected air bag warnings. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The data includes 387 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 14 reported crashes, 3 fire incidents, 22 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14