Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 396 safety complaints
about the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with the US government. Of those, 14 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 22 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering equipment.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 201 complaints, 51% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 65,000 miles,
the median across the 172
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers October 2015 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
396 complaints on file
396
Complaints
14
Describe a crash
3
Mention fire
22
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
Complaints fell 42% year on year: 25 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 43 in the twelve before.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 201 · 51%
201 51%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 114 · 29%
114 29%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 32 · 8%
32 8%
POWER TRAIN 26 · 7%
26 7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 · 6%
24 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 19 · 5%
19 5%
AIR BAGS 12 · 3%
12 3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9 · 2%
9 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9 · 2%
9 2%
STEERING 7 · 2%
7 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 6 · 2%
6 2%
STRUCTURE 6 · 2%
6 2%
081162
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 396.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2023 at 74.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Chevrolet EQUINOX, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
17.4%
19.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
1 on file
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
16V449000 · June 21, 2016
The defect
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."
The 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.
The 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.
General Motors LLC · up to 17 vehicles across all model years covered
Defect investigations
2 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
EA19005
Closed engineering analysis · opened December 13, 2019 · closed November 28, 2022 · led to recall 22V165000
visibility, visibility and the wipers
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 water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
RQ18002
Closed recall query · opened November 2, 2018 · closed December 19, 2019
visibility, visibility and the wipers
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 the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
3 injured · crash · towed · 29,274 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.
NHTSA complaint 11144924. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
2 injured · crash · towed · 15,000 miles
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 DRAGGED 10-15 FEET. MY MOTHER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH HER WITH SAFETY BELT. THE VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT (WITH A 6-7 FOOT DROP) THAT LEADS TO …
NHTSA complaint 10918091, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed · 1,000 miles
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 contact was not able to stop the vehicle in time which caused him to run over the tree. The contact stated that the airbags did not deploy. The contact did not suffer any injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where they repaired the damage to the vehicle. The second failure occurred while the contact was at a stoplight and …
NHTSA complaint 11434042, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
2 injured · 1,500 miles
PLEASE REFERENCE NHSTA COMPLAINT NUMBER 10862571,10865740 SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT TO G.M. THIS VEHICLE MADE MY FAMILY SICK. I HAD TO PICKET DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT CAR, BECAUSE G.M HEAD QUARTERS CLOSED THE CASE AND LEFT ME WITH THIS TOXIC VEHICLE. A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN MY QUEST TO HAVE THE CAR REPLACED. A GM DEALERSHIP WHERE I DID NOT BUY CAR FROM, BOUGHT ME OUT OF MY LEASE AND GOT ME INTO A NEW VEHICLE. I PHYSICALLY PICKETED DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT CAR FROM AND OTHERS TO GET MY POINT ACROSS. I STILL HAVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING AND THE DEALERSHIP IS STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE NOW, AND I STILL HAVE HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT MY FAMILY. I HAVE CALLED THE EPA, AND OTHER AGENCIES AND NONE OF …
NHTSA complaint 10870530, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Wipers just stopped working on the highway in a very bad rain storm, when I was taking my daughter to school. We could not see and had to put our hazards on and somehow carefully pull off to the side of the road. We could have easily been rear ended or worse “Killed”. There was no warning given. This was very scary for me and my child. Why isn’t there a recall for the 2016 Equinox??
NHTSA complaint 11766510. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
In February of 2025, while driving my 2016 Chevy Equinox home from work, I heard a loud pop and loss of engine power a block from home. The weather conditions at the time were below freezing and light snow. After getting my vehicle home, my neighbor, who works for GM looked under my Equinox and discovered the rear main oil seal had blown and informed me this was a known issue with the GM 2.4L Ecotec engine. The GM 2.4L Ecotec engine contains a non‑serviceable Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system that uses a fixed orifice built into the intake manifold instead of a replaceable PCV valve. In cold weather, moisture and vapor inside the crankcase can freeze or accumulate as sludge within …
NHTSA complaint 11758784, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Wipers stopped working while driving in the rain
NHTSA complaint 11758642. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Wipers stopped working in the pouring down rain. Couldn’t see anything
NHTSA complaint 11756961. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
: "I live in my car. The 2016 Equinox 2.4L burned all its oil in 2 weeks with no leaks, failed to give a dashboard warning, and the engine is now knocking, threatening to leave me unsheltered." This ties my vehicle's specific failure to the federal database for future legal payouts.
NHTSA complaint 11750405. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
WHEELS
right front wheel assembly is bad.
NHTSA complaint 11748145. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed June 21, 2016.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst