2016 Chevrolet Equinox Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has a complaint index of 40, ranking 13th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a 'Good' verdict relative to other Equinox years. Its top problem area is the Engine (214 complaints, 54% share), with one recall issued for incorrect tire/rim labeling.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 Equinox years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 396
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 22
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 22 / 0
Top 2016 Chevy Equinox problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine214 (54%)
- Visibility & Wipers120 (30%)
- Other32 (8%)
- Electrical System26 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain26 (7%)
- Fuel System21 (5%)
- Airbags12 (3%)
- Brakes12 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (2%)
- Steering7 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed collisions, sometimes accompanied by a dashboard airbag malfunction message.
- Some drivers describe the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly after being placed in park.
- Owners describe brake pedals sinking to the floor with no stopping power while backing down inclines.
- Engine compartments have reportedly produced black smoke and check-engine warnings while driving, in one case followed by fire.
- One driver reported the steering suddenly locking into a single position while on the highway, leading to a loss of control.
- An electrical fire was reported starting from the engine area shortly after a low-speed rear-end collision.
2016 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V449000Jun 21, 2016Other17 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
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."
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.
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.
2016 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
- Compared with other Equinox model years, 2016 ranks 13th worst out of 21 years with a complaint index of 40 and a 'Good' verdict. It has fewer reported problems than the 2010-2015 model years, which were rated 'Avoid'.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
- NHTSA complaints show Engine issues make up 54% of complaints (214 of 396), followed by Visibility & Wipers at 30% (120 complaints). Median mileage at engine-related failure was 85,000 miles.
- Does the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2016 Equinox, covering incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information on the certification label. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2016 Equinox compare to other years?
- The 2016 model's complaint index of 40 is lower than the 2010 (90), 2011 (95), 2013 (80), and 2015 (85) model years, which are all rated 'Avoid'. Later years like 2021 and 2023 score even lower, at 5 and 10 respectively.
- Are airbag failures common in the 2016 Equinox?
- NHTSA lists 12 airbag-related complaints for the 2016 Equinox, about 3% of total complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 29,274 miles and 6 associated crashes.