Model year report

2016 Chevrolet Equinox: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox

On the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 72,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other visibility problem, reported by a median of 55,000 miles. Overall it scores 77 out of 100, severe risk for a 2016.

Severe risk for a 2016 — 56th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. 493 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

The failures owners actually file about

Owners have reported 58 named failure modes on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, and the three most-reported carry 36% of everything filed.

Other engine problem leads with 68 reports, about 13,600 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 63k to 112,500 miles.

Other visibility problem follows with 55 reports, usually reported between 40k to 77,500 miles.

Excessive oil consumption follows with 54 reports, usually reported between 86k to 105,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (219), glass (96) and transmission (17).

The mileage the reports cluster at

215 of the reports on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 64,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 39% by 50,000 miles, 80% by 100,000 miles and 98% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.

The busiest stretch is between 80,000 and 90,000 miles, which alone holds 12% of the dated reports.

31% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.

In the order they tend to show up: other visibility problem around 56k, other engine problem around 72k, timing chain, belt or tensioner failure around 77k and wiper or washer failure around 85k.

Median

Other engine problem

72k
Other visibility problem

56k
Excessive oil consumption

95k
Oil leak

89k
Wiper or washer failure

85k
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure

77k
Other powertrain problem

22k
Other electrical problem

53k
Complete engine failure or seizure

124k
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure

90k
No-start or intermittent start failure
no odometer readings given
—
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin

2k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 58. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 64k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

Severity, and what it costs

Across the named modes, 15 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 15 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.10, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other visibility problem at $150–$1,400, excessive oil consumption at $900–$6,500 and oil leak at $250–$2,200. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

50% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other engine problem	engine	68	31	63k	72k	113k	13,600.0	$300–$4,000	High
Other visibility problem	glass	55	26	40k	56k	78k	11,000.0	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Excessive oil consumption	engine	54	15	86k	95k	106k	10,800.0	$900–$6,500	High
Oil leak	engine	42	20	86k	89k	106k	8,400.0	$250–$2,200	Moderate
Wiper or washer failure	glass	41	18	70k	85k	102k	8,200.0	$120–$800	Moderate
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	30	8	64k	77k	106k	6,000.0	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Other powertrain problem	transmission	12	4	—	22k	—	2,400.0	$400–$4,500	High
Other electrical problem	electrical	11	5	—	53k	—	2,200.0	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Complete engine failure or seizure	engine	9	2	—	124k	—	1,800.0	$4,500–$12,000	Critical
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	8	3	—	90k	—	1,600.0	$400–$2,200	High
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	7	0	—	—	—	1,400.0	$200–$1,800	Moderate
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	7	4	—	2k	—	1,400.0	$250–$2,000	High
Other speed control problem	adas	7	4	—	24k	—	1,400.0	$250–$2,000	Critical
Other fuel system problem	fuel	6	1	—	12k	—	1,200.0	$300–$2,200	High
Other driver assistance problem	adas	6	4	—	42k	—	1,200.0	$250–$1,800	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	5	5	—	32k	—	1,000.0	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	5	4	—	10k	—	1,000.0	$200–$900	High
Other brake problem	brakes	5	2	—	22k	—	1,000.0	$300–$1,800	High
Other body or interior problem	body	5	2	—	13k	—	1,000.0	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Misfire or rough idle	engine	4	0	—	—	—	800.0	$250–$1,600	Moderate
Differential or transfer case failure	drivetrain	4	1	—	61k	—	800.0	$900–$4,200	High
Infotainment screen failure	infotainment	4	3	—	30k	—	800.0	$400–$2,600	Low
Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure	body	4	2	—	30k	—	800.0	$250–$1,500	Moderate
Other steering problem	steering	4	2	—	38k	—	800.0	$350–$2,400	High
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	4	2	—	7k	—	800.0	$200–$1,500	High
Stalling while driving	engine	3	2	—	58k	—	600.0	$300–$2,500	Critical
Overheating	cooling	3	3	—	115k	—	600.0	$400–$3,500	High
Complete transmission failure	transmission	3	0	—	—	—	600.0	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	3	1	—	1	—	600.0	$300–$1,600	High
Tire pressure monitor failure	wheels	3	0	—	—	—	600.0	$80–$600	Low
Sunroof failure or glass breakage	body	3	3	—	11k	—	600.0	$700–$4,500	High
Air conditioning failure	hvac	3	2	—	16k	—	600.0	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Radiator or coolant leak	cooling	2	1	—	54k	—	400.0	$350–$1,900	High
Fuel pump failure	fuel	2	1	—	135k	—	400.0	$600–$2,600	High
Fuel leak or fuel odor	fuel	2	2	—	120k	—	400.0	$300–$2,500	Critical
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	2	0	—	—	—	400.0	$450–$1,600	High
Audio or connectivity failure	infotainment	2	2	—	83k	—	400.0	$150–$900	Low
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	2	2	—	5k	—	400.0	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Lane keep or steering assist fault	adas	2	0	—	—	—	400.0	$200–$1,600	High
Cruise control failure	adas	2	1	—	2k	—	400.0	$200–$1,400	High
Loss of power steering	steering	2	1	—	95k	—	400.0	$600–$2,800	Critical
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	2	0	—	—	—	400.0	$200–$1,500	Critical
Paint peeling or clear coat failure	body	2	2	—	31k	—	400.0	$600–$6,000	Low
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	2	2	—	18k	—	400.0	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Engine knock or bearing noise	engine	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$2,500–$9,000	High
Intake carbon buildup	engine	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$400–$1,200	Moderate
Water pump failure	cooling	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$500–$2,200	High
CVT failure	transmission	1	1	—	130k	—	200.0	$3,000–$8,500	Critical
Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure	transmission	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$250–$1,400	High
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	1	1	—	45k	—	200.0	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Parasitic battery drain	electrical	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$200–$1,200	Moderate
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	1	1	—	15k	—	200.0	$250–$1,500	High
Loss of braking	brakes	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$400–$3,000	Critical
Brake line, hose or caliper failure	brakes	1	1	—	12k	—	200.0	$250–$1,600	Critical
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	1	1	—	56k	—	200.0	$0–$0	Critical
Steering column or shaft failure	steering	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$600–$2,500	Critical
Other suspension problem	suspension	1	1	—	29k	—	200.0	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Other lighting problem	lighting	1	0	—	—	—	200.0	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Unclassified problem	other	27	16	23k	38k	59k	5,400.0	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox draws about 98,600 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 100th percentile of complaint rates among 2016 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 5 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2016 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Excessive oil consumption

The car consumes massive amounts of oil, like the previous model years. No warning is given that the vehicle runs out of oil causing damage to the pistons, timing chains and engine. Gm dropped the power train warranty to 60 k knowing that these vehicles have had this issues since 2011- to current. The failure happens at 58-60 k miles making it the customer's responsibility to pay for this enormous repair. In talking to the dealership they are well aware of this issue yet no one has informed the owners that oil consumption on a brand new car would need to be monitored or that no engine light would be triggered. Leaving the customer with a car with less of a power-train warranty and the full cost of the repair. I filed a complaint with gm and was told that since the car was out of warranty that they could do a cost assistance but would not cover the repair, because my mileage is just outside the 60k mark. This is unacceptable. My coworker has the same vehicle and because his car failed at 58 k it was paid for. Gm knew what they were doing in lowering the power-train warranty on this car. Something needs to be done to protect the…

62,236 miles NHTSA complaint 1385694 filed 2017-06-19

Recalls on the 2016 model year

NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, affecting an estimated 5 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover tires. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.

16V449000

TIRES

17 vehicles 2016-06-21

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."
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.

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 2016 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2016 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

Better and worse years of the same car

Severe risk for a 2016 — 56th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.

Across the 22 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 65 and 2019 worst at 83, with 2016 itself at 77.

If the model year is negotiable, 2008, 2014, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2007, 2025, 2021, 2013 and 2023 score lower than 2016 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.

Within the 2010–2017 generation specifically, 2014 is the strongest year at 66 and 2011 the weakest at 77.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 2010-2017 generation, 2014 Chevrolet Equinox scores best at 66 and 2011 Chevrolet Equinox worst at 77.

Where to spend the inspection money

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other visibility problem from about 40k, other engine problem from about 63k, timing chain, belt or tensioner failure from about 64k and wiper or washer failure from about 70k.

On a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other visibility problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.

The limits of complaint data

493 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 493 reports, 215 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 44% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?

The most-reported failures are other engine problem (68 reports, median 72,500 miles), other visibility problem (55 reports, median 55,000 miles) and excessive oil consumption (54 reports, median 95,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Equinox problems start?

Other visibility problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 55,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 40,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 64,000 miles.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?

It scores 77 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 56th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2016 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Chevrolet Equinox is best?

Within the 2010–2017 generation, 2014 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2011 worst at 77. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 30 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed