2016 Chevrolet EQUINOX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet EQUINOX has 487 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: exhaust fumes leaking into driver cabin, horrible toxic odor, family got sick from being inside of vehicle. stationary, or in motion. toxic odors and same health effects when not running. oder on clothing, hair, skin. immediate adverse health symptoms associated with being in vehicle are headache, . ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 12 crash reports 25 injuries

487

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

208 complaints

43%

• EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO DRIVER CABIN, HORRIBLE TOXIC ODOR, FAMILY GOT SICK FROM BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION. TOXIC ODORS AND SAME HEALTH EFFECTS WHEN NOT RUNNING. ODER ON CLOTHING, HAIR, SKIN. IMMEDIATE ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN VEHICLE ARE HEADACHE,
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO DRIVER CABIN, HORRIBLE TOXIC ODOR, FAMILY GOT SICK FROM BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION. TOXIC ODORS AND SAME HEALTH EFFECTS WHEN NOT RUNNING. ODER ON CLOTHING, HAIR, SKIN. IMMEDIATE ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN VEHICLE ARE HEADACHE, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

117 complaints

24%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS DISTORTED AND DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS FRACTURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
• THIS SAFETY PROBLEM COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I AM 5'4'' AND SIT UPRIGHT WITH THE CORRECT DISTANCE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING THE FRONT VIEW TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND SOMEWHAT ALSO WHEN LOOKING LEFT, IS OBSTRUCTED BY THE SIDE MIRRORS. LOOKING TO THE SIDES TOWARDS EACH SID

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS DISTORTED AND DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

31 complaints

• EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO DRIVER CABIN, HORRIBLE TOXIC ODOR, FAMILY GOT SICK FROM BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION. TOXIC ODORS AND SAME HEALTH EFFECTS WHEN NOT RUNNING. ODER ON CLOTHING, HAIR, SKIN. IMMEDIATE ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN VEHICLE ARE HEADACHE,
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

26 complaints

• CAR STARTED SMELLING HORRIBLE ANYTIME IT WAS RUNNING, WOULD MAKE ME AND MY KIDS PHYSICALLY SICK BREATHING THE AIR COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE.MY DAUGHTER HAD PNEUMONIA 4 MONTHS AGO, AND MY HUSBAND HAD A SEVERE CASE OF PNEUMONIA 2 WEEKS AGO. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE RESPIRATORY RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE LA
• 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 OPENI
• AFTER A MONTH OF OWNERSHIP AND ABOUT 900 MILES MY NEW EQUINOX WITH V6 AND AWD DEVELOPED A HOWLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH THE HOWLING STAYS WITH THE CAR AND CAN BE HEARD ON HIGHWAYS AT 60 MPH. THE CAR HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A WHINING NOISE BOTH OF WHICH GENERAL MOTORS CLAIM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“CAR STARTED SMELLING HORRIBLE ANYTIME IT WAS RUNNING, WOULD MAKE ME AND MY KIDS PHYSICALLY SICK BREATHING THE AIR COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE.MY DAUGHTER HAD PNEUMONIA 4 MONTHS AGO, AND MY HUSBAND HAD A SEVERE CASE OF PNEUMONIA 2 WEEKS AGO. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE RESPIRATORY RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE LA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

24 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHAN
• WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MOVING SLOWLY IN A TRAFFIC JAM ON A FREEWAY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TOTALLY WENT OUT. THE RADIO CONTINUED TO WORK, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT 20 MILES WITH THE CLUSTER AND SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING. AFTER ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION AN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY, THE SUNLIGHT CREATED A GLARE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW THE DISPLAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 487 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO DRIVER CABIN, HORRIBLE TOXIC ODOR, FAMILY GOT SICK FROM BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION. TOXIC ODORS AND SAME HEALTH EFFECTS WHEN NOT RUNNING. ODER ON CLOTHING, HAIR, SKIN. IMMEDIATE ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN VEHICLE ARE HEADACHE,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS DISTORTED AND DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO DRIVER CABIN, HORRIBLE TOXIC ODOR, FAMILY GOT SICK FROM BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. STATIONARY, OR IN MOTION. TOXIC ODORS AND SAME HEALTH EFFECTS WHEN NOT RUNNING. ODER ON CLOTHING, HAIR, SKIN. IMMEDIATE ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN VEHICLE ARE HEADACHE,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: CAR STARTED SMELLING HORRIBLE ANYTIME IT WAS RUNNING, WOULD MAKE ME AND MY KIDS PHYSICALLY SICK BREATHING THE AIR COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE.MY DAUGHTER HAD PNEUMONIA 4 MONTHS AGO, AND MY HUSBAND HAD A SEVERE CASE OF PNEUMONIA 2 WEEKS AGO. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE RESPIRATORY RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE LA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)