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Chevrolet · Compact SUV

2016 Chevrolet Equinox

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA395
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Equinox FWD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 395 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Equinox FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl223126$2,400
Equinox FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl223126$2,400
Equinox AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl202823$2,700
Equinox AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl202823$2,700
Equinox FWDGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl172420$3,100
Equinox AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl162318$3,450

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36491, 36492, 36330, 36331, 36601, 36506.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
high

Tires

46600
17 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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."RiskIf 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.FixGM 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 campaign 16V449000reported Jun 21, 2016General Motors LLC

NHTSA defect investigations

Visibility/Wiper — Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative closed

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 wa

Opened Dec 13, 2019 · closed Nov 28, 2022 · action EA19005

Visibility/Wiper — Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure closed

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

Opened Nov 2, 2018 · closed Dec 19, 2019 · action RQ18002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
395complaints filed

14 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 22 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 14 · 2017: 14 · 2018: 17 · 2019: 38 · 2020: 43 · 2021: 30 · 2022: 53 · 2023: 74 · 2024: 54 · 2025: 43 · 2026: 14

Most-cited components

Engine201
Visibility/Wiper113
Unspecified32
Power Train26
Electrical System24
Fuel/Propulsion System19

What owners describe

“Drove to work 1/26/22 and heard my engine knocking. During my 10 minute commute there were no warnings, messages or any active dashboard light(s), especially none regarding the engine or oil pressure . Once I parked, my engine seized and began leaking/smoking. The engine needs replaced due to excessive oil consumption …”Jan 27, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Our car was parked outside for the weekend and we were planning to return home. It was around 14°F outside and starting to snow. Approximately 10 minutes into the trip home, the 2016 Chevy Equinox started to make some faint abnormal sounds. Shortly after the instrument cluster displayed a Stabilitrak Warning. I presum…”Jan 24, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“I was driving on the highway in the rain and my windshield wiper stopped in the middle of my windshield.”Dec 16, 2021 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2016 Equinox with

Other Equinox model years

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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