Chevrolet Equinox engine problems, 2016–2027
814 of the 2,715 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Equinox 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (210), 2017 (194), 2019 (105). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Equinox engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 7 | 9% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 25 | 6% | — | 39 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 15 | 8% | — | 106 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 17 | 18% | — | 110 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 30 | 17% | — | 310 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 18 | 19% | — | 180 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 98 | 32% | 51k | 219 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 105 | 35% | 6k | 287 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 95 | 23% | 38k | 395 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 194 | 71% | 85k | 250 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 210 | 53% | 86k | 287 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 61 · 2020: 53 · 2021: 39 · 2022: 82 · 2023: 126 · 2024: 133 · 2025: 160 · 2026: 142
Across the model years, half of the 281 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 14,000 and 99,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Pvc tube froze cause rear seal to break causing engine to lose all oil. Luckily I was parked and noticed the oil. No warning lights or sensors lit up. When talking to dealer and others many Equinox this year have had this issue, even tho general motors is aware of the issue it was still my responsibility to pay 1800.00 to fix it
Driving down freeway. Car stopped working no warning light or warning. Barley got it off the road and out of traffice. Ends up it the rear mantle fold which in turn made the engine stop working. Vehicles needs whole new engine
I've owned this vehicle for a year and a half now. Countless times i've had oil leaking, increased oil consumption, and frequent oil changes. This past time has been a month since my last oil change, and when getting to work this morning I noted sounds coming from the engine, and checked the oil to find no oil left.
Had a rough idle was driving fine. Driving home from regular streets to thenhighway and on thebhighway the on board computer said stabilitrac needs service soon, engine peferformance reduced. Tried to get to an off ramp there was a pop under the hood white smoke out the back and the car shut off on the highway.
The turbo cooler tube pops off when you accelerate. This causes the check engine light to come on and the vehicle to go into engine reduce power mode. Vehicle max speed will then be set to 45 - 55 miles an hour. I was able to push the tube back into place, it ran fine for another 100 miles than popped off again.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Equinox
Source: the same files- electrical problems
- fuel system problems
- brake problems
- transmission and drivetrain problems
- visibility and wiper problems
Every system, every model year: Chevrolet Equinox problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Equinox years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 210; 2017, 194; 2019, 105. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (71%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Chevrolet Equinox?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 68,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 14,000 and 99,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.