2016 Chevrolet Equinox Engine Problems
Owners have filed 203 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, 51% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 85,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (16% of reports).
- 203engine complaints
- 85,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 33 of 203 complaints (16%)
- Rear main: mentioned in 31 of 203 complaints (15%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 17 of 203 complaints (8%)
- Pcv valve: mentioned in 16 of 203 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox at $4,350, and half of them between $3,150 and $7,950.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 71 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 203 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 3 an injury.
Chevrolet Equinox engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox | 7 | 10% | 3,678 |
| 2025 Equinox | 23 | 10% | 12,000 |
| 2024 Equinox | 14 | 18% | 10,000 |
| 2023 Equinox | 17 | 17% | 37,000 |
| 2022 Equinox | 28 | 15% | 63,360 |
| 2021 Equinox | 16 | 16% | 119,433 |
| 2020 Equinox | 91 | 29% | 29,165 |
| 2019 Equinox | 100 | 33% | 4,400 |
| 2018 Equinox | 86 | 21% | 31,500 |
| 2017 Equinox | 180 | 65% | 80,000 |
| 2016 Equinox | 203 | 51% | 85,000 |
| 2015 Equinox | 227 | 33% | 90,000 |
| 2014 Equinox | 218 | 40% | 95,000 |
| 2013 Equinox | 412 | 55% | 91,918 |
| 2012 Equinox | 355 | 52% | 88,957 |
| 2011 Equinox | 386 | 49% | 88,000 |
| 2010 Equinox | 271 | 35% | 87,000 |
| 2009 Equinox | 18 | 19% | 78,200 |
| 2008 Equinox | 27 | 7% | 84,000 |
| 2007 Equinox | 37 | 5% | 97,985 |
| 2006 Equinox | 68 | 10% | 98,000 |
| 2005 Equinox | 55 | 9% | 100,631 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I am filing this complaint regarding a safety-related engine problem with my 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. My vehicle is currently experiencing excessive crankcase pressure associated with the PCV system. The vehicle requires PCV service, and I have been advised that the excessive crankcase pressure has…
Timing chain guide broke and caused catastropic engine failure while driving 70 miles an hour on the highway causing steering, brakes etc to lock up putting me and my family at risk of accident and great bodily harm. Vehicle is available for inspection. No prior knowledge of mechanic problems due…
In February of 2025, while driving my 2016 Chevy Equinox home from work, I heard a loud pop and loss of engine power a block from home. The weather conditions at the time were below freezing and light snow. After getting my vehicle home, my neighbor, who works for GM looked under my Equinox and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Chevrolet Equinoxs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 203 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox (51% of the 398 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 85,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,350 (half paid between $3,150 and $7,950), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 33 of 203 complaints, followed by “rear main” (31).
Other 2016 Chevrolet Equinox problems
See all 2016 Chevrolet Equinox problems or engine problems across all Equinox years.