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2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age — inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
391 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (51% of complaints, typically reported near 66k miles).
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (12)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
51%199 complaints · typically near 66k mi · 44 in the last 2 years
“Around 100,000 miles car started burning through oil. Have to check oil weekly. No warning lights come up when the oil is low. Patiently waiting for them to put a reca…”
Visibility & wipers
30%117 complaints · typically near 74k mi · 13 in the last 2 years
“The wiper blade motor is gone out. The tire pressure sensor is off : the oil seems to disappear faster than the sensor”
Transmission & drivetrain
7%26 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“no lights came on my car just became sluggish and I continued to drive up the road trying to get to safe spot to stop and it completely shut off on me I had to push ou…”
Electrical system
6%24 complaints · typically near 63k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“Snowy conditions. All of the traction control, stabilitrak, and abs systems are working normally. Sometimes when i accelerate and the wheels start to spin the whole in…”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Equipment · 16V449000
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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Chevrolet EQUINOX beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Equinox model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.