2016 Chevrolet Equinox: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
395 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Equinox (2010–2017) with the 2.4-litre four-cylinder is known for consuming oil, which leads to timing-chain wear and, if neglected, engine failure; General Motors extended the warranty on the piston rings. The complaint counts are steady rather than spiking, and the 2016–2017 years score 86 and 91. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: a year the record favours — 395 complaints, score 85/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 395 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 39.5
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
: "I live in my car. The 2016 Equinox 2.4L burned all its oil in 2 weeks with no leaks, failed to give a dashboard warning, and the engine is now knocking, threatening to leave me unsheltered." This ties my vehicle's specific failure to the federal database for future legal payouts.
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 recall on it.
Excessive oil consumption with no warning light, loss of power, and stalling. Also caused the master seal to leak and plugged the PCV valve. I have records for the repairs. It continues to excessively use oil and is not a reliable vehicle. When it stalls, power steering is lost as well as the stabilitrack.
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V449000 | Equipment:Other:Labels | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,650
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine201 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Visibility/Wiper113 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Unknown Or Other32 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train26 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System24 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Fuel/Propulsion System19 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Chevrolet Equinox years
Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (201 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 395 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox's most common problem?
201 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox cost to run per year?
About $5,470 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,352 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 21/06/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 395 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 395 NHTSA complaints on record (39.5/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (45.5/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems