2016 Chevrolet Equinox: Problems & Reliability
YEAR TO AVOIDThe 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has 400 NHTSA owner complaints, 1,242 manufacturer service bulletins, and 1 recall campaign on federal record, led by engine and visibility/wiper issues. Among the 12 Chevrolet Equinox model years with federal records, it ranks 2nd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
400
NHTSA complaints
1,242
Service bulletins
1
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
Engine — 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Visibility/Wiper — 114 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2016 compares to adjacent years
| Model year | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 (this page) | 400 | 1,242 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 276 | 1,077 | 0 | — |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2016 Chevrolet Equinox — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has 400 NHTSA owner complaints, 1,242 manufacturer service bulletins, and 1 recall campaign on federal record, led by engine and visibility/wiper issues. Among the 12 Chevrolet Equinox model years with federal records, it ranks 2nd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox in NHTSA owner complaints are engine, visibility/wiper, unknown or other. Service bulletins (1,242 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?
Yes — 1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox a good year to buy?
The 2016 is one of the Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid by complaint and bulletin volume — the 2024 and 2023 model years show cleaner records. If the price reflects the risk and the specific car checks out by VIN, informed buyers still do fine; just don't pay clean-year money for it.
How do I check a specific 2016 Chevrolet Equinox before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.