2016 Chevrolet Equinox

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

Wipers just stopped working on the highway in a very bad rain storm, when I was taking my daughter to school. We could not see and had to put our hazards on and somehow carefully pull off to the side of the road. We could have easily been rear ended or worse “Killed”. There was no warning given. This was very scary for me and my child. Why isn’t there a recall for the 2016 Equinox??

NHTSA ID

11766510

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

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 discovered the rear main oil seal had blown and informed me this was a known issue with the GM 2.4L Ecotec engine. The GM 2.4L Ecotec engine contains a non‑serviceable Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system that uses a fixed orifice built into the intake manifold instead of a replaceable PCV valve. In cold weather, moisture and vapor inside the crankcase can freeze or accumulate as sludge within this orifice. When the orifice becomes obstructed, the PCV system can no longer vent crankcase gases properly, causing internal pressure to rise significantly. This condition is most common in sub‑freezing temperatures and is documented in multiple GM technical bulletins. When crankcase pressure increases beyond normal operating limits, the pressure seeks the weakest escape point, which is often the rear main seal. As pressure builds, the rear main seal can rupture suddenly, resulting in an immediate and severe oil leak. This failure can occur without warning and may lead to rapid oil loss, environmental contamination, and potential engine damage if the vehicle continues to operate. The defect is inherent to the PCV system design and is not related to owner maintenance practices. General Motors has been aware of PCV system obstruction issues in the 2.4L Ecotec engine since at least 2013, when internal service bulletins first documented rear main seal failures caused by crankcase over‑pressurization in cold weather. GM issued additional bulletins in 2014, 2016, and 2019, each reiterating the same failure mechanism. In 2014, GM created Special Coverage Adjustment 14882 but many vehicles equipped with the same engine and PCV design were not added, including mine.

NHTSA ID

11758784

Incident

Feb 20, 2025

Wipers stopped working while driving in the rain

NHTSA ID

11758642

Incident

Aug 13, 2026

Wipers stopped working in the pouring down rain. Couldn’t see anything

NHTSA ID

11756961

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

: "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.

NHTSA ID

11750405

Incident

Jul 3, 2026

right front wheel assembly is bad.

NHTSA ID

11748145

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

I started up my car on a cold winter morning and I heard a loud popping noise. I backed up my car minutes later and discovered puddles of oil in front of me in my driveway. I asked my husband to come out and look. He got under the car and said my oil blew out of the rear seal. I was unable to drive my car as the seal was blown. After some investigating I discovered it was the PCV valve that froze and blew out the rear seal. I discovered that Basil Ford was sent this Bulletin and told to clean the PCV valve when people brought their car in. They never reached out and told me to bring the car in to have this done. It could have been an easy fix. I also discovered by researching that people had this happen to them when they were driving on the highway and it caused them accidents. I called GMC and they are telling me my 2016 isn't in the class action suit. Basil wanted way too much money so I took it to Pep Boys and it cost me $3,000 to have the PCV valve replaced with the kit that prevents it from freezing up again and I had to replace my manifold and my rear seal

NHTSA ID

11738059

Incident

Feb 23, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11735031

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172. The diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump body markings to confirm it is an original manufacture part. If it is not an original manufacture part, they should install one and evaluate the vehicle.

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.