2016 Chevrolet Equinox Electrical Problems

In Feb 2025, I was driving, a day after a snow storm, on the highway when without warning my car stopped accelerating, and just shut down. The mechanic said my oil was all over the ground. He also stated that there's a defect in the 2.4l ecotec motors and the pistons broke on my vehicle. Now I have to pay $3500 to rebuild my motor. He stated that the vehicle has a higher oil consumption rate/ leaks and you will never know

NHTSA ID

11658343

Incident

Feb 26, 2025

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 infotainment console turns off. Its almost like the battery is dead for a few seconds then everything turns back on.

NHTSA ID

11641421

Incident

Feb 2, 2025

My car is a 2016 chevy equinox - the check engine light never came on and I was driving it home from the store when it started bucking, showing "power to engine low" error message and barely moved when pressing the gas. I got the car home and my husband was checking the car only to find I have no oil when I never received any warning. I have done research and have seen this is an issue for many chevy equinox owners who all experienced this with their cars. I just had an oil change completed a few months ago in early Sept/Late August with very minimal driving in the 4 month window as I was out of work for 2 of those months. I do believe this is a defect in the car due to the fact that I was out of oil so quickly PLUS no alert informing me that the oil was low prior to the issue with the vehicle. now it will not start and the engine appears to be trash now.

NHTSA ID

11561186

Incident

Dec 19, 2023

I was driving home from work, all of sudden all the dash borad lights started flashing and the car stop. engine would not start back up. I had to have the car towed home and the next day it was towed to the dealership, I was told that there is a problems with the Chev Equinox's oil use, it burns fast and make the plastic parts in the engine break down. I was told that i will need timing chain and pitston replaced or new engine. i filed a complaint with GMC and they said that they don;t know of any problems with the type of car engine that i have. GMC said they will pay $600, toward cost of my repairs about $6500. dollars.

NHTSA ID

11558205

Incident

Nov 8, 2023

Battery drain

NHTSA ID

11507052

Incident

Feb 13, 2023

I received a message "service side detection system". It seemed something was dragging?

NHTSA ID

11498855

Incident

Dec 25, 2022

Purchased vehicle certified pre owned May 2019 with 56,000 miles. In June 2019 replaced front tire that were new due to passenger tire wear also New battery and oil change..Jan 2020 had to have front main seal oil ring replaced. Oil changes done every 3 to 7 thousand miles. Have a 2 sets of tires put on .Have had some hesitation problems throughout while.driving. But never did find cause. Took to chevy dealer on Nov 3rd for windshield wiper motor replacement. Picked up on Nov. 5th. Have had issues with starting since picked up had to carry jump start box in car. Car was parked until I could get a new battery approx 1 week. Put new battery in drove to work for about 2 days still.had issues. Traction stability light had came on never went off. Parked car for another week or so Drove 2 miles down road to store. While driving car was loosing power. Screen went out and engine reduced power light came on and died. Waited about 15 min jump.started .got about 10 feet car went into.Limp mode got it home . Would not start ..got a list of codes. Replaced starter, camshaft and crankshaft sensor, new pcm, valve cover. Amd another battery. Car has not ran since. Motor is blown. Car has been down since Dec. 15th 2021. I have lost my job. Due to not being dependent on getting to work. Have looked into repair cost about 7 to 8 thousand that I cam not afford and still Makin car payments. This is a Manufacture defect and could have been alot worse if I was going any faster or been out in the dark stranded somewhere. Hard to believe a regular maintain vehicle would just die the way it did. Someone or something needs to be done ..Not fair to have to pay over $15000 and still making payments on a lawn ornament. When Chevrolet has none about this issue and refuses to fix. Knowing the engines will blow a rod do to the oil issue ..

NHTSA ID

11483108

Incident

Sep 6, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving and accelerating the check engine warning light would illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer and the contact was informed that no fault codes were retrieved; however, the computer was reset. The contact stated that shortly after retrieving the vehicle the failure recurred and was taken back to the dealer. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the sensors in the main computer. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11456958

Incident

Dec 14, 2021

Mileage

49,000 mi

My 2016 Chevrolet Equinox caught on fire about 10 minutes after my accident. I rear ended a pickup truck going about 5-10 miles an hour. Although nobody was hurt, I don't think SUVs should catch on fire. I'm unaware if this problem is frequent in 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, but there wasn't any warning of the sudden fire that appeared from the engine, i.e. sirens, sounds from within the car. I'm unaware if Chevrolet, law enforcement or the insurance company has inspected the vehicle after the accident?

NHTSA ID

11423472

Incident

Jun 20, 2021

IN EARLY NOVEMBER OF 2020 MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX ENGINE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND BURNING OIL. MY LOW OIL LIGHT NEVER WENT ON AND WE DID REGULAR OIL CHANGES WHICH STILL DIDNT MATTER. WE WERE PUTTING OIL IN IT EVERY FEW DAYS UNTIL FINALLY IT WOULDNT START ANYMORE. I HAD IT THEN TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AS IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION RESULTING IN A BILL OF OVER $2,200. THEY NEVER FIXED THE LOW OIL LIGHT, AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT NOW EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN FIXED IT IS STILL USING OIL EXCESSIVELY SO I AM CONSTANTLY CHECKING IT. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET TO DISPUTE THE MATTER BUT THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT I BELIEVE IT TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT MANY CHEVY EQUINOXES HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE, YET THEY STILL HAVE REFUSED TO LOOK INTO IT AND SAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU HENCE THIS EMAIL. I AM SEEKING A RECALL ON THE 2016 EQUINOX REGARDING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND DEFECTIVE LOW OIL LIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE TO DIE ON A HIGHWAY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS BEING LOOKED INTO AND BE KEPT INFORMED ON ITS STATUS. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11406656

Incident

Nov 7, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

LIFTGATE WILL NOT OPEN CODE P0010 AND P0011 ON VEHICLE. PARTS CHANGED AND CODE P0011 STILL SHOWING. CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL VERY DANGEROUS.THIS CAR IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11317860

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

30,000 mi

INITIALLY THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING OR BROKEN; ALL THE OIL DRAINED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER SPENDING $992.60 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHANGE AND GUIDES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD THE VVT CELANIDE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT SENSORS; THE VVT GEARS AND AN OIL PUMP REBUILD...$2017.60 LATER, MY TRUCK DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WHERE IT DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR (ASIDE FROM THE 3 MILES) IN NEARLY 2 MONTHS. NOW I'M BEING TOLD THEY THINK IT MAY BE ELECTRICAL. MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS GOGGLE SEARCHES THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES WITH THIS MOTOR/VEHICLE AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4; I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW TO SAFELY TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE. THIS CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE DEAD OF WINTER COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY...IT LITERALLY STOPPED IN MID ACCELERATION. HOW LONG BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED?

NHTSA ID

11303062

Incident

Nov 13, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED,STARTED FINE BACKED UP OUT OF SPACE. WHEN PULLING FORWARD THE WARNING BUSSER CAME ON AND DISPLAY READ STABIL TRACK. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED OFF ENGINE AFTER 2MIN. I RESTARTED ENGINE, THE WARNING STAYED ON. DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES TO DEALERSHIP,WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT AS APPT NOT AVAILBLE TILL TUES. ENGINE SLOWED DOWN COULD ONLY GET TO 35MPH. AFTER ANOTHER 5MILES IT STARTED WORKING SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET HOME. I HAVE DONE ALL REQUIRED MATENIACE HAVE 69,000 MILES ON IT, NOW. IF THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN I REACH THIS MILAGE, WHAT IS MY RECOURSE?

NHTSA ID

11292010

Incident

Dec 27, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

DATE OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE 06/25/2019 0/7/13/2019 I MADE A RIGHT TURN DRIVING AND A.C AND STEREO TURNED OFF. 07/15/2019 I WAS PARKED AND THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF I GOT IN THE CAR AND STARTED THE VEHICLE PUT IT ON REVERSE THEN DRIVE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF. I RESTARTED THE CAR WITH THE KEY AND IT TURNED BACK ON. 07/16/2019 IN THE EVENING, ENGINE LIGHT WHEN ON 07/16/2019 IN THE EVENING OIL CHANGE LIGHT WHEN ON 07/16/2019 IN THE AM I CALLED MOSS DEALER CHEVY IN MORENO VALLEY, CA AND SPOKE WITH DON HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO GET CHECKED. APPT SET UP FOR 07/19/2019 AT 8AM AT MOSS CHEVY IN MORENO VALLEY, CA 07/17/2019 IN THE AM I CALLED DON AT MOSS CHEVY IN IN MORENO VALLEY TO NOTIFY HIM THAT MY ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL CHANGE LIGHT WENT ON.

NHTSA ID

11232861

Incident

Jul 13, 2019

RADIO SCREEN GOES ON AND OFF BY ITS SELF AND BACK UP CAMERA WON'T COME ON IN REVERSE AND CAR STARTS ON IT OWN WITH DOORS LOCK AND NO KEYS IN IT DON'T HAVE SELF START BUTTON ON KEY

NHTSA ID

11232468

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. THIS HAPPENED ON A VERY HOT AND SUNNY SUMMER DAY. THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN AND THE A/C WAS OFF. THE RADIO STARTED TO LOOP A SONG THAT WAS PLAYING. I WAS UNABLE TO MUTE IT, TURN IT DOWN, AND TURN IT OFF. THE INFOTAINMENT BUTTONS WERE DOING NOTHING. I TURNED ON THE A/C AND THE INTERIOR COOLED DOWN. THE RADIO FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL ONCE IT WAS COLD. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AS WELL. ONE TIME, IT WAS DURING WINTER AND THE HEAT WAS ON. THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEAT WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ID

11231502

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

Mileage

35,000 mi

DROVE CAR 10 MILES, THEN TOOK A LEFT TURN AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF AND WHEEL LOCKED. NO POWER OR ANY WARNING SIGNS OF A BREAK DOWN. RESTARTED CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. TOOK IN FOR A CHECK UP AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO 'RECREATE THE INSTANCE'.

NHTSA ID

11163516

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSS BROS. AUTO GROUP (12625 AUTO MALL DRIVE, MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 92555, (951) 485-3500) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. AFTERWARDS, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOM BELL CHEVROLET (800 ALABAMA STREET, REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA 92374, (909) 283-0690) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED "LOW VOLTAGE". THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN 2016. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WERE ERASED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE "LOW VOLTAGE" FAILURE READING. ADDITIONALLY, AN ALARM SOUNDED, THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE READINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4836904116. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,155.

NHTSA ID

11154622

Incident

Oct 16, 2018

Mileage

10,155 mi

MY CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNING WIRES. MY AC TURNS FROM COLD TO HOT WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING ANY BUTTONS. MY PHONE CHARGER IN THE MIDDLE COUNCIL DOESN'T WORK. I ONLY HAVE 53000 MILES ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11109540

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

53,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN HIGHWAY I HEARD A CLICK AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND HEATER TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. WAS UNABLE TO TURN THEM ON. THANK GOD I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRIP AND NOT A CURVE. CONTACTED ON STAR. FIGURED OUT THAT THE HIGH BEAMS COULD BE ACTIVATED BY HOLDING THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH TOWARD ME WHILE DRIVING. DROVE HOME DRIVING WITH ONE HAND AND HOLDING HIGH BEAM SWITCH WITH OTHER. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WONDERED IF THE CAR WOULD START SO I TURNED IT OVER AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND HEATER CAME BACK ON.

NHTSA ID

11081277

Incident

Mar 25, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SURGED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE ELECTRONIC SEAT FUNCTION WAS DEACTIVATED, THE SEATS CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10979624

Incident

Jul 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY, THE SUNLIGHT CREATED A GLARE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW THE DISPLAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID

10899494

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

4,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MOVING SLOWLY IN A TRAFFIC JAM ON A FREEWAY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TOTALLY WENT OUT. THE RADIO CONTINUED TO WORK, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT 20 MILES WITH THE CLUSTER AND SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING. AFTER ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I RESTARTED IT AND SAW THAT THE CLUSTER WAS VERY DIM AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ONLY BARELY READABLE. AS I DROVE IT, THE BRIGHTNESS SLOWLY INCREASED. THE NEXT MORNING, THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE REST OF THE CLUSTER SEEMED TO BE NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS WORKING NORMALLY AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA ID

10873534

Incident

Jun 4, 2016

Mileage

6,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10820198

Incident

Jan 8, 2016

Mileage

2,200 mi