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2016 Chevrolet Equinox Electrical Problems

20 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

20
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2016Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (20)

mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2025

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 #: 11658343
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 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 #: 11641421
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2023

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 #: 11561186
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Dec 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 #: 11558205
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2023

Battery drain

NHTSA #: 11507052
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2022

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

NHTSA #: 11498855
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 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 #: 11456958
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Crash / FireFiled: Jul 2021

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 #: 11423472
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 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 #: 11406656
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2020

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 #: 11317860
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2019

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 #: 11292010
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2019

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 #: 11232861
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jul 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 #: 11232468
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2019

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 #: 11231502
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2018

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 #: 11163516
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2018

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 #: 11109540
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2018

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 #: 11081277
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SEATS
Filed: Apr 2017

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 #: 10979624
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2016

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 #: 10873534
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2016

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 #: 10820198

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