2016 Chevrolet Equinox · symptom sheet
Check engine light or misfire
- 44owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- $6,500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
223 of the 396 complaints on this car are about the engine. 44 of those describe misfire.
Tick what matches of 44 reports
Misfire on other Equinox years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the sensor (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
6 of the 44 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,900 to $8,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 61,000 and 100,002 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 30 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides inspection/diagnosis/correction information on a cold start misfire and/or rough idle and DTC P0300 that may also be set.
This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce ...
This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to ...
This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
26 more on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox page.
What owners wrote
“The vehicle burns oil causing engine failure. This issue occurs without warning (no oil light, and the check engine light appears moments before the vehicle dies). The vehicle burns oil and reaches engine failure even when regularly scheduled oil changes are completed. THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND RESULT IN A RECALL.”
Filed May 30, 2024
“Motor is sucking oil, no leak, to the point where check engine light comes on and oil is empty within weeks of an oil change. Must drive with extra oil in car because it is constantly low. When this occurs, car tries to stall out when stopped and in Drive.”
Filed Jan 23, 2024
“Engine started with fuel injectors starting leaking out of injector. Then codes started popping up. Bad fuel rail - misfire - imbalanced below threshold catalyst system efficiency. All caused by crack on exhaust manifold. The cost was substantial. This is known on many equinox. Look on media to see.”
Filed Sep 27, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 44 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Windshield wipers stop working 105 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 78 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 72 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 68 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 64 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 26 reports