2016 Chevrolet Equinox · symptom sheet
Timing chain or cam phaser rattles
- 26owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
209 of the 396 complaints on this car are about the engine. 26 of those describe timing chain failure.
Tick what matches of 26 reports
Timing chain failure 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: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This sheet is about a rattle from the front of the engine, often at its worst right after a cold start, that dealers trace to the timing chain or the cam phasers. It's heavily concentrated: the 2017 to 2019 Ford F-150 accounts for about four in ten of these complaints across the site.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the timing chain (19 reports) and the chain tensioner (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 62,000 and 99,000 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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 Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0008 or P0009 may be set. Technician will need to inspect for loose timing chains or tensioners.
What owners wrote
“oil consumption is bad. according to mechanic it has now caused problems with timing chain and tensioner. I have to get that replaced ASAP before engine ties up. There is a class action lawsuit in Missouri for same reason with cars like mine. My car has not even hit 114,000.”
Filed Sep 17, 2025
“no lights came on my car just became sluggish and I continued to drive up the road trying to get to safe spot to stop and it completely shut off on me I had to push out of road thankfully no one was behind me. I had towed to mechanic and he said my timing belt skipped and it had no oil has bent valves and piston damage and that I need a new engine”
Filed Jan 27, 2025
“Timing chain tensioner broke. Fortunately, my wife stopped driving it so the engine didn't blow up.”
Filed Apr 18, 2024
“With no warning my 2016 equinoxâs engine began to fail functioning, reduced engine power warning displayed, then the vehicle stalled and would not restart. Professional mechanical review has indicated excessive oil consumption and timing chain issues regardless of a regular documented maintenance and oil changes”
Filed Dec 5, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 26 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
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
- Check engine light or misfire 44 reports