2016 Chevrolet Equinox: Power Train complaints
Owner-reported issue (NHTSA complaints, not a recall)
Symptoms
NHTSA has 27 owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox that list the power train component. Complaints are individual owner reports, not verified defects.
Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771865 (filed 10/17/2026): “The drivers' side front seatbelt will not retract back into the b pillar when taken off. it will get caught in the door when closing it and prevent the driver's door from closing. the transmission slips out of gear when decelerating and accelerating in traffic. this causes the transmission to sla…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11673065 (filed 07/12/2025): “Coming home from a trip without any warning our 2016 equinox scared me when it made a terrible sound lost power and stopped working. we’re 100’s miles away from home on the side of a road in the dark. we called for towing to a dealer payed for a hotel waited till the next day for it to be looked at.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11638831 (filed 01/27/2025): “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 valv…”
Likely causes
These complaints do not establish a single root cause; read the examples above and get a diagnosis.
Fix, in plain English
No single fix is established by these reports. Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer about technical service bulletins (TSBs) or extended warranty coverage, then have the system diagnosed.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range for this issue. Get a written quote after diagnosis.
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