2016 Chevrolet Equinox: engine stalls while driving

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Engine · MO

Excessive oil consumption with no warning light, loss of power, and stalling. Also caused the master seal to leak and plugged the PCV valve. I have records for the repairs. It continues to excessively use oil and is not a reliable vehicle. When it stalls, power steering is lost as well as the stabilitrack.

Filed Jun 4, 2025 · Engine · 58,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine oil pump had failed and caused the engine to seize. The contact was advised that the engine and oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

Filed May 4, 2025 · Engine · MO

I was driving my vehicle on the highway when all of a sudden I started to lose speed and my car wouldn’t accelerate. When my vehicle wouldn’t accelerate it started to shake significantly and the check engine, abs, traction control, and service stabilitrak light came on all at once. I was able to pull over and get my car towed to the dealership. Once it was at the dealership it was diagnosed that my car had jumped time causing a misfire in cylinder 4. My dealership stated this was due to low oil and my piston had become warped due to making contact with my valve. My car had no check oil warnings or any indication that vehicle was low on oil prior to this happening. My vehicle drove perfectly fine until that point. My vehicle also had no oil leaks (confirmed by myself not seeing any leaks under my vehicle as well as the dealership when they did the diagnostics). Before I bought my vehicle I did research and knew this model vehicle had oil consumption issues, so I made sure to routinely check my oil levels. Even with getting oil changes approximately every 3,000 miles and checking my oil levels and topping off my oil whenever it got less then 5 quarts I still had to get a total engine replacement. This was a huge safely issue since there was no warning that my oil was low and my car lost speed on the highway and was trying to stall out before I had a chance to pull off to safe place.

Filed Apr 16, 2025 · Engine · 117,583 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and then stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 117,583.

Filed Jan 16, 2025 · Engine · PA

This was the third time I have had my vehicle in the shop for the same exact issue - stalling while driving. This time we decided to take it to a Chevy Dealer who very quickly diagnosed the PCV System Freeze "causing the rear main seal to push out causing a major oil leak". Seeing as this issue is known in prior years, it is baffling why Chevy has not addressed this design flaw, which causes engine damage, nor have they chosen to included later models - such as my 2016 - in a recall. I am so very lucky that I started being aware of the warning signs and did not get on the highway to go home. It would have likely been a deadly incident in that case - I am not joking. This was a VERY expensive repair - especially considering this is the 3rd repair regarding the same issue.

Filed Nov 26, 2024 · Engine · TX

It appears the 2.4L engine is burning oil at a high rate, leading to engine stutters, stalling, and outright engine failure. Our mechanic says if we didn't catch this in time, an engine without the proper amount of oil as a lubricant could stall, seize, and/or cause enough damage to warrant an entire engine replacement. If the engine quit on the freeway around Houston, TX, my wife would have been at great bodily risk. The mechanic suggested that there may be an extended warranty issued to GM Dealers to cover the 2016 Equinox 2.4L engine until 2026. The warning lamp was on for tire sensors, but no indication was given for the oil issue.

Filed Nov 20, 2024 · Engine · GA

The 2.4L engine is burning oil at alarming rates, leading to consumers complaining about stutters, stalling, and outright engine failure. If not caught in time, an engine without the proper amount of oil as a lubricant can stall, seize, and/or cause enough damage to warrant an entire engine replacement. The engine is now blown. Chevy has known about this problem stemming since 2012 and has not addressed this with the American consumers.

Filed Oct 1, 2024 · Engine · 159,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the contact noticed a loud knocking sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to the engine not properly circulating the engine oil. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

Filed Sep 19, 2024 · Engine · PA

Timing chain issue same as 2015 and earlier current recalls. Happened aroun 68,000 miles. May stall pulling out from stop light. Mechanic diagnosed problem Car ran bad at idle and stopped in drive or reverse. Often stalled. Repaired 9/13/24 approx 3,500 bill.Stony Creek Auto Center, Reading, PA did repair. The timing chain kit and oil pump were replaced inpected by mechanic. Warning sign code P0017 and P0012. Yellow warning light.

Filed May 1, 2024 · Engine · 116,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 40 MPH unintendedly and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact used an ODB scanner and retrieved several DTC codes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact of piston rods failure and that the sensor shutdown the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming excessive amounts of engine oil. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

Filed Feb 28, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · PA

Oil burns at an alarming rate, no low oil warning. Engine blew up & was rebuilt. A month after engine rebuild, vehicle started to throw the same codes that led to engine failure. I can't keep oil in my vehicle, it has stalled numerous times on busy highway & once at an intersection with my kids in the vehicle. O2 sensors keep frying, catalytic converters keep clogging. Faulty rear main seal valve. Oil is leaking into combustion chamber which has caused manifold issues, spark plugs keep frying. Engine constantly misfires. Frequent engine knocking. My vehicle also seems to have no low oil warning light either. I remember getting an oil change, roughly a month in a half later i checked it again and my dip stick was bone dry. Chevy is aware of defects, but they refuse to do anything for the thousands of customers who have complained about the same exact things I am. There are numerous lawsuits for this exact issue, unfortunately not in my state. The value of my vehicle has dropped substantially to the point I am now upside down with my loan. I've looked into trading it in and my highest offer was $1,500 because of the issues that have been reported. There are so many people dealing with this same exact problem and we are all being ignored. I can't even go trade my vehicle in for something that will actually run without me having to dump hundreds of dollars into it every few months. Not only that, but these defects are extremely dangerous! My vehicle completely shut off while i was driving roughly 60-65mph in crazy/speeding traffic in the middle of rush hour & I had my two little girls with me. When help finally arrived, it was discovered that yet again, there was no oil in my vehicle even though I added roughly 2.5 quarts within a month in a half of this incident occurring. My vehicle over heated... this is absolutely uncalled for and isnt something that happens because of owners negligence. Someone please help!!!

Filed Feb 20, 2024 · Engine · 94,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed due to extremely low engine oil. The contact was informed that the engine oil was four quarts low. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the regularly scheduled oil changes were always performed on the vehicle and that the engine had experienced excessive oil consumption. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000. The contact stated this could have been a VERY serious problem had the engine failed while her son was on the freeway traveling 70 MPH instead of only driving 20MPH. The contact had the engine rebuilt for over $8,000 and GM offered me a "Goodwill offering" of a little over $400, but contact declined the offer.