2016 Chevrolet Equinox Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 3%of 399 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,274miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, 3% of the 399 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,274 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was in a car accident where the other driver ran a stop sign and I ran into the side of his car head on, I was going between 35-40miles per hour. I was driving in a neighborhood, my airbags never deployed, the car center console stated that the airbag malfunction. I bought this car brand new in littleton colorado.”
NHTSA complaint #11144924, filed 2018-11, 29,274 miles“Front passenger seat airbag sensor will not activate safety system when I, as a 120 lb adult,place a medically necessary cushion (to alleviate back and hip pain) between myself and the seat, thus cancelling out the benefits of this safety system when the vehicle is in motion. I am at risk when riding in this general motors vehicle. Please require GM to recall and correct this defect soonest and associate my complaint with all other similar complaints on file with your agency.”
NHTSA complaint #10780205, filed 2015-10, 788 miles“Driving southbound going 65 MPH on highway. 5x4 buck struck head-on with Equinox and no air bags deployed. My 18 year old daughter was restrained by her seatbelt, however, with the speeds and impact there was failure of the airbag system to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #11151000, filed 2018-11, 108,000 miles“Passenger air bag alarm goes off when seat is empty and occasionally the passenger air bag turns off while an adult passenger is in the seat due to a faulty connector. This happens sporadically during all types of driving, idling or while parked. The concern that during an impact the faulty connector will cause the passenger side airbag to not deploy while a passenger is in the seat is highly worry some and even though chevy is aware of the condition, they won't recall or fix the issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11266665, filed 2019-10, 62,000 miles“Was in a small accident the air bags never deployed but the seat belts locked saying that I needed to service my air bag system. As I did. The seat belts are no longer locked but the light is still on and the car is telling me to servic we the airbag system”
NHTSA complaint #11554109, filed 2023-11Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 3 | 4% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 4 | 2% |
| 2021 | 4 | 4% |
| 2020 | 8 | 3% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 15 | 4% |
| 2017 | 19 | 7% |
| 2016 | 12 | 3% |
| 2015 | 38 | 6% |
| 2014 | 29 | 5% |
| 2013 | 25 | 3% |
| 2012 | 19 | 3% |
| 2011 | 52 | 7% |
| 2010 | 57 | 7% |
| 2009 | 26 | 28% |
| 2008 | 110 | 30% |
| 2007 | 146 | 21% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 38 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
203 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
120 complaintsOther or unknown
32 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsFuel system
21 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology