9.1
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $220
- Average Mileage:
- 100,300 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 11 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (7 reports)
- repair wipers (3 reports)
- replace wiper transmission (1 reports)
I was driving on the interstate in a storm when my windshield wipers just stopped working. Had to roll down the window to see to find a safe place to pull over. This is the second time. First time it was the bushings this time I'm not sure. Very unsafe
- Ann D., Richmond, US
During a heavy rainstorm yesterday I was driving on the freeway & my wipers went off to the side of my windshield & stopped there. I got out off the highway in the pouring rain & moved them back, thinking they were just stuck. Nope. They stopped working after that all together. Hoping it was just a fuse I got back in & drove to the next exit & hit an AutoZone. Nope. Fuse was fine. I was soaked. I drive home 60 miles in the rain with my kids in the car not having a choice on a Sunday. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. The 5th major issue with my car that GM has not, nor will not cover.
- Jamie S., Milwaukee, WI, US
I was on road trip from DC back to NY, about an hour into the 5 hour trip. While driving 55-60 MPH on the highway with 3 kids in the car during a torrential downpour, my windshield wipers literally just STOPPED working. We are lucky to be alive, no joke !! We were in Maryland, I was unfamiliar with the area and ended up sitting roadside by a farm until I was able to get a tow, hotel room, and UBER.
I had the shop do diagnostics, they informed me that the windshield transmission was defective and broke, causing the wipers to come over the driver window off the side, then NOTHING! The estimate to repair was $532.00. I was unable to repair due to the price, but made it home on this sunny day. I will be contacting the dealership about this issue.
I researched online and found a multitude of reports of the same issue happening to many others, same year, make, model as well as other years(Car Gurus, NHTSA, and other sites.). There was a recall for 2013 Equinox for the same issue. But NO OTHER recalls. This is a significant safety issue and potential threat to life. I am going to continue to make noise about this until something is done.
- Maureen H., Tomkins Cove, US
Very dangerous when driving in rain and both wipers stop working.
- Joe C., Indianapolis, IN, US
I was driving in rush hour on a 6 lane city roadway during a heavy downpour when wipers failed driving about 45 mph. It was an awful time for failure. I had to nearly come to a stop to get my vehicle to the side of the roadway. I had to wait for the rain to stop before I could get moving again. I was about 20 miles from home. It took me about 2 hours to get home. I had to pull to the side of the road every time it began to rain again, only moving again when it stopped raining. I called the local chevrolet dealer but was told they could not do any repairs till the next afternoon at 2 pm, I scheduled the repair and had the wiper transmission repaired. I was told 2013 Equinox had a service recall on wiper transmission but 2011 was not included. Same transmission both years?
- Lanny G., Louisville, KY, US
DISAPPOINTED - 3rd time in 4 months this has failed!!
- Dawn L., Maxton, NC, US
was driving to a friends house and only a drizzle so wipers, were only on intermediate...stopped again..not sure what to do as the mechanic told if it happens again would have to replace whole arm system which is over $200...do not want to pay for a $1.67 part when it keeps popping...motor is fine, its the ball that keeps popping...this needs to be a recall
- Diane O., troy, NY, US
This was the second time, had to go to mechanic at Adirondack Tire, as my neighbor was out of town...raining fairly hard when I had to take my daughter to drs for her 9 month checkup for pregnancy...wipers stopped again when we were on the highway doing 55...very annoying couldn't see anything...took me almost an hour to get home, where normally it was only a 15 minute ride.
- Diane O., troy, NY, US
On my way home from my moms March 2nd,, it was pouring rain and the wipers stopped working. Drove home and my neighbor (who is a mechanic) fixed it for $1.67.. the following week I as taking my daughter to her drs appt (who is 9 months pregnant) and we were driving on a highway when it was raining hard and the same thing happened again March 12th...went to Adirondack Tire and he said it was the ball which popped out, the same as before...cost me $30 to fix as I had the part from the last time (2 per package)....this weekend my fiancee and I were going to visit friends and it happened again, but the weather was only a drizzle... not sure what to do.. I do not want to pay over $200 to replace whole wiper arm system, as the ball keeps popping.. this needs to be recalled..
- Diane O., troy, NY, US
wipers stopped working when at high speed in storm
During an all day heavy rainstorm, our wipers had been on for about two hours. The wipers stopped working while we're we on the turnpike! We could not see! Good thing no cars either to the left or right. Rolled down window, put on hazards and moved to a full shoulder! Good thing there was a shoulder. Able to take to a mechanic after limping off of turnpike. The motor was fine. It was a plastic ball that pulled out of a "socket". Mechanic pushed it back in. He said not to use it on high speed anymore as it could pop out again. A metal pin had to be replaced that was at the top of the wiper. THIS could have been awful. We all could have been killed if there had been a car or truck beside us, or behind us. If there was no shoulder we would also have been hit, as we could not see to keep moving on the turnpike. The only time this will happen is when your wipers are on high speed! A dangerous situation in and of itself. this is either a design or part failure or both.
- ritt, Whiting, NJ, US
This problem could have had a really bad outcome. Fortunately the wipers stopped functioning on a light rain day and not during a downpour. So I received a letter from GM stating this could happen but not to take the car in for a repair unless the wipers stop working. Well, less than a week after I received that letter, bam, my wipers go out. I go to the closed dealership at the time (without my letter cause it was at the house and I was driving at the time) and I called before I got there, told them the problem, had an appointment, arrived, got my baby out and went in the service center - only to be told there is not a recall associated with my VIN. I wasn't given the option to have it fixed regardless. I was just shuffled on like a herd of cattle. Very frustrating day! So now my car sits in the driveway at home, stationary for the next few days due to rain. Thanks GM. :/
- Michelle P., Temple, TX, US