8.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$260
Average Mileage:
106,950 miles
Total Complaints:
16 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
  2. purchase a new assembly (5 reports)
  3. had to have the wiper motor replaced (2 reports)
  4. replace bushing in wiper transmission (1 reports)
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problem #16

Oct 012019

Equinox LT 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 164,000 miles

I'm so tired of this 2012 Chevy Equinox. I had to have the Motor replaced soon after I brought it, because it ate oil and blew the rear master seal. The engine light comes on after the replacement motor has been in. The car has gone through so many wheel bearings over the time of ownership, its bull** and now the damn window wipers stopped working when I was driving. Took it apart and found a s* ass design. This car sucks and CHEVROLET you should be ashamed of yourself. No one wants to fuss up and take responsibility and get recalls or refund money for this lousy piece of s*** you call a car. Thanks Chevy.

Update from Feb 4, 2020: Another issue I now have with this car, the engine light is on giving a P420 code and it won't pass inspection. This is pointing at the catalytic converter, they are saying I need to replace it. Do you have any idea the cost of this? It's unbelievable...

- Thomas C., Clinton, US

problem #15

Jun 242019

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,665 miles

When is Chevy going to own up to the fact that there is a problem with the windshield wipers stopping on the 2012 Equinox. This isn't the first time this problem has been reported by someone.

- Carolyn O., Dover, US

problem #14

Mar 212020

Equinox LT 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 176,949 miles

Just picked up my 3 year old from school. It was raining hard and I turned my windshield wipers on high and they just stopped.

- Brittany W., Crestview, FL, US

problem #13

Jun 112020

Equinox LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,246 miles

Driving to work in rainstorm, turned wipers on high during downpour and wipers stopped working. Could not see, pulled over and waited till rain let up a bit and drove home as I was about 12 miles from home. Very scary driving home using side view mirror and watching the fog line to get home. Than goodness of little traffic. Turns out that one of the plastic bushings wore out due to friction and disengaged from the mount. Had the bushing replaced by mechanic neighbor and appears the wiper transmission is working. How long the fix will last is unknown as the fit is not as tight as the remaining 2 bushings..

- Kazmo J., Stuyvesant, NY, US

problem #12

Aug 212019

Equinox LT 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Driving 60 MPH on the freeway, in the PNW while its dumping rain and my windshield wipers stop working. I was in the passing lane and boom. Can't see a thing. I had my 1 year old son in the back and everyone in front of me slammed on their brakes. All I could see were blurs of red. I'm lucky to be alive. I have no idea how I got to the shoulder safely, but I turned my blinker on and they let me through. This car is the worst car I have ever owned.

- Naomi S., Olympia, WA, US

problem #11

Apr 152019

Equinox LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

On my way to work in heavy rain at 5:30 - 6:00am. Rain got real heavy and flipped my wiper speed to high. The wipers jammed on the left side of the window. I was driving in the left lane (Fast Lane). I put my hazard lights on. I had to cross over 3 lanes of traffic in the dark and with torrential downpour to get to the breakdown lane. I knew I was near the breakdown lane when I hit the rumble strip. I got out to move the wipers off the windshield frame. They did go down but did not work. Very scary. I carefully pulled back out onto the highway. I was about 9 miles from work. At times the rain was like a river going across my windshield. going slower was worse than going 45 - 50 mph. while trying to see the lines or following other drivers, I made it to work quite shaken to say the least. I did a search for wiper issues. There are a few. All for Equinoxes' made in Canada. No fix known. They are going to wait until someone gets killed. Luckily it wasn't me today. I must have had an Angel in the passenger seat.

- s2of8meng, Harmony, US

problem #10

Apr 192019

Equinox 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 132,000 miles

I was driving on interstate 80 in a deluge. My wipers just stopped! I luckily was in the slow lane so I was able to get to the shoulder. I changed the relay in the pouring rain with another that was the same. No help. Then I realized that the wiper motor was running and knew that the problem was either the linkages or something else. I have been a mechanic my entire life and have never seen anything like this. I have not yet had the chance to remove the shroud to see what is wrong, but this is very dangerous. I am truly upset to see that this issue is not unique and even more upset to see that they have recalled 2013 cars for this here but in Canada they have recalled cars from 2010 to 2017. HOW can this possibly make sense!!!

- Ralph F., Paterson, NJ, US

problem #9

Apr 262019

Equinox LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles

This is the third time this has happened ...and had bearings replaced. I sat on the side of the road for two hrs, missed leaving on vacation by a day and missed an important drs, appt.... this is crazy and a hazard. The first time it happened was during a heavy rainstorm and I couldn't even see the road. Are you waiting for a fatal crash to happen..rectify this problem.

- Paula B., Jewett City, US

problem #8

Jan 232019

Equinox LT1

  • Automatic transmission
  • 151,000 miles

Chevrolet continues to disappoint. This time....the windshield wipers. This is a HUGE safety issue. GM are you waiting for someone to get killed before this gets your attention?

Interesting there is a recall of 2013 but not 2012? Obviously this is a problem but GM refuses to recognize it on the 2012 Equinox. Do the right thing for a change, GM.....Recall the wiper motors!

- Glenn S., Union, KY, US

problem #7

Jan 282019

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,000 miles

First real snow, bad weather in Michigan when you need the wipers the most, just quit on the expressway. I stopped a couple times to clean the windshield, the wipers themselves were floppy could move them all across the windshield. Last thing I needed. Luckily after the big snow not a lot of cars on the road. I drive over an hour to get home from work, and that's working 12 hour shifts. Needless to say I was a wreck. I have had numerous things go wrong with this vehicle; motor, oil, exhaust. All are safety issues. they the (dealers, manufacturers) can listen to legitimate complaints, suck it up and fix the issues. What happened to customer service loyalties.....

- Cath C., Novi, US

problem #6

Apr 152018

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

Enough already I am so done calling GM today. Yesterday my daughter was driving home in the nasty ice storm we are having in Michigan and her windshield wipers stopped working. The wiper transmission broke again this is the 4th time we will be replacing this part and we just put one on less than 3 months ago. This problem needs to be addressed by General Motors ASAP. It is very costly every time we have to replace this part. Very unsafe for my daughter and grandson.

- Rebecah W., Mesick, US

problem #5

Dec 012017

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I have seen many complaints about the 2012 equinox model regarding the windshield wipers spontaneously stopping and yet chevy seems to refuse to recall this issue. They have a recall for the 2013 model for the same issue; Canada has a recall for the 2010-2014 models and yet Chevy (US) hasn't admitted to an issue and recalled it as they should. This is a safety hazard!!

- Stephanie L., Highland, US

problem #4

Aug 152017

Equinox LTX 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

My Wife was driving the vehicle during a really bad rain storm and when she clicked to the fast wipers, they stopped working.

She was able to slow the vehicle speed and then slowly get to the side of the road and out of road and traffic.

An item such as this on a vehicle should never fail! If there had been an accident due to this I would be holding the car manufacturer liable for this defective part.

- formycar123, Endicott, US

problem #3

Sep 082016

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

was turning onto a major heavy traffic road,as I turned while we were having a heavy downpour storm wipers were on and all of a sudden stopped almost hit car in front of me because I couldn't see.Had to pull off road til it let up stranded there for 30 minutes.I have 59,000 miles on car have never had this problem on any car I owned.Contacted Chev dealership Sweeneys and was told by Keith in service dept. it was more than likely the motor went or the transmission on the wiper motor to bring in .Asked how much said he couldn't give price till they looked at it.Asked if they ever heard of this before and he said yes they burn up.Googled problem and find out GM is recalling 2013 Chev equinox as of 8-4-16 for this very problem.I will be calling GM over this since it just occurred on 9-8-16.Asked Keith if I could go to Auto Zone maybe a fuse he said to go ahead but he doubts it is it.Auto Zone Jim was very nice went out in the pouring rain checked all fuses for the wipers and told me fuses are good it is the motor and the motor costs 175.00.

- smith2016, Youngstown, OH, US

problem #2

May 092016

Equinox LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,820 miles

Was driving 60-65 mph on a 4 lane highway in a heavy rainstorm when the wipers quit midstride. Luckily there wasn't anyone behind me as I had to slow rather quickly and try to get to the side of the road since I couldn't see! This could have caused an accident had the timing or traffic been any different.

Update from Feb 28, 2017: So today I went out for lunch and my wipers wouldn't work again.......... Last time they replaced the transmission for the wipers. Guessing it's the same thing this time. It's been less than 20,00 miles.

- Sarah F., Hillsboro, OH, US

problem #1

Jul 302015

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

My wiper assembly broke and needed some plastic bushing that wasnt available for my car because it was newer and had to be bought from the dealer.

- Samantha Y., Dowagiac, MI, US