The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the windshield wipers failed to function as intended. The contact stated that there was a sound coming from the windshield wiper motor; however, the wiper arms had seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while it was raining on a busy highway. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Chevrolet Equinox wipers problems
1,017 of the 9,236 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Equinox describe windshield wiper failure, most of them for the 2015 model year.
- owner complaints
- 1,017
- worst model year
- 2015
- typical repair cost reported
- $370
- typical mileage
- 80,583
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Ball joint 51Transmission failure 39Engine failure 28Oil consumption 26Check engine light 20Stalling 11Jerking 11Won't start 8
Trouble codes mentioned
P0014 1P0013 1
What owners say
Wipers just stopped working on the highway in a very bad rain storm, when I was taking my daughter to school. We could not see and had to put our hazards on and somehow carefully pull off to the side of the road. We could have easily been rear ended or worse “Killed”. There was no warning given. This was very scary for me and my child. Why isn’t there a recall for the 2016 Equinox??
I am driving a rental Chevrolet Equinox with the steering-column-mounted electronic gear selector. I believe this shifter design creates a serious safety hazard. The gear selector is a stalk on the steering column positioned and operated similarly to controls commonly used for windshield wipers in other vehicles. While driving, pulling back on this stalk can immediately shift the transmission into Neutral, even at highway speeds. My wife and I have unintentionally shifted this vehicle into Neutral approximately a dozen times because of this control arrangement. Once the vehicle is in Neutral while moving, we have been unable to shift it back into Drive until coming to a complete stop. This creates a dangerous situation: the vehicle suddenly loses propulsion in moving traffic, and the driver cannot simply restore Drive. The driver must coast, find a safe place to stop, come to a complete stop, and then select Drive. This is particularly dangerous while merging, crossing an intersection, driving on a highway, or anywhere that maintaining acceleration may be necessary to avoid a collision. This is not a complaint that the controls are merely unfamiliar. The vehicle accepts a Neutral command at road speed from a simple movement of a steering-column stalk, while preventing the driver from immediately restoring Drive. Because the stalk’s location and operation can conflict with established driver muscle memory for steering-column controls, I believe this represents a foreseeable human-factors safety hazard. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this design and determine whether it presents an unreasonable risk to drivers and other road users.
Back wiper stopped working while it was on. Wiper arm is stuck straight up on back window. Back wiper motor got extremely hot still trying to work with the car ON or OFF. Would make a clicking sound every 30secounds 24/7 and would drain the battery dead. No power.
Wipers stopped working while driving in the rain
Wipers stopped working in the pouring down rain. Couldn’t see anything
Wipers do not work Seems to not recognize when idling and starts to shake if stopped at a red light. Randomly will go through 2 quarts of oil in one day
2017 Chevrolet Equinox Premier certified pre-owned vehicle experienced multiple safety-related defects. 1. REPEATED STARTING FAILURES (electrical/battery/starter system): - March 17, 2026: Complete battery failure, vehicle would not start. AAA/GM Roadside Assistance called. Dealer inspected but could not diagnose root cause or explain battery drain. Preceded by unusually loud windshield wiper motor and engine noise (March 15). - April 13, 2026 (4:01pm): Engine failed to turn over twice in parking lot before starting on third attempt. SAFETY RISK: Sudden starting failures create stranding hazard and risk of being rear-ended in traffic. 2. WATER INTRUSION THROUGH HEADLINER (sunroof/headliner/mic assembly): - April 15, 2026 (10:40-10:45am): Approximately 1 ounce of water poured from headliner/radio microphone assembly directly into driver's eyes while driving on expressway. Continued dripping intermittently for hours. SAFETY RISK: Complete vision obstruction while driving at highway speeds. 3. INTERMITTENT SAFETY CHIMES (electrical/infotainment): - Ongoing for weeks: Five rapid electronic dings with NO dashboard warning lights or indicators. Occurs sporadically while driving (10 occurrences in one recent day). Dealer previously informed by phone but no resolution. SAFETY RISK: Distracting chimes with no identifiable warning create driver confusion. 4. ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL: Remote start now works intermittently. All components available for the federal safety agency/manufacturer inspection. Dealer confirmed March 17 battery inspection but found no cause. No manufacturer inspection. No warning lamps preceded any failures except unexplained chimes. Problems began immediately after certified pre-owned purchase despite CarBravo certification. Safety defects render vehicle unreliable and hazardous.
Wiper arms freeze up and stops. I used them today while it’s raining and they slowed down and stopped. Several times!
windshield wipers stoppped working while driving during snow event. leaving no visibility.
Related recalls
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
- Risk
- Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.
Recall number 22V165000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.
- Risk
- Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 25302.
Recall number 16V582000 · Recall details
Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2010 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems and with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 101, controls and displays". The software in the center instrument panel can cause the heating, air conditioning, defrost, and radio controls, as well as the panel illumination to become inoperative.
- Risk
- Driving without a functioning defrost system can decrease your visibility under certain driving conditions and could result in a crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the computer module in the center instrument panel free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during january 2010. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V489000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield
- What is wrong
- Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting." an incorrect primer may have been used when installing the windshield. The same primer may have also been applied to the liftgate glass and the side stationary glass.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the windshield may not be retained to the extent required by the standard, increasing the risk of personal injuries to the vehicle occupants.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the windshield, the liftgate glass, and the side stationary glass. The recall began on june 14, 2007. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668.
Recall number 07V242000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Equinox wipers
Which Chevrolet Equinox years have windshield wiper failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2015 (279 complaints), 2014 (176 complaints) and 2012 (125 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix windshield wiper failure on the Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $370 (median of 86 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Chevrolet Equinox?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history