102 complaints reported

2016 Chevrolet Equinox VISIBILITY/WIPER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
102
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the front windshield wipers stopped operating, without warning. The contact was able to stop the vehicle and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the windshield wiper motors were repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the connection from the motor to the wiper motors was not functioning properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 139,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2022
Feb 2023

As I was driving, it started to rain, so I turned on my windshield wipers. While the wipers were functioning, they abruptly stopped in the middle of their rotation. I had to stop on the side of the road while the wipers were stuck, and I couldn’t drive in the rain without them, so I had to wait until the rain went away before I could drive. I took it to the dealership the next day when it wasn’t raining, and they told me the windshield wiper arm detached from the motor and the whole thing needed replacement. The year of my car is 2016, and I noticed that while my car didn’t have this recalled, the 2015 model does. It literally is the same issue as seen on the 2015 version. Because my car’s year isn’t under recall, I had to pay the full amount to get this issue replaced. Thankfully, this did not occur during heavy rainfall or a winter storm, especially on the highway, because I would’ve been stranded. There is no way a windshield wiper arm detached from the motor on its own unless it was a defect right from the start, as evident by the fact that the 2015 model was already recalled for exactly this issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2023
Feb 2023

Front wipers just suddenly stopped working in the middle of a Interstate Highway, during a downpour, causing to lose complete visibility.And unable to get them working again, as we're stuck on the shoulder.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2023

Drivers side windshield wiper stopped working and will not wipe.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2023

Windshield wipers quit working during transport during a heavy rain storm. Visibility 0.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2023

On January 25, 2023 there was snowfall in my area. While driving as snow was falling, while the wipers were engaged, the wipers suddenly stopped moving. I tried my best to safely pull over to the side of the road and sat for hours until the weather conditions improved and I could see through the windshield before I could drive off. My child was in the vehicle after being picked up from school. I could barely see anything around us, putting our lives at risk. On 1/30/23 i was advised the wiper transmission/linkage part failed costing me close to $500 to repair.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2023

I was driving in heavy downpour at 8pm when my windshield wipers suddenly stopped working. They would not respond to the steering wheel mechanism and became inoperable making visibility incredibly difficult if not impossible to see. It put my life at risk on a busy route that was already exacerbated from the darkness and rain. I was extremely lucky in that only 3 other cards were around me at the time as I immediately put on my hazards and these cars went around me. Luckily, I was somewhat familiar with my surroundings and was able to pull over into a safe parking lot and wait for assistance. In fact, I was unable to drive my car for a day and half because it rained the next day, and I could not retrieve my car. My issue was confirmed by the Chevrolet dealership on 1/24/23 after inspection that there was an issue with my 'windshield wiper transmission,' and that it would need to be replaced. Right now, this will cost me $614 to replace the windshield wiper transmission. No warnings, messages or other symptoms were provided prior to this issue. It was a sudden and very abrupt malfunction.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2023

Driving on a major highway with pouring down rain, wiper blades suddenly stopped. I couldn't see anything, it was very dangerous and nerve racking, especially with a 5 year old. Luckily I was in the right lane and able to maneuver over. Had I been in the left lane, I'm not sure how I would have safely handled the situation. There was no warning or indication they were about to give out. They stopped on the driver's side, I've noticed this is common in the forums. This should already be a recall. They are putting a lot of lives in danger. I replaced the fuse, that did not solve the issue. I'm having the motor replaced tomorrow.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2023
Jan 2023

Driving in heavy rain and turned the wipers on to hi position and they completely stopped working while in passing lane of highway. Limited visibility caused me to pull of on left side in dangerous position of traffic coming from behind. Dangerous situation to get off the highway.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2023
Dec 2022

While driving in a thunderstorm last night my windshield wipers failed completely and stopped partially blocking my vision. The motor runs but the wipers do not even try to move, I had to stop and move the wiper wipers out of the line of vision. I have called several dealers and they don’t seem to be up on the issue! It was very scary and dangerous as I was in a really bad thunderstorm crossing the Coleman bridge in Hayes Va when they went out. Something needs to be done before people are killed! Chevrolet knows about the defect but does not seem to have done anything about it!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2022
Nov 2022

Was driving in a rainstorm and the wipers stopped working. It seems like something broke as the driver side wiper was over near the driver side door. After reviewing some of the online issues with the 2016 Chevy Equinox wipers, this looks to be very consistent with many of the other wiper issues listed. Safety was at a major risk as the vehicle was traveling on Interstate 90 during on Sunday 11/27/22 after Thanksgiving holiday. There were no warning lights indicating a problem with the wipers. I have pulled off the road and am waiting for a ride since I can't drive the car in the rain.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2022
Nov 2022

My daughter and I were driving as she just got her permit. Well it started to rain and we were on the highway and the front wipers just stopped working. As she is a new driver she freaks out. Lucky no one was behind us at the time. We pulled over to the side of the highway and we could hear the motor working. We sat it out until the rain slowed down and I took over driving and got us home without the wipers worker. My wife gets the new part and fixes it and a week later they stop working again.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2022
Nov 2022

My windshield wiper abruptly stopped during a storm and almost caused an accident on the freeway.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2022
Oct 2022

Wiper motor stopped working in severe heavy rain storm. Had zero visibility at night. Had to drive 2 miles before I could safely park vehicle and not go in a ditch or hit another car. Next day went to Auto store got replacement $124 later its fixed by myself. Same issue as recall on 2014-2015 models 2016 needs to be included.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2021
Sep 2022

While driving in a heavy rain storm one night, my windshield wipers just quit. I couldn’t see to drive. I put my flashers on to warn other drivers and had to resort to sticking my head out the window to see where I was on the road. I finally got a chance to pull off the road, moved the wipers by hand, still they did not operate. I called the dealer where I bought my car and an extended warranty. I drove it to them on a non-rainy day and left my car. I was told they would check it out and call me. They said wipers were not part of the warranty, that there was no recall for my car, and charges to fix it could be in excess of $550.00. As I did not have enough money at that time, they told me to leave it, but would not work on it till I had the money. Also, if I did not have them fix it, fee would be $100 for evaluation. When I went to pick up the car, nothing had been done, there was no fee, and the person I had been dealing with was no longer there. My car had sat there for a month, no one checked it, no one returned my calls, I picked it up still with non-working wipers. I have been driving my mothers car in the meantime.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2022
Sep 2022

I own both a 2015 & 2016 Chevy Equinox. The 2015 has a recall for the wiper blade ball joints rusting, but the 2016 does not have the recall. I did have an incident with the 2016 Equinox where the wipers stopped working during a rain storm due to corrosive ball joints (see attached photos). I think the recall needs to be expanded to include other years besides 2014-2015 models.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2022
Sep 2022

The windshield wipers quit working in the middle of a downpour while on the highway, and they still are not working.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2022
Jul 2022

I was driving in the middle of a heavy rain and my wipers just stopped working. Now I can hear the motor running but the wipers doesn't move at all.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2022
Jul 2022

It was storming on Thursday, May 5, 2022 and my front windshield wipers just stop working. I could not see anything. I had to let my glass down so that I would not have a head on collision with cars in the other lane going in the other direction. I made it to a safe location until it stopped raining. This incident scared me.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 9999 TBD TBD, Manufacturer: ODI Demo Co
Incident: May 2022
Jun 2022

I was driving while it was pouring down rain. The wipers were working one minute and then suddenly stopped mid-sweep. I was unable to see clearly and had to slow down significantly, put on my hazards, and pull over. I shut off and turned the car back on, the wipers were still not functioning. I had to wait until the rain had passed to continue my drive safely. We took the vehicle to the dealership the next day. It was determined that the wiper motor transmission came apart.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2022
May 2022

On May 25th it was pouring rain when my windshield wipers completely stopped working on the interstate. Within seconds I had completely lost visibility. Once I made it to safety I co reacted the dealership to see if it was covered under my warranty. They stated they were aware of the issue and that it was going to be part of a recall but that recall hadn’t been issued yet. The parts to fix the wipers haven’t even been made yet. As of now they have offered no loaner or options to make sure I can safely drive. I have lost my job because I can not afford a rental car out of pocket, and it’s the rainy season. Please be aware that they are putting peoples safety at risk knowingly.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2022
May 2022

About a month ago my four year old and I were driving in the rain at night and my windshield wipers suddenly stopped working. I ended up paying over $500 to get the wiper transmission and motor fixed. Now fast forward one month later , I’m driving in the rain storm again and my wipers suddenly stopped working again which was not only scary but extremely dangerous, I was on a freeway and suddenly could not see properly because of the windshield wiper motor stopping again. I had to pull over while my vision of the road was almost non existent and honestly was scared an accident was going to happen if I didn’t get to the side of the road fast enough.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2022
May 2022

Windshield Wiper transmission failed, front wipers inoperable No visibility while driving when raining No warning lamps or indication other than failure of operation

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2022
Apr 2022

During a heavy rainstorm, my windshield wipers stopped functioning after use for 15 minutes. I turned the car off and then back on and the front wipers would not turn back on. The back wiper still works.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2022
Mar 2022

The wipers on our 2016 chevy equinox suddenly stopped working, early yesterday morning, while driving on the interstate, in the rain and in the dark. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION!!! Contacting the dealer today. We have not had the car inspected by anyone! There have been no previous problems with the wipers. After a long search on the internet, I found a special coverage adjustment N192266180, dated December 2019. This is not recall. It states that the owners will be notified. AS OF 3/22/2022, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2022

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has 102 VISIBILITY/WIPER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.