2011 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 782 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 30 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 41 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, power adjustJul 23, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Campaign 14V447000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyDec 15, 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC SRX, CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE NEAR THE SEAT ATTACHMENT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT(S) AS DESIGNED AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PASSENGER AND/OR THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 10V623000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
69 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jan 29, 2026
Wipers have stopped working, have had it repaired twice and they keep quitting.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the windshield wiper was activated, the windshield wiper arms detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 30, 2024
Joint on the front windshield wiper assembly failed. Was driving in a 4 lane highway doing about 70 mph while it was raining. Windshield wipers stopped halfway through the movement they sat for a moment they moved to as far as they could go towards the driver side and that’s where they stayed. The driver side one was over the edge of the vehicle. I followed tail lights turning onto a side road, pulled over safely. Moved the wipers to a down position, there was no resistance. Checked the fuse and that was fine. Waited a bit for the rain to settle a bit and drove to a safer location. Once off the highway and away from traffic when turning the windshield wipers on I could hear the motor still going so knew it was an issue with the arms. I had been on the road for about 2 hours all major highway with still over 2.5 hours left of my drive when they failed. We had to trailer it home as it was not safe to drive with the amount of rain we were getting. Replaced the motor and arm mechanism when we got it home and saw that it was one of the ball joints that broke. There were no warning lights, we have the old parts if needed for inspection, this looks to be the same issue as the recalled parts on the 2014-2015 equinox.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 18, 2023
The wipers stopped working on the highway pouring down rain
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2023
The windshield wipers and yes, available at anytime for inspection. I was traveling Hwy 80 and the wipers stopped working completely in a downpour of rain at 70 mph. I could not see and could not even follow the rear taillights in front of me to stay in my lane. I put my right blinker on and slowly moved to the slow lane in order to take the next exit off the highway. Had to travel over the highway on the overpass and needed to turn right. Couldn’t see detail so ended up running over yellow barriers then made it to the right turn and was barely able to make out a driveway which was a Starbucks. Stopped to confirm wipers would not work and to move wipers by hand to clear windshield. Every 4 or 5 blocks had to stop and get out to physically move wipers by hand to clear rain water from windshield in order to drive further. It was so dangerous, I could of easily caused accidents for others and myself and also could have been fatal! Next time you’re on the highway, close your eyes and keep driving-it was the same and scared me to the point that I was shaking!!! Thank God I didn’t have my grandkids with me!!
Visibility/wiper, Jan 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers became inoperable. The contact pulled over and waited until the rain stopped falling before continuing to drive. The dealer was contacted and stated that an unstated bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 114,000.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 12, 2022
The windshield wiper linkage disconnects when the windshield wipers are placed on the highest setting causing me to not be able to drive in the rain.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 5, 2022
Driving on the highway while it was raining and I had my wipers on and all of a sudden they stopped working. Wipers aren’t moving at all but can hear the motor turning. Assuming it’s in the wiper trans/linkage assembly.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 19, 2020
WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, IN THE LEFT LANE WHILE PASSING A TRUCK AT 65-70MPH, IN THE DARK, THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM CLICKED A FEW TIMES AGAINST THE A-PILLAR THEN CEASED WORKING. FORTUNATELY THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER CONTINUED TO FUNCTION.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 9, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BLADE WAS BENT OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD INTO A GRASSY AREA AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. THERE WAS NO CRASH REPORTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD BE CALLED BACK IN TWO OR THREE DAYS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED AN UNKNOWN NHTSA INVESTIGATION ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 24, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED HOWEVER, THE MILEAGE WAS EXCEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 12, 2020
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING HIGH DOWNPOUR. WIPERS REACHED THE END OF THE SEQUENCE AND STOPPED. HAD TO PULL OVER IN POURING RAIN AND HIGH TRAFFIC, CAUSING MAJOR CONCERN AND A MAJOR SAFETY EVENT.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 6, 2020
WIPER LINKAGE FAILED IN HEAVY RAIN WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE
Visibility/wiper, Jul 23, 2020
DRIVING IN POURING DOWN RAIN AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. HIGH SAFETY CONCERN.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, May 8, 2020
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN ON A HIGHWAY MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SIMPLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING IN THE UP POSITION CAUSING AN INABILITY TO SEE WHERE I WAS GOING. THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO TURN THEM BACK ON. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE I HAD TO DO MY BEST TO SAFELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY HAZARD LIGHTS ALSO FAILED TO WORK MAKING THE SITUATION EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. BOTH WIPERS AND HAZARDS WHERE PREVIOUSLY WORKING. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Feb 18, 2020
I HEARD A POP AND THEN MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT COMPLETELY IN THE RAIN. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR BUT THE WIPERS WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD NO VISABILITY WHATSOEVER. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 24, 2019
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING DOWNPOUR WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. MOTOR STILL WORK BUT WIPERS NOT MOVING.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 55MPH AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THEY GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE MOTOR MADE SOUNDS AS IF IT WAS WORKING BUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT MOVE. IT WAS RAINING AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 12, 2019
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HOME ON WEDS SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 IN A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR ON THE 696 FREEWAY IN METRO DETROIT. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, SLOWER THEN THE SPEED LIMIT BECAUSE OF THE DOWNPOUR, AND I HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE FASTEST SPEED. WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DRIVER'S WIPER HAD MOVED PAST THE WINDSHIELD SO AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE CULPRIT. I PUSHED THE WIPER BACK ONTO THE WINDSHIELD (WHILE DRIVING), BUT THE WIPERS REMAINED STATIONARY AND NO LONGER OPERATED. STILL ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE DOWNPOUR I HAD TO MANEUVER OFF THE NEAREST EXIT, SURPRISINGLY WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND PARKED IN A SUBDIVISION UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Visibility/wiper, Aug 9, 2019
MOST RECENTLY WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, AND VISIBILITY WAS EXTREMELY IMPAIRED. HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME, THEY HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS TO HELP ME GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM IN 2015, AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING IN 2014, FAILED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST IN 2016. I BOUGH A NEW CAR BECAUSE IN DIDN'T WANT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. IT IS A LEMON.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 4, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE DURING A HEAVY DOWN POUR AT NIGHT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. THEY WERE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION AND NO LONGER MOVED. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL VISIBILITY DUE TO THE RAIN WHICH COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD TO PARK MY VEHICLE FOR THE DURATION OF THE NIGHT AND WAIT TO GET IT IN THE MORNING WHILE IT WAS NO LONGER RAINING.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Visibility/wiper, Jul 26, 2019
FIRST EQUINOX OWNED - GM REPLACED ENGINE AT NO COST TO ME. THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER EQUINOX. OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX FWD 2.4 LITER ENGINE. EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; STALLING WHILE AT STOPLIGHTS, ETC.; ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY; MULTIPLE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES REPLACED; WIPER TRANSMISSION REPLACED; CLATTERING NOISE WITHIN ENGINE THAT CANNOT BE FIXED PER MECHANIC; STABLITRAK AND ABS LIGHTS ON; LIMP MODE SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE SPENT MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. GOING TO GM FOR COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. 126,600 MILES AT PRESENT. PURCHASED 9/8/2016 WITH 80,437 MILES.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2019
MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE POURING RAIN. THEY WILL NOT WORK NOW. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE 60 MILES WITHOUT THEM, IN THE RAIN. IT IS NOT THE FUSE, I CHECKED.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD @ 55 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN WITH THE WINDOW WIPERS WORKING, THE DRIVER'S WIPER MOVED PAST THE WINDSHIELD AND BECAME WEDGED AGAINST THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. WHILE DRIVING I OPENED THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND PUSHED THE WIPER BACK ON TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPERS WERE STATIONARY ON THE WINDSHIELD AND NO LONGER OPERATED. I DROVE 10 MILES IN THE POURING RAIN WITHOUT ANY WIPERS. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I COULD MOVE THE WIPERS BY HAND. I COULD HEAR A SCRAPING METAL SOUND.
Visibility/wiper, May 23, 2019
MAY 22ND 2019 IT WAS READING A LOT, AS I WAS DRIVING, MY DRIVER SIDE WIPER WENT UP AND STARTED THERE, AS THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUED WORKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I HEARD THE SNAPPING OF THE BAR. THANK GOD FOR RAINX. I ENDED UP ADJUSTING THE WIPER BLADE TO MAKE A "EURO" WIPER, THEN JUST REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION ALL TOGETHER.