2012 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 685 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 16 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
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
Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsOct 19, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM" (TPMS). THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.
UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH. THE RESULTING CRASH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN ALSO RESULT IN PREMATURE OR IRREGULAR WEAR, POOR HANDLING, AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.
GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Campaign 11V511000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: visibility/wiper
121 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2020
WIPERS STOPPED WHEN IT WAS RAINING BAD
Engine, Visibility/wiper, Mar 28, 2020
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAVY DOWNPOUR AND THE CAR IS USING A LOT OF OIL
Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2020
LEAVING HOME THIS MORNING FOR WORK AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD NOT COME ON! YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH IN A YEAR..
Visibility/wiper, Feb 16, 2020
ON JANUARY 10, 2020, I WAS DRIVING ON HWY. 97 TO BEND, OR, IN HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WIPERS SUDDEN STOPPED. THEY WERE IN THE FULL WIPE POSITION, AND THEY WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AGAIN. I TURNED THEM ON AND OFF, AND MOVED THEM BACK TO THE REST POSITION, BUT THEY WOULD NOT MOVE. THE RAIN WAS TOO INTENSE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THEM, SO I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THIS WAS A RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS HAD I STILL BEEN TRAVELING IN HEAVY SNOW THROUGH THE MT. HOOD PASSES. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER IN BEND THE FOLLOWING MORNING, AND THEY REPAIRED IT, STATING THAT THE MOTOR HAD FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR, THOUGH IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY OR RECALL. THEY DID NOT MENTION THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH WIPERS IN THESE VEHICLES, SOMETHING I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE. IT SEEMS LIKE CHEVROLET MAY BE PUTTING THE OWNERS OF ITS VEHICLES AT RISK. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING.
Power train, Visibility/wiper, Feb 11, 2020
FRONT TRANSMISSION ALL WHEEL DRIVE HAS NOISE SIMILAR TO BAD BEARING. AT AROUND 40 TO SIXTY MPH THE TRANSMISSION JERKS . HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. 2 YEARS AGO
Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2020
I USE MY WIPERS ON LOW WITHOUT PROBLEMS. I HAD TO TURN ON HIGH WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE FIRST SWIPE THEY STOPPED WORKING. THE MOTOR CAN BE HEARD BUT THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2019
ON DEC. 14,2019 WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY PARKWAY IN NEW JERSEY IN THE POURING RAIN, MY WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, MADE ME VIOLENTLY SWERVE OFF OF THE ROAD AND INJURE MY RIGHT KNEE. I AM SUFFERING A KNEE CONTUSION AND POSSIBLE LIGAMENT DAMAGE DUE TO THE SUDDEN IMPACT. I REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT ON DEC. 16, 2019 AND AFTER REVIEWING IT ONLINE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE LISTED THAT THERE WASN'T AN INJURY REPORTED; WHICH IS FALSE INFORMATION. I MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I INJURED MY KNEE FROM THE DIRECT MALFUNCTION OF THE WIPERS. I HAVE SINCE VISITED THE ER AND MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURINGTHE DAY IN HEAVY RAIN. WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH WIPERS STOPPED IN THE UP POSITION. I TRIED TURNING THE WIPERS OFF AND BACK ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I TURNED THE WIPERS OFF AND FINISHED THE DRIVE HOME ' FORTUNATELY ONLY A MILE AWAY. COULD BARELY SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BUT DROVE SLOWLY WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON.WHEN I GOT HOME, I LOCATED THE FUSE TO CHECK. IT WAS OK. I THEN TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS WERE NOT MOVING. I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO GET IT FIXED ' THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS NOT RAINING. FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME BUT IF IT HAD BEEN RAINING OR SNOWING, IT WOULD HAVE BEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT SAFELY TO THE GARAGE TO GET FIXED. IN MY 50+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS AS A FAILURE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS IF DRIVING AWAY FROM HOME..
Visibility/wiper, Dec 17, 2019
ON A SNOWY DAY, MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. FORTUNATELY I WAS LESS THEN A MILE FROM THE HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR WITH A USED UNIT BUT LESS THAN A MONTH LATER DURING ANOTHER SNOWY/ICY DAY, THE WIPERS BROKE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING LEAVING ME TEMPORARILY STRANDED.. MY MECHANIC JURY RIGGED A BOLT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING YET ANOTHER WIPER MOTOR. I'VE NEVER BOTHER REPORTING THIS THOUGH I HEAR NOW THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND CONSIDER THIS TO BE A A COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE RISK BEING A KNOWN CONDITION.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE INJURED HER KNEE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ABRUPTLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-570-384-6752. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,319.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 11, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE BUSY HIGHWAY 1 NEAR PRINCETON, NJ, IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, CAUSING VISIBILITY TO BE NEARLY NON-EXISTENT AND ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER. THE WIPERS HAVE NOT WORKED AT ALL SINCE, CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. I HAD TO RECEIVE A TOW TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WIPERS FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING; HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 2, 2019
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY IN A LIGHT RAIN. I CAN HEAR THE MOTOR WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON BUT THE WIPER BLADES DON'T MOVE. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEARS AND/OR VINS IN CANADA FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY MODEL YEAR OR VIN #. THE CANADA RECALL MENTIONS CORROSION OF THE WIPER ASSEMBLY FROM ROAD SALT AND IMPROPER DRAINAGE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 12, 2019
DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. SWITCHED WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM INTERMITTENT TO HIGH. WIPERS CLEARED WINDSHIELD ONCE, THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED ALL THE WAY UP, LEAVING ME COMPLETELY BLIND IN THE DARK IN A HEAVY STORM ON A BUSY FREEWAY. WIPERS WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION. EVENTUALLY PULLED OVER, CHECKED FUSES/RELAYS, ETC. COULD HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR WORKING. PULLED OFF COWL AND FOUND WIPER MOTOR HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE LINKAGE. WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY FIX THIS BY RUNNING A BOLT THROUGH THIS CONNECTION POINT.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED OPERATING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. MIKE CASTRUCCI CHEVROLET (1099 LILA AVE, MILFORD, OH) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2019
DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH WIPERS ON HIGH IN TRAFFIC..THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED MID WAY ACROSS WIND SHIELD. ..ALMOST WRECKED. PULLED OVER TO SIDE AND WAITED FOR STORM TO PASS..
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2019
WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY IN A STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING FOR MY WIFE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, MY 9 YEAR OLD SON AND 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE IN THE CAR. THE 2013 EQUINOX HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING BUT IT SEEMS LIKE CHEVY IS WAITING FOR A CASUALTY BEFORE DOING THE RIGHT THING. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES OF THIS HAPPENING. HTTP://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/2012/WINDOWS_WINDSHIELD/WIPER_STOPPED_WORKING.SHTML PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
Electrical system, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Oct 5, 2019
THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT SIDE GOES ON AND OFF, THE STEREO TURNES OFF WHILE LISTENING TO IT AND THE SIGNAL LIGHTS DON'T WORK WHEN THE RADIO TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN ALSO THE REAR VIEW CAMERA TURNS OFF AT THE SAME TIME THE RADIO DOES. THE FRONT AND REAR WIPERS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. THE ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR COMES ON AND OFF. ALSO ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 25, 2019
LATE EVENING, I WAS DRIVING IN A BUSY SUBURBAN STREET WHER THE SPEED LIMIT IS 35MPH. IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY, SOON AFTER START RAINING HAVILY. I SWITCHED THE WINSHIELD WIPER TO HIGH SPEED AND THE WINSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.I COULD NO LONGER SEE WHERE I WAS GOING AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I MANAGE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP.. PLASTIC BUSHING CAME OFF FROM WINDSHIELD WIPER RAILING. THE CAR HAS 61,000 MILES.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 18, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ABRUPTLY STOPPED WORKING. I HAD THE WIPERS IN THE HIGHEST SPEED SETTING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES NEXT TO US WHEN THIS HAPPENED - WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE STORM TO LIGHTEN AS VISIBILITY VERY QUICKLY WENT TO ZERO WITHOUT BOTH FRONT WIPERS WORKING. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS STILL WORKING BUT THE LINKAGE OR TRANSMISSION HAD DISCONNECTED AT ONE OF THE BALL JOINTS.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 25, 2019
BOTH WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A HEAVY RAIN ON FREEWAY. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNER ON CHEVY EQUINOX TOO
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, GOING 60 MPH IN THE PNW. IT WAS DUMPING RAIN AND I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WHEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING. I HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD IN THE BACKSEAT AND ALL I COULD SEE WAS ALL THE CARS AHEAD OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. MY WINDSHIELD WAS GLOWING RED FROM THE BREAK LIGHTS. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I DIDN'T CRASH MY CAR OR HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS SO CLOSE TO THEM. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW AND HAD TO LITERALLY STICK HALF THE UPPER PORTION OF MY BODY OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE A LITTLE BIT. THANK GOODNESS, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER 4 LANES (AFTER FORCING MY WAY THROUGH, I HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE). EVERYONE WAS HONKING AT ME LIKE I WAS THE BIGGEST JERK, BUT IF I DIDN'T MOVE OVER I WAS GOING TO KILL US OR SOMEONE ELSE WHO WAS DRIVING. I AM SERIOUSLY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. NOT SHOCKING, I LOOKUP THE ISSUE ONLINE AND CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING. NOTHING! THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME CHEVY HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS EQUINOX HAVING PROBLEMS. IT ALSO HAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND NOW IT DIDN'T JUST GIVE ME A HUGE MECHANICAL BILL, IT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE AND MY SONS. I'M SO DEFEATED AT THIS POINT. THIS CAR IS NOT RELIABLE FOR SOMEONE WITH CHILDREN OR ANYONE WHO IS LIVING IN THE PNW WHERE IT RAINS CONSTANTLY. SUPER THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT TIME DURING LIGHT RAIN. WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH WIPERS STOPPED IN THE UP POSITION. I TRIED TURNING THE WIPERS OFF AND BACK ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I TURNED THE WIPERS OFF AND GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION TO GET UNDER SOME LIGHT. I TRIED TO MOVE THE WIPERS AND THEY WENT INTO THEIR RESTING POSITION. I THEN TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS WERE NOT MOVING. FORTUNATELY, THE RAIN STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TRIP HOME. JUST A FEW DAYS EARLIER, I DROVE THROUGH A VERY HEAVY RAIN STORM AND THANK THE LORD THAT THE WIPERS DIDN'T QUIT AT THAT TIME. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHERE I WAS GOING.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2019
AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK DURING A THUNDERSTORM, MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THEY WORKED MAYBE FOR 2 SECONDS AND STOPPED RIGHT IN MY LINE OF SIGHT. MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT THIS TIME.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2019
IT STARTED TO RAIN HEAVILY I TURNED ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY CAME ON WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE AND STOPPED WORKING LEAVING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS TERRIFYING. DURING RESEARCH IT SEEMS THE SAME COMPLAINT OVER AND OVER WIPERS STOP WORKING LEAVING YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN A DOWNPOUR