2014 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 548 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 23 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, motorMar 17, 2022
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.
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 22V165000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
548 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 23, 2018
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 DURING A HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. BECAUSE OF THIS SHE WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR HOME AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2018
WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A RAIN STORM, I HEARD A NOISE FROM MY WIPERS AND THEN THEY STOPPED WORKING. THE MOTOR CAN BE HEARD RUNNING, BUT THE BLADES DO NOT MOVE. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT SEE. AFTER RESEARCHING, THE LINKAGE HAS BROKEN OFF AND THE WIPER BLADES WILL NOT MOVE. I CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY IN RAIN/SNOW AND I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAD BOTH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AS WELL.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2018
SECOND OCCURANCE -- BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER DO NOT MOVE, MOVE VERY SLOW AND STOP MID-WINDSHIELD. THIS PART WAS REPLACED WITH AND OEM PART JUST OVER 1 YEAR AGO AND IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN.
Wheels, Dec 16, 2018
I ASKED MECHANIC TO ROTATE MY TIRES. THEY REPORTED THAT A MAJORITY OF LUG NUTS HAD DEEP CRACKS AND METAL WAS SEPARATING ON THE LUG NUTS. ONE LUG NUT ON FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS FROZEN ON AND SHEARED IN HALF WHEN ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE. I HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT IF I DROVE THE CAR IN THAT CONDITION IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE TIRE IF I GOT A FLAT. ON 12/18/2018 I RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I CHANGE ALL THE LUG NUTS DUE TO CRACKS. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THE WRENCH THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WOULD NOT FIT THE BROKEN LUG NUT AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE ON THE ROAD. THE BROKE THE STUD IN DRILLING OUT THE LUG NUT. THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO 6 HOURS LABOR $720, 20 LUG NUTS $179.80, ONE STUD $5.99 PLUS TAX FOR $937 TOTAL. I BELIEVE THEIR IS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE LUG NUTS. THEY ARE MADE FROM TWO TYPES OF METAL THAT WITH USE APPEAR TO START TO SEPARATE WITH LARGE CRACKS IN THE CHROME METAL ON THE AXIS WHERE THE TWO METALS APPEAR TO JOIN. IN MY SITUATION IT WOULD HAVE POSED A DEFINITE ROAD HAZARD IF I HAD ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE TIRE AND THE BOLT SHEARED IN HALF ALONG THE AXIS OF WHERE THE METALS JOINED. I WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT IN A SITUATION WHERE IS WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED AS A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WOULD HAVE FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 15, 2018
WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON RAINY NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAIT FOR RAIN TO STOP
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PCV VALVE WAS COLLECTING MOISTURE, WHICH FROZE AND BLEW OUT THE MAIN SEAL. THE DEALER (BOOKWALTER CHEVROLET BUICK, 335 S SHERIDAN RD, STANTON, MI 48888) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PCV VALVE AND MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 10, 2018
THE AIRFLOW FROM MY DEFROSTER VENTS STOPPED WORKING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING STILL WORK BUT THE AIR FLOWS ONLY THROUGH THE FRONT FACING VENTS. I CANNOT DEFROST OR DEFOG MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WHEN NECESSARY. I HAVE TO KEEP A TOWEL IN THE CAR IN CASE I NEED TO WIPE IT OFF. IT MUST BE A BROKEN DIRECTIONAL SWITCH/DAMPER BUT IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO GET IT FIXED YET.
Engine, Visibility/wiper, Dec 6, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING IN A BLIZZARD WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ZEIGLER BUICK OF LINCOLNWOOD (LOCATED AT 6900 MCCORMICK BLVD, LINCOLNWOOD, IL 60712, (847) 674-9000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2018
WHEN RUNNING THE VEHICLE AND TURN HEAT ON WHILE DRIVE EXHAUST FUMES COME THROUGH VENT MAKE DRIVERS VERY SICK AND WHOOZIE AND AT TIMES SICK TO STOMACH.
Engine, Nov 21, 2018
WHEN AT STOPS CAR WOULD STALL. NOW BEING TOLD CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR ISSUE. I NOTICED MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 20, 2018
THE WIPER TRANSMISSION BUSHING FAILED.... THE FAILED BUSHING ATTACHES THE WIPER MOTOR TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON A HIGHWAY ( I-380) ...THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A WINTER STORM CREATING POOR VISIBILITY AND A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 20, 2018
YOU HAVE THE EQUINOX LISTED AS HAVING ZERO RECALLS. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. I WAS CONTACTED BY MAIL ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE FRONT WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY (CANADA ONLY). IF SOME OF THESE CANADIAN PARTS HAVE MADE IT ON TO US MODELS THEN THE SAME FAILURE WILL HAPPEN. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I JUST READ ON THIS SITE THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED. I WOULD FEEL TERRIBLE IF SOMEONES WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING A STORM AND THEY OR THEIR CHILDREN WERE HURT OR EVEN KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO WIPER FAILURE AND I KNEW ABOUT IT. I AM UPLOADING PHOTOS OF THE NOTIFICATION I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL IN THE HOPES THAT GM ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT THE WIPER FAILURE CAN AND IS HAPPENING TO US MODELS AS WELL.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 15, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A RAINY AFTERNOON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS WENT ENTIRELY TO THE LEFT OFF THE WINDSHIELD. I PULLED OVER, PLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT THE RESTING POSITION AND ATTEMPTED TO GET THE WIPERS WORKING AGAIN. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE RESTING POSITION.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 9, 2018
FIRST TWO DAYS OF HAVING VEHICLE WITH 36K MILES AND I'M AT A RED LIGHT AND THE THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL THE LIGHT WERE ON AND THE GAS NEEDLE NEVER MOVED. I HAD TO CUT CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. AT THIS POINT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SHUT OF IF I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I GOOGLED MY ISSUE AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY BY PUTTING CAR IN NEUTRAL EVERY TIME I HAD TO STOP. A CHIP WAS REPLACED. NOW I'M ALMOST AT 75K MILES AND THE STABILITRAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND SOMETIMES WITH A LOSS OF POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 5 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE. WAITED FOUR HOURS FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ALL LIGHTS ARE OFF AND TO DRIVE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. THIS OCCURS IF I'M TURNING OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. SOMETIMES EVEN AFTER WAITING 15 SECONDS TO RESTART CAR, IT HAS TROUBLE TURNING OVER. I LET SIT FOR ANOTHER 15 SECONDS AND IT'S FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINS ON BUT WILL BE OFF IN THE MORNING. LOSING POWER ON A CONGESTED 6 LANE HIGHWAY WOULD NOT BE GOOD BUSINESS FOR CHEVROLET.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 9, 2018
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAINSTORM IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON I-76 WESTBOUND EAST OF AKRON. MY WIFE GOT IN A NEAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT SEE AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WAITING FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. WENT ON-LINE TO SEE THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. HAD TO BUY THE LINKAGE AT THE DEALER AND THE PARTS GUY SAID THAT THIS PART IS IN STOCK BECAUSE IT IS COMMON TO BE REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 7, 2018
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2014 EQUINOX DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM WHEN THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED. SHE WAS ON I90 HEADING BACK TO NEW YORK FROM A CONFERENCE IN MASSACHUSETTS. SHE IS LUCKY SHE DID NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS IN A HEAVY DOWN POUR. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT HOME ON A FLATBED AS IT CONTINUED TO RAIN. ONCE THE CAR WAS HOME I REMOVED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION COVER AND FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINT THAT CONNECTS THE MOTOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FELL APART. SINCE I NEED THE CAR I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT WIPER TRANSMISSION FROM A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. I CALLED GM TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL...
Visibility/wiper, Nov 6, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE WIPERS QUIT WITH THE LEFT WIPER RIGHT IN MY LINE OF VISION. I TRIED TURNING THEM OFF AND ON AND HAD TO STOP AT A GAS STATION BECAUSE IT WAS POURING RAIN AT THE TIME. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE WIPERS WITH NO LUCK. I HAD TO CONTINUE TO MY DESTINATION IN POURING RAIN WITH NO WIPERS. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO MAKE IT WITHOUT A CRASH TAKING PLACE. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR OF THE WIPERS AT CHAMPION CHEVROLET IN THE AMOUNT OF $385.45. NOW I HAVE LEARNED THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF A RECALL. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH REIMBURSEMENT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WITH NO WARNING AND HAD ALMOST POTENTIALLY CAUSED A CRASH WHICH MEANT THAT THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WITHOUT THE FUNCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS HAD TO BE APPLIED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED .THE DEALER AUTONATION CHEVROLET (HIGHWAY 6, 8100 S TEXAS 6, HOUSTON, TX 77083, (281) 406-3559) WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A RAINY DOWNPOUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS AND THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY SO THE FUNCTION WAS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE FAILURE WHEN THERE WAS INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALER DANIELS CHEVROLET (365 E MAIN ST, SWAINSBORO, GA 30401, (478) 268-4052) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THEY ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2018
THE FIRST TIME, MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I TRIED TO OPERATE MY WIPERS AND THEY DID NOT WORK. I HAD THE ENTIRE WIPER TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND WITHIN 5 MONTHS, THEY STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, MID WIPE, DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET, IN THE RAIN.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Oct 20, 2018
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY SMALL LURCHING EVRYTIME VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. LURCHING PROGRESSED TO LARGE MOVEMENT. CAR TO MECHANIC COMPUTER INDICATED A SENSOR ISSUE. HAD THIS REPLACED. 1 WEEK LATER EVERYTHING REPEATED MECHANIC CHANGES OTHER SENSOR. CAR FINE FOR 2 MONTHS ALTHOUGH ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN OFF AND ON, COMPUTER CONTINUES TO SAY SENSOR. ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AGAIN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY SIGNIFICANT RETURN TO LURCHING AND THEN CAR STALLS OUT . NEW TERRIBLE ENGINE NOISE. WAITING FOR MECHANIC TO HAVE AVAILABILITY
Visibility/wiper, Oct 4, 2018
DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN MY WIPERS JUST STOPPED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 26, 2018
I WAS COMING HOME FROM RUNNING ERRANDS WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN HEAVILY. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. IT WAS ONE OF THE SCARIEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED TO THE SIDE, HOWEVER, IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR MOVING AND A FASTER SPEED I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, I AM READING COUNTLESS STORIES OF EQUINOX OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION HAPPEN - THIS IS HORRIBLE AND CHEVY NEEDS TO STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND RECALL THE WIPER TRANSMISSIONS ON ALL OF THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 25, 2018
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON A 2 LANE LOCAL ROAD, WHILE THE WIPERS WERE IN USE, THEY STOPPED WORKING IN MID-SWIPE. I HEARD A SOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED. BOTH WIPERS WERE STUCK AND INOPERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER STOPPING, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE WIPERS TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION, BUT ONLY WITH SOME EFFORT. THE REAR WIPER WORKS FINE. THERE IS NO FUNCTION AT ALL ON THE FRONT WIPERS. THE FLUID SPRAY IS STILL FUNCTIONING, BUT THE WIPERS WILL NOT MOVE. I AM DISMAYED TO SEE THAT CHEVROLET IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS A MULTI-YEAR RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE IN CANADA, BUT ONLY HAS A RECALL ON MODEL YEAR 2013 IN THE US. MINE IS A 2014 WITH 79,000 MILES. EVEN MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE SHOP IS FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE OF THE ROD CORRODING AND BREAKING, THUS RENDERING THE WIPERS INOPERABLE AND LEAVING DRIVERS IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, AS THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AS WE ARE USING THE WIPERS INCLEMENT WEATHER. EVERY DRIVER ON THE ROAD SHOULD BE CONCERNED.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 22, 2018
BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL 2017 63000 MILES, WINDSHIELD WHIPERS MOTOR WENT OUT FEB 2018. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THEY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT TILL IT STOPPED. WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP SERVICE CENTER WAS INFORMED THE MOTOR WENT OUT.