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2015 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

426 reports with mileage · 253 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 250 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 227 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

250 reports
Clear category filter
66,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING DURING A RAIN STORM. THEY JUST FROZE HALFWAY THOUGH A SWEEP ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THEY STILL DO NOT WORK AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11217908

47,245 miles · Jun 2, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAIN AND THE WIPER STOPPED WORKING. AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 2 MONTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11217395

78,489 miles · May 31, 2019
Visibility/wiper

ON MAY 31, 2019 WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE UPMOST POSITION CAUSING ZERO VISABILITY ON A BUSY ROAD. AFTER GETTING SAFELY OFF THE ROAD I TRIED MOVING THE WIPER BLADES AND CAN HEAR CLUNKING WHEN THEY MOVE. THE LINKAGE HAS SEPARATED AT THE BUSHING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS…

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ON MAY 31, 2019 WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE UPMOST POSITION CAUSING ZERO VISABILITY ON A BUSY ROAD. AFTER GETTING SAFELY OFF THE ROAD I TRIED MOVING THE WIPER BLADES AND CAN HEAR CLUNKING WHEN THEY MOVE. THE LINKAGE HAS SEPARATED AT THE BUSHING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY GM.

NHTSA ODI #11217132

87,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THIS WAS DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM AND VISIBILITY WAS COMPLETELY REDUCED TO NOTHING WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A SEMI AND SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES AS THERE WAS NO LANE TO PULL OVER IN.

NHTSA ODI #11210731

75,500 miles · May 18, 2019
Visibility/wiper

ON MAY 10 2019, WHILE ON VACATION, I WAS DRIVING THRU RAIN ON A 4 LANE HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD. MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE UPMOST POSITION. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SAFELY AS I COULD, WHILE TURNING THE WIPERS ON AND OFF WITH NO RESPONSE. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING ALONE, I SAT AND COLLECTED MYSELF WHILE WAIT…

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ON MAY 10 2019, WHILE ON VACATION, I WAS DRIVING THRU RAIN ON A 4 LANE HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD. MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE UPMOST POSITION. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SAFELY AS I COULD, WHILE TURNING THE WIPERS ON AND OFF WITH NO RESPONSE. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING ALONE, I SAT AND COLLECTED MYSELF WHILE WAITING FOR THE RAIN TO SUBSIDE. WHEN I COULD I GOT OUT AND GAVE THE WIPERS A PUSH , HOPING THEY WERE "STUCK". THEY WENT DOWN AND STAYED . WHILE THE RAIN HAD SLOWED BUT NOT STOPPED, I MADE MY WAY SLOWLY ABOUT 5 MILES TO AN AUTO ZONE. THERE THEY CHECKED MY FUSES AND RELAY SWITCHES WHICH CHECKED OUT FINE. I WAS 4 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME AND WITHIN A LARGE WEATHER FRONT. THE AUTO ZONE PEOPLE ADVISED ME TO "RAINX" MY WINDSHIELD , WHICH I DID. I THEN DROVE 36 MILES TO THE NEAREST MOTEL IN WEST POINT MISS. I HAD TO STAY THE NIGHT AS THE WEATHER FRONT PASSED. AFTER WATCHING THE WEATHER RADAR, I LEFT WEST POINT MISS. AT 4:45 A.M. ON SATURDAY MORNING TO ATTEMPT TO MISS THE NEXT RAIN EVENT PREDICTED TO ARRIVE AROUND 9:30. THANKFULLY I ARRIVED HOME AT 9;00 A.M. DURING SPRINKLING RAIIN. THE AUTO ZONE EMPLOYEES HAD TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2015 CHEVY EQUINOX AND UPON ARRIVING HOME , I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP. MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS IN THE RECALL. BUT UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND MY PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MANY 2015 EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS ANY TIME THE WIPERS ARE NEEDED IN DRIVING, TO NOT BE ABLE TO RELY UPON THEM IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. I FEEL GM MOTORS IS TAKING THEIR CAR OWNERS SAFETY VERY LIGHTLY. SINCE I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES SINCE 1972, AND THIS BEING THE FIRST GM PRODUCT I HAVE EVER OWNED. I WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO TAKE GM'S LACK OF CONCERN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN PURCHASING MY NEXT VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11208439

77,221 miles · May 17, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE IN MOTION AND DRIVING DURING A RAIN STORM, I HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET STUCK AND STOP WORKING. NOTHING COLLIDED WITH THEM, THEY SIMPLY STOPPED ON THEIR OWN. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR THAT OPERATED THE WIPERS STILL FUNCTIONING, BUT THE WIPERS THEMSELVES WOULDN'T MOVE. I SEARCHED ON GOOGL…

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WHILE IN MOTION AND DRIVING DURING A RAIN STORM, I HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET STUCK AND STOP WORKING. NOTHING COLLIDED WITH THEM, THEY SIMPLY STOPPED ON THEIR OWN. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR THAT OPERATED THE WIPERS STILL FUNCTIONING, BUT THE WIPERS THEMSELVES WOULDN'T MOVE. I SEARCHED ON GOOGLE AND ON YOUTUBE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR MODEL AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #11208171

93,189 miles · May 13, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE BAY BRIDGE, NEAR BALTIMORE, MD. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING! I WAS DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM ON THE HIGHWAY, AND LUCKILY FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO STICK MY ARM OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND MANUALLY MOVE THE WIPER, BACK AND FORTH, ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE TRAFFIC WAS TERRIBLE AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES …

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WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE BAY BRIDGE, NEAR BALTIMORE, MD. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING! I WAS DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM ON THE HIGHWAY, AND LUCKILY FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO STICK MY ARM OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND MANUALLY MOVE THE WIPER, BACK AND FORTH, ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE TRAFFIC WAS TERRIBLE AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE I COULD WORK MY WAY TO AN EXIT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NAPA REPAIR SHOP AND THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN. UP TO THIS POINT, I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO LEWES, DE. WHERE I WAS HEADED INITIALLY, USING MY LEFT ARM TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD VISABLE. THE RAIN STOPPED ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COASTAL TOWING, INC. TO GET IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY. THE OWNER THERE TOLD MY THE CHEVY HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DESIGN ON THE ASSEMBLY (2-PART) AND ARE RE-ENGINEERING A SINGLE PART ASSEMBLY. IT COST ME $350.98 TO GET IT FIXED! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, OR WORSE, KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THIS IMMEDIATELY!! (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11207345

55,000 miles · May 11, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. ALMOST WRECKED . THIS HAPPENED ON 5/10/2019.

NHTSA ODI #11207007

97,800 miles · May 9, 2019
Visibility/wiper

TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE DURING A TORRENTIAL RAIN STORM. THE WIPERS WERE ON HIGH SPEED. THE WIPERS STARTED TO RUN ERRATICALLY. BOUNCED A FEW TIMES ON THE WINDSHIELD BREAKING IT. THEN THE WIPERS CAME TO REST HANGING OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE OF AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD BE ANALYZED. DUE TO LUCK …

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TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE DURING A TORRENTIAL RAIN STORM. THE WIPERS WERE ON HIGH SPEED. THE WIPERS STARTED TO RUN ERRATICALLY. BOUNCED A FEW TIMES ON THE WINDSHIELD BREAKING IT. THEN THE WIPERS CAME TO REST HANGING OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE OF AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD BE ANALYZED. DUE TO LUCK OR DRIVING SKILL THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE RESULTED IN NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AT MY COST.

NHTSA ODI #11206605

50,000 miles · May 9, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNPOUR, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. DRIVING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY IN A DOWNPOUR WITH NO WIPERS IS DANGEROUS AND I ALMOST CRASHED A FEW TIMES. THE MOTOR WAS FINE. IT WAS THE ASSEMBLY TRANSMISSION THAT KEPT POPPING OFF THE MOTOR THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED, THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME, IT S…

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WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNPOUR, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. DRIVING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY IN A DOWNPOUR WITH NO WIPERS IS DANGEROUS AND I ALMOST CRASHED A FEW TIMES. THE MOTOR WAS FINE. IT WAS THE ASSEMBLY TRANSMISSION THAT KEPT POPPING OFF THE MOTOR THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED, THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME, IT SLIPPED OFF SO EASILY, IT'S NUTS THAT IT LASTED THE 2 YEARS I'VE HAD THE CAR. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS IN CAN, WHY NOT IN THE US? I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE COULD HAVE CRASHED AND SERIOUSLY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. AGAIN, THE PART DID NOT BREAK. IT SIMPLE MALFUNCTIONED. IT'S A BALL/JOINT TYPE SYSTEM. MUST BE BETTER. DO BETTER CHEVY. I DEFEND YOUR BRAND DAILY. DON'T MAKE ME REGRET IT. JUST DO BETTER. THEN I CALL CHEVY ABOUT REPLACING - I'M TOLD IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $600. TO REPLACE A FAULTY PART?! THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD VW JETTA FOR 10 YEARS (14 YEAR OLD CAR) BEFORE I SOLD IT AND DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE WIPER BLADES OR ASSEMBLY ONCE. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS A THING UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. VERY SAD. I HOPE YOU RECALL THIS PART ASAP. PEOPLE CAN SERIOUSLY BE HURT. TRY DRIVING IN A DOWNPOUR AND HAVE NO WIPERS, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11206586

Official recalls

2

22V165000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Mar 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

15V666000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 16, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA19005 · Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative

Opened Dec 13, 2019 · Closed Nov 28, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility/wiper; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Visibility

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

Visibility/wiper

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

RQ18002 · Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure

Opened Nov 2, 2018 · Closed Dec 19, 2019

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility/wiper; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Visibility

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

Visibility/wiper

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

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