Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield wipers became inoperable. The contact's wife was driving at night while it was raining. The contact stated that after inspecting and researching the cause of the failure, he discovered that a failure with the windshield wiper transmission assembly. The contact became aware that the windshield wiper transmission assembly needed to be replaced. The contact stated that he would repair the vehicle himself. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,011.
The climate controls, including the seat warmers, located on the control panel directly below the radio/stereo controls on my 2010 Chevy Equinox stopped working. As a result, the ability to control the temperature and direction of heated/cooled air was lost. I tolerated the conditions for several seasons, winter being the toughest due to temp and the need for defrost, until buying a new car (as an addition, not a replacement vehicle). As my oldest child became of age to begin driving, I've attempted to prepare the car for his driving and safety. In researching how to repair this malfunction, I came across a recall that addresses this exact problem; however, upon taking my Chevy Equinox to my local Chevy dealership, I discovered that my VIN is not on the list for this repair. …
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for the rear tire inspection, the dealer diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the timing chain; however, the failure recurred with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to Matthews-Hargreaves Chevrolet (2000 Twelve Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067) and diagnosed with rack and pinion, cylinder misfire, and catalytic converter failure. The dealer informed the contact that the rack and pinion and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the windshield wipers failed to operate as needed, and the vehicle would remain on after the key was taken out of the ignition. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and reimbursed the contact for the timing chain replacement. …
while driving in a rain storm my wipers stopped working. Had to move from 3 lanes of traffic to the side of the road with zero visibility out of my front windshield. Wipers had no power, windshield wiper module failed.
I have a 2.4 ltr Chevy equinox and the engine went out at 140000miles, no warning symbol. Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere, two days after being stuck in a rain storm, when I found out my wipers died.
As we were driving on a city street in a torrential rain storm, my windshield wipers suddenly stopped working. I pulled over to a side road, turned the car off and back on, and they still did not work. I pushed the windshield wiper lever and they would not move. I was on vacation at the time and luckily found a Chevrolet dealership nearby. They diagnosed the condition almost immediately as corrosion to the front wiper transmission. The service advisor said it was easy to diagnose because they have seen this issue happen on many Chevrolet Equinox cars. He looked up recall information and this exact problem is currently recalled only on a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (Chevrolet recall reference #25302). Since I have a 2010 Equinox, I had to pay for this repair out of pocket for $240.80. …
I have had two incidents of wiper failure on my used 2010 Chevy Equinox. I just purchased my used Equinox the end of August 2018. In about two weeks after purchase, I was driving on interstate 95 in maryland, and the wipers stopped working during a rain incident. Fortunately I made it home. I took it to the dealer where I purchased it and they said they repaired the bushings on the linkage. The 2nd incident happened in November of 2018 during a snow incident. My wife was using the Equinox to drive to the bank. It was snowing and she was using the wipers. Again the wipers stopped working! She was able to make it home and park it safely in the driveway. When she brought it home, I was able to hear the wiper motor working, but the arms were not moving. We have not used the vehicle since this last incident happened. We have had two wiper linkage failure incidents in approx. 3 months. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the defrost failed without warning. In November of 2016, the defrost failed intermittenly. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (john jones salem, 1450 in-60, salem, in, 47167, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel software needed to be replaced, and that there was no recall at the time. Due to the repair cost, the vehicle was not repaired. In January of 2017, the contact received the notification for NHTSA campaign number: 09V489000 (visibilty). The same local dealer was contacted and scheduled an appointment. Upon arrival at the dealer, the contact was informed that even though there was a recall for the existing failure and a letter was receieved, the VIN was not included in the recall. …
I was on my way to work. It started to rain, so I turned on the wipers, and they swiped a few times and stuck in the upward left position and stopped. I was on a state highway, at the time, and found it extremely difficult to see to drive. The wipers have not worked since that day. Upon checking online, I've found that this is a very common problem and happens to others exactly the same way it happened with my wipers. There was a recall on the canadian model for 2013, but have not found one for 2010 and there needs to be a recall on all of the wipers for this model. The arms on the transmission come apart and stops the wipers from working. No warning......they just stop. This is a safety hazard. And to add to the problem...... To repair it, the more appropriate option is to replace the transmission/motor assembly and that part is extremely expensive, around $300. …
Wipers stopped working, but can still hear wiper motor. After 10 minutes I found many people have to same problem. GM needs to recall these vehicles. Too many problem on GM vehicles have been burdened upon the owners. Electrical, powertrain, wipers, transmissions, etc... I have had to lay out over $5000 in the past 3 years alone due to very poor quality and design of GM transmissions on one Chevrolet and over 130 hours of diagnosing electrical problems on another Chevrolet. I have owned 17 chevrolets and pontiacs over the past 47 years (1963 -2010) and never had problems with any of them like this until the last 13 years. No wonder GM killed of Oldsmobile and Pontiac (bad mistake). If GM cared for their customers and the quality of the product they produced they would not have lost so much business to Ford and Toyota .
NHTSA investigations
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
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.
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
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.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 149 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 19% of the model year's 784 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Equinox window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Equinox window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.