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 2013 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hello I had an open recall for the wiper transmission replacement. I took my vehicle to Don Brown Chevy in st.louis missouri. They where suppose to replace the wiper transmission. Mine failed while driving. Since my car had an open recall I should of received a replacement one installed. This dealer told me they did the recall and everything was good to go. Well they lied they did not complete my recall. I had to go buy one from the local parts place and install it my self. the new design comes with a rain deflector baffle. the original one in my car still had the paint lines on the wiper transmission from the factory install. They lied about doing the recall and endangered my life.
Was driving thru Atlanta at night in a rainstorm and without any warning my passenger side wiper totally quit. The driver side wiper was all I had. I had to cautiously keep driving in the very center of Atlanta. I do have the complete motor parts as I replaced it myself after buying the part from a local GM dealer. I have had no dealer inspection yet because I just heard about the recall on the 2014 and 2015 wiper recall. this happened in April of 2021.
On Feb 14 2021 took car in to a Chevy dealership to have 2 recalls done . Tailpipe emission oxygen sensor, Front wiper transmission corrosion failure . Notice on 8/29/2021 while on a road trip needed to clear bugs off front windshield no windshield fluid was coming out , so I feel the front wiper transmission corrosion failure was not repaired . Will contact dealership to have issue checked out with a different location.
I was driving on I-495 in ma on a rainy Sunday afternoon. When my front windshield wipers stopped to my left on the windshield. I could hear the motor trying to move the wipers to no avail. I pulled over to the shoulder, shut off the engine and moved the wipers into the down position. When I re-entered my vehicle, I turned on the engine and then turned on the wipers. No good. In between rain storms I drove to a rest stop on I-90 (massachusetts turnpike) in ma where I remained for 2 hours during heavy downpours. I called aaa but they referred me to state troopers since aaa is not allowed on the turnpike. Instead of bothering the troopers, I drove as far as I could in between rain storms which got me to ct, where I stayed overnight at a hotel. My home is in another state. When I finally got to the Chevy dealership, they had to keep the vehicle overnight. …
I purchased my 2013 Equinox used with 51,000 miles on it. 2 weeks after purchase, during my first rain storm with it, I used my windshield wipers on my way to work. About 5 minutes after turning the wipers on, going about 50 miles per hour, they started jerking as they moved then just stopped in the middle of my wind shield. It was 6 in the morning during a thunderstorm. The only thing I could see was the tail lights in front of me and when lightening flashed. I was on a country road for half of the trip so there was little light to help me see through the rain; the second half of my drive was city streets with lots of other traffic which also had me quite nervous as it was pouring and I could barely see. I had to drive 30 minutes to work this way. Very scary! After work I took it to hardy Chevrolet where they diagnosed it as a broken wiper transmission. …
I was driving home in the rain and the passenger side windshield wiper stopped working suddenly. I was told by a mechanic friend that it was the motor that went out and needs to be replaced.wiper motors are supposed to last the life of the car. This is only a four year old car & it has been extremely well maintained. I've owned several cars in my lifetime that were decades old or more and none of them ever experienced this issue. There is in fact a recall on certain 2013 equinoxes and gmcs for this exact problem, yet my specific vehicle isn't included for some reason. I'm extremely upset, Chevrolet clearly manufactured faulty wipers, for this is not normal wear and tear for a 2013 vehicle, yet they refuse to take responsibility. I live in seattle where it rains almost every day, so wipers are a must. …
Driving in left lane on i75 at 70 MPH in moderate traffic. Started to rain and within seconds turned to a downpour. I switched my wipers from regular to high speed, they made 2 or 3 strokes and then quit. I couldn't see a thing. Most scared I've ever been in a vehicle. Luckily, no one in front of me braked suddenly, so I flipped on my flashers and gradually slowed and edged across the right lane onto the shoulder. Turns out the wiper transmission has several plastic ball/socket pieces, and one failed, separating the motor from the linkage. This could have caused a terrible multicar wreck. I work in the automotive industry, and am an ase master tech. I know a little about cars. In a safety-critical system like wipers, why, other than a small cost, why couldn't the linkage be designed not to separate when the ball/socket fails? …
Before recall on wipers for Chevy 2013 Equinox. Had issue with wipes. Front wipers stopped working during rain storm while the vehicle was in motion. Took vehicle into carmax dealership where vehicle was purchased, mechanics fixed issue. About a month later I recieved letter about recall. Shortly after wipers failed for a second time again during rain storm while driving. Took vehicle to local Chevy dealership where I was told, that no solution had been approved by Chevy and that I would have to pay out of pocket for repairs. Also if the repairs that they suggested were not the same as the one Chevy approves then I would not be reimbursed. I declined repairs, and tried contacting Chevy customer service. After many phone calls, between Chevy, carmax, and local dealership, nothing has been done. Chevy has said that I have voided recall by having carmax mechanics work on it. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving at an unknown speed, a loud abnormal ticking sound emitted from the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was no oil in the vehicle. The technician performed an oil change and compression test every 1,000 miles. The contact was informed that the piston in the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the vehicle was burning oil rapidly. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, the vehicle failed to shift gears properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was repaired with unknown parts. …
I went out to start my car Monday morning March 21,2016. I turned on the wipers to because my windows was foggy..as I waited for the windows to clear ..I noticed that my wipers would not come on. I tryed all setting from low-high and even mist setting. They still would not work. I got out of my car and heard a whining noise like the motor was running in wiper blade.I then tried the wipers again and they wouldn't move...I got a estimate from the dealership where I got my car from...they told me it would cost $202 to fix.. They told me it was the wiper transmission linkage that needs to be replaced.this wiper issue definitely needs to be a recall..is a safety hazard...I'm glad I was at home and my car was sitting still and it wasn't raining..but if it had been raining that would have a been a major safety hazard..a recall definitely needs to be called immediately..
Related recalls
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 155 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, 21% of the model year's 751 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Equinox window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-582 (motor, Aug 4, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Equinox window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 9% 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.