RoadVitals

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Feb 9, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 396 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Feb 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that moisture was leaking from the panoramic sunroof. On multiple occasions, the contact stated that the floor of the vehicle was soaked with moisture upon entering the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle was flooded, and that moisture had accumulated up to the ankles. Moisture was also leaking onto the contact's head from the panoramic sunroof while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on several occasions where attempts to repair the vehicle were performed; however, the failure persisted after each repair. After the latest visit, the contact was informed that mold had grown inside the vehicle due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

NHTSA ID
11570953
Incident
Jan 28, 2023
Mileage
36,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 25, 2023

The sun roof shade is inoperable. The sunshade retracts, but does not go back into the roof so the whole shade hangs down. This completely blocks the view of the driver out the back window and is a severe safety risk. Even when the sunshade is "closed" the material hangs down, continuing to block the drivers view out of the back window. The shade has come off the tracks and unglued. The issue has been confirmed as inoperable and an internal fault in the roof shade assembly by a Chevrolet dealership and needing to be replaced completely. I have taken it to several other shops around my city, and have been informed that this is a common problem that is being referred back to dealerships for fixing. There was no prior warning sign, and my car has been experiencing this issue since July 2023.

NHTSA ID
11551825
Incident
Jul 1, 2023
Visibility
Filed May 19, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the panoramic moon roof failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to fix the vehicle. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID
11522832
Incident
Aug 15, 2022
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 7, 2021

After being in a severe accident w/ another 2018 equinox I purchased a used 2018 equinox w/ 10k miles on it . saved my life 1x - i was happy with the car. In Dec 2019 my front passenger headlight went out. Still under warranty I had the dealer replace the bulb. In late December 2020 my front passenger headlight went out again. I was told it was over $400 to fix. This was "replacing the lightbulb". I decided to purchase my own lightbulb from a reputable source. The problem is not the lightbulb but instead the ballast or the wiring. I have NEVER had to replace a lightbulb in any of my cars before let alone 2 in two years. Chevy told me that I was out of luck because I was 2 weeks after the bulb under warranty was replaced... REALLY? So now I am without a front headlight and not willing to pay to have this repaired since it is obviously a manufacturers defect. Chevy has NOT been helpful and neither has my local dealership. My safety is being put at risk because I can not see 1/2 of the road with 1 headlight. Cars can only see 1/2 of my car oncoming. There have been no warning lights etc.

NHTSA ID
11428176
Incident
Dec 28, 2020
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 2021

I was driving 55 mph heading to a friends for the weekend with another one of my friends and my dog. It started raining and it was scaring my dog to see the rain drops on the sunroof so I closed the shade. About 15 minutes later there was a loud constant sound almost like a warning so I looked at my dash, radio ect to see what was going on and about 3-5 minutes after the loud constant whining sound started there was a loud boom!! sounded like a bomb or gunshot. I pulled over and got out to look and found a hole in my sunroof. By looking at it you can totally see that the pressure or blast was from the inside as the glass on the sunroof was pushed outward. I took this to a GM dealer and the service manager was rude and kept saying it was from something in the roadway which it was NOT!! The road was clear and it was still light out. Besides what was that sound from then??? This is unsafe and the outcome could have turned out way worse.

NHTSA ID
11427504
Incident
Jul 30, 2021
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jul 7, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side front seats were designed to be too low which caused a blind spot on the front passenger’s side when the contact was in the front driver’s seat. The contact drove over a flower bed at the park due to the front passenger’s side blind spot visibility issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ID
11423765
Incident
Jul 4, 2021
Mileage
20,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS EMITTING AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND SHE WAS HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO MOLD WHICH CAUSED HER CONGESTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CONTACT NHTSA SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFROSTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11400169
Incident
Mar 8, 2021
Mileage
30,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 4, 2021

THE WIPERS ON THIS CAR HAVE NEVER BEEN RIGHT. I HAD THEM LOOKED AT OCT 2018. NOW THEY STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. IF YOU GOOGLE IT, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE SINCE 2000. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!

NHTSA ID
11394620
Incident
Jan 30, 2021
Mileage
56,395 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 4, 2021

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11386353
Incident
Oct 2, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2020

SAT 12/05/2020, 0745 HRS. WEATHER: SNOW/SLUSH LOCATION ROUTE1 S/B NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA PROBLEM: WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING : WHILE DRIVING TO MERGE ONTO I-295 S, WIPER STOPPED WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, I QUICKLY MADE EMERGENCY STOP RESULTED IN FRONT PASSENGER TIRE GOT BLOWN DUE TO HITTING THE CURB SIDEWAY, THANK GOD I WAS GOING BELOW SPEED LIMIT OR OTHERWISE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED TILL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS GOT THERE AND TOWED MY VEHICLE, I CONSIDER THAT SAFETY ISSUE AND I THANK GOD AND RESPONDERS FOR THEIR HELP I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND I FOUND RECALL FOR OLDER MODELS BUT NOT FOR THIS YEAR OR VIN!

NHTSA ID
11378038
Incident
Dec 5, 2020
Mileage
20,200 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 29, 2020

WINDSHIELD BECOMES FOGGY EASILY WHEN TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE CHANGES (TOO COLD) BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT CLEAR

NHTSA ID
11351976
Incident
Aug 29, 2020
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 10, 2019

USING NAVIGATION WITH PHONE THROUGH INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY CAN SWITCH TO BLINDING BRIGHTNESS AT NIGHT. USING PHONE NAVIGATION (BOTH GOOGLE MAPS AND WAZE) AT NIGHT WILL START WITH NORMAL BRIGHTNESS WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE DIMMING KNOB. IF A PHONE CALL OR TEXT IS RECEIVED THE DISPLAY GOES TO FULL BRIGHTNESS AND CANNOT BE DIMMED THIS CAUSED ME TO SWERVE OFF OF THE ROAD IT WAS SO BLINDING THE CONDITION CAN ALSO BE SIMULATED BY ENGAGING THE BACKUP CAMERA AT NIGHT THIS WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALER OVER A YEAR AGO IN THE CASE OF THE PHONE CALL THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN MENTIONED ON MULTIPLE FORUMS SO I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE SOFTWARE AND NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT

NHTSA ID
11230836
Incident
Feb 9, 2019
Mileage
6,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 29, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ID
11210622
Incident
May 23, 2019
Mileage
21,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 22, 2019
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHADE CLIP FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RANDY MARION CHEVROLET BUICK CADILLAC (220 W PLAZA DR, MOORESVILLE, NC, (866) 906-8109) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHADE CLIPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.

NHTSA ID
11202901
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
17,500 mi
Visibility
Filed May 14, 2018

FRONT WINDSHIELD STARTING A CENTER LINE CRACK.

NHTSA ID
11093677
Incident
May 3, 2018
Mileage
1,900 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 15, 2017

DRIVER SIDE MIRROR CAMERA FLICKERS AND GOES BLACK. TOOK IT TO DEALER ON OCTOBER 14, 2017 AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW MIRROR NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. AS OF THIS WRITING, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATED TIME OF DELIVERY. TO ME THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN PARTS FOR A NEW CAR ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE THE CAMERA IS NOT FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID
11046413
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
4,250 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .