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Exterior lightingPart report

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
1%of 685 total for the year
Median mileage
50,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, 1% of the 685 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“This vehicle frequently loses charge on battery battery and alternator are new. Vehicle has less than 70k miles also throws up computer codes radio turns on and off when it wants to. I purchased it used with 40k miles and has been a problem since. I have quotes for over 2k in repairs and was told at time of purchase all recalls were cared for. Was purchased certified preowned from a dealership. Every time I fix something there's another problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11166602, filed 2019-01, 45,000 miles

“Today 08/9/2019 my wife showed me where she saw smoke coming from under the glove box it did melt the plastic cover,no one will help me with lift gate goes up 1/4 way down,up the all the way down have gotten it 3 times in the head I have told catalano motors about it when I bought it never got fixed.rear window on pass side never worked and light don't go on when you open rear door,manual transmission never worked,no offence but I would rather have my 75 delta 88 I'm just not pleased with the vehicles.miss having my 97 f150 thank you for your time,also the lift gate would go up and down by…”

NHTSA complaint #11242936, filed 2019-08, 63,000 miles

“Had fuses checked because rear passenger door light don't work window don't go down manuel shift don't work and rear liftgate goes up then quarter ways down then back up then comes down on you now it goes up by it's self also it won't lock.it will go up when it's stationary”

NHTSA complaint #11207609, filed 2019-05, 99,380 miles

“The control module failed and resulted in headlight gone at ~50k miles. The transfer case went bad and the car did not move at all at 64k miles. Can not believe the powertrain got problem just after the warranty expired.”

NHTSA complaint #11093971, filed 2018-05, 50,000 miles

“When opening the storage in the front seat the light burns so hot that it burns the right hip/leg of the driver badly. Steering makes a super loud rubbing sound when turning wheel left or right that dealership cannot seem to fix.”

NHTSA complaint #10818275, filed 2016-01, 25,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202611%
2025146%
202422%
202133%
202062%
201962%
201861%
201731%
201621%
201530%
201431%
201371%
201261%
201120%
201061%
200933%
2008226%
2007172%
2006112%
2005152%

Other parts of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

Engine
355 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
127 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
84 complaints
Electrical system
70 complaints
Fuel system
54 complaints
Other or unknown
54 complaints
Steering
36 complaints
Electronic stability control
26 complaints
Body and structure
26 complaints
Air bags
19 complaints
Vehicle speed control
18 complaints
Brakes
13 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology