← New search

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

515 reports with mileage · 236 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.

  • Engine. Review the 412 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports5 fire reports13 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

20 reports
Clear category filter
20,000 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHED A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX BRAND NEW. TWO YEARS AFTER HAVING IT THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR MY RADIO AND HEAT/AIR CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MODULE SWITCH. THEN IN APRIL 2017 IT DID IT AGAIN! TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIR HVAC. THEN AUGUST 2018 I…

Read full complaint

I PURCHED A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX BRAND NEW. TWO YEARS AFTER HAVING IT THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR MY RADIO AND HEAT/AIR CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MODULE SWITCH. THEN IN APRIL 2017 IT DID IT AGAIN! TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIR HVAC. THEN AUGUST 2018 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I AM TOLD IT IS THE RADIO HVAC AND THAT NOW IT IS NOT COVERED ON WARRANTY AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY $650 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND JUST KEEP GETTING TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERYTIME. THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BY THE CHEVY DEALER WITH THE EXPENSE GOING UP EACH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11121029

112,000 miles · Mar 9, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO CHEVROLET MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT CUTS OUT WHEN IDLING AND SOMETIMES DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM TOLD ME AROUND 40000 MILES THAT SOMETIMES 'YOU JUST GET A BAD APPLE.' THEY REPLACED MY MOTOR UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT 20,000 MILES AGO WITH A BRAND NEW MOTOR AND NOW MY CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME…

Read full complaint

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO CHEVROLET MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT CUTS OUT WHEN IDLING AND SOMETIMES DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM TOLD ME AROUND 40000 MILES THAT SOMETIMES 'YOU JUST GET A BAD APPLE.' THEY REPLACED MY MOTOR UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT 20,000 MILES AGO WITH A BRAND NEW MOTOR AND NOW MY CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AT CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALER TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS OUT... MIND YOU I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR... AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T SERVICE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE WARRANTY WORK DONE AT THAT LOCATION. I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE WE'VE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE VERY SMALL CHILDREN. I CAN'T DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED IT WHEN I AM THE ONE PAYING FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC EXAM ANYWAY....SO I KEEP GETTING CONFLICTING RESPONSES FROM CHEVY AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS. I HAVE GOTTEN THE RUN AROUND SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. I JUST ALMOST HAVE IT PAID OFF AND CAN'T AFFORD FOR THEM TO KEEP SCREWING ME AROUND, NOR CAN I AFFORD A NEW CAR. MY CAR LOSES THE ENGINE BUT ALL BATTERY FUNCTIONS WORK. IT HAPPENS WHILE IDLING, DRIVING SLOWLY AND EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY! IT'S SO DANGEROUS AND MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME CAR IF RESEARCHED ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI #11078392

103,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

ON A COLD WINTER DAY APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES, I EXITED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON COMING TO A STOP AT THE TOLL PLAZA, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING NOISE, THE 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER' NOTIFICATION APPEARED AS WELL AS THE TRACTION ACTIVATION. THE CAR DIED BUT STARTED BACK UP TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. HAD IT TOWED …

Read full complaint

ON A COLD WINTER DAY APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES, I EXITED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON COMING TO A STOP AT THE TOLL PLAZA, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING NOISE, THE 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER' NOTIFICATION APPEARED AS WELL AS THE TRACTION ACTIVATION. THE CAR DIED BUT STARTED BACK UP TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND DISCOVERED THE PCV SYSTEM FROZE UP AND BLEW THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE CAR HAD 103K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. NEVER HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH IT AND ALWAYS WE'LL MAINTAINED. ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE MOTOR TO THE TUNE OF $5,575. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT WOULD NOT START. THE STABILITRACK AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS CAME ON AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11072791

164,000 miles · Jan 6, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

OUR DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 IN A 65 MPH ZONE WHEN ALL OFF A SUDDEN THE CARS STABILIZING TEAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WE ALSO LOST INSTANT POWER AND HAD TO TRY AND GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID GETTING HIT. IT WAS A HIGH OF…

Read full complaint

OUR DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 IN A 65 MPH ZONE WHEN ALL OFF A SUDDEN THE CARS STABILIZING TEAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WE ALSO LOST INSTANT POWER AND HAD TO TRY AND GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID GETTING HIT. IT WAS A HIGH OF 25 THAT DAY AND I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SO WE HAD TO SIT AND WAIT IN THE COLD CAR UNTIL WE COULD GET SOME HELP. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WILL PROBABLY COST A MINIMUM OF $4800 AND COULD BE AS MUCH OVER $10,000. WITH MY MEDICAL COSTS , STILL OWING SEVERAL YEARS ON THE CAR, THIS IS A MAJOR FINANCIAL SITUATION. NOT TO MENTION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE OURS AND TO EVEN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND EVEN YEAR. WHY!!!! IS THERE NOT A RECALL BEFORE SOME GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. AS IT IS, IT HAS JUST MADE ME SICKER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT A VEHICLE THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD TRUST!

NHTSA ODI #11060958

74,000 miles · Sep 12, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OCTOBER 2016. RADIO/BLUETOOTH SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. WAITED 4 MONTHS FOR NEW RADIO TO COME WAS REPLACED FEBRUARY 2017 AND THE RADIO WENT AGAIN 2017 AND HAVE TO WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #11022924

58,900 miles · Jun 6, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Seat BeltsStructureCrash

"TAMARA RECALL" I'M WRITING REGUARDING AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED OUT MY VEHICLE BUT NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ? I HIT A DEER AT 75-80 MPH ON A HWY IT HIT MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND CONTINUED UP OVER MY HOOD AND ACTUALLY DENTED PART OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FENDER I COULDN'T EVEN OPEN THE DOOR ALL THE WAY! NONE OF MY AIR BAGS …

Read full complaint

"TAMARA RECALL" I'M WRITING REGUARDING AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED OUT MY VEHICLE BUT NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ? I HIT A DEER AT 75-80 MPH ON A HWY IT HIT MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND CONTINUED UP OVER MY HOOD AND ACTUALLY DENTED PART OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FENDER I COULDN'T EVEN OPEN THE DOOR ALL THE WAY! NONE OF MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF. LUCKILY I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WHICH SOMETHING IN THE SEAT BELT BLEW WHEN IT LOCKED ME IN PLACE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE DEER HITTING JUMPING OUT AT ME A WARNING POPPED UP ON MY DASH BELIEVE SAID "LOCKED" BUT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST , IT PUSHED & CRACKED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER MY HOOD. I HAD SMOKE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE, FLUIDS ON THE GROUND NO FIRE THANKFULLY ! MY SUV WAS TOTALED AND MANY HAVE QUESTIONED ME ABOUT THE AIR BAGS. I'M NOW WONDERING THE SAME THING. WHY IN THE WORLD DID NONE OF THESE GO OFF ? IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT GOING OFF ! I'VE DONE RESEARCH I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS, BUT I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THIS!

NHTSA ODI #10993565

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 75, STABILITY CONTROL MESSAGE CAN UP FOLLOWED BY REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. CAR REDUCED SPEED VERY QUICKLY WHILE IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. MANAGED TO MOVE TO SHOULDER SAFELY, HOWEVER CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. POWERED OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN TURNED BACK ON TO ATTEMPT RESTART, MESSAGES…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 75, STABILITY CONTROL MESSAGE CAN UP FOLLOWED BY REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. CAR REDUCED SPEED VERY QUICKLY WHILE IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. MANAGED TO MOVE TO SHOULDER SAFELY, HOWEVER CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. POWERED OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN TURNED BACK ON TO ATTEMPT RESTART, MESSAGES ARE GONE BUT LEFT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WOULD TURNOVER AND SPUTTER BUT WOULD NOT REMAIN RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10918424

85,000 miles · Jul 25, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND WATER GETS UNDER THE CAR MY AC GOES OUT. IT WILL COME BACK ON IN A DAY OR SO. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER A YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO NOT CARE.

NHTSA ODI #10888113

92,000 miles · Apr 9, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AFTER PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE/TURNED RADIO ON. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES.LATER THAT EVENING WHEN I GOT IN CAR KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR STARTED AND AS I STARTED TO DRIVE DASHBOARD AND RADIO BLINKED ON AND OFF. HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME B…

Read full complaint

AFTER PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE/TURNED RADIO ON. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES.LATER THAT EVENING WHEN I GOT IN CAR KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR STARTED AND AS I STARTED TO DRIVE DASHBOARD AND RADIO BLINKED ON AND OFF. HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME BACK ON AND PROCEEDED TO BLINK. CAR MAKING NOISE OFF AND ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704845

5,040 miles · May 6, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ENGINE WENT TO A REDUCED POWER MODE (IDLE)....I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR...COULD NOT MOVE....COULD NOT EVEN MOVE TO SIDE OF ROAD...BLOCKING TRAFFIC....CALLED ONSTAR CHEVY EMERG ROAD ASSIST...WHILE MAKING ARRANGEMENT FOR TOW HE ASKED FOR MILEAGE...I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO GET RID OF…

Read full complaint

WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ENGINE WENT TO A REDUCED POWER MODE (IDLE)....I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR...COULD NOT MOVE....COULD NOT EVEN MOVE TO SIDE OF ROAD...BLOCKING TRAFFIC....CALLED ONSTAR CHEVY EMERG ROAD ASSIST...WHILE MAKING ARRANGEMENT FOR TOW HE ASKED FOR MILEAGE...I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO GET RID OF THE SCREEN WHICH SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER"....GAVEHIM THE MILEAGE...WHEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE ENGINE NOW IDLED NORMAL AND WHEN PU IN DRIVE , I COULD NOW MOVE THE CAR....CANCELED THE SERVICE...TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER NEXT AM...THEY DIAGNOSED THE TROUBLE TO BE A "BINDING THROTTLE BODY" IT WAS REPLACED...I AM APPREHENSIVE DRIVING THE CAR , ESPECIALLY ON I95 WITH TRUCKS AND CARS TRAVELING 70/80 MPH I COULD GET KILLED....... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586758

Official recalls

2

16V582000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Aug 4, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 25302.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems