← 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

Engine complaints

412 reports
Clear category filter
100,800 miles · Oct 13, 2017
Engine

GM IS AWARE OF AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE ON 2010MY+ CHEVY EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN WITH THE 2.4L ECOTEC ENGINE. THEY HAVE SO FAR ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS FOR 2010-2012MY TO REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS AND TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE IN THIS SITUATION, THE TIMING CHAIN CAN STRETCH CAUSING IT TO SKIP SEVERAL TEETH AND CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. …

Read full complaint

GM IS AWARE OF AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE ON 2010MY+ CHEVY EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN WITH THE 2.4L ECOTEC ENGINE. THEY HAVE SO FAR ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS FOR 2010-2012MY TO REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS AND TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE IN THIS SITUATION, THE TIMING CHAIN CAN STRETCH CAUSING IT TO SKIP SEVERAL TEETH AND CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. I COMPLAINED ABOUT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (1 QUART EVERY ~1000 MILES) TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER IS INSTRUCTED TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BY GM. 200 MILES AFTER WE BEGAN THIS OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, I STARTED THE CAR ONE MORNING AND THERE WERE LOUD SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND A NEW ENGINE IS RECOMMENDED. GM DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. BULLETIN SB-10058791-5041

NHTSA ODI #11033227

65,000 miles · Oct 10, 2017
Engine

THE ENGINE OF MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS BEEN BURNING OFF WAY TOO MUCH OIL. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY EQUINOXS. AFTER TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PISTON RINGS ARE NOT SEALING, AND THUS LETTING MORE OIL THROUGH TO BE BURNED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR IS 3300 DOLLARS. CONSIDERING I…

Read full complaint

THE ENGINE OF MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS BEEN BURNING OFF WAY TOO MUCH OIL. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY EQUINOXS. AFTER TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PISTON RINGS ARE NOT SEALING, AND THUS LETTING MORE OIL THROUGH TO BE BURNED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR IS 3300 DOLLARS. CONSIDERING IT IS AN ENGINE FAILURE, GM SHOULD BE ON THE LINE FOR THAT COST. IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS, AS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN MY OIL WAS DRAMATICALLY LOW LONG BEFORE I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. OVERALL A DANGEROUS FACTOR.

NHTSA ODI #11032783

25,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Engine

THE ENGINE BURNS ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES. WE HAD A DEALER LOOK INTO IT, INCLUDING A DIP TEST EVERY 500 MILES. THEY FOUND THAT IT IS INDEED BURNING OIL, AND SAID DUE TO LOW TENSION RINGS AND SHORT SKIRT PISTON, THIS WAS NORMAL. I'M NO MECHANIC, BUT 3 QUARTS OF OIL PER NORMAL OIL CHANGE INTERVALS SEEMS REALLY EXCESSIVE…

Read full complaint

THE ENGINE BURNS ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES. WE HAD A DEALER LOOK INTO IT, INCLUDING A DIP TEST EVERY 500 MILES. THEY FOUND THAT IT IS INDEED BURNING OIL, AND SAID DUE TO LOW TENSION RINGS AND SHORT SKIRT PISTON, THIS WAS NORMAL. I'M NO MECHANIC, BUT 3 QUARTS OF OIL PER NORMAL OIL CHANGE INTERVALS SEEMS REALLY EXCESSIVE. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS PRETTY MUCH SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW. I GUESS IT COULD BE SAFETY RELATED BECAUSE SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11021642

109,000 miles · Aug 7, 2017
Engine

STARTED BURNING OIL TOO QUICKLY WHICH RUINED THE ENGINE. WE WERE USING THE UPPER GRADE OIL AND HAVING TO CHANGE IT BEFORE 3000 MILES DUE TO CAR SHAKING. WE HAD TO GET A NEW ENGINE . CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN IN MOTION ON A COUNTRY ROAD

NHTSA ODI #11013321

190,000 miles · Jul 11, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE CAR BEGAN STALLING. VEHICLE ALWAYS WAS LOW ON OIL, EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. LOSS OF ACCELERATION SPEED AND STALLING BECAME USUAL. FINALLY AFTER FILLING THE TANK IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT START SO WE HAD IT TOWED. TIMING CHAIN WAS THE REASON GIVEN SO $3600 LATER I FIGURED IT WAS FIXED. NOT THE CASE. O…

Read full complaint

6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE CAR BEGAN STALLING. VEHICLE ALWAYS WAS LOW ON OIL, EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. LOSS OF ACCELERATION SPEED AND STALLING BECAME USUAL. FINALLY AFTER FILLING THE TANK IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT START SO WE HAD IT TOWED. TIMING CHAIN WAS THE REASON GIVEN SO $3600 LATER I FIGURED IT WAS FIXED. NOT THE CASE. OIL WAS STILL HAVING TO BE ADDED AND 1.5 YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE MOTOR HAS BLOWN. WE STILL OWE 9K ON A CAR THAT IS INOPERABLE AND ALSO USAA REQUIRES US TO KEEP OUR INSURANCE. I

NHTSA ODI #11004200

100,000 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CLOG POSITIVE CRANK CASE VENTILATION AND THE OIL SEALS, MANIFOLD, AND PC…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CLOG POSITIVE CRANK CASE VENTILATION AND THE OIL SEALS, MANIFOLD, AND PCV VALVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10970998

40,000 miles · Apr 3, 2017
Engine

USING WAY TO MUCH OIL. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I BUY A CAR TO KEEP LONG TERM. PRETTY OBVIOUS THIS PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN BY AUTOMAKER. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. WILL NEVER BUY A GM AGAIN!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10970322

125,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Engine

2.4L ECO TECH ENGINES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: 14882 AND APPARENTLY THIS BULLETIN WAS ONLY SENT TO SOME OWNERS BUT NOT ALL OWNERS AND THE ISSUE IS THE PCV ORFICE GETS PLUGGED WITH ICE IN THE WINTER CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE ENGINE WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL ON THE…

Read full complaint

2.4L ECO TECH ENGINES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: 14882 AND APPARENTLY THIS BULLETIN WAS ONLY SENT TO SOME OWNERS BUT NOT ALL OWNERS AND THE ISSUE IS THE PCV ORFICE GETS PLUGGED WITH ICE IN THE WINTER CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE ENGINE WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL ON THE ENGINE. EVEN THOUGH MY EQUINOX HAD THIS 2.4L ECOTECH ENGINE AND I DID ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AS REQUIRED GM FAILED TO SEND ME THIS NOTICE (WHICH THEY TOLD ME THAT DID NOT SEND IT TO ME SINCE I DID NOT HAVE AN ECO TECH WHICH I DID) BUT THEY ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO FIX IT UNTIL 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES AND MINE FAILED AT 4 YEARS AND 125,000 SO OF COURSE THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX OR REIMBURSE ME FOR MY OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT IT. ALSO MY TRUCK JUST LOST POWER AS I WAS DRIVING AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF I HAD BEEN ON A BUSY FREEWAY AT THE TIME. I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD AT THE TIME JUST BEFORE ENTERING A FREEWAY WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPENED. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT THE SERVICE BULLETIN I COULD HAVE PREVENTED A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BY HAVING THE ISSUE LOOKED AT AND DEALT WITH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT .

NHTSA ODI #10968736

63,000 miles · Mar 26, 2017
Engine

ENGINE STALLS AT LOW RPM. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AT RANDOM TIMES FROM REVERSE / BACKING UP THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AT RED LIGHTS WHEN STAKING OFF AT LOW RPMS, CAUSING PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO STOP SUDDENLY WHILE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND START THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10968526

95,000 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Engine

OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE A QUART OF OIL HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE CAR ONCE A WEEK ACCORDING TO A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN, THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS. GENERALLY THE STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS ARE THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE OIL ON THE CYLINDER WALLS AND THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CAN COME FROM THE PCV SYSTEM AND/OR THE AFM P…

Read full complaint

OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE A QUART OF OIL HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE CAR ONCE A WEEK ACCORDING TO A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN, THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS. GENERALLY THE STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS ARE THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE OIL ON THE CYLINDER WALLS AND THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CAN COME FROM THE PCV SYSTEM AND/OR THE AFM PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE IN THE OIL PAN.

NHTSA ODI #10967120

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