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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

80 reports
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101,716 miles · Jan 17, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON JANUARY 15TH 2021, I WAS INFORMED BY JEFFERSON CHEVROLET THAT MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN AND MISFIRING PISTONS. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR SIX MONTHS. IT HAS A HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY ADDING OIL. EVEN THE PRIOR VISIT IN DECEMBER …

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AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON JANUARY 15TH 2021, I WAS INFORMED BY JEFFERSON CHEVROLET THAT MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN AND MISFIRING PISTONS. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR SIX MONTHS. IT HAS A HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY ADDING OIL. EVEN THE PRIOR VISIT IN DECEMBER 2020, THE REPRESENTATIVE AT JEFFERSON CHEVROLET IN DETROIT MICHIGAN INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD NO OIL AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE AND THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM ANY INSPECTIONS UNTIL THEY PERFORM ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON HOW TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11388521

110,000 miles · Dec 3, 2020
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH NO WARNING LIGHT

NHTSA ODI #11377788

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2020
EnginePower Train

SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION I'M ADDING OIL CONSTANTLY

NHTSA ODI #11374606

103,000 miles · Nov 12, 2020
Power Train

WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM HOME AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH STRAIGHT ROAD THE VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN JERK LIKE SLAMMING ON BRAKES. MADE CONTROL DIFFICULT MOMENTARILY

NHTSA ODI #11374243

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION MY EQUINOX TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME (ON THE STREETS), AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN AND BEGAN TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ANOTHER TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLOW TRAFFIC…

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ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION MY EQUINOX TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME (ON THE STREETS), AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN AND BEGAN TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ANOTHER TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLOW TRAFFIC. ONCE AGAIN, AFTER HAVING TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. ON THE FREEWAY!!! I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT FAULT FOR IT. THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE WITH THIS SUV. I'VE HAD THIS EQUINOX SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2019 AND I KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING LIFE THREATENING ISSUES WITH THIS SUV

NHTSA ODI #11361497

139,000 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

SO FIRST STARTED TO USE OIL MORE THAN IT SHOULD BETWEEN CHANGES BUT IT WOULD BE JUST 1 QUART LOW IT WOULD KNOCK. THAN TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT THAN A WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IT'S STUFF I KEEP MAINTAINED BUT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND SOMETHING GOES WRONG. NOW WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AN THE KEYS ARE IN M…

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SO FIRST STARTED TO USE OIL MORE THAN IT SHOULD BETWEEN CHANGES BUT IT WOULD BE JUST 1 QUART LOW IT WOULD KNOCK. THAN TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT THAN A WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IT'S STUFF I KEEP MAINTAINED BUT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND SOMETHING GOES WRONG. NOW WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AN THE KEYS ARE IN MY HAND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE LIKE THE COMPUTER IS ONE IN IT ALSO ONCE AN AWHILE YOU CAN SMELL GAS NOT ALWAYS. IT'S LIKE IT'S COSTING MONEY TO FIX IT ON STUFF THAT SHOULDN'T GO BAD IF YOU MAINTAIN IT. I TALKED TO FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN EQUINOX AN DIFFERENT YEAR RANG FROM 2011 TO 2017 WITH SAME ISSUES. WHY IS IT WE THE PUBLIC HAVE TO FIX ISSUES WHEN YOU MAINTAIN THE CAR!! I DON'T WANT TO TRADE BUT IF IT GOES DOWN AGAIN IT'S GOING TO BE TRADE FOR A NON CHEVY CAR I HAVE HAD CHEVY SINCE I STARTED DRIVING 40 PLUS YEARS MY SECOND EQUINOX NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH THE FIRST ONE LIKE I HAVE THIS ONE . I CHANGED BATTER IN IT THINKING IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE CLICKING BUT IT DIDN'T I ALMOST DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT TO MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS WHICH ARE QUIT OFTEN DUE TO WILL IT DIE ON ME AN LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI #11354998

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2020
EnginePower TrainVisibility/wiper

I USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND NOW MY MOTOR IS ACTING UP I HAVE TO PUT TWO QUARTS IN A WEEK AND WAS NOT TOLD AT PURCHASE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE JANUARY OF 2019 I'M UNDER THE 120 000 MILES THIS I NOTICED ABOUT 2WEEKS I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE SAME WEEK I BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF ISSUES AND IT WAS A 2000 REPAIR AFTER I ALREADY PAI…

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I USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND NOW MY MOTOR IS ACTING UP I HAVE TO PUT TWO QUARTS IN A WEEK AND WAS NOT TOLD AT PURCHASE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE JANUARY OF 2019 I'M UNDER THE 120 000 MILES THIS I NOTICED ABOUT 2WEEKS I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE SAME WEEK I BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF ISSUES AND IT WAS A 2000 REPAIR AFTER I ALREADY PAID 13,000 FOR IT. I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT MY MOTOR IS KNOCKS AND IT'S GETTING WORSE

NHTSA ODI #11354809

99,567 miles · May 27, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

MOTOR WHEN I GOT IT THEY TOLD ME THEY DID HAVE IT CHECK AND THERE AS NO RECALLS ON IT. I DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT A MOTH AN THE MOTOR STATED TO MAKE A TICKETING NOSE CHECK THE OIL AN IT WAS ABOUT AROUND A 1,000 MILES IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE WHEN I HAD IT CHANGE IT LOOK LIKE IT HAD NOT BEEN CHANGE IN A LONG TIME. AN AROUND THE SAME TI…

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MOTOR WHEN I GOT IT THEY TOLD ME THEY DID HAVE IT CHECK AND THERE AS NO RECALLS ON IT. I DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT A MOTH AN THE MOTOR STATED TO MAKE A TICKETING NOSE CHECK THE OIL AN IT WAS ABOUT AROUND A 1,000 MILES IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE WHEN I HAD IT CHANGE IT LOOK LIKE IT HAD NOT BEEN CHANGE IN A LONG TIME. AN AROUND THE SAME TIME AGAIN I CHECK THE OIL AGAIN IT WAS A LOW AGAIN SO I HAD IT CHANGE AGAIN THIS TIME THE OIL FILTER LOOK GOOD IT TO LOOK THE FIRST TIME, LIKE IT HAD NOT BEEN CHANGE. THEN IT STARTED SKIPPING AND LIKE IT DID WANT TO STAY CRACK UP LIKE IT WANTED TO CUT OFF ON,IT STILL DOING IT HARDLY EVER DRIVE IT THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT UP I STARTED TO HAVE IT NOT WANTING TO CHANGE GEARS BUT THEN IT STOP. IT DOES IT NOW SOMETIMES. I'LL CHECK THE TIME AND IT USUALLY SLOW THAN WANT IT SUPPOSED TO BE, ALSO THE LOCKS DO NOT WORK MOST OFF THE TIME WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON MOST OF THE TIME AN ALSO THE CAR WANT START SOMETIMES IN THE MORNING WHEN I GO TO CRACK IT UP WITH THE KEY. I BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER, FIRST THE FREON WENT OUT THE FIRST TIME I USE IT, ALSO THEN IT STARTED TO MAKE NOSE WHEN I TURN AROUND ARE TURN A CORNER AND THE FREON WOULD TURN A CORNER THEN IT STARTED TO LEAK INSIDE THE CAR WHEN I WAS STANDING AT A STOP SIGNAL WOULD STOP LEAKING SO MUCH WHEN I WOULD GO THAT JUST STARTED I FINALLY LOOKED UP RECALLS AN SEEN THAT ALL THESE THINGS WERE IN A RECALL OF MAY 19, 2019 I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCT 19, 2019. THEY SAID THEY WERE NO RECALLS , BUT WHEN I LOOKED IT RECALLS IT HAD EVERY THING WRONG WITH IT THAT ALL THE RECALLS WAS ON THERE AN A FEW EXTRAS' THEY ALSO SUED AND THEY DO NOT PUT MY CAR IN THE PROBLEMS AREAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326114

86,000 miles · Mar 2, 2020
EnginePower Train

HAS METAL SHAVINGS IN SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS!!! KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE & OIL CHANGES. VEHICLE JERKS, CHECK ENGINE COMES ON STALLS OUT OF NO WHERE. MECHANICS SAYCOMMON PROBLEM THEY DEAL WITH.. MUST RECALL OR GET SUED!!

NHTSA ODI #11315507

142,000 miles · Feb 21, 2020
EnginePower Train

ALL OIL CAME OUT OF ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STOPPED ON A MAIN ROAD IN TOWN

NHTSA ODI #11310485

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