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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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52,000 miles · Jan 19, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE SHOOK SEVERELY AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821136

15,000 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Air BagsPower TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10781813

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

I PURCHASED THIS 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL. I FOUND THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE ABSENTS OF A WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID AND WAS TOLD ALL NEW VEHICLES NO LONGER HAVE A DIP STICK TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS. THIS TO ME…

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I PURCHASED THIS 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL. I FOUND THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE ABSENTS OF A WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID AND WAS TOLD ALL NEW VEHICLES NO LONGER HAVE A DIP STICK TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS. THIS TO ME IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IF YOU RELY ON SOME SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR FLUID IS LOW OR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED YOU COULD BE PAYING MONEY THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE NECESSARY. IF YOUR ON A TRIP OF ANY DISTANCE YOU COULD BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF LACK OF FLUID THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE FLUIDS BEEN CHECKED PRIOR TO YOUR TRIP. HOW ABOUT DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE TRANSMISSION COMES APART FOR LACK OF FLUID AN YOU HAVE AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND YOU AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP THAT 18 WHEELER WOULD ROLL RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF DISABLED VEHICLE. I BELIEVE A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALL MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES WITH NO FLUID DIPSTICK FOR FLUID CHECK OF THE TRANSMISSION SUCH AS THAT OF MY 2013 CHEVROLET.

NHTSA ODI #10764020

35,264 miles · Jun 30, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT PREPARING TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN ON RED, WHICH IS LEGAL IN OKLAHOMA, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND AS I HAD BEGUN THE TURN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DIED AND ALL LIGHTS AND POWER WAS LOST. I COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A GAS STATION THAT WAS ON THE CORNER NEAREST TO ME …

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I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT PREPARING TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN ON RED, WHICH IS LEGAL IN OKLAHOMA, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND AS I HAD BEGUN THE TURN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DIED AND ALL LIGHTS AND POWER WAS LOST. I COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A GAS STATION THAT WAS ON THE CORNER NEAREST TO ME AND AFTER TWO TO THREE MINUTES THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AS NORMAL. MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING, NIGHT OR DAY, THE FORWARD COLLISION ALERT WILL BEGIN BEEPING AND FLASHING AS IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A FORWARD COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, YET THERE IS NOTHING IN FRONT OF YOU LITERALLY FOR MILES AT SOME TIMES. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE BRAKES TO BE DEPRESSED AND THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE FORWARD COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. ALSO, THE DISPLAY FOR THE RADIO AND VARIOUS OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROZE THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN AND NOT ALLOWED ANY AIR, RADIO, OR ANY OTHER FUNCTIONS TO BE ABLE TO BE CHANGED, SOMETIMES FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ALSO THE REAR DOOR WILL SOMETIMES REMAIN LOCKED WHEN ALL OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL UNIT AND/OR THE BUTTONS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP I AM PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM, ON THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY JULY 3RD, 2014.

NHTSA ODI #10731349

300 miles · Apr 14, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING...ALWAYS AND EVERYDAY (V6 ENGINE MODELS) CADILLAC HAS ISSUED A RECALL # 14132 FOR THE SAME POWERTRAIN IN THE 2013 CADILLAC SRX! CHEVROLET SHOULD DO THE SAME! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705575

51,629 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SECOND TIME MY THROTTLE SENSOR HAS FAILED DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683623

4,915 miles · May 26, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I WAS DOING APPROX. 25 MPH AND WENT TO PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN TOOK OFF VERY FAST AND RAPID SCARED MY WIFE AND I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS TRYING TO PASS THE VEHICLE NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE VERY AFRAID EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, THIS…

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I WAS DOING APPROX. 25 MPH AND WENT TO PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN TOOK OFF VERY FAST AND RAPID SCARED MY WIFE AND I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS TRYING TO PASS THE VEHICLE NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE VERY AFRAID EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO GET KILLED, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DURING THE WEEK OF 5-22-2014 IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594030

200 miles · May 16, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BUT THERE WAS NO PROGRAMMING INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BUT THERE WAS NO PROGRAMMING INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ODI #10588911

200 miles · May 16, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BUT THERE WAS NO PROGRAMMING INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BUT THERE WAS NO PROGRAMMING INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ODI #10588903

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

CPSC#I1360158A. 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HER CAR REVERSED WHILE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE, ONCE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS THOUGH,THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL ON A HILL. SHE MANAGED TO PUT T…

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CPSC#I1360158A. 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HER CAR REVERSED WHILE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKE, ONCE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS THOUGH,THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL ON A HILL. SHE MANAGED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THEN IN DRIVE AGAIN, AND ONCE SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD, WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALSO, WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER RELATED PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10525467

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