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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

Steering complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2023
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

Car feels like it is going to take off at a red light. Then it rumbles and cuts off at the light. I purchased car from US Auto Sales. DOWC paid PepBoys for multiple repairs for breaks rotors and the light that keeps coming on is service stabile track they got the light to cut off but the issue still persisted. They even changed …

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Car feels like it is going to take off at a red light. Then it rumbles and cuts off at the light. I purchased car from US Auto Sales. DOWC paid PepBoys for multiple repairs for breaks rotors and the light that keeps coming on is service stabile track they got the light to cut off but the issue still persisted. They even changed all things dealing with the gas line. This car is still idling high at stop signs like it will take off on its own. And still cuts off at a red light. This is very unsafe and many drivers have almost run onto the back of me. I told US Auto Sales, DOWC, and PepBoys and they all put me back in the same vehicle after voicing my concerns about safety. Instead of putting me in a safer vehicle they ignored it. This has been happening since I purchased the vehicle in November 2022

NHTSA ODI #11560023

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2023
Steering

DRIVING HOME AND STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING LIKE THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. 11/08/23 PURCHASED NOV OR DEC OF 2022 FROM DAN CUMMINS-AS IS NO ONE MENTIONED THIS. HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK IT UP AND IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED A DEATH WOBBLE

NHTSA ODI #11556219

127,600 miles · Jul 23, 2020
Steering

MY CAR MADE AN AGGRESSIVE RIGHT TURN ON ITS OWN. BACK STORY: I STARTED UP MY CAR AND STARTED SLOWLY DRIVING STRAIGHT OUT OF A STREET PARKING SPOT. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS SLIGHTLY RESISTING ME. I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS PULLING SOME TO THE RIGHT (I ACTIVELY HAD TO COUNTER IT). ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE BLOCK M…

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MY CAR MADE AN AGGRESSIVE RIGHT TURN ON ITS OWN. BACK STORY: I STARTED UP MY CAR AND STARTED SLOWLY DRIVING STRAIGHT OUT OF A STREET PARKING SPOT. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS SLIGHTLY RESISTING ME. I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS PULLING SOME TO THE RIGHT (I ACTIVELY HAD TO COUNTER IT). ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE BLOCK MY CAR MADE AN AGGRESSIVE RIGHT TURN ON ITS OWN (THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 90 DEGREES BEFORE I COULD FIGHT IT BACK AND COME TO A STOP FROM ~20MPH). WHILE STOPPED I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO CENTER. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED ALL TIRES. THERE WAS NO FLATS OR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES, TIRE PRESSURE GAGES WERE READING NORMAL. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS STILL FIGHTING ME. THINKING IT COULD BE THE BANKED ROAD (BUT NEVER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE), I TURNED RIGHT ONTO A FLAT STREET. THE CAR STILL WAS TRYING TO PULL ME TO RIGHT ON A FLAT STREET FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AND THEN IT EASED UP AND DROVE NORMALLY AGAIN. TWO DAYS LATER THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" WARNING APPEARED FOR 30-60 SECONDS UPON STARTING MY CAR THEN DISAPPEARS ON ITS OWN. STEERING PROBLEMS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE AND HAS NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE PAST 4 DAYS WITH MINIMAL DRIVING. THE WARNING TO SERVICE POWER STEERING IS NOT CONSISTENT UPON STARTING MY CAR AND HAS NEVER APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CAR STEERING ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI #11341091

68,345 miles · Jul 1, 2019
EnginePower TrainSteering

NOISE AND BURNING AROUND 6 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK

NHTSA ODI #11228844

188,000 miles · Jun 1, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringCrash

POWER STEERING FAILED; LOST POWER TO CONTROL PANEL; IN TRYING TO STEER VEHICLE AROUND A CURB I HIT A TREE AND CAR ROLLED TO SIDE. ALL AIRBAGS INFLATED.

NHTSA ODI #11217242

164,000 miles · Jan 14, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD IT SERVICED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY TO STORE AND WE LOST POWER OF CAR, STEERING LOCKED. WE WERE ABLE TO BARELY GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI. CAR COMPLETELY DIED AND A HUGE POOL OF OIL CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. PAID OVER $6,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE A…

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ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD IT SERVICED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY TO STORE AND WE LOST POWER OF CAR, STEERING LOCKED. WE WERE ABLE TO BARELY GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI. CAR COMPLETELY DIED AND A HUGE POOL OF OIL CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. PAID OVER $6,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE AND WIRING AND OTHER PARTS BECAUSE OF THE OIL, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. GUESS WHAT... DRINKING OIL, OIL LEAK, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THIS WAS A NEW ENGINE. SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY ON CAR IN 2014 HAVE HAD MAJOR TROUBLE WITH IT!!! WE ARE NOT MADE OF MONEY, BUT THIS 2013 IS THE WORST CAR AND DANGEROUS TOO, DESPITE WHAT THEY SAY!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11170012

57,000 miles · Nov 13, 2018
EngineService BrakesSteering

ON OCT. 23, 2018, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. CALLED ONSTAR IN AFTERNOON FOR CODE;ONSTAR DID NOT PROVIDE CODE BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE SERVICED ASAP AND MADE APPOINTMENT AT NEARBY DEALERSHIP FOR NEXT MORNING. THAT EVENING WHEN BRAKING TO LEAVE A PARKING AREA, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED/STALLED OUT. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALE…

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ON OCT. 23, 2018, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. CALLED ONSTAR IN AFTERNOON FOR CODE;ONSTAR DID NOT PROVIDE CODE BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE SERVICED ASAP AND MADE APPOINTMENT AT NEARBY DEALERSHIP FOR NEXT MORNING. THAT EVENING WHEN BRAKING TO LEAVE A PARKING AREA, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED/STALLED OUT. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI #11151126

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

CAR WOULD NOT START. CHARGED BATTERY UP CAR STARTED. INSIDE CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK. SOMMERS DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $800.00 TO PUT A BRAND NEW BLOWER MOTOR IN. BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND NOW SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ODI #11130791

150,000 miles · May 5, 2018
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

I HAD MY VEHICLE OIL CHANGE ON APRIL 8, 2018 ,AS OF APRIL 30, 2018 THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE NO OIL ON THE GROUND MY SENSOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE STATED I HAD OVER 50% OF OIL LEFT COULD NOT GET OVER 35 MPH THE CAR WAS SHAKING IMMENSELY AND RATTLING AS WELL WHEN YOU STARTED THE CAR IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I CO…

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I HAD MY VEHICLE OIL CHANGE ON APRIL 8, 2018 ,AS OF APRIL 30, 2018 THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE NO OIL ON THE GROUND MY SENSOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE STATED I HAD OVER 50% OF OIL LEFT COULD NOT GET OVER 35 MPH THE CAR WAS SHAKING IMMENSELY AND RATTLING AS WELL WHEN YOU STARTED THE CAR IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I COULD NOT GET ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD TO STAY IN THE BACK ROADS

NHTSA ODI #11092068

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 …

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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

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