NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
751 reports83,000 miles · Mar 5, 2021
Engine
WHILE DRIVING THE EQUINOX ON A VERY COLD DAY (9 DEGREES), I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS I APPROACHED MY PLACE OF WORK. THANKFULLY, MY VEHICLE MADE IT TO THE SMALL ROAD OFF OF THE STATE ROUTE I WAS TRAVELING, WHICH IS 55MPH. UPON TURNING OFF OF THE ROAD, MY ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND POWER FROM THE ENGI…
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WHILE DRIVING THE EQUINOX ON A VERY COLD DAY (9 DEGREES), I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS I APPROACHED MY PLACE OF WORK. THANKFULLY, MY VEHICLE MADE IT TO THE SMALL ROAD OFF OF THE STATE ROUTE I WAS TRAVELING, WHICH IS 55MPH. UPON TURNING OFF OF THE ROAD, MY ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND POWER FROM THE ENGINE. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO FIND OIL ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF FRAME OF MY VEHICLE. UPON GETTING TO MY OFFICE, I LOOKED UP WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ISSUE. GM HAS PUBLISHED SERVICE BULLETIN 14882 THAT CLAIMS CERTAIN MODELS OF VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE 2013 EQUINOX, CAN EXPERIENCE A PLUGGED PCV ORIFICE ON VERY COLD DAYS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE BLOWOUT OF THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL OF THE ENGINE. I HAD HOPED THIS WAS NOT MY ISSUE, BUT IT SEEMED TO FIT THE BILL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER AND TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME TWO DAYS LATER TO INFORM ME THAT MY REAR MAIN OIL SEAL (CRANKSHAFT SEAL) HAD BLOWN AND THAT I HAD LOST OIL WHILE DRIVING. ALTHOUGH THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE BULLETIN MATCHED MY SITUATION PERFECTLY, GM CLAIMED THAT MY VIN DID NOT LINE UP. AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE SERIOUS SITUATION IF IT HAD HAPPENED MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON A 75MPH INTERSTATE, OR IF MY WIFE AND ONE YEAR OLD WERE IN THE VEHICLE. GM HAS DOCUMENTED THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THEIR EXPOSURE, THEY ARE LIMITING IT TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF VIN NUMBERS. TWO OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR WERE ALSO AT THE SERVICE CENTER THAT VERY DAY. AS A HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGER IN MANUFACTURING MYSELF, I AM SURPRISED THAT GM HAS NOT STEPPED UP AND CORRECTED THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS PRESENTING A POTENTIAL SERIOUS HAZARD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
NHTSA ODI #11399327
130,000 miles · Mar 1, 2021
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POOL OF ENGINE OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LEADING TO THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POOL OF ENGINE OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LEADING TO THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. The contact stated that the vehicle is still inoperable from last year.
NHTSA ODI #11398491
124,050 miles · Mar 1, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CODE P0014 CODE DEFINITION CAMSHAFT POSITION 'B' - TIMING OVER-ADVANCED OR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE (BANK 1) REPLACED BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST VVT. VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER. DID A DIAGNOSTIC. OLD CODE FOUND, NO NEW "PROBLEMS" FOUND…
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2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CODE P0014 CODE DEFINITION CAMSHAFT POSITION 'B' - TIMING OVER-ADVANCED OR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE (BANK 1) REPLACED BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST VVT. VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER. DID A DIAGNOSTIC. OLD CODE FOUND, NO NEW "PROBLEMS" FOUND. WAS TOLD RUNNING NORMAL. IT DIED 2 TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF AT A GREEN LIGHT, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR END ACCIDENT TWO TIMES. FORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T NEED TO BREAK OR I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER READING OTHER REVIEWS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUATION OF A 2011 PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX. WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT A CHEVY TAHOE, BUT WITH CHEVY'S HISTORY IT APPEARS WE'LL LOOK AT A DIFFERENT BRAND.
NHTSA ODI #11398431
16,000 miles · Feb 25, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
MY 2013 EQUINOX IS USING A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2000 MILES AND STILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT NO OIL LIGHT COMES ON TO WARN ME MY CAR ALSO DIED ON ME RIGHT AFTER STARTING IT AND WHEN I PULLED THE DIP STICK SO MUCH AIR PRESSURE BLEW OUT AND BLEW OIL ON ME I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AN…
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MY 2013 EQUINOX IS USING A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2000 MILES AND STILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT NO OIL LIGHT COMES ON TO WARN ME MY CAR ALSO DIED ON ME RIGHT AFTER STARTING IT AND WHEN I PULLED THE DIP STICK SO MUCH AIR PRESSURE BLEW OUT AND BLEW OIL ON ME I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND PEDAL POSTINGS SENSOR AS WELL AS MY BACK UP CAMARA WENT COMPLETELY YELLOW WITH A BLUE LINE GOING ACROSS IT MY DATE IS NEVER RIGHT AND I STILL OWE 6000 ON IT I'VE HAD MY CAR 2 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS
NHTSA ODI #11397831
150,000 miles · Feb 21, 2021
EnginePower Train
THE STABILITRAK SAYS REDUCED ENGINE
NHTSA ODI #11397258
219,985 miles · Feb 15, 2021
Engine
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT CAR X , WAS TOLD THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN MY OIL, I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TOO MAUER CHEV IN INVER GROVE HEIGHTS,MN , THEY SAID NO THERE WASNT, I SAID IT BURNS 1-2 QUARTS EVERY 1000 MILES, MILEAGE WAS AT 119,958, I ASKED ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION, THEY DID NOT INFORM ME THIS VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR OIL CONSU…
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I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT CAR X , WAS TOLD THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN MY OIL, I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TOO MAUER CHEV IN INVER GROVE HEIGHTS,MN , THEY SAID NO THERE WASNT, I SAID IT BURNS 1-2 QUARTS EVERY 1000 MILES, MILEAGE WAS AT 119,958, I ASKED ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION, THEY DID NOT INFORM ME THIS VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR OIL CONSUMPTION ! THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO IT WAS RUNNING FINE WITHOUT PERFORMING THE OIL CONSUMTION TEST , ON A RECALLED VEHICLE STILL UNDER 120,000 MILES AND UNDER THE 7 YEARS AND 6 MONTH RECAL BY 1 MONTH! HOW DO I PROCEDE ? AT 126,000 MILES THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS FAILED AND THE FLEX PIPE CRACKED BECAUSE OF THIS CONSUMPTION RECALL ! WHAT DO I DO AT THIS POINT
NHTSA ODI #11396376
114,789 miles · Feb 15, 2021
Engine
REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW DUE TO A FAULTY PVC VALVE, AND WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS. SAY IT IS BECAUSE IT IS A KNOW FACTOR WITH GM AND THEY WILL NOT RECALL. I HAD JUST STARTED MY VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO WORK WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT DIED RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP.
NHTSA ODI #11396257
72,000 miles · Feb 14, 2021
Engine
THE VEHICLE' PCV VALVE FAILED, CAUSING HIGH CRANKCASE PRESSURE, CAUSING THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL. ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL LEFT THE ENGINE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AND NO ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE MESSAGE CAME UP. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11396162
104,000 miles · Feb 12, 2021
Engine
FIRST PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT CAR JUNE OF 2020 WAS THE STALLING ISSUE. I CHANGED EXHAUST AND CAMSHAFT SELENOIDS STILL IDLED ROUGH BUT DIDNT STALL.. THE CAR WOULD START TICKING EVERY OTHER WEEK FROM THE EXCESSIVE OIL THIS VEHICLE CONSUMED . LUCKILY I KNEW WHAT THE TICK MEANT BECAUSE NO LOW OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. THEN I GOT THE NO…
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FIRST PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT CAR JUNE OF 2020 WAS THE STALLING ISSUE. I CHANGED EXHAUST AND CAMSHAFT SELENOIDS STILL IDLED ROUGH BUT DIDNT STALL.. THE CAR WOULD START TICKING EVERY OTHER WEEK FROM THE EXCESSIVE OIL THIS VEHICLE CONSUMED . LUCKILY I KNEW WHAT THE TICK MEANT BECAUSE NO LOW OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. THEN I GOT THE NOTICE FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR RECALL AND HOPED ITD TAKE CARE OF OIL PROBLEM . WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER IT STARTED TICKING ON WAY THERE SO I FIGURED I'D LET THEM ADD OIL THIS TIME SINCE I SPEND AS MUCH AS I DO ALREADY ON OIL. GET BACK INTO MY CAR . THE CAR STILL IDLED ROUGHBK ANG DIDNT SEEM LIKE THEY TOUCHED IT OTHER THAN ADDING AIR TO TIRE . WHEN I LEFT DEALERS CAR STILL TICKING OIL NOT EVEN ON DIPSTICK I WENT TO WALMART IMMEDIATELY AND ADDED OIL. THEN NOT EVEN A MONTHLATER I GOT SICK AND THE CAR SAT OUTSIDE 3 DAYS I HAD TO GO GET CORONA TEST AND ON MY WAY HOME ON A COUNTY RD LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ON SAID SHUT OFF ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. I DID MY DAD CAME BROUGHT OIL FOLLOWED ME TO MECHANIC THEY SAID REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW, OIL WAS GUSHING OUT. LOW OIL LIGHT HAS NEVER CAME ON. THE TUBE RUNNING INTO INTAKE. BULLETIN. 14882 IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THE INTAKE TUBE GOT PLUGGED AND FROZE FROM CONDENSATION WATER IS KNOWN TO SIT IN TUBE AND FREEZE. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR RECALL ON 02 SENSOR THA DEALER SHOULD HAVE CHECKED OUT ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THIS RECALL COULD CAUSE KNOWING THE HISTORY OF OIL CONSUMPTION ON THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH PCV AND ADDED A VENT OF SOME SORT SO MAIN SEAL DIDNT BLOW AND THIS COULD HAVE PREVENTED WHAT HAPPEN 1MONTH AFTER BEING THERE FOR RECALL THIS CAR ALSO WILL ALLOW U TO TAKE KEY OUT WHEN NOT IN PARK AND A FEW TIMES WOULD TRY RESTARTING ON IT'S OWN AFTER I SHUT IT OFF. RUNNING THIS CAR LOW ON OIL IM SURE HAS HAD MANY UNDERLYING BAD EFFECTS ON MY ENGINE.BUT WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON.
NHTSA ODI #11395863
91,836 miles · Feb 11, 2021
Engine
WE PURCHASED A USED 2013 EQUINOX FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 2016 AND RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING ON-TIME OIL CHANGES. ON JAN 18 AT 1:30 AM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SHE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. SHE TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULDN'T START. WE HAD THE CAR TOW…
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WE PURCHASED A USED 2013 EQUINOX FOR MY DAUGHTER IN 2016 AND RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING ON-TIME OIL CHANGES. ON JAN 18 AT 1:30 AM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SHE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. SHE TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULDN'T START. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS IT NEEDED A NEW DRIVE BELT AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FOR $860. THEY CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY WITH A NEW DIAGNOSIS AND SAID IT NEEDED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $8,000 BECAUSE A PISTON ROD BLEW AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 91,836 MILES. LUCKILY, SHE WAS IN TOWN, NEAR HOME AND NOT AWAY AT SCHOOL AND WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HER CAR BROKE DOWN. SHE IS SAFE BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT IF SHE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE EQUINOX IS NOT SAFE IF IT CAN EASILY SHUT DOWN WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE AND SOME ARE ON THEIR SECOND AND THIRD ENGINES. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE PUTS US IN A VERY AWKWARD, EXPENSIVE SITUATION. I REFUSE TO PAY $8,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE FOR A VEHICLE THAT I STILL OWE $6,000 ON AND THE NEW ENGINE CAN EASILY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS ENGINE PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A CHEVY CAR AGAIN AND WILL DEFINITELY LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE EQUINOX ISSUES.
NHTSA ODI #11395785
Official recalls
2Aug 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.
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 ↗