← 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

What owners actually said

751 reports
110,000 miles · Feb 10, 2021
Engine

I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH GM RIGHT NOW! THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL ON SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES FROM 2010-2014 BUT THEY ARE ONLY COVERING REPAIRS FOR CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. THE SEAL BROKE ON THE ENGINE CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED IN FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES. NOW I AM BEING …

Read full complaint

I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH GM RIGHT NOW! THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL ON SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES FROM 2010-2014 BUT THEY ARE ONLY COVERING REPAIRS FOR CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. THE SEAL BROKE ON THE ENGINE CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED IN FREEZING COLD TEMPERATURES. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT GM KNOWS IS THEIR FAULT. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE ISSUE BUT ARE STATING THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED AT A DIFFERENT PLANT IT IS NOT COVERED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LET ME THAT THE HOLE IN THE ENGINE WAS TOO SMALL CAUSING THE SEAL TO BREAK. HAD MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WRECK. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN OIL LEAK OR ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR UNTIL THE MAIN OIL STILL BROKE.

NHTSA ODI #11395634

89,700 miles · Feb 9, 2021
Engine

FOUND A POOL OF OIL ON THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING, HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER, TOLD THE MAIN REAR SEAL LET GO, OIL CHANGED AT DEALER 5 DAYS PRIOR FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION CHECK, BECAUSE OF CONSTANT OIL LOSS, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. NEVER HAD A VISIBLE LEAK ON THE ENGINE OR OIL SPOTS ON THE DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE…

Read full complaint

FOUND A POOL OF OIL ON THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING, HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER, TOLD THE MAIN REAR SEAL LET GO, OIL CHANGED AT DEALER 5 DAYS PRIOR FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION CHECK, BECAUSE OF CONSTANT OIL LOSS, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. NEVER HAD A VISIBLE LEAK ON THE ENGINE OR OIL SPOTS ON THE DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE SINCE 2014.

NHTSA ODI #11395457

108,500 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Engine

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SHOP DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THE 2012 IS COVERED BY CHEVROLET BUT MY 2013 IS NOT. SPEAKING TO THE SHOP THEY TELL ME THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI #11395202

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2021
Engine

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE TO ADD OIL EVERY WEEK AND CHECK FREQUENTLY SO THAT I DO NOT RUN OUT OF OIL WHEN OIL IS LOW THERE IS NO SAFETY FEATURE THAT LETS YOU KNOW

NHTSA ODI #11395081

84,000 miles · Feb 6, 2021
Power Train

84,000 MILES, TRANSFER CASE HOUSING CRACKED. DEALER STATED THAT THE SIDE WAS "BLOWN OUT" DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND STRONG SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. DROVE STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP. NEW TRANSFER CASE INSTALLED FOR $2,600. OF COURSE, THE 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 5 YEAR. THIS CAR IS …

Read full complaint

84,000 MILES, TRANSFER CASE HOUSING CRACKED. DEALER STATED THAT THE SIDE WAS "BLOWN OUT" DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND STRONG SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. DROVE STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP. NEW TRANSFER CASE INSTALLED FOR $2,600. OF COURSE, THE 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 5 YEAR. THIS CAR IS 7 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11394947

68,000 miles · Feb 3, 2021
Engine

I BOUGHT MY 2013 EQUINOX IN 2012. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 68,000 MILES. OIL CHANGES ARE ON TIME AND REGULAR. RECENTLY I MADE A 7 HOUR ROUND TRIP. TOWARDS THE END OF THE TRIP THE CAR BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LOUDER THAN NORMAL. AT THE END OF THE TRIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT FOR AN OI…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT MY 2013 EQUINOX IN 2012. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 68,000 MILES. OIL CHANGES ARE ON TIME AND REGULAR. RECENTLY I MADE A 7 HOUR ROUND TRIP. TOWARDS THE END OF THE TRIP THE CAR BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LOUDER THAN NORMAL. AT THE END OF THE TRIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE OIL FILTER. AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, IT SEEMED TO DRIVE SMOOTH FOR ONE DAY THEN THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN. THE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY A MESSAGE THAT SAID 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER.' THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT WAS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. ON THE WAY THERE THE CAR STALLED AT A BUSY STOP LIGHT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AND MADE IT THE MAYBE 1000 FEET TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS THEY GAVE ME WAS A TIME CHAIN ISSUE ($1800) THEN THEY CALLED ME A DAY LATER AND SAID PISTONS/PISTON SEALS WERE ALSO AN ISSUE AND NOW IT WOULD BE ($2500). I STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND I FOUND THE LAWSUITS ABOUT THE PISTON ISSUES AND OIL CONSUMPTION. IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE PROBLEM W/MY CAR. I CAN DETAIL REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NEVER HAD AN OIL LIGHT COME ON BUT I SEE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE HOW THE SCREEN THAT GIVES THE OIL % IS NOT REALLY MONITORING THE CARS ACTUAL OIL USE. I RELIED HEAVILY ON THIS SCREEN, ALWAYS CHECKING IT TO SEE IF I NEEDED OIL. I WOULD LIKE INFO ON HOW TO ACCESS THE SPECIAL WARRANTY TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #11394578

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2021
Engine

HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO FAULTY PISTON RINGS

NHTSA ODI #11394566

56,000 miles · Feb 1, 2021
Visibility/wiper

SHOWS NO RECALL FOR MY VIN BUT YET THE PROBLEM WHICH IS RECALLED HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. DRIVERS WIPER DOES NOT WORK. SITTING IN DRIVEWAY WARMING CAR WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND NOW IT DOESNT WORK AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #11391098

84,549 miles · Jan 31, 2021
Engine

THREE OIL CHANGES ALL DONE AT CARL BLACK BUICK GMC, LLC, 11225 ALPHARETTA HWY, ROSWELL, GA 30076 WHEN THE VEHICLE STATES THERE IS 40% OIL LIFE LEFT. EACH TIME, OIL HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEPLETED CREATING A LOUD CLICKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. NEXT OIL CHANGE SCHEDULE 1-MONTH IN ADVANCE OF SERVICE RECOMMENDATION FROM DEALER OIL STICK…

Read full complaint

THREE OIL CHANGES ALL DONE AT CARL BLACK BUICK GMC, LLC, 11225 ALPHARETTA HWY, ROSWELL, GA 30076 WHEN THE VEHICLE STATES THERE IS 40% OIL LIFE LEFT. EACH TIME, OIL HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEPLETED CREATING A LOUD CLICKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. NEXT OIL CHANGE SCHEDULE 1-MONTH IN ADVANCE OF SERVICE RECOMMENDATION FROM DEALER OIL STICKER. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP THUS FAR HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL CONTACTING GM CORPORATE TO ASSIST. THIS IS THE SAME 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX ALREADY PART OF AN APPROVED AND PROVEN ISSUE WITH GM MOTORS THAT BURN EXCESSIVE OIL EVEN WHEN BEING MAINTAINED BY THEIR CERTIFIED MECHANICS AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS. THIS IS AN 11-MONTH FOLLOW-UP AFTER INITIALLY REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE ON 2/21/20 - NHTSA ID 11310678.

NHTSA ODI #11390834

73,000 miles · Jan 25, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR CLOGGED PVC VALVE. SPECIAL BULLETIN WAS RELEASED 14882 GM LOST A CLASS ACTION FOR HAVING LIMITED CARS WITH VIN # APPROVED FOR THE FREE FIX SO NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS SUED AND WON IN 2019. BUT NOW MY VIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ISN'T BEING COVERED. IT'S A WELL KNOWN WELL COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEM WITH 2…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR CLOGGED PVC VALVE. SPECIAL BULLETIN WAS RELEASED 14882 GM LOST A CLASS ACTION FOR HAVING LIMITED CARS WITH VIN # APPROVED FOR THE FREE FIX SO NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS SUED AND WON IN 2019. BUT NOW MY VIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ISN'T BEING COVERED. IT'S A WELL KNOWN WELL COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEM WITH 2010-2014 CHEVY EQUINOX'S. WITH SOME CARS CATCHING FIRE. I BROUGHT IN FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A COVERED REPAIR SINCE THE LAWSUIT AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND.

NHTSA ODI #11389925

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