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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

What owners actually said

751 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2020
EnginePower Train

SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION I'M ADDING OIL CONSTANTLY

NHTSA ODI #11374606

139,000 miles · Nov 12, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT CALLED ONSTAR AND A POLICE WAS SENT OUT TO ASSIST WITH MOVING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO ROGER DEAN CHEVROLET (2235 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PAL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT CALLED ONSTAR AND A POLICE WAS SENT OUT TO ASSIST WITH MOVING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO ROGER DEAN CHEVROLET (2235 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED A TRANSPORTER TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE BACK TO HER RESIDENCE IN DELAWARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.

NHTSA ODI #11374305

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

100,000 miles · Nov 9, 2020
Unknown Or Other

MY MANIFOLD IS GETTING A HOLE IN IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE MANIFOLD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SINCE THERE IS AN OXYGEN SENSOR LOCATED IN THE MANIFOLD. IF I LET THE CAR IDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, I CAN SMELL EXHAUST GOING INTO MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11373811

70,000 miles · Oct 30, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL ABOUT MY CAR AND OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACED OIL IN MY CAR IN-BETWEEN OIL CHANGES BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL I RECEIVED THE NOTICE. I HAD TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I DID THEN COVID HIT AND THEY CLOSED DOWN FOR SOME TIME. I RESTARTED TH…

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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL ABOUT MY CAR AND OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACED OIL IN MY CAR IN-BETWEEN OIL CHANGES BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL I RECEIVED THE NOTICE. I HAD TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I DID THEN COVID HIT AND THEY CLOSED DOWN FOR SOME TIME. I RESTARTED THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND WAS TOLD BY A MGR NAMED TOM THAT MY CAR WAS BURNING EXCESS OIL BUT HE WOULD NEED TO SPEAK TO HIS MGR, WHO WAS ON VACATION AT THIS TIME. I THEN CALLED HIM BACK A WEEK LATER AS I DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM HIM. TOM TOLD ME THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT THE CAR BEING FIXED. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS ANSWER AS THEIR WAS A RECALL, I HAD AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND DID WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY SHOULD FIX MY CAR. I SENT TWO LETTERS PRIORITY MAIL TO THE MGR OF GENGRAS CHEVROLET IN EAST HARTFORD, CT. BOTH PRIORITY PACKAGES WERE RECEIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT NO ONE HAS RESPONDED TO ME. I HAVE ATTACHED THE LETTER I SENT TO PAUL SMITH, MGR OF GENGRAS CHEVROLET FOR YOUR REVIEW. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED BUT I WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH LEGAL ACTION IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMPLAINT

NHTSA ODI #11372432

126,000 miles · Oct 29, 2020
Engine

FREQUENT OIL CHANGES. THE CONSUMPTION OF OIL IS DEPLETED BEFORE THE LIFE OF OIL RUNS OUT. SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG WITH THE PISTONS RING.

NHTSA ODI #11366960

142,000 miles · Oct 28, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I NOTICED A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO BE STRONGER WHEN SITTING PARKED (I.E. AT THE GROCERY STORE OR AT A LONG STOP LIGHT). SERVICE SHOPS FOUND A HOLE IN EXHAUST RESONATOR AND A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH 2 AUTO SERVICE SHOPS INDICATE ARE "EXTREMELY COMMON IN 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX". AD…

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I NOTICED A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO BE STRONGER WHEN SITTING PARKED (I.E. AT THE GROCERY STORE OR AT A LONG STOP LIGHT). SERVICE SHOPS FOUND A HOLE IN EXHAUST RESONATOR AND A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH 2 AUTO SERVICE SHOPS INDICATE ARE "EXTREMELY COMMON IN 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX". ADDITIONALLY, IT APPEARS 2011 MODELS HAD A RECALL ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11366811

110,400 miles · Oct 20, 2020
Engine

MY VEHICLE NOW HAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM DUE TO MY OIL BURNING REALLY FAST. I HAVE TAKEN IT UP TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A WEIRD TICKING SOUND IN MY ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME ITS BECAUSE MY OIL WAS VERY VERY LOW AND IT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO AFFECT MY ENGINE. I ONLY DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK WITH ME CAR MOSTLY ON M…

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MY VEHICLE NOW HAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM DUE TO MY OIL BURNING REALLY FAST. I HAVE TAKEN IT UP TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A WEIRD TICKING SOUND IN MY ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME ITS BECAUSE MY OIL WAS VERY VERY LOW AND IT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO AFFECT MY ENGINE. I ONLY DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK WITH ME CAR MOSTLY ON MAIN PAVED ROADS AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. I NOTICED THE SOUND MORE WHEN I WAS IN TOWN MAINTAINING MY SPEED AT 25 MPH THE TICKING SOUND WAS VERY LOUD. IT WOULD ALSO SOUND LOUD IF I WAS TURNING RIGHT AND/OR LEFT. I WOULD ONLY NOTICE THE TICKING SOUND WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WHEN IT IS STATIONARY I WOULD NOT HEAR THE TICKING SOUND. I AM VERY SCARED TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD THAT GOES EVERYWHERE WITH ME AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT HER IN ANY HARM.

NHTSA ODI #11365367

100,000 miles · Oct 20, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion System

MY ECO-TEC ENGINE BURNS OIL. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE WORKED ON TWICE FOR THE SAME REPAIR RESULTING IN OVER $3,000 PAID OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES OR LESS. I ALSO HAVE TO ADD 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL ON A WEEKLY BASIS. ADDITIONALLY, NOW MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL ISSUE WHERE I'M NOW BURNING FUEL.

NHTSA ODI #11365322

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

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