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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 · Feb 1, 2019
Engine

I OWN A 2013 CHEV. EQUINOX THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I USED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ALL MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS RECOMMENDED. SOMEWHERE AROUND 60,000 MILES I MENTIONED TO MY SERVICE TECH THAT MY CAR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING AND TICKING NOISE AND APPEARED TO BE LOW ON OIL. HE CONDUCTED THE REG. OIL CHANGE AND SAID ALL LOOKED G…

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I OWN A 2013 CHEV. EQUINOX THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I USED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ALL MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS RECOMMENDED. SOMEWHERE AROUND 60,000 MILES I MENTIONED TO MY SERVICE TECH THAT MY CAR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING AND TICKING NOISE AND APPEARED TO BE LOW ON OIL. HE CONDUCTED THE REG. OIL CHANGE AND SAID ALL LOOKED GOOD. MY OIL CONSUMPTION CONTINUED TO INCREASE WITH NO LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT EVER COMING ON. I WAS HAVING TO ADD OIL BETWEEN REG. OIL CHANGES WITH NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES, I MENTIONED TO MY SERVICE TECH AGAIN THAT IT WAS BECOMING A HASSLE ALWAYS HAVING TO BUT OIL IN MY CAR BETWEEN SERVICES. HE SAID HE COULD DO A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, BUT GM WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. I INFORMED HIM THAT I HAD MENTIONED IT TO HIM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS JUST TO LEARN HE NEVER MADE A NOTE ON MY RECORDS ABOUT IT. HE CHANGED THE OIL AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK AFTER SO MANY MILES. I WENT BACK AS REQUESTED KNOWING IT WAS LOW BECAUSE OF THE TICKING NOISE AND HE SAID IT WAS WITHIN THE NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION BASED ON GM. HE THEN ASKED ME TO COME BACK AGAIN AFTER SO MANY MILES WHICH I DID. I KNOW IT WAS LOW BECAUSE I CHECKED IT MYSELF BEFORE GOING BY AND IT WAS ONLY SHOWING ON THE TIP OF THE DIP STICK. AGAIN HE SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT BEING WITHIN THE NORMAL CONSUMPTION BASED ON GM. HE THEN ADDED OIL PER MY REQUEST. STILL AT NO POINT DID MY OIL LIGHT EVER COME ON. AFTER GETTING NO WHERE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO NO LONG HAVE MY OIL CHANGED BY THEM. BUT STILL HAVING TO BUT 2-3 QTS OF OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES AND EVEN CHANGING THE OIL MORE OFTEN. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKS AND HE SAID THAT MY ENGINE IS KNOWN TO BURN HIGH AMOUNTS OF OIL AND THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO TO HELP AND RECOMMENDED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH GM.

NHTSA ODI #11173620

105,000 miles · Feb 1, 2019
Engine

PVC VALVE FROZE AND REAL MAIN SEAL BLEW. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO EMPTY THE OIL ALL OVER THE PARKING. BULLETIN 14882. IT'S A VERY KNOWN PROBLEM CAUSED BY POOR GM ENGINEERING AND I FEEL THEY'RE TOO EMBARRASSED TO COVER ALL VEHICLES. THEY ONLY COVER 'CERTAIN' ONES. SEEMS LIKE MOST OF US THAT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM HAVE TO EAT T…

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PVC VALVE FROZE AND REAL MAIN SEAL BLEW. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO EMPTY THE OIL ALL OVER THE PARKING. BULLETIN 14882. IT'S A VERY KNOWN PROBLEM CAUSED BY POOR GM ENGINEERING AND I FEEL THEY'RE TOO EMBARRASSED TO COVER ALL VEHICLES. THEY ONLY COVER 'CERTAIN' ONES. SEEMS LIKE MOST OF US THAT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM HAVE TO EAT THE COST AND IT HAS CAUSED A HUGE STRAIN ON MY FAMILY'S DAILY COMMUTE ROUTINE AND FINANCES. ALICIA S. BOLER DAVIS CHEVY'S SENIOR VP CLEARLY ISN'T THAT SORRY FOR OUR INCONVENIENCE AS CLAIMED IN BULLETIN. BULLETIN 14882 SHOULD COVER ALL VEHICLES IN THE YEARS LISTED NOT JUST RANDOM ONES. MY EQUINOX EVEN LANDS IN THE WARRANTY TOO OF UNDER 10YEAR AND 120,000MILES. I KNOW NHTSA IS USUALLY MORE CONCERNED WITH VEHICLES FAILURES WHILE IN MOTION AS THEY CAN CAUSE FATALITIES, BUT A LOT OF THESE SEALS GO OUT DURING FREEZING WEATHER FROM A BLOCKED PVC. PEOPLE COULD BE LEFT STRANDS RS IN BELOW FREEZING CONDITIONS TOO LONG. ALSO OIL LOST ALL OVER THE ROAD CAN CAUSE SLICK ROADS. THANK YOU NHTSA FOR A PLACE TO VENT!

NHTSA ODI #11173490

109,000 miles · Jan 31, 2019
Engine

TAKATA RECALL. WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER ON A HIGHWAY, MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, IT START TO LURCH WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND REPAIR. THE REPAIR COST $1,800 FOR A BLOWN OIL SEAL. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND TH…

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TAKATA RECALL. WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER ON A HIGHWAY, MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, IT START TO LURCH WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND REPAIR. THE REPAIR COST $1,800 FOR A BLOWN OIL SEAL. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND PVC VALVE. CHEVY SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 14882 DATE MARCH 2015.

NHTSA ODI #11173326

80,000 miles · Jan 30, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I KEEP HAVING ISSUES WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THE BEARINGS IN THE WIPER MOTORS ONCE BUT THE DEALER FIXED IT BUT I'VE HAD 3 MORE TIMES THAT THEY LOCK UP AND THE WIPERS FLY OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11173190

90,000 miles · Jan 30, 2019
Engine

MY 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH 90,000 MILES WHICH IS A COUPLE MONTHS OUT OF POWERTRAIN WARRANTY HAS BEEN EATING OIL. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN AFTER IT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE I RECENTLY GOT AN OIL CHANGE. THIS PLACE GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND ONE MONTH LATER MY EQUINOX…

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MY 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH 90,000 MILES WHICH IS A COUPLE MONTHS OUT OF POWERTRAIN WARRANTY HAS BEEN EATING OIL. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN AFTER IT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE I RECENTLY GOT AN OIL CHANGE. THIS PLACE GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND ONE MONTH LATER MY EQUINOX STARTED SHAKING AGAIN AND IS OUT OF OIL. AND LIKE OTHERS THE ENGINE NEVER TURNED ON! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME I NEED REPAIRS COSTING $3500 TO GET NEW PISTONS/RINGS AMONG OTHER THINGS. WHILE THERE I TALK TO THE LADY NEXT TO ME. SHE HAS THE SAME VEHICLE SAME YEAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOOK AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND THEY SAY THE #1 PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL IS THIS. THE CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2013 MODEL YEAR IS RATED THE WORST YEAR FOR EQUINOX BECAUSE OF REPAIR COSTS. THE DEALERSHIP SOLUTION: BRING THE VEHICLE IN EVERY 1000 MILES TO GET MORE OIL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN ONE? THE CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIT THE BILL FOR $3400 FOR SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURER IS AT FAULT FOR. I PERSONALLY DO NOT SEE HOW I CAN BRING THE VEHICLE IN THAT OFTEN AS I DRIVE 60 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK. ANY ASSISTANCE I CAN GET WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS VEHICLE!

NHTSA ODI #11173150

62,000 miles · Jan 30, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR WAS FLASHING. SID DILLON CHEVROLET FREMONT (2500 E 23RD ST, FREMONT, NE 68025, (402) 512-1463) INDICATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED REGARDING THE TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING THE CONTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR WAS FLASHING. SID DILLON CHEVROLET FREMONT (2500 E 23RD ST, FREMONT, NE 68025, (402) 512-1463) INDICATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED REGARDING THE TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AWAITING THE CONTACT'S AUTHORIZATION TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #11173019

61,000 miles · Jan 29, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE DIPSTICK READING WAS AT A LOW LEVEL AND OIL HAD TO BE ADDED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH ROBBINS CHEVROLET (18611 HIGHWAY 59 N, HUMBLE, TX…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE DIPSTICK READING WAS AT A LOW LEVEL AND OIL HAD TO BE ADDED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH ROBBINS CHEVROLET (18611 HIGHWAY 59 N, HUMBLE, TX 77338, (281) 446-3021). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5020307544. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. *DT *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11172734

50,000 miles · Jan 25, 2019
Engine

PCV VALVE BULLETIN 14882. CAR HAS BEEN USING EXCESSIVE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. SINCE IT HAD 50K MILES. AT THE TIME THE DEALER SAID PER CHEVY .5 QUARTS IS NORMAL EVERY 2500 MILES. RECENTLY THE OIL HAS BECOME VERY DIRTY AND IM ADDING BETWEEN 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SAID IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED. WENT TO CHEVY…

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PCV VALVE BULLETIN 14882. CAR HAS BEEN USING EXCESSIVE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. SINCE IT HAD 50K MILES. AT THE TIME THE DEALER SAID PER CHEVY .5 QUARTS IS NORMAL EVERY 2500 MILES. RECENTLY THE OIL HAS BECOME VERY DIRTY AND IM ADDING BETWEEN 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SAID IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED. WENT TO CHEVY DEALER AND SAID THIS BULLETIN DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. ITS WITHIN THE SAME YEARS, SAME ISSUE BUT CHEVY WILL NOT COVER IT (SPOKE TO CHEVY DIRECTLY).

NHTSA ODI #11172091

83,000 miles · Jan 24, 2019
Engine

THIS VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. FOR EVERY 1000 MILES ITS BURNING 2 QTS. OF OIL. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT FOR SOME REASON WONT ACKNOWLEDGE IT ON THIS ONE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #11171920

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2019
Engine

DUE TO A FROZEN PCV SYSTEM AND THE HIGH PRESSURE, MY REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL STARTED TO LEAK OIL. MY CAR IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. MY CAR IS ALSO EATING AWAY OIL WHERE I WOULD HAVE TO GET FREQUENT OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ODI #11171846

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