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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
126,000 miles · Oct 3, 2018
Air Bags

I HIT A DEER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER I HIT IT I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR FILLED WITH DUST COMING FROM THE DASH WERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WAS ACTIVATED BUT DID NOT DEPLOY. WHICH NOW CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURE OF THE AIRBAG SHOWING IT DID NOT DEPLOY …

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I HIT A DEER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER I HIT IT I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR FILLED WITH DUST COMING FROM THE DASH WERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WAS ACTIVATED BUT DID NOT DEPLOY. WHICH NOW CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURE OF THE AIRBAG SHOWING IT DID NOT DEPLOY AND A PICTURE OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11133191

72,000 miles · Sep 26, 2018
Engine

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE AS ADVISED. VEHICLE HAS USED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND OUT WHERE IT IS GOING. LISTED PROBLEM DATE AS TODAY BUT THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING..... HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACE…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE AS ADVISED. VEHICLE HAS USED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND OUT WHERE IT IS GOING. LISTED PROBLEM DATE AS TODAY BUT THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING..... HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHY ON THAT EITHER? SEEMS WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IN THE WORKS!

NHTSA ODI #11131709

120,988 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY). THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY). THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4660303111; HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,988.

NHTSA ODI #11131531

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

57,000 miles · Sep 6, 2018
Engine

VEHICLE TIMING CHAIN BROKE 3 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD 57,000 MILES ON THE CAR. CHEVROLET REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OR PAY FOR ANY REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING) COMPLETELY STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS TURNING OFF A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. I WAS STRANDED IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC…

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VEHICLE TIMING CHAIN BROKE 3 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD 57,000 MILES ON THE CAR. CHEVROLET REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OR PAY FOR ANY REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING) COMPLETELY STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS TURNING OFF A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. I WAS STRANDED IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC UNTIL I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO GET A COUPLE OF GOOD SAMARITANS TO ASSIST WITH PHYSICALLY PUSHING IT OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11127926

102,000 miles · Sep 5, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING TO WORK TODAY, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF PARKING MY CAR. THE CAR CUT OFF BEFORE I COULD COMPLETELY PARK. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP THEN CUT BACK OFF. I TOOK MY CHANCES AND DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. EVERY TIME I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF I.E RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHICH BECAM…

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WHEN DRIVING TO WORK TODAY, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF PARKING MY CAR. THE CAR CUT OFF BEFORE I COULD COMPLETELY PARK. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP THEN CUT BACK OFF. I TOOK MY CHANCES AND DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. EVERY TIME I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF I.E RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHICH BECAME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL VECHICALS THAT WERE THE SAME MODEL / MAKE AS MINES WAITING TO BE SERVICED. ALSO SERVERAL OF MY RELATIVES WHO HAS THE SAME CAR AS MINE HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIPS ALL ACROSS TOWN ARE OUT OF LOANER CARS AND CAN'T GET TO MINE UNTIL NEXT WEEK. 3 PEOPLE I KNOW TOOK THEIR VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AND EACH WERE TOLD THEY NEEDED A TUNE UP. AFTER RECEIVING THE TUNE UP THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED. ALL OF OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON.

NHTSA ODI #11124615

97,000 miles · Aug 30, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE I'M MARCH 2018. A FEW WEEKS AFTER BUYING IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CODE P0014 FOR THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PART AND CHANGED THE OIL AND IT WAS ALL FINE, NO MORE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AUGUST 2018 I GET AN OIL CHANGE ON IT AGAIN, CHECK ENGINE L…

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I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE I'M MARCH 2018. A FEW WEEKS AFTER BUYING IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CODE P0014 FOR THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PART AND CHANGED THE OIL AND IT WAS ALL FINE, NO MORE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AUGUST 2018 I GET AN OIL CHANGE ON IT AGAIN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON FOR SAME REASON. WHY WAS THIS PART NOT RECALLED LIKE PREVIOUS YEARS? I WILL NEVER AGAIN PURCHASE A CHEVY.

NHTSA ODI #11123434

118,000 miles · Aug 29, 2018
Engine

BURNING OIL VERY BADLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11123252

68,500 miles · Aug 21, 2018
Engine

IN 2013, I ACTUALLY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ABOUT SOME SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF CAR DURING RAIN/SNOW, AND SOME SHAKING WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I WAS INFORMED THESE WERE NORMAL FUNCTIONS DUE TO THE CLIMATIC WEATHER AND BRAKING SYSTEM. I TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 WHILST DRIVING TO WORK, THE CAR C…

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IN 2013, I ACTUALLY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ABOUT SOME SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF CAR DURING RAIN/SNOW, AND SOME SHAKING WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I WAS INFORMED THESE WERE NORMAL FUNCTIONS DUE TO THE CLIMATIC WEATHER AND BRAKING SYSTEM. I TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 WHILST DRIVING TO WORK, THE CAR CUT OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE OIL HAD BURNED VERY LOW. SHOULD A 2013 BURN COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL IN THREE MONTHS? I HAD TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION SOLENOIDS. IT WASN'T UNTIL I HAD THE ALMOST EXACT ISSUE HAPPEN IN JAN, 2018 THAT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL AT A HIGH SPEED. THERE IS A RECALL ON MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE (SEE BELOW FOR REPORT) THAT MIRROR THE EXACT ISSUES THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SINCE 2017. HOWEVER, UPON CONTACTING GMC, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, THEREFORE GMC WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE, THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE RECALL REPORT. I AM CONSTANTLY IN FEAR THAT MY CAR WILL SHUTOFF WHILST I AM DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TWO OIL CHANGES WITHIN A MONTH, BECAUSE THE OIL BURNS THAT QUICK. I AM NOW ON MY SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, BUT I KNOW ONCE THE TESTING IS COMPLETE, I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, DUE TO THE ENGINE BURNING OIL AT AN ASTRONOMICAL RATE. SHAKING/SHUTDOWN, I RENT CARS FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL DUE TO FEAR. INITIALLY, DEALER REP SAID I DIDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE OIL FOR 5,000 MILES. ITHIN A MONTHS TIME (JUN-JUL 2018), I HAD TWO OIL CHANGES. A DYE TEST WAS DONE IN JULY, BECAUSE THOUGH NO OIL WAS EVIDENT, SERVICE DEPART ASSUMED MUST BE A LEAK FOR OIL TO BE SO LOW. TEST SHOWED "NO" LEAK. CAR TICKS, MECHANIC SAYS DUE TO ENGINE NEEDING REPLACED. GMC/CHEVY REFUSE. THE REPAIR REPORT SAYS "CAR RUNS FINE" MY CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WASN'T RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI #11121260

20,000 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHED A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX BRAND NEW. TWO YEARS AFTER HAVING IT THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR MY RADIO AND HEAT/AIR CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MODULE SWITCH. THEN IN APRIL 2017 IT DID IT AGAIN! TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIR HVAC. THEN AUGUST 2018 I…

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I PURCHED A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX BRAND NEW. TWO YEARS AFTER HAVING IT THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR MY RADIO AND HEAT/AIR CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MODULE SWITCH. THEN IN APRIL 2017 IT DID IT AGAIN! TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIR HVAC. THEN AUGUST 2018 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I AM TOLD IT IS THE RADIO HVAC AND THAT NOW IT IS NOT COVERED ON WARRANTY AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY $650 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND JUST KEEP GETTING TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERYTIME. THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BY THE CHEVY DEALER WITH THE EXPENSE GOING UP EACH TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11121029

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