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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
71,151 miles · Mar 29, 2017
Visibility/wiper

WIPERS BECAME INOPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PHILLIPS CHEVROLET WHO ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WHEREBY ONE OF THE ARMS BROKE OFF AND CAUSED THE ASSEMBLY TO STOP WORKING. THE CHARGE WAS $420.02 TO REPLACE THE WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE MOTOR FOR THE WIPER NEEDED T…

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WIPERS BECAME INOPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PHILLIPS CHEVROLET WHO ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WHEREBY ONE OF THE ARMS BROKE OFF AND CAUSED THE ASSEMBLY TO STOP WORKING. THE CHARGE WAS $420.02 TO REPLACE THE WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE MOTOR FOR THE WIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION GETS REPLACED. AFTERWARD, I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM A FELLOW EQUINOX OWNER WHO ADVISED THE WIPER PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN, AND THE ISSUE IS UNDER A RECALL UNDER GENERAL MOTORS #25302. IF IT IS A RECALL, WHY THEN WAS I CHARGED $420 BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER???

NHTSA ODI #10969362

125,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Engine

2.4L ECO TECH ENGINES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: 14882 AND APPARENTLY THIS BULLETIN WAS ONLY SENT TO SOME OWNERS BUT NOT ALL OWNERS AND THE ISSUE IS THE PCV ORFICE GETS PLUGGED WITH ICE IN THE WINTER CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE ENGINE WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL ON THE…

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2.4L ECO TECH ENGINES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: 14882 AND APPARENTLY THIS BULLETIN WAS ONLY SENT TO SOME OWNERS BUT NOT ALL OWNERS AND THE ISSUE IS THE PCV ORFICE GETS PLUGGED WITH ICE IN THE WINTER CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE ENGINE WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL ON THE ENGINE. EVEN THOUGH MY EQUINOX HAD THIS 2.4L ECOTECH ENGINE AND I DID ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AS REQUIRED GM FAILED TO SEND ME THIS NOTICE (WHICH THEY TOLD ME THAT DID NOT SEND IT TO ME SINCE I DID NOT HAVE AN ECO TECH WHICH I DID) BUT THEY ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO FIX IT UNTIL 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES AND MINE FAILED AT 4 YEARS AND 125,000 SO OF COURSE THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX OR REIMBURSE ME FOR MY OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT IT. ALSO MY TRUCK JUST LOST POWER AS I WAS DRIVING AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF I HAD BEEN ON A BUSY FREEWAY AT THE TIME. I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD AT THE TIME JUST BEFORE ENTERING A FREEWAY WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPENED. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT THE SERVICE BULLETIN I COULD HAVE PREVENTED A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BY HAVING THE ISSUE LOOKED AT AND DEALT WITH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT .

NHTSA ODI #10968736

90,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10968688

63,000 miles · Mar 26, 2017
Engine

ENGINE STALLS AT LOW RPM. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AT RANDOM TIMES FROM REVERSE / BACKING UP THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AT RED LIGHTS WHEN STAKING OFF AT LOW RPMS, CAUSING PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO STOP SUDDENLY WHILE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND START THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10968526

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2017
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10968353

95,000 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Engine

OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE A QUART OF OIL HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE CAR ONCE A WEEK ACCORDING TO A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN, THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS. GENERALLY THE STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS ARE THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE OIL ON THE CYLINDER WALLS AND THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CAN COME FROM THE PCV SYSTEM AND/OR THE AFM P…

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OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE A QUART OF OIL HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE CAR ONCE A WEEK ACCORDING TO A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN, THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS. GENERALLY THE STUCK OIL CONTROL RINGS ARE THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE OIL ON THE CYLINDER WALLS AND THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CAN COME FROM THE PCV SYSTEM AND/OR THE AFM PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE IN THE OIL PAN.

NHTSA ODI #10967120

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2017
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10966521

115,986 miles · Mar 16, 2017
Power Train

I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED MY ENGINE THAT BLEW UP. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A DOCTORS. APPT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SUV WENT FROM DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT TO BARELY MOVING. I HAD TO TURN IT ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO BE ABLE TO PARK IT IN A SAFE PLACE.I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION DIED. SO IN LE…

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I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED MY ENGINE THAT BLEW UP. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A DOCTORS. APPT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SUV WENT FROM DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT TO BARELY MOVING. I HAD TO TURN IT ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO BE ABLE TO PARK IT IN A SAFE PLACE.I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION DIED. SO IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ONCE I HIT 100,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR BOTH TO COMPLETELY DIE BACK TO BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10966406

105,996 miles · Mar 16, 2017
Engine

I HAD 100,000 MILES ON MY CHEVY EQUINOX AND IN DECEMBER WITH OUT WARNING THE ENGINE BLEW UP. I HAD RECENTLY HAD A OIL CHANGE BUT WAS TOLD THE ENGINE BARELY HAD ANY OIL. I HAD ARRIVED AT A DOCTORS OFFICE WAS THERE FOR A HOUR AND WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10966404

40,000 miles · Mar 16, 2017
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V582000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10966359

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