← 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
64,823 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,823.

NHTSA ODI #10897102

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2016
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE VISIBILITY/WIPER; HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS 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 N…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE VISIBILITY/WIPER; HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS 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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10896929

39,000 miles · Aug 8, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE , LOOSING ALL POWER TO THROTTLE , POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEGUN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST THREE DAYS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT . TODAY WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHUT OFF CAUS…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE , LOOSING ALL POWER TO THROTTLE , POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEGUN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST THREE DAYS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT . TODAY WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SHUT OFF CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO FIGHT THE CARS STEERING TO SAFELY BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND THEN RE INSERT KEY AND RE START THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10894209

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2016
Electrical System

I HAVE EXPERIENCED YEARS LONG RADIO UNIT COMPLICATIONS WITH MY CHEVY EQUINOX (2013) SINCE PURCHASED BRAND-NEW IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013. I HAVE PATIENTLY DONE EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO (BROUGHT IT IN-AND-OUT FOR SERVICE/REPAIRS, REPORTED IT TO GM, TALKED WITH SERVICE MANAGERS, HAD A TECHNICIAN BROUGHT IN, YOU NAME IT...…

Read full complaint

I HAVE EXPERIENCED YEARS LONG RADIO UNIT COMPLICATIONS WITH MY CHEVY EQUINOX (2013) SINCE PURCHASED BRAND-NEW IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013. I HAVE PATIENTLY DONE EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO (BROUGHT IT IN-AND-OUT FOR SERVICE/REPAIRS, REPORTED IT TO GM, TALKED WITH SERVICE MANAGERS, HAD A TECHNICIAN BROUGHT IN, YOU NAME IT...). THE RADIO UNIT/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING, SO TO SAY. THE RADIO SCREEN WILL BLACK OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE SCREEN WILL GO FUZZY LIKE AN OLD TUBE-TV, THE VOLUME WILL NOT ABLE TO BE TURNED UP OR DOWN FROM STEERING WHEEL OR RADIO UNIT, THE BACK-UP CAMERA SCREEN CUTS OUT WHILE BACKING UP OR STAYS IN BACKUP MOVE WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, AND THE LIST GOES ON. THE INTERRUPTIONS ARE DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING, TO SAY THE LEAST. HERE I AM ALMOST THREE YEARS INTO IT (THE PROBLEMS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE) TWO DRAINED BATTERIES, TONS OF SERVICE VISITS, A NEW RADIO UNIT, AND COUNTLESS HOURS WASTED WITH NOTHING TO SHOW BUT CONTINUED INTERRUPTION IN THE FUNCTION OF MY CAR RADIO UNIT. I EVEN BEGAN CATCHING THE INTERRUPTIONS ON VIDEO ON MY PHONE AND PROVIDING THEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY HAVE AMPLE EVIDENCE OF THE PROBLEMS REPORTED (ALTHOUGH THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT SO THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE).

NHTSA ODI #10893943

60,000 miles · Aug 4, 2016
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT 60MPH IN POURING RAIN. I HEARD A LOUD BAM UNDER MY HOOD AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALMOST FLEW OFF THE CAR. THEY WERE HANGING OFF ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS NOT FAR FROM AN OVERPASS SO DROVE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO IT TO WAIT FOR IT SLOW DOWN BUT ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST …

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT 60MPH IN POURING RAIN. I HEARD A LOUD BAM UNDER MY HOOD AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALMOST FLEW OFF THE CAR. THEY WERE HANGING OFF ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS NOT FAR FROM AN OVERPASS SO DROVE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO IT TO WAIT FOR IT SLOW DOWN BUT ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST ADVANCE AUTO IN HOPES OF REPAIR. THIS WAS SO DANGEROUS. I WAS ON A 70MPH EXPRESSWAY DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR IN POURING RAIN. I HAD MY SON WITH ME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS SERVE A VERY IMPORTANT PURPOSE AND SHOULD NEVER BE INSTALLED WITH PLASTIC. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EPIDEMIC WITH THE YEAR, MAKE & MODEL OF THE VEHICLE HAPPENING ON MANY OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10893255

60,000 miles · Aug 1, 2016
Air BagsCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT TWICE FROM BEHIND. THE CHEMICAL FROM THE SIDE AIRBAG WAS RELEASED BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CHEMICAL WAS A FINE MIST OR LIGHT SMOKE. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED THE FIRST TIME I WAS HIT. I AM NOT SURE WHEN THE AIRBAG MIST OCCURRED (? WITH THE FIRST OR SECOND HIT) THEY HAPPENED W…

Read full complaint

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT TWICE FROM BEHIND. THE CHEMICAL FROM THE SIDE AIRBAG WAS RELEASED BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CHEMICAL WAS A FINE MIST OR LIGHT SMOKE. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED THE FIRST TIME I WAS HIT. I AM NOT SURE WHEN THE AIRBAG MIST OCCURRED (? WITH THE FIRST OR SECOND HIT) THEY HAPPENED WITHIN SECONDS OF EACH OTHER. A "SERVICE AIRBAG" WARNING LIGHT IS NOW ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE IS GOING IN FOR REPAIRS AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH AND THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THIS. I HAVE ALSO NOTIFIED CHEVROLET DIRECTLY.

NHTSA ODI #10892169

33,000 miles · Jul 28, 2016
EnginePower TrainVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A LOUD ABNORMAL TICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND COMPRESSION TEST EVERY 1,000 MILES. TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A LOUD ABNORMAL TICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND COMPRESSION TEST EVERY 1,000 MILES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PISTON IN THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED WITH UNKNOWN PARTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10889297

27,000 miles · Jul 27, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10889113

42,739 miles · Jul 25, 2016
Seat BeltsSeats

THE VEHICLE TREADING ON THE SEATBELT AND THE SEATS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE TREADING HAS COME OUT OF BOTH. THE REAR SEATS ARE HARDLY USED EXCEPT TRANSPORTING THE GRANDKIDS ON A OCCASSION.

NHTSA ODI #10888171

85,000 miles · Jul 25, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND WATER GETS UNDER THE CAR MY AC GOES OUT. IT WILL COME BACK ON IN A DAY OR SO. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER A YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO NOT CARE.

NHTSA ODI #10888113

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