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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
42,000 miles · Jul 19, 2016
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED LINKAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED LINKAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10885812

70,000 miles · Jul 17, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

FIRE STARTED WHILE CAR WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS A ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED NEAR THE FUSE BOX. FIRE BURNED THROUGH FIREWALL AND CONTINUED UP THE CEILING CONSOLE. THIS CAR IS USUALLY PARKED IN MY GARAGE, WITH MY BEDROOM RIGHT ABOVE. FIRE STARTED AROUND 12:30AM.

NHTSA ODI #10885403

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL LEVELS IN THE VEHICLE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DAILY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE PISTON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL LEVELS IN THE VEHICLE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DAILY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE PISTON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10884599

51,861 miles · Jul 1, 2016
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN A HARD RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY WIPERS STUCK TO THE LEFT. I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME SEEING WHERE TO GO. I WAS NEXT TO A SEMI TRUCK AND WAS BEING FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER SEMI TRUCK. I EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN AND GOT OFF ON THE BERM. WHEN THE RAIN LET UP I WENT TO THE…

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I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN A HARD RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY WIPERS STUCK TO THE LEFT. I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME SEEING WHERE TO GO. I WAS NEXT TO A SEMI TRUCK AND WAS BEING FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER SEMI TRUCK. I EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN AND GOT OFF ON THE BERM. WHEN THE RAIN LET UP I WENT TO THE DEALERS AND HAD THE WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY REPAIRED FOR ABOUT $300.00. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS MALFUNCTION, AND I CAN SEE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL. IT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2010 EQUINOX WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2012. MY MILEAGE WAS 51861. I AM AFRAID SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SEVERELY HURT , OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT.

NHTSA ODI #10882065

65,650 miles · Jun 8, 2016
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING ON I-495 IN MA ON A RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED TO MY LEFT ON THE WINDSHIELD. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MOVE THE WIPERS TO NO AVAIL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND MOVED THE WIPERS INTO THE DOWN POSITION. WHEN I RE-ENTERED MY VEHICLE, I TURNED ON TH…

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I WAS DRIVING ON I-495 IN MA ON A RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED TO MY LEFT ON THE WINDSHIELD. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MOVE THE WIPERS TO NO AVAIL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND MOVED THE WIPERS INTO THE DOWN POSITION. WHEN I RE-ENTERED MY VEHICLE, I TURNED ON THE ENGINE AND THEN TURNED ON THE WIPERS. NO GOOD. IN BETWEEN RAIN STORMS I DROVE TO A REST STOP ON I-90 (MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE) IN MA WHERE I REMAINED FOR 2 HOURS DURING HEAVY DOWNPOURS. I CALLED AAA BUT THEY REFERRED ME TO STATE TROOPERS SINCE AAA IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE TURNPIKE. INSTEAD OF BOTHERING THE TROOPERS, I DROVE AS FAR AS I COULD IN BETWEEN RAIN STORMS WHICH GOT ME TO CT, WHERE I STAYED OVERNIGHT AT A HOTEL. MY HOME IS IN ANOTHER STATE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THEY HAD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION CONKED OUT. IT WAS COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER, I WONDER WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO BULLETINS OR RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. DURING INTERNET SEARCHES INCLUDING ON THIS WEBSITE, I FOUND MULTIPLE INCIDENCES OF THIS TYPE. SAFETY IS AT STAKE AND THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ACCORDINGLY BY THE VEHICLE MAKER/WIPER TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURER. I AM BLESSED TO BE SAFE BUT SOMEDAY SOMEONE WON'T BE... PLEASE ADDRESS THE SITUATION BEFORE SOMEDAY ARRIVES. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10873278

49,511 miles · Jun 7, 2016
Unknown Or Other

MY ENGINE CUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. THIS IS EXTREMELY SCARY AND CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK TO HAVE PIECE OF MIND ONLY TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS MODEL. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10872889

51,000 miles · May 25, 2016
Engine

THIS JUST STARTED 2 DAYS AGO AT 51K MILES. THE VEHICLE WILL DIE AT A SLOW SPEED OR AT IDLE. IT HAS HAPPENED ANYWHERE FROM THE DRIVE-THRU TO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #10870861

53,500 miles · May 16, 2016
Visibility/wiper

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 80. DOWNPOUR STARTED - WIPERS WERE ON AND SUDDENLY STOPPED IN UP POSITION. BACK WIPERS WERE FINE. TRIED TO TURN OFF, TURN UP SPEED AND TURN DOWN SPEED - NO LUCK. BLINDING RAIN SURROUNDED BY TRACTOR TRAILERS IS NOT THE PLACE I WANT TO EVER BE AGAIN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE WIPER MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN -…

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TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 80. DOWNPOUR STARTED - WIPERS WERE ON AND SUDDENLY STOPPED IN UP POSITION. BACK WIPERS WERE FINE. TRIED TO TURN OFF, TURN UP SPEED AND TURN DOWN SPEED - NO LUCK. BLINDING RAIN SURROUNDED BY TRACTOR TRAILERS IS NOT THE PLACE I WANT TO EVER BE AGAIN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE WIPER MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN - I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE BEFORE!

NHTSA ODI #10865175

57,000 miles · May 4, 2016
Visibility/wiper

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FL TURNPIKE AT MIDNIGHT IN A TORRENTIAL DOWN POUR. THE WIPERS WERE ON & THEN THEY JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD! VERY SCARY NEARLY DROVE OFF THE OVERPASS. WHEN YOU TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OFF AND ON YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS JUST FALL FLAT. TURNS O…

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THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FL TURNPIKE AT MIDNIGHT IN A TORRENTIAL DOWN POUR. THE WIPERS WERE ON & THEN THEY JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD! VERY SCARY NEARLY DROVE OFF THE OVERPASS. WHEN YOU TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OFF AND ON YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS JUST FALL FLAT. TURNS OUT IT'S A PLASTIC PIECE IN THE LINKAGE THAT FAILS. DEALERSHIP WANTS $350 TO REPAIR. WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE YEAR AND A HALF AGO 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX GM CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10863208

65,850 miles · May 1, 2016
Visibility/wiper

I HAVE A NEWLY PURCHASED 2013 EQUINOX WHICH MY WIFE DRIVES AND THE WIPERS BROKE ON IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJ PARKWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAINSTORM AND WAS LUCKY SHE DID NOT GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH OUR DAUGHTER. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON MANY OTHER EQUINOX'S AROUND THE SAME AGE WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. I SEE …

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I HAVE A NEWLY PURCHASED 2013 EQUINOX WHICH MY WIFE DRIVES AND THE WIPERS BROKE ON IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJ PARKWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAINSTORM AND WAS LUCKY SHE DID NOT GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH OUR DAUGHTER. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON MANY OTHER EQUINOX'S AROUND THE SAME AGE WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. I SEE THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BEING IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY WIFE PUT HER WIPERS ON HIGH SINCE IT WAS RAINING SO HARD AND SCARED TO DEATH WHEN IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #10862430

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