IllustrationIN THE NORMAL COURSE OF STREET DRIVING, "SERVICE AIRBAG" WITH SCREWDRIVER ICON APPEARS AND DISSAPEARS. MECHANICS CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WIPERS STOPPED. MOTOR CONTINUED RUNNING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS TRANSMISSION BROKEN. DASHBOARD LIGHTS RANDOMLY DIM AND BRIGHTEN.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Equinox years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
640–25K
5525–50K
11150–75K
11375–100K
137100–150K
35150K+
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 reports16 DAYS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, DRIVING ON FREEWAY FEEDER ROAD, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AN HAD NOTICEABLE POWER LOSS, ENGINE HAS STARTED BURNING 3+ QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK. I AM CONCERNED IT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. ALL OIL CHANGES WERE DONE ON SCHEDULE AT THE DEALERSHIP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE BUSHINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIPER TRANSMISSION THAT CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE BUSHINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIPER TRANSMISSION THAT CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR MONDAY MORNING MARCH 21,2016. I TURNED ON THE WIPERS TO BECAUSE MY WINDOWS WAS FOGGY..AS I WAITED FOR THE WINDOWS TO CLEAR ..I NOTICED THAT MY WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON. I TRYED ALL SETTING FROM LOW-HIGH AND EVEN MIST SETTING. THEY STILL WOULD NOT WORK. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND HEARD A WHINING NOISE LIKE…
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I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR MONDAY MORNING MARCH 21,2016. I TURNED ON THE WIPERS TO BECAUSE MY WINDOWS WAS FOGGY..AS I WAITED FOR THE WINDOWS TO CLEAR ..I NOTICED THAT MY WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON. I TRYED ALL SETTING FROM LOW-HIGH AND EVEN MIST SETTING. THEY STILL WOULD NOT WORK. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND HEARD A WHINING NOISE LIKE THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING IN WIPER BLADE.I THEN TRIED THE WIPERS AGAIN AND THEY WOULDN'T MOVE...I GOT A ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT MY CAR FROM...THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $202 TO FIX.. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIPER TRANSMISSION LINKAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.THIS WIPER ISSUE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL..IS A SAFETY HAZARD...I'M GLAD I WAS AT HOME AND MY CAR WAS SITTING STILL AND IT WASN'T RAINING..BUT IF IT HAD BEEN RAINING THAT WOULD HAVE A BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD..A RECALL DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE CALLED IMMEDIATELY..
2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. OVER A PERIOD OF TWO WEEK, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE SHIFTING CONSOLE WAS…
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2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. OVER A PERIOD OF TWO WEEK, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE SHIFTING CONSOLE WAS REPLACED ONCE. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT, WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, NONE OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND WHEN THE KEY WAS ROTATED TO THE START POSITION, NOTHING HAPPENED. *JB
THE RADIO FAILED IN OCT 2015. NO DISPLAY OR CONTROLS. REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ORDERED A NEW RADIO. IT TOOK 3 MONTHS. THEY INSTALLED THE NEW RADIO IN JAN 2016. ON 2/21/16, RADIO FAILED AGAIN. NO CONTROLS AND BLANK SCREEN. AM STATIONS APPEARED BUT IT STUCK ON AN FM STATION. I ONLY STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HADN'T MOVED YE…
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THE RADIO FAILED IN OCT 2015. NO DISPLAY OR CONTROLS. REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ORDERED A NEW RADIO. IT TOOK 3 MONTHS. THEY INSTALLED THE NEW RADIO IN JAN 2016. ON 2/21/16, RADIO FAILED AGAIN. NO CONTROLS AND BLANK SCREEN. AM STATIONS APPEARED BUT IT STUCK ON AN FM STATION. I ONLY STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HADN'T MOVED YET. I DIDN'T RECEIVE A WORK ORDER FOR THE REPAIR, BUT DID ON THE INITIAL COMPLAINT.
CENTER CONSOL (DEFOGGER, BLOWER, RADIO, A/C AND ACCOMPANYING LIGHTING) WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON STREET. NO BLOWN FUSES.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE SHOOK SEVERELY AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Official recalls
216V582000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.