I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND (OTHER DRIVER EST. 35 MPH) I WAS SITTING STILL AT ZERO SPEED. DURING THIS REAR-END COLLISON THE DRIVER SEAT BACK SUPPORT AND HEAD REST BROKE. I ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY VEHICLE CAUSING BACK INJURIES. I AM QUESTIONING THE DURABILITY OF THE FRONT SEATS OF THIS VEHICLE.
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
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.
What owners actually said
751 reportsHAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE VEHICLE IN AND OUT OF PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES.
IT WAS RAINING AT ABOUT 3:00 PM AND THE WIPERS WERE WORKING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY STOPPED AND I CAN'T SEE AND ALMOST RUN INTO THE OTHER CARS BECAUSE THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW AND MY DAUGHTER IS AFRAID OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN.
THE VEHICLE OPERATOR INSERTED THE SWITCHBLADE STYLE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. OPERATOR WENT TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER TO START THE ENGINE. THE KEY FOB'S METAL CASING FOR THE KEY BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN 3 PIECES, THE REMOTE KEY FOB BODY, THE KEY & THE METAL COVER OF THE KEY. THE HINGE OR THE SWTICHBLADE PORTION IS STILL CONNECTE…
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THE VEHICLE OPERATOR INSERTED THE SWITCHBLADE STYLE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. OPERATOR WENT TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER TO START THE ENGINE. THE KEY FOB'S METAL CASING FOR THE KEY BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN 3 PIECES, THE REMOTE KEY FOB BODY, THE KEY & THE METAL COVER OF THE KEY. THE HINGE OR THE SWTICHBLADE PORTION IS STILL CONNECTED TO THE FOB. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE COULD NOT GIVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT ACTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN OR ANSWER IF THE IGNITION SWITCH BEEN BUMPED WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE IS 1200 MILES OUT OF THE "COVERED" WARRANTY.
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. ALL FOUR PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE OCCUPANTS ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOORS BY RELEASING THE DOOR LOCKS (THE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS POPPED UP) AND BY USING THE DOOR HANDLES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND TRIED T…
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THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. ALL FOUR PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE OCCUPANTS ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOORS BY RELEASING THE DOOR LOCKS (THE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS POPPED UP) AND BY USING THE DOOR HANDLES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND TRIED THE EXTERNAL DOOR HANDLES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE OCCUPANTS CONTACTED ONSTAR FOR ASSISTANCE. ONSTAR WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE DOOR LOCKS. ONSTAR INVOLVED EMERGENCY ONSTAR ASSISTANCE OVER THE TELEPHONE, WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE OCCUPANTS REMAINED TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONSTAR INSTRUCTED THE DRIVER TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. WHILE ENROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP, ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65-70 MPH, THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE DOOR RELEASED AND OPENED, RESULTING IN THE LIGHTING OF THE DOME LIGHTS AND THE "DOOR AJAR" INDICATOR ON THE DASH. THERE WERE OCCUPANTS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME, ON THE DRIVER-SIDE. ONCE ARRIVING AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK. THE FRONT-PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE DOOR OPENED. HOWEVER, THE FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN AND REMAINED LATCH AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. EVENTUALLY, THE DRIVER DOOR OPENED AND ALL OCCUPANTS VACATED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OVER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING...ALWAYS AND EVERYDAY (V6 ENGINE MODELS) CADILLAC HAS ISSUED A RECALL # 14132 FOR THE SAME POWERTRAIN IN THE 2013 CADILLAC SRX! CHEVROLET SHOULD DO THE SAME! *TR
WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A HERD OF DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I HIT ONE NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND MY SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND A FUNNY SMELL CAME OVER THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HASN'T SHUT OFF MY 4WAYS TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT SINCE THIS CAR…
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WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A HERD OF DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I HIT ONE NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND MY SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND A FUNNY SMELL CAME OVER THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HASN'T SHUT OFF MY 4WAYS TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT SINCE THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND I PURCHASED IT TO MAKE ME FEEL SAFE THAT A FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IS RIDICULOUS AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRADE THIS CAR IN. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH A TIGHT SEAT BELT AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS. THE MONEY I AM SPENDING TO BUY THIS CAR IS OUTRAGEOUS AS IT IS THEN FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND IT NOT WORK THE WAY IT IS INTENDED TO I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED IN SOME WAY. *TR
AFTER PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE/TURNED RADIO ON. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES.LATER THAT EVENING WHEN I GOT IN CAR KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR STARTED AND AS I STARTED TO DRIVE DASHBOARD AND RADIO BLINKED ON AND OFF. HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME B…
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AFTER PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE/TURNED RADIO ON. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES.LATER THAT EVENING WHEN I GOT IN CAR KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR STARTED AND AS I STARTED TO DRIVE DASHBOARD AND RADIO BLINKED ON AND OFF. HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME BACK ON AND PROCEEDED TO BLINK. CAR MAKING NOISE OFF AND ON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,200.
SECOND TIME MY THROTTLE SENSOR HAS FAILED DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR
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.
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