← 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

Engine complaints

412 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2020
Engine

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OIL LEVEL LOW WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION. ENGINE WILL TICK AND EVENTUALLY STALL OUT. MUST ADD OIL CONSTANTLY OR CHANGE THE OIL MORE FREQUENTLY THAN RECOMMENDED. NO RECALL HAS ISSUED AND DEALER WANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. BASICALLY STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT YOU MUST ADD OIL TO EVERY TIME …

Read full complaint

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OIL LEVEL LOW WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION. ENGINE WILL TICK AND EVENTUALLY STALL OUT. MUST ADD OIL CONSTANTLY OR CHANGE THE OIL MORE FREQUENTLY THAN RECOMMENDED. NO RECALL HAS ISSUED AND DEALER WANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. BASICALLY STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT YOU MUST ADD OIL TO EVERY TIME YOU FILL UP WITH GAS.

NHTSA ODI #11354999

139,000 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

SO FIRST STARTED TO USE OIL MORE THAN IT SHOULD BETWEEN CHANGES BUT IT WOULD BE JUST 1 QUART LOW IT WOULD KNOCK. THAN TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT THAN A WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IT'S STUFF I KEEP MAINTAINED BUT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND SOMETHING GOES WRONG. NOW WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AN THE KEYS ARE IN M…

Read full complaint

SO FIRST STARTED TO USE OIL MORE THAN IT SHOULD BETWEEN CHANGES BUT IT WOULD BE JUST 1 QUART LOW IT WOULD KNOCK. THAN TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT THAN A WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. I LIKE MY CAR BUT IT'S STUFF I KEEP MAINTAINED BUT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND SOMETHING GOES WRONG. NOW WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR AN THE KEYS ARE IN MY HAND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE LIKE THE COMPUTER IS ONE IN IT ALSO ONCE AN AWHILE YOU CAN SMELL GAS NOT ALWAYS. IT'S LIKE IT'S COSTING MONEY TO FIX IT ON STUFF THAT SHOULDN'T GO BAD IF YOU MAINTAIN IT. I TALKED TO FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN EQUINOX AN DIFFERENT YEAR RANG FROM 2011 TO 2017 WITH SAME ISSUES. WHY IS IT WE THE PUBLIC HAVE TO FIX ISSUES WHEN YOU MAINTAIN THE CAR!! I DON'T WANT TO TRADE BUT IF IT GOES DOWN AGAIN IT'S GOING TO BE TRADE FOR A NON CHEVY CAR I HAVE HAD CHEVY SINCE I STARTED DRIVING 40 PLUS YEARS MY SECOND EQUINOX NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH THE FIRST ONE LIKE I HAVE THIS ONE . I CHANGED BATTER IN IT THINKING IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE CLICKING BUT IT DIDN'T I ALMOST DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT TO MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS WHICH ARE QUIT OFTEN DUE TO WILL IT DIE ON ME AN LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI #11354998

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2020
EnginePower TrainVisibility/wiper

I USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND NOW MY MOTOR IS ACTING UP I HAVE TO PUT TWO QUARTS IN A WEEK AND WAS NOT TOLD AT PURCHASE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE JANUARY OF 2019 I'M UNDER THE 120 000 MILES THIS I NOTICED ABOUT 2WEEKS I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE SAME WEEK I BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF ISSUES AND IT WAS A 2000 REPAIR AFTER I ALREADY PAI…

Read full complaint

I USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND NOW MY MOTOR IS ACTING UP I HAVE TO PUT TWO QUARTS IN A WEEK AND WAS NOT TOLD AT PURCHASE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE JANUARY OF 2019 I'M UNDER THE 120 000 MILES THIS I NOTICED ABOUT 2WEEKS I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE SAME WEEK I BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF ISSUES AND IT WAS A 2000 REPAIR AFTER I ALREADY PAID 13,000 FOR IT. I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT MY MOTOR IS KNOCKS AND IT'S GETTING WORSE

NHTSA ODI #11354809

126,000 miles · Sep 11, 2020
Engine

A YEAR AND HALF AGO I LOST ALL OF MY OIL AND IT BLEW OUT MY TIMING CHAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE BAD PISTON RINGS AND THAT THE ECOTEC ENGINES WITH THAT YEAR WEAR OUT VERY FAST. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE PISTON RINGS REPLACED SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC TO JUST REPLACE EVERYTHING BUT THE PISTON RINGS. HE JUST SAID THAT I …

Read full complaint

A YEAR AND HALF AGO I LOST ALL OF MY OIL AND IT BLEW OUT MY TIMING CHAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE BAD PISTON RINGS AND THAT THE ECOTEC ENGINES WITH THAT YEAR WEAR OUT VERY FAST. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE PISTON RINGS REPLACED SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC TO JUST REPLACE EVERYTHING BUT THE PISTON RINGS. HE JUST SAID THAT I NEED TO WATCH THE OIL LEVEL AND THAT I COULD ADD SOME IF I STARTED TO BURN OIL AGAIN. ANOTHER YEAR WENT BY AND AS I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY, I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD SAYING THE ENGINE WAS "POWERING DOWN" AND I STARTED LOOSING SPEED VERY FAST. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED MY OIL LEVEL AND SURE ENOUGH, I HAD VERY LITTLE OIL. SO I POURED SOME IN AND THAT SEEM TO BE OK. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, MY EQUINOX STARTED TO SMOKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE OIL SPILLING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. I LET THE CAR COOL DOWN AND ADDED SOME MORE OIL SO I COULD GET TO WORK. A CO-WORKER OF MINE HELPED ME INVESTIGATE AND NOTICED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD ATE THROUGH THE GUARDING WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO SPILL OUT OF THE TOP OF THE GUARDING.

NHTSA ODI #11354360

91,300 miles · Aug 25, 2020
Engine

RECENTLY REALIZED OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS I'VE HAD TO CHANGE AND/OR ADD MOTOR OIL TO MY ENGINE EVERY 1500 MILES WITH THE MOST RECENT ADDING OF 3 QTS OF OIL BEING TODAY AUG 25 2020 I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF MY 2.4 ECOTEC ENGINE INVOLVING THE DESIGN OF THE PISTON RINGS I ALSO SA…

Read full complaint

RECENTLY REALIZED OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS I'VE HAD TO CHANGE AND/OR ADD MOTOR OIL TO MY ENGINE EVERY 1500 MILES WITH THE MOST RECENT ADDING OF 3 QTS OF OIL BEING TODAY AUG 25 2020 I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF MY 2.4 ECOTEC ENGINE INVOLVING THE DESIGN OF THE PISTON RINGS I ALSO SAW THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS MATTER AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED?? THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IT'S DANGEROUS AS A FIRST RESPONDER I TAKE SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY ESPECIALLY WHEN MY FAMILY IS IN THE CAR WITH ME WHAT IF MY ENGINE SUDDENLY SEIZED AND CAUSED US TO GET INTO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THAT SERIOUSLY INJURED US, OTHERS OR WORSE I WILL BE CONTACTING MY DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT THE COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE AS I'M SURE THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND I WILL EXPECT THEM TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO ME ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM YOUR END WOULD BE APPRECIATED THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11351270

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2020
Engine

2013 CHEVY EQUINOX, 2.4L 4. 128K MILES, MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. ONCE A WEEK, ENGINE LIFTERS CHATTER, AND OIL NEEDS TO BE ADDED. THIS TIME CAR DIED, AND GARAGE SAYS CALL THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DONT WANT TO TOUCH IT FOR UNDER $7K. IS THERE ANY ACTION I HAVE TO CORRECT THIS??

NHTSA ODI #11350431

129,000 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Engine

ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE AND WE HAVE TO ADD OIL FREQUENTLY (APPROXIMATELY EVERY 800-1000 MILES). THERE IS ALSO A FAILURE WITH THE OIL LIGHT, AS IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE OIL IS LOW. WE JUST HAPPENED TO CHECK IT WHEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND. THERE IS AN APPARENT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT…

Read full complaint

ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE AND WE HAVE TO ADD OIL FREQUENTLY (APPROXIMATELY EVERY 800-1000 MILES). THERE IS ALSO A FAILURE WITH THE OIL LIGHT, AS IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE OIL IS LOW. WE JUST HAPPENED TO CHECK IT WHEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND. THERE IS AN APPARENT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT ONLY COVERS VEHICLES WITHIN 7 YEAR 6 MONTHS OF IT BEING PUT INTO SERVICE OR 120,000 MILES. IT HAS 129,000 CURRENTLY. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND WERE NOT NOTIFIED BY GM OF THE RECALL UNTIL IT WAS ALREADY PAST THE CUT-OFF DATE AND MILEAGE. THIS IS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM, AND THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH. I CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE RECALL CLAIM AND THEY SAID TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID TO CONTACT GM. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. SO I'M NOW CONTACTING THE ATTORNEY LISTED ON THE RECALL TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME HELP WITH SOME SORT OF EXTENSION. GM NEEDS TO DO BETTER.

NHTSA ODI #11350324

142,000 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Engine

THE 2.4L ECOTEC ENGINE IN CHEVY TERAIN AND EQUINOX FROM 2010-2013 HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PISTON RINGS WHICH CAUSES EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH DAMAGES THE REST OF THE ENGINE. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A NATIONWIDE RECALL OF THESE FAULTY ENGINES, THEY PUSHED IT OVER TO THE NHTSB TO ISSUE THE RECALL. THEY EXPECT OWNERS OF THESE V…

Read full complaint

THE 2.4L ECOTEC ENGINE IN CHEVY TERAIN AND EQUINOX FROM 2010-2013 HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PISTON RINGS WHICH CAUSES EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH DAMAGES THE REST OF THE ENGINE. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A NATIONWIDE RECALL OF THESE FAULTY ENGINES, THEY PUSHED IT OVER TO THE NHTSB TO ISSUE THE RECALL. THEY EXPECT OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS FOR THEIR KNOWN FAULTY ENGINE. CHEVROLET/GM WAS SUED OVER THIS BY VEHICLE OWNERS TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THEIR EXPENSES AND EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 120,000 MILES, BUT VEHICLE OWNERS WEREN'T NOTIFIED. THEY HAVE NO PLANS OR WAY TO NOTIFY OWNERS WHO ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, USED CAR DEALERS, OR PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES FROM PRIVATE SALE.

NHTSA ODI #11349865

160,000 miles · Aug 15, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. NO OIL LOW WARNING LITE EVER CAME ON. JUST CHANGES OIL LESS THAN 500 MILES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE BEING LOCKED UP OR WILL JOT RUN. NEWER BATTERY AND TIMING CHAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11349614

147,000 miles · Aug 3, 2020
Engine

ENGINE IS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL, WITH IN A WEEK IT BURNED A MINIMUM OF A QUART OF OIL (I DROVE ABOUT 500 MILES). A WEEK PRIOR TO 8/3/2020 THE CAM SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED DUE TO NO OIL SHOWING UP ON THE DIP STICK, VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT ON 7/13/2020 AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT 145,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11342968

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