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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
103,000 miles · Apr 19, 2021
Engine

TIMING CHAIN BROKE

NHTSA ODI #11412931

1 miles · Apr 19, 2021
Engine

2013 CHEVY EQUINOX WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOSS OF STABILITRAK. MY MECHANIC PULLED THE CODES AND SAID THIS REPAIR WAS ABOVE THEIR ABILITY AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE TO CHEVY DEALER. CHEVY'S SERVICE GUY SAID THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND I SAID YES IT IS USING A LOT OF OIL WE …

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2013 CHEVY EQUINOX WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOSS OF STABILITRAK. MY MECHANIC PULLED THE CODES AND SAID THIS REPAIR WAS ABOVE THEIR ABILITY AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE TO CHEVY DEALER. CHEVY'S SERVICE GUY SAID THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND I SAID YES IT IS USING A LOT OF OIL WE HAVE HAD IT HERE FOR SIMILAR OIL RELATED ISSUES WITH NO SUCCESS. TECH COMES BACK WITH BROKEN TIMING BELTS AND LATER A SHAVED PISTON $4200 IN REPAIRS. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS IT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE RECALL AND CHEVY WONT STAND BY THE REPAIRS AND COVER THE COST BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T NOTE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION.

NHTSA ODI #11412842

63,991 miles · Apr 15, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITH A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WINTER CHEVROLET (3750 CENTURY CT, PITTSBURG, CA 94565) WH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITH A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WINTER CHEVROLET (3750 CENTURY CT, PITTSBURG, CA 94565) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,991.

NHTSA ODI #11408235

66,000 miles · Apr 13, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET OF MILFORD, INC. (655 BRIDGEPORT AVE, MILFORD, CT 06460) FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PER THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET OF MILFORD, INC. (655 BRIDGEPORT AVE, MILFORD, CT 06460) FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PER THE MANUFACTURER'S POLICY FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DRIVEN FOR 2,000 MILES THEN THE RECALL COULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CLOSE TO THE 2,000 MILES AS DIRECTED BY THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RATTLING AND KNOCKING THEN STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK HAD NO COMPRESSION AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED TO EXAMINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #11407931

145,000 miles · Apr 13, 2021
EngineFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PINEGAR CHEVROLET (769 E, US-60, REPUBLIC, MO 65738) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE 02 SENSORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE ISSUE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ODI #11407867

78,497 miles · Apr 8, 2021
Engine

FIRST, IN FEB. 13, 2019 MY 2013 EQUINOX THE PCV FROZE CAUSING MY REAR MAIN SEAL TO BLOW. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE COVERED. THIS COST ME $ 1,714.00. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT SOMEONE NOTICED THE BIG OIL TRAIL MY CAR LEFT ON MY STREET. IF I WOULD NOT HAVE CHECKED IT,…

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FIRST, IN FEB. 13, 2019 MY 2013 EQUINOX THE PCV FROZE CAUSING MY REAR MAIN SEAL TO BLOW. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE COVERED. THIS COST ME $ 1,714.00. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT SOMEONE NOTICED THE BIG OIL TRAIL MY CAR LEFT ON MY STREET. IF I WOULD NOT HAVE CHECKED IT, I WOULD HAD TRIED TO DRIVE TO WORK AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BLOWN MY ENGINE. SO MANY OTHERS HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. NEVER HAD AN OIL PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THIS. STARTED NOTICING LATELY THAT I WAS HAVING TO ADD OIL ONCE OR TWICE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE PISTONS, CHAINS, AND SOLENOIDS. I HAD THEM FIX ANYTHING THAT NEEDED DONE. SO, THERE WERE A FEW OTHER THINGS I HAD FIXED THAT DID NOT HAVE TO DO WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION. IT WAS ANOTHER $ 4,100. 00. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 78,500 MILES AT THE TIME. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, MY VEHICLE WAS PAST GM'S EXPIRATION 7 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OR 120,000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. GM KNOWS THEY WERE AT FAULT BUT HAS A TIME LIMIT ON FIXING IT. SO, PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT HAVE LOW MILEAGE FOR A 2013, I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. NOW, I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE TO PAY A LOAN TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM, A SINGLE MOM OF AN 11-YEAR-OLD WITH AUTISM. ALREADY STRUGGLING DURING THE PANDEMIC. I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM IN GM, FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR ONCE LOYAL CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #11407070

87,000 miles · Apr 7, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEXT DAY THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEXT DAY THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #11406954

140,000 miles · Apr 5, 2021
Engine

WE HAVE A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WE BURN OIL LIKE ITS NOTHING. CHANGING OUR ADDING OIL WITH IN 700 TO 1500 MILES CONSTANT. VEHICLE STALL OR DON'T WANT TO RUN SOMETIMES. YOU HEAR AND SOUND LIKE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MESSED UP. WE HEAR KNOCKING SOUND RATTLING. OUR OIL PRESSURE LIGHT HAS COME ON OVER AND OVER. ENGINE HAS STOP…

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WE HAVE A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WE BURN OIL LIKE ITS NOTHING. CHANGING OUR ADDING OIL WITH IN 700 TO 1500 MILES CONSTANT. VEHICLE STALL OR DON'T WANT TO RUN SOMETIMES. YOU HEAR AND SOUND LIKE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MESSED UP. WE HEAR KNOCKING SOUND RATTLING. OUR OIL PRESSURE LIGHT HAS COME ON OVER AND OVER. ENGINE HAS STOPPED DUE TO NO OIL BEFORE NOT KNOWING DUE TO THE ISSUE. I WILL NOT PAY ALMOST 5K TO FIX ISSUES THAT IS NOT OUR FAULT.

NHTSA ODI #11406386

104,000 miles · Apr 3, 2021
Engine

ENGINE IS USING NEARLY 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES DRIVEN. ISSUE BEGAN AROUND 95000 MILES. CURRENTLY HAS 104000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11406179

155,000 miles · Apr 2, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY 2013 EQUINOX HAS A OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND A ENGINE NOISE ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, LOOSING THE POWER BRAKES, STEERING CAUSING LOOS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11406155

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