2013 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 751 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 20 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, motorAug 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.
Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V582000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignitionJul 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."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)
20 reports, newest first. Show all
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Engine, Mar 9, 2020
BOUGHT THE CAR USED 8 MONTHS AGO WITH 55K MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN IT 20K MILES, AND IT BURNS OIL, WITH THE OIL LIGHT NOT BEING ILLUMINATED, YET THE COMPUTER TELLS ME I HAVE A HIGHER % OF OIL LIFE LEFT. TIMING CHAIN IS GOING OUT, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, AND THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM TURNS OFF. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING APPEARS FINE, BUT BETWEEN 0-20MPH WITH AWD ON THE BREAK SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE FAILING; THEN WHEN STABILITRAK IS TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE PERFORMS NORMAL. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR. MOST OF THESE ISSUES OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 21, 2020
DIGITAL SPEED WON'T LIGHT UP. NO LIGHT DRIVING OR STILL M
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 1, 2020
ENGINE IS BURNING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. EVERY 1,000 MILES THERE WILL BE NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. NO WARNING LIGHT HAS CAME ON STATING MY OIL IS LOW. I COULD HAVE BLOWN MY ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES IF I DIDN'T CHECK MY OIL REGULARLY. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP 5 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TO GET 3 OIL CHANGES BC OF THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS PLUS HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL IN BETWEEN.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Nov 22, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTOFF WITH NO WARNING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BLOCKING TRAFFIC LIGHTS DID NOT DIM OR ANYTHING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ENGINE . TIMING. WAS THE ISSUE DUE TO BURNING SO MUCH OIL.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jul 15, 2019
THE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION IS 5 TO 6 QUARTS OF OIL IN 3000 MILES. THIS OFTEN RESULTS IN VIOLENT VEHICLE JERKING, AS WELL AS STABILITY AND POWER REDUCTION, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE POWER TO BE REDUCED CAUSING POTENTIAL COLLISIONS IN TRAFFIC. THIS CAN OCCUR AND HAS OCCURRED BOTH WHEN STOPPING AND WHILE IN MOTION.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 7, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED AND I GOT A MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD THAT SAID SERVICE STABILITRACK ENGINE POWER REDUCED
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 8, 2019
MY EQUINOX REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING. PRIOR TO THIS THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DOWN 3 QUARTS OF OIL AND THAT THERE WAS A LEAK FROM REAR SEAL. MY MECHANIC ADVISED TOWING TO THE DEALERSHIP AS THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS OF THIS IN THE EQUINOX'S AS WELL AS A "14882 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT" OFFERED BY GENERAL MOTORS. THIS SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT ARE FOR THOSE EQUINOX'S THAT EXPERIENCE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FROZEN OR PLUGGED POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES INCREASE CRANKCASE PRESSURE LEADING TO A REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL OIL LEAK. IF THE OIL LEAK IS NOT NOTICED AND CONDITION IS NOT CORRECTED, CONTINUED DRIVING CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. GM STATED ON MY RECEIPT THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM WAS, "MOISTURE FROZE IN THE PCV SYSTEM CAUSING THE CRANKCASE TO OVERPRESSURIZE". HOWEVER, MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT EVEN THOUGH I WAS WITHIN THE MILEAGE AND YEAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS OF BEING LOW IN OIL AND NO ENGINE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS RELATED TO THESE ISSUES.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 14, 2019
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD IT SERVICED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY TO STORE AND WE LOST POWER OF CAR, STEERING LOCKED. WE WERE ABLE TO BARELY GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI. CAR COMPLETELY DIED AND A HUGE POOL OF OIL CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. PAID OVER $6,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE AND WIRING AND OTHER PARTS BECAUSE OF THE OIL, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. GUESS WHAT... DRINKING OIL, OIL LEAK, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THIS WAS A NEW ENGINE. SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY ON CAR IN 2014 HAVE HAD MAJOR TROUBLE WITH IT!!! WE ARE NOT MADE OF MONEY, BUT THIS 2013 IS THE WORST CAR AND DANGEROUS TOO, DESPITE WHAT THEY SAY!!!!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 14, 2018
I HAVE A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX I HAVE ALREADY CHANGED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR. A YEAR LATER MY CAR STARTED TO CUT OFF WHILE IDLE AT STOP LIGHTS. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE AND WAS TOLD FROM THE TEST IT WAS MY CAMSHAFT SENSOR. WHILE CHANGING IT I NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE SENSOR AREA. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IS NOT GOOD. FROM THIS WE DISCOVERED THE SENSOR IS NOT THE ISSUE. I STARTED TO DO RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MANY USER FROM 2011 TO 2013 WHO ARE ALL HAVING THIS ISSUE WORD FOR WORD. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T37952_DS622117
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 22, 2018
CAR WOULD NOT START. CHARGED BATTERY UP CAR STARTED. INSIDE CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK. SOMMERS DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $800.00 TO PUT A BRAND NEW BLOWER MOTOR IN. BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND NOW SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 20, 2018
I PURCHED A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX BRAND NEW. TWO YEARS AFTER HAVING IT THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR MY RADIO AND HEAT/AIR CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MODULE SWITCH. THEN IN APRIL 2017 IT DID IT AGAIN! TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIR HVAC. THEN AUGUST 2018 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I AM TOLD IT IS THE RADIO HVAC AND THAT NOW IT IS NOT COVERED ON WARRANTY AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY $650 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND JUST KEEP GETTING TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERYTIME. THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD A DIFFERENT PROBLEM BY THE CHEVY DEALER WITH THE EXPENSE GOING UP EACH TIME.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 9, 2018
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO CHEVROLET MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT CUTS OUT WHEN IDLING AND SOMETIMES DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM TOLD ME AROUND 40000 MILES THAT SOMETIMES 'YOU JUST GET A BAD APPLE.' THEY REPLACED MY MOTOR UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT 20,000 MILES AGO WITH A BRAND NEW MOTOR AND NOW MY CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AT CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALER TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS OUT... MIND YOU I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR... AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T SERVICE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE WARRANTY WORK DONE AT THAT LOCATION. I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE WE'VE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE VERY SMALL CHILDREN. I CAN'T DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED IT WHEN I AM THE ONE PAYING FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC EXAM ANYWAY....SO I KEEP GETTING CONFLICTING RESPONSES FROM CHEVY AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS. I HAVE GOTTEN THE RUN AROUND SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. I JUST ALMOST HAVE IT PAID OFF AND CAN'T AFFORD FOR THEM TO KEEP SCREWING ME AROUND, NOR CAN I AFFORD A NEW CAR. MY CAR LOSES THE ENGINE BUT ALL BATTERY FUNCTIONS WORK. IT HAPPENS WHILE IDLING, DRIVING SLOWLY AND EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY! IT'S SO DANGEROUS AND MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME CAR IF RESEARCHED ONLINE.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 13, 2018
ON A COLD WINTER DAY APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES, I EXITED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON COMING TO A STOP AT THE TOLL PLAZA, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING NOISE, THE 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER' NOTIFICATION APPEARED AS WELL AS THE TRACTION ACTIVATION. THE CAR DIED BUT STARTED BACK UP TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND DISCOVERED THE PCV SYSTEM FROZE UP AND BLEW THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE CAR HAD 103K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. NEVER HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH IT AND ALWAYS WE'LL MAINTAINED. ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE MOTOR TO THE TUNE OF $5,575. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT WOULD NOT START. THE STABILITRACK AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS CAME ON AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 6, 2018
OUR DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 IN A 65 MPH ZONE WHEN ALL OFF A SUDDEN THE CARS STABILIZING TEAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WE ALSO LOST INSTANT POWER AND HAD TO TRY AND GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID GETTING HIT. IT WAS A HIGH OF 25 THAT DAY AND I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SO WE HAD TO SIT AND WAIT IN THE COLD CAR UNTIL WE COULD GET SOME HELP. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WILL PROBABLY COST A MINIMUM OF $4800 AND COULD BE AS MUCH OVER $10,000. WITH MY MEDICAL COSTS , STILL OWING SEVERAL YEARS ON THE CAR, THIS IS A MAJOR FINANCIAL SITUATION. NOT TO MENTION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE OURS AND TO EVEN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND EVEN YEAR. WHY!!!! IS THERE NOT A RECALL BEFORE SOME GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. AS IT IS, IT HAS JUST MADE ME SICKER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT A VEHICLE THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD TRUST!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 12, 2017
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OCTOBER 2016. RADIO/BLUETOOTH SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. WAITED 4 MONTHS FOR NEW RADIO TO COME WAS REPLACED FEBRUARY 2017 AND THE RADIO WENT AGAIN 2017 AND HAVE TO WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT REPAIR.
Seat belts, Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 6, 2017, crash
"TAMARA RECALL" I'M WRITING REGUARDING AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED OUT MY VEHICLE BUT NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ? I HIT A DEER AT 75-80 MPH ON A HWY IT HIT MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AND CONTINUED UP OVER MY HOOD AND ACTUALLY DENTED PART OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FENDER I COULDN'T EVEN OPEN THE DOOR ALL THE WAY! NONE OF MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF. LUCKILY I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WHICH SOMETHING IN THE SEAT BELT BLEW WHEN IT LOCKED ME IN PLACE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE DEER HITTING JUMPING OUT AT ME A WARNING POPPED UP ON MY DASH BELIEVE SAID "LOCKED" BUT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST , IT PUSHED & CRACKED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER MY HOOD. I HAD SMOKE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE, FLUIDS ON THE GROUND NO FIRE THANKFULLY ! MY SUV WAS TOTALED AND MANY HAVE QUESTIONED ME ABOUT THE AIR BAGS. I'M NOW WONDERING THE SAME THING. WHY IN THE WORLD DID NONE OF THESE GO OFF ? IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT GOING OFF ! I'VE DONE RESEARCH I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS, BUT I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THIS!
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 24, 2016
WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 75, STABILITY CONTROL MESSAGE CAN UP FOLLOWED BY REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. CAR REDUCED SPEED VERY QUICKLY WHILE IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. MANAGED TO MOVE TO SHOULDER SAFELY, HOWEVER CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. POWERED OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN TURNED BACK ON TO ATTEMPT RESTART, MESSAGES ARE GONE BUT LEFT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WOULD TURNOVER AND SPUTTER BUT WOULD NOT REMAIN RUNNING. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 25, 2016
EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND WATER GETS UNDER THE CAR MY AC GOES OUT. IT WILL COME BACK ON IN A DAY OR SO. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER A YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO NOT CARE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 9, 2015
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
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 6, 2014
WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ENGINE WENT TO A REDUCED POWER MODE (IDLE)....I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR...COULD NOT MOVE....COULD NOT EVEN MOVE TO SIDE OF ROAD...BLOCKING TRAFFIC....CALLED ONSTAR CHEVY EMERG ROAD ASSIST...WHILE MAKING ARRANGEMENT FOR TOW HE ASKED FOR MILEAGE...I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO GET RID OF THE SCREEN WHICH SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER"....GAVEHIM THE MILEAGE...WHEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE ENGINE NOW IDLED NORMAL AND WHEN PU IN DRIVE , I COULD NOW MOVE THE CAR....CANCELED THE SERVICE...TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER NEXT AM...THEY DIAGNOSED THE TROUBLE TO BE A "BINDING THROTTLE BODY" IT WAS REPLACED...I AM APPREHENSIVE DRIVING THE CAR , ESPECIALLY ON I95 WITH TRUCKS AND CARS TRAVELING 70/80 MPH I COULD GET KILLED....... *TR