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: engine
420 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Mar 27, 2020
CONTINUOUSLY LOOSES OIL HAD TEST DONE ONIT REPEATEDLY HAD SEALS AND GASKETS IN ENGINE REPLACED
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 22, 2020
THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. TURNING RIGHT, IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN FINALLY TOOK OFF. THIS WAS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF SOMETHING POTENTIALLY WRONG. WHEN WE MADE IT TO WORK, IT APPEARED TO BE OK. WHEN WE STARTED IT, EXHAUST APPEARED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXHAUST FUMES WERE ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY, WE LOWERED THE WINDOWS. WHEN WE STARTED IT, THERE IS NOTICEABLY A CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE, THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL, AND OIL COVERS THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WE SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE, AND WE FOUND A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN FLORIDA WHICH DESCRIBES OUR VEHICLE'S ISSUES ALMOST PERFECTLY. OIL CONSUMPTION IS HIGH, IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, EXHAUST ENTERING THE CABIN IS DEADLY, AND THE CHANGE OF THE ENGINE SOUND.
Engine, Mar 17, 2020
2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE LEAKING OIL. *LD CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ZIMBRICK GMC (MADISON, WI) ON 2/18/20 BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING OIL. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PVC VALVE HAD CLOGGED/FROZE CAUSING HIGH PRESSURE IN ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GASKET TO BLOW OUT AND LEAK ENGINE OIL. HE WAS INFORMED OF A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT BULLETIN FOR THE ISSUE, BUT HIS VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN BULLETIN. *DL
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.
Engine, Mar 5, 2020
I RECEIVED CONTACT ABOUT FAULTY PARTS THAT AFFECT THE REAR MAIN SEAL EVENTUALLY DAMAGING AND BLOWING IT OUT. THE ONLY THING IS I WAS CONTACTED 6 MONTHS AGO, OVER 6 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP SAYING THEY WOULD RECALL AND REPLACE/REPAIR THIS. THE ONLY THING IS MY CAR WAS DISQUALIFIED FOR HAVING OVER 120K IN MILEAGE AND I WAS TOLD I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY IT STILL WORKS. I WAS DRIVING TO MY JOB AND HAD PARKED MY CAR. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING IT WAS CHUGGING AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED MY BOYFRIEND TO BRING OIL AS THE CAR ALWAYS HAS BURNED OIL. IT HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. I GET IT HOME AND PLAN TO TAKE IT IN THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I WAKE UP AND CHECK MY CAR, ALL OF THE OIL WAS ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE SENSORS NEVER SHOWED ANYTHING AND I STILL HAD 30% OIL LIFE AND WAS MONITORING. IF IT WEREN'T FOR IT SMELLING LIKE SOMETHING BURNING, I WOULD HAVE HAD A SEIZED ENGINE. THIS IS NOW A $1500 REPAIR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED 3 YEARS AGO ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC.
Engine, Mar 5, 2020
MY CAR KEEPS RUNNING OUT OF OIL. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE.
Power train, Engine, Mar 2, 2020
HAS METAL SHAVINGS IN SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS!!! KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE & OIL CHANGES. VEHICLE JERKS, CHECK ENGINE COMES ON STALLS OUT OF NO WHERE. MECHANICS SAYCOMMON PROBLEM THEY DEAL WITH.. MUST RECALL OR GET SUED!!
Engine, Mar 1, 2020
I'M WRITING THIS ON BEHALF JENNIE KRASON THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. SHE RECENTLY LOST MOST OF THE OIL IN HER VEHICLE DUE TO WHAT LYNCH CHEVROLET IN MUKWONAGO WI. SAID WAS CAUSED BY THE PVC SYSTEM FREEZE UP IN COLD TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSED EXCESS PRESSURE IN THE CRANKCASE FORCING THE REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL TO LEAK. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THIS OCCURRED. AFTER LYNCH DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WE FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN # 14882 WHICH AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL HAS IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS AS WHAT JENNIE'S EQUINOX HAS. JENNIE CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-222-1020. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THIS BULLETIN EVEN THOUGH AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL THIS IS THE SAME MOTOR AS DESCRIBED IN THE BULLETIN # 14882. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON A HIGHWAY OR A BUSY STREET AS THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF FROM THIS CONDITION. RECENTLY ONLINE WE WERE CONCERNED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE SAW SAYING THEY ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE AND WERE NOT FALLING WITHIN THE UNKNOWN GUIDELINES OF THIS BULLETIN.
Engine, Feb 21, 2020
ENGINE BURNS THROUGH OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE AND OIL LIGHT DOES NOT INDICATE LOW OR NO OIL EXIST. LAST OIL CHANGE WAS NOV. 21, 2019 AND ALL OIL IS NEARLY DEPLETED AFTER LESS THAN 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING IN UNDER 3 MONTHS. RECALL ISSUED FOR OTHER CHEVY 2013 EQUINOX VEHICLES. VIN LOOKUP TOOL STATES THIS SPECIFIC CAR IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST.
Power train, Engine, Feb 21, 2020
ALL OIL CAME OUT OF ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STOPPED ON A MAIN ROAD IN TOWN
Engine, Feb 19, 2020
TIMING CHAIN AND/OR TENSIONER FAILED RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF THE ENGINE.
Engine, Feb 19, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROGERS CHEVROLET 2720 S MICHIGAN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60616, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT OIL REAR SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Engine, Feb 18, 2020
INCIDENT OCCURED ON 2/15/2020 IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AT APPROXIMATELY10AM. TEMPATURE AT THE TIME WAS 2 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. OUR 2013 CHEVEY EQUINOX WITH 87,000 ON IT (2.4 LITER) WAS TRAVELING (IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE NY17E WHEN THE REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW OUT. VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PCV HAD FROZEN AND CAUSED THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO BLOW OUT. GENERAL MOTORS ACKNOWLEDGES A FREEZING DEFECT IN THE PCV THROUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN #14822 DATED MARCH 2015. I CONTACTED GM ON 2/18/20 AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND COVERAGE. GM STATED THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE. GM IS AWARE THAT THE PCV WILL FREEZE AND WILL RESULT IN A COSTLY REPAIR OF APPROXIMATELY $2000.
Engine, Feb 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ENGINE OIL WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR ISSUES. *DL
Engine, Feb 3, 2020
I HAVE 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX...I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM WITH A NEW WARRANTY FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR A YEAR NOW. SO UPON RECEIVING THE NEW SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT THAT HAS STIPULATIONS 7 YEARS 6 MONTHS OR 120,000... I RECEIVED LETTER IN JANUARY 2020 TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GM DEALER AND WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY GM WOULD PUT STIPULATIONS ON ENGINE PARTS THAT WILL DAMAGE MY ENGINE. NOW MY ISSUE IS THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT JUST CREATED GM KNOW THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE VEHICLES PISTON WEARING OUT AT A CERTAIN POINT BUT WILL NOT COVER VEHICLES THAT IS OVER 7 YEARS 6 MONTHS OR 120,000.
Engine, Feb 2, 2020
DRIVING ON A ROAD AT 50MPH THE ENGINE LOST POWER SLOWED DOWN AND BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STABILTRACK LIGHT CAME MESSAGE SAIDSTABILTRAC NEEDS SERVICE. I HAD ENGINE WORK DONE JUST TWO WEEKS AGO
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.
Other or unspecified, 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.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 26, 2020
BLOWN ENGINE. LARGE OIL CONSUMPTION
Engine, Jan 24, 2020
I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2015, FROM RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET IN NORFOLK, VA. LESS THAN ONE YEAR, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE OIL WAS BURNING AT A HIGH RATE. I HAD TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR EVERY 700 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OK AND JUST KEEP PUTTING OIL IN THE VEHICLE. I CONTINUE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE OIL CHANGES ETC. IN MAY 2019, WOULD NOT START AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER PISTON RINGS WERE BAD AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST FO $5700.00. IN JANUARY 2020, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GMC REGARDING A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND CLAIM FORM. IN THE LETTER IT STATED THAT GMC WAS EXTENDING WARRANTY HOWEVER. I CALLED GMC AND WAS TOLD MY CAR DIDN'T MEET THE PARAMETERS. THE DEALERSHIP OR GMC WILL NOT HONOR THEIR AGREEMENT BASED ON SOME LOOP HOLE. SEE THE DOCUMENTATIONS.
Engine, Jan 24, 2020
TWICE IN 3 YRS THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A MAJOR ENGINE ISSUE WITH WATER GETTING IN THE VALVES THIS WAS DETECTED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND THE CAR IS THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK EACH TIME.
Engine, Jan 22, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POOL OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER SEAL REAR SEAL HAD MELTED WHICH CAUSED THE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FRIENDLY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT (7501 HWY 65 NE, FRIDLEY, MN 55432, (612) 276-2955) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. *BF*JB
Engine, Jan 21, 2020
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND LOOSE TIMING CHAIN. HAD TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT 93,500 MILES. ENGINE BURNS OIL; IS NOT LEAKING ANYWHERE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR'S ENGINE - 2.4L ECOTECH. CHEVY NEEDS TO RECALL THESE! THANKFULLY, CAUGHT ISSUES BEFORE ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED. ALSO HAD CRACK ON BOOT FOR ONE SPARK PLUG CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO THERE. HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS REPLACED WHILE REPLACING TIMING CHAIN.
Engine, Jan 20, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH WITH CRUSE CONTROL. ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH NO NOTICE I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND VIBRATING REAL BAD. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE INSIDE WAS FULL OF SMOKE AND SMELT LIKE BURNT OIL. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE CAR THERE WAS ALOT OF OIL DRIPPING OUT AND BEHIND ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GAS STATION THAT WAS ABOUT A MILE AWAY BUT GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND SOUNDED LIKE A RIDING LAWNMOWER AND JERKED THE WHOLE TIME.
Engine, Jan 20, 2020
MY CAR WENT THROUGH ALL 5 QUARTS OF OIL AFTER ONE MONTH. I PUT 2 QUARTS IN TO TIDE OVER H TIL I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE OIL CHANGE PLACE TO HAVE A TOP OFF. THE ENGINE BURNED UP 2 QUARTS IN A 15 MINUTE (20 MILE) DRIVE. WHEN THEY CHECKED MY DIP STICK WAS EMPTY. I AM HAVING NO EXTERNAL LEAKS AND MY CAR KEEPS DYING WHILE DRIVING.