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
751 reports, newest first.
Engine, Dec 6, 2019
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THEN AT THE STOP LIGHT IT COMPLETELY CUT OFF AND DID NOT START. WHEN I TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC HE SAID THERE WAS NO OIL IN MY CAR. I AM VERY GOOD AT MY OIL CHANGES.THE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT GIVE ME WARNINGS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE GASKET RINGS AND OTHER PARTS. $1900. NOW THE INTAKE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS THE SAME CODE AND THESE ENGINES ARE PROBLEMATIC. MY CAR STILL CUTS OFF VERY FREQUENTLY AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. I I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO NOTE THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD. IT CRACKED
Engine, Dec 5, 2019
I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP DUE TO A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM, ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. AS EXHAUST FUMES CAN LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE VENT SYSTEM (AS I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO TOLD ME OF THE PROBLEM), AND IT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD MERIT A RECALL. MY FATHER, WHO HAS BEEN AN AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR THAT IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. THERE WOULD SEEM TO BE EITHER A MATERIAL, OR DESIGN, FLAW THAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN.
Engine, Dec 1, 2019
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS THEY REPLACED RINGS AND ALL THEY SAID ITS COMMON ON THIS CAR WELL IF IT'S COMMON RECALL THIS CAR AND REPLACE THE ENGINE
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.
Engine, Nov 22, 2019
ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE. BURNS THROUGH FULL OIL CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TO CARRY OIL IN CAR AND CHECK OFTEN. THERE IS CURRENTLY CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS ISSUE AS IT IS HAPPENING WAY TO MANY CARS FOR IT TO BE A COINCIDENCE. OUR OTHER 2013 CHEVY MALIBU ALSO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND RUINED THE ENGINE BEFORE CAR LOAN WAS EVEN PAID OFF. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.
Engine, Nov 17, 2019
IRREGULAR OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS LEADING TO FURTHER REPAIR AND CONTINUOUS DIAGNOSIS. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS A MILEAGE OF 127,871 AND ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE. SINCE FEBRUARY 2019, ENGINE DIAGNOSIS IS REQUIRED BETWEEN OIL CHANGES DO TO LOW IDLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, BUT STALLING HAS NOT YET OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP HAS FOUND OIL ENGINE LEVEL LOW, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAINS TO STRETCH AND CREATING NOISE. PERFORMED ENGINE PERFORMANCE RESTORATION SERVICE TO CLEAN PISTON RINGS AND CHANGED OIL AND FILTER; RESET OIL LIFE AND CLEARED CODES. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED TO RETURN IN 1,000 MILES TO RE-EVALUATE OIL LEVEL AND PERFORM INTERNAL ENGINE REPAIRS. PAST REPAIRS INCLUDED CAM, TIMING BELT, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER,
Engine, Nov 10, 2019
GET AWAY WITH MOTOR OIL BAD. THIS ISN'T THE ONLY EQUINOX DOING THIS. DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS COMING FROM OR GOING.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 23, 2019
CAR STARTED SHAKING AND NO CHECK ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT WAS EVER DISPLAYED. I GOT TO WORK AND ASKED MY FRIEND TO CHECK MY OIL. HE CHECKED THE OIL AND HE SAID HE DOESN?T EVEN KNOW HOW I MADE IT TO WORK BECAUSE MY CAR HAS NO OIL IN IT. MY CAR SAYS I STILL HAVE TIME TO GET MY OIL CHANGED. I NOTICED MY CAR WAS ACTING UP FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY WORK PARKING LOT AND I NEED TO HAVE SOME TO TAKE ME TO GET OIL AND THEN DROP OFF AT MECHANIC.
Engine, Oct 22, 2019
I PURCHASED A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX AT TOM WOOD SUBARU ON 5/27/2019 IT WAS FREE OF RECALLS STATED BY THE CAR FAX. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN LOOSING OIL AND THERE IS A SLIGHT KNOCKING SOUND. I CHECKED THE OIL AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO OIL NOR DID I RECEIVE A LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE STATING LOW OIL. I IMMEDIATELY WENT AND HAD SOMEONE TAKE ME TO GET OIL AND HAD TO PUT 3 LITERS IN MY CAR. I WENT AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT HARE CHEVROLET AND 2 WEEKS AFTER I NOTICED THE SOUND AGAIN AND CHECKED MY OIL AND AGAIN IT SHOWED NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK AND NO LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED HARE CHEVROLET AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A CAR BROUGHT IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME ISSUES I AM CALLING ABOUT AND IT COST BETWEEN $1400-3000 TO FIX. I JUST PAID $60 FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HAD TO PURCHASE MORE OIL TO PUT IN MY SUV. I CALLED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS ADVISED THEY COULDN'T HELP ME AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THERE ARE 100,000 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. OBVIOUSLY WITH THIS MANY CARS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE A RECALL SHOULD OF BEEN MADE AND STILL HASN'T.
Engine, Oct 18, 2019
THE ENGINE BURNS OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, THE CAR SHAKES AND STALLS. THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKEN, MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO CRACKING. THIS CAR NICKLE AND DIMES YOU. I'M VERY SHOCKED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OR ANYTHING. NOW I AM PUTTING MY SELF MORE IN DEBT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO ALL THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. IT STALLED ON ME AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THANK GOD MY HUSBAND HAD FOLLOWED ME HOME FROM MY JOB. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. YOU WOULD THINK GM WOULD FIX THIS ISSUE. AND THE WARRANTY THAT WAS GIVEN WITH MY VEHICLE WAS UP OVER A YEAR AGO. I TRIED TRADING THE VEHICLE IN AND NO DEALERSHIP THAT I WENT TO WANTED IT AND THEY SAID CHEVROLET EQUINOX'S HAVE THIS ISSUE ALL THE TIME. I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH BEFORE I GOT THE CAR. I REALLY LOVED THE VEHICLE UNTIL ALL THE STUFF THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO IT.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 14, 2019
MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING MY EQUINOX 2013, CAR STARTED STALLING AND RUNNING ROUGH,THE CAR STARTS UP, HOWEVER CUT OFF AT THE TRAFFIC STOP, I HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED.ODOMETER 166,388; WHICH NEEDED TIMING CHAIN SET, TIMING SOLENOID AND CAM SHAFT,AND VARIABLE VALVE. CAM SENSOR, IN ADDITION IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES BY THE DEALERSHIP, I ALSO, HAVE TO ADD OIL MY CAR USES EXCESSIVE AMOUNT, I THOUGHT I HAD A GREAT SUV, I EVEN RECOMMENDED AND SPOKE HIGHLY OF MY EQUINOX, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
Engine, Oct 9, 2019
SEEMS TO BE USING EXCESS AMOUNT OF OIL. HAVING TO ADD OIL A COUPLE OF TIMES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER 2013 ECONOMICS AND IT WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED A WITH WIND SHIELD WIPER MOTOR.
Engine, Oct 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY SHUT OFF AND THE TIRE TRACTION AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSISTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND INSIDE THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, FUEL PUMP INTAKE EXHAUST, AND CAMSHAFT ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Engine, Sep 29, 2019
OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE; CAR HAD NO OIL IN IT AND STALLED. OIL CHANGE WAS GIVEN BUT NOW ENGINE POWER REDUCES WHILE DRIVING AND STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP.
Structure, Aug 29, 2019
THE ROCKER PANELS, DOORS AND TAILGATE ARE HEAVILY CORRODING AND THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF IN LARGE STRIPS.
Exterior lighting, Aug 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT UNITS WERE FOGGY AND THERE WAS REDUCED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. *BF
Electrical system, Wheels, Engine, Aug 12, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IN PARK. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG, CHECK ENGINE, AND POWER STEERING, ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE SERPENTINE BELT FRACTURED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PULLEY INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VARIOUS INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO HAVE IT SERVICED; HOWEVER, THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE WARNING INDICATOR FAILURES PERSISTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Power train, Jul 29, 2019
NOISE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH CAR, THEN IT WOULDN'T MOVE. WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS TRANSFER CASE BURNED OUT. CAR HAS 80,000 MILES, RECOMMENDED SERVICE IS AT 150,000 MILES. COST $2,000 TO REPLACE!
Power train, Jul 24, 2019
TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT AT 36595.. THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT HAPPENED
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.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 8, 2019
THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER DOES WORK
Steering, Power train, Engine, Jul 1, 2019
NOISE AND BURNING AROUND 6 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 12, 2019
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS IN. I HAD ONSTAR RUN A VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC AND THE CODE BACK AS A P00013. THEN I HAD REILLY'S AUTO PART RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY CAME BACK WITH CODES P00013 AND P00011 FOR THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS. I'VE TALKED TO OTHERS THAT OWN OR HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE GAS FUMES BACKING UP INTO THE CAR WHEN I TURN THE AIR THAT IS DANGEROUS CHOKING AND GIVES ME A HEADACHE. I HAVE TO RUN THE AC SYSTEM OFF AS SOON AS THE FUMES START. IT'S SUMMER AND HIT SO I HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE WIDOWS DOWN BUT THAT'S NOT HELPING. BUT THAT'S TRULY BESIDES THE POINT. HAS BACKING UP IN THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND MANY EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OR CHEVY OWNERS IN GENERAL ARE HAVE CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THIS. WHY IS THERE NOT A REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE? I LOVE MY CHEVY BUT HATE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ANOTHER MECHANIC COMING BY TODAY TO RUN A MORE THOROUGH COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT SAID THIS MAYBE A 1200 TO 1300 FIX BECAUSE IN HIS EXPERIENCE REPLACING THE CAMSHAFTS HAVEN'T STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM HAVING AN ISSUE FROM OTHER VEHICLES HE HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PASS. GAS FUMES ARE RELEASED IN THE CAR AS SOON AS THE AC IS TURNED ON BUT THEY START AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED.
Air bags, Jun 2, 2019
I WAS DRIVING YO WORK ON CITY STREETS AND ALL AT ONCE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON SIDE
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 1, 2019, crash
POWER STEERING FAILED; LOST POWER TO CONTROL PANEL; IN TRYING TO STEER VEHICLE AROUND A CURB I HIT A TREE AND CAR ROLLED TO SIDE. ALL AIRBAGS INFLATED.