Problem Lookup āŗ Chevrolet āŗ Equinox āŗ 2013
Car problem report
2013 Chevrolet Equinox problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 751owner complaints
- 20crash reports
- 5fire reports
- 20injuries reported
The most complained-about Chevrolet Equinox year on file: 751 complaints, against an average of 334 for the other 14 model years.
Every Chevrolet Equinox model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
The components named most often in the 751 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2013 Chevrolet Equinox owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 751 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox burning or losing oil?176 owners Ā· 23.4%
- Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox stall, lose power or shut off while driving?104 owners Ā· 13.8%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?79 owners Ā· 10.5%
- Why do the windshield wipers stop working on my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?71 owners Ā· 9.5% Ā· Recall 16V582000
- What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox engine?57 owners Ā· 7.6%
- Has the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox had engine failures?50 owners Ā· 6.7%
- Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox smell of burning or smoke?27 owners Ā· 3.6%
Has the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Motor 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.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
What do 2013 Chevrolet Equinox owners report?
12 of the 751 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
We changed the external fuel pump, we changed the oil cap to the vented oil cap, We changed the oil 2x within 2 days, once trying to get it by until we could get the new fuel pump on,and once directly after and still had issues. Losing power and getting stranded while trying to cross a busy highway is terrifying, 100% āit is an extreme, life-threatening safety risk.I returned the vehicle and took a heavy financial loss, The fact that this dangerous car is back with a seller means someone else is going to buy it, This report could prevent a fatal accident. We have seen multiple of these sameā¦
My 2013 Equinox is experiencing the excessive oil loss without warning..this led to transmission..engine..timing failure. The car loses power jerks at slower speeds it sounds horrible and has cost a lot of money for repairs. Still donāt know if it will last much longer. This is a burden on my family as we canāt afford to just go buy another vehicle. I purchased it in 2022 and in 2019 there was a lawsuit being settled for these exact problems and I was not told this nor was it disclosed on the carfax report!! Very upsetting as I will be without a means of transportation.
While driving at around 110,900 to 111,115 miles(it being 111,115 now), it occassionally will get a very loud thumping sound and my car goes into limp mode and loses power. Shakes horribly bad in the process. I have to turn the car off and sit there waiting for it to calm down and then drive 35mph to get home. Piston problem ive been told. Every time this has happened, ive been on a very busy highway with my 2 kids in the car with me. Please send out a recall! The miles are not high. This started in February 2026.
My 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (~132,000 miles) has a serious and unsafe oil consumption problem. I had a full oil change, and only two weeks later the dipstick was completely dry. The vehicle provided no warning lights, no low-oil indication, and the GM Oil Life Monitoring System gave an inaccurate reading, failing to alert me to the critically low oil level. On November 25, 2025, while stopped with my foot firmly on the brake, the vehicle began constantly jumping and jerking forward as if it was trying to move on its own. During driving, I also began hearing a loud crunching, metal-on-metal noiseā¦
When gas is applied the transmission skips and doesn't get the power needed to drive car safely. I don't have any lights to indicate this is a problem within the engine. This recall has been issued for my vehicle but when I contacted the customer service for repairs, my vehicle information says there is no recalls for my vehicle. I did receive a letter in the mail stating my car has a recall
I was driving my car like usual and I almost reached home and my windshield vipers stopped working. I parked my car and checked it and the wipers are not working.
It failed inspection after repairs secondary air injection pump TCM PMC . Check engine light came back on after it passed .
My car is chewing through oil, about 1 quart every 500 miles. There are no leaks, I change oil regularly. It went into limp mode, to then discover the 2.4 4 cylinder Chevys and GMCs are having massive issues. It almost stranded me on the side of the road coming home from work.
Car feels like it is going to take off at a red light. Then it rumbles and cuts off at the light. I purchased car from US Auto Sales. DOWC paid PepBoys for multiple repairs for breaks rotors and the light that keeps coming on is service stabile track they got the light to cut off but the issue still persisted. They even changed all things dealing with the gas line. This car is still idling high at stop signs like it will take off on its own. And still cuts off at a red light. This is very unsafe and many drivers have almost run onto the back of me. I told US Auto Sales, DOWC, and PepBoys andā¦
ONE OF THE WIPER ARMS HAS FAILED ENTIRELY. THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM (USED) ADVISED IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT IT HAS FAILED NONETHELESS. OUR 18 YEAR OLD SON DRIVES THIS CAR AND IT IS NOT SAFE. BASED ON OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, WE BELIEVE THEY MAY HAVE "FAKED" THE ACTUAL REPAIR...OR THEY REPLACED THE POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE PART WITH AN ACTUAL DEFECTIVE PART. WE WANT IT INSPECTED, AND IF OLD OR DEFECTIVE, HAVE IT REPLACED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
Got into a front end collision, vehicle was totaled. Front airbags didn't deploy. Steering wheel and side airbags deployed about 5 minutes after the accident. My head hit the driver side window, cracking the whole window. Had a concussion from that.
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.
2013 Chevrolet Equinox: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 751 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox; the most common categories were engine (412, 54.9%), visibility/wiper (144, 19.2%), power train (80, 10.7%). There are 2 safety recalls. 20 complaints mention a crash, 5 mention a fire, 20 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
Across 751 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (54.9% of complaints), visibility/wiper (19.2% of complaints), power train (10.7% of complaints), electrical system (9.2% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (5.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox; the most recent (campaign 16V582000, 2016-08-04) concerns Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Motor. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox burning or losing oil?
176 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (23.4%) describe excessive oil consumption or oil leaks. One owner wrote: "Excessive oil consumption i have the same 2.1 liter echo tech engine that was previously involved in the lawsuit against General Motors for the 2013 chevy equinox excessive oil consumption." (NHTSA complaint 11718889, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
104 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (13.8%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Excessive oil consumption i have the same 2.1 liter echo tech engine that was previously involved in the lawsuit against General Motors for the 2013 chevy equinox excessive oil consumption." (NHTSA complaint 11718889, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
79 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (10.5%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Engine and coolant system. The engine consumes the oil. Burns the oil way too fast. Also the cooling fan is inoperable. Iām afraid the car will overheat. Check engine light is on." (NHTSA complaint 11658092, May 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the windshield wipers stop working on my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
71 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (9.5%) describe windshield wipers stopping or failing. A related recall exists: campaign 16V582000 (visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor). The fix: GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. One owner wrote: "I was driving my car like usual and I almost reached home and my windshield vipers stopped working. I parked my car and checked it and the wipers are not working." (NHTSA complaint 11649602, March 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox engine?
57 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (7.6%) describe a knocking, ticking or rattling engine noise. One owner wrote: "Vehicle consuming oil to the point where the engine is knocking. I have to constantly add oil to the vehicle to keep it at optimal levels. Already had to replace the engine once out of my own pocket." (NHTSA complaint 11668386, June 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox had engine failures?
50 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (6.7%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "My car engine blew do to an over oil consumption. There appears to have been a recall but I was never notified. My car is at a dealership and the cost is 11k for new engine do I have any recourse? Timing chain replaced june 2023 by libertyville chevrolet." (NHTSA complaint 11575019, March 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox smell of burning or smoke?
27 of the 751 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (3.6%) describe a burning smell or smoke. One owner wrote: "My car is burning oil I only drive to work which is only 20 miles away I put oil in 2 days ago and itās rattling and sounds like itās knocking and is a quart low it says itās at 54% till my next oil change also my oil cap has condensation under it." (NHTSA complaint 11553636, November 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Equinox
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.