Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 Chevrolet Equinox problems
Owners filed 751 complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA between Dec 2012 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is engine (412).
Complaints
751
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine412
- Visibility/wiper144
- Power train80
- Electrical system69
- Fuel/propulsion system43
- Air bags25
- Electronic stability control (esc)20
- Steering19
- Visibility19
- Service brakes12
- Vehicle speed control12
- Structure11
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Suspension9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
14
34
21
87
101
95
106
80
66
36
50
30
21
9
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 87 |
| 2017 | 101 |
| 2018 | 95 |
| 2019 | 106 |
| 2020 | 80 |
| 2021 | 66 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 50 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
412 reports1 crash4 fires
“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% —it 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 same vehicles all over places like facebook marketplace and on the side of the road. They are dangerous vehicles and I've heard multiple accounts in which even your dealerships dont know how to fix it. I believe you have a responsibility to consumers to pull these cars from use and make it right to all who have not gotten what they paid you for buying this car from you. Thank you for your consideration, [XXX]”
Visibility/wiper
144 reports
“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.”
Power train
80 reports1 crash
“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 don’t know if it will last much longer. This is a burden on my family as we can’t 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.”
Electrical system
69 reports1 crash3 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Fuel/propulsion system
43 reports
“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 noise whenever I accelerated or drove under 50 mph. Because these symptoms started suddenly and were severe, I took the vehicle to my mechanic the same day. On November 26, 2025, the mechanic confirmed that the engine had suffered major internal damage due to running with almost no oil. The timing chain and VVT components needed to be replaced. The mechanic confirmed that oil starvation caused this failure despite a recent oil change, and the inaccurate oil life monitoring system contributed to the hazard by failing to alert me to the critically low oil. This defect presents a…”
Air bags
25 reports11 crashes
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.