Problems · by component

2013 Chevrolet Equinox power train problems

80 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox cite power train, 11% of all 751 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
80
11% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11747310
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2025Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11702890
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2025Power train, EngineODI 11693096
“We live in mn, weather was below zero and was driving home in my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with 45,000 miles on it. Car started to shutter and just shut off. Called tow truck, mechanic said pcv froze and blew out rear seal. I am 24 and fighting brain cancer (medulloblastoma)…I have heard this is a design flaw and Chevrolet knows it. I have medical bills and college debt that are continuous….now I have no vehicle…it will be a couple thousand dollars to fix as long as they don’t find other things wrong with it when I can afford to fix it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2025Power train, EngineODI 11640930
“Engine Problems Due to Excessive Oil Consumption, Rattling, and Failure. Then There Is The Electrical Issues Which Would Drive Anyone Insane causing certain functions not to work. The constant dimming of the screen it self.Im very upset cause im a single mom of a college student, I can’t afford these kind of issues.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2024Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11587746
“As I was coming to a red light, I heard a pop from underneath the front. About 3/4 miles down the road, I started smelling rotten eggs and hearing a rubbing noise. At the next red light, with my foot on the brake, the noise went away but the smell got stronger. When the light changed, the noise came back louder so I safely pulled off the road and had it towed to a dealership. No warning lights came on to indicate a problem. The dealership would not look at it because of a dispute with my repair service. So it was towed to a mechanic that took a picture of the transfer case blow-out. He does not do this type of repair. So I had it towed to a 2nd dealership. This dealership visually confirmed the transfer case issue but indicated he would not let his mechanics work on it because "it is too rusted and the chassis is bent." So I have a 3rd dealership that says they will do the repair. I am currently waiting for their inspection report.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2023Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11550931

Showing 6 of 80 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.