2013 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle and the ABS warning light was illuminated. The warranty company was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was scheduled for a diagnostic test by the warranty company. The vehicle was taken to the certified service center, where it was diagnosed with front passenger-side wheel bearing failure. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being repaired, the contact was informed that the subframe of the vehicle was rusted. In addition, the contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The warranty company inspected the vehicle and confirmed the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not the responsibility of the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.

NHTSA ID

11763006

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

Mileage

168,000 mi

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] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11761531

Incident

Aug 17, 2026

225/r17 Pressure system did not alert the other driver of liss of pressure blew out side i recked into her

NHTSA ID

11752919

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

225/65/r17 Side wall blew out on me tire pressure system did not let me know . I had to sweave to miss oncoming traffic

NHTSA ID

11752917

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11747310

Incident

Jun 26, 2026

There is corrosion and rust that is underneith my car! This is a very poor constuction of Chevy! This should never happen as long as the car is driving. When this corrosion happened there are a brake cable that is dangling under my car which is going on because of the rust and corrision underneith my car! I want answers and Chevy to do something about fixing the hanging brake cable under my car! I don't want any risks of saftey because of Chevy's very poor designing of my Equinox! I am not the only owner complaining about the structure of this car! I will take legal action!

NHTSA ID

11736975

Incident

May 10, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11729284

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

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. My car has stalled, jerked and keeps me in the auto parts stores buying oil all the time even long before time to change the oil.

NHTSA ID

11718889

Incident

Jun 24, 2025

Frozen PCV that blew rear engine seal

NHTSA ID

11713786

Incident

Jan 27, 2026

PCV Valve froze due to poor design and crankcase couldn't vent which blew out the rear main seal. Obvious design flaw

NHTSA ID

11705530

Incident

Dec 15, 2025

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 significant safety hazard, as the vehicle can jerk unexpectedly, stall, lose power, or suffer sudden engine failure while driving, all without warning. I have since learned that excessive oil consumption and inaccurate oil life readings are widespread in GM 2.4L Ecotec engines. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this safety-related defect.

NHTSA ID

11702890

Incident

Nov 25, 2025

Dashboard display does not work so I'm unable to see my speed or odometer.

NHTSA ID

11699944

Incident

Sep 19, 2024

I am submitting this complaint regarding an ongoing and serious safety-related timing chain issue with my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox LT. The timing chain loses tension intermittently, which places the vehicle at immediate risk of significant engine damage, stalling, or complete loss of power during operation. This issue compromises the vehicle’s ability to operate safely in traffic. A sudden failure of the timing chain system can result in abrupt engine shutdown, without any warning lights or diagnostic codes to alert the driver. This creates a dangerous situation, particularly when traveling at highway speeds, merging into traffic, or navigating intersections. The timing chain defect in this model appears to be a known and recurring problem among owners of similar GM engines, and there is evidence suggesting design flaws contributing to premature wear and tension problems. However, this vehicle has not been included in prior recalls addressing similar timing chain failures. I rely on this vehicle for essential travel and live on SSDI, which limits my ability to cover repeated high-cost repairs for what appears to be a manufacturer-related safety defect. The risk of sudden engine failure with no prior indication is unacceptable and warrants further investigation. I respectfully request NHTSA review this concern as a potential recall safety issue, given the clear risk of power loss and danger to both myself and other drivers on the road.

NHTSA ID

11695927

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

It keeps throwing an error and my truck goes into Reduced engine power mode. It happens out of nowhere. One minute it's fine the next my engine starts to reduce power and I can't go faster then 25 mph. We have already replaced the high pressure fuel rail sensor and the fuel pump. It still is having this issue.

NHTSA ID

11693767

Incident

Sep 20, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11693096

Incident

Aug 11, 2025

Air conditioner stops working intermittently

NHTSA ID

11682667

Incident

May 30, 2025

Purchased my 2013 Chevy Equinox from certified Chevrolet dealer in 2023. All 4 of my tires are: Michelin Latitude Tour M+S (Radial X Green), P235/55 R18. DOT M33J 007X 3012. These are the same tires that were on my SUV at time of purchase & are still on it. Upon purchasing from the dealership, the tires appeared somewhat cracked around the outside walls & where the tread meets the tires. Not being sure how to read all info on tires, I only went by the thickness of the tread, which was great & I didn't question the cracks too much. In the fall of 2024, took my SUV in to have the oil & filters changed, tires rotated, etc, as yearly maintenance. Was made aware at that time by the mechanic that the tread & side walls on the Michelin P235/55 R18 were becoming deeply cracked & I should plan on looking to replace the tires for safety reasons as soon as possible. I don't do a lot of driving, except for around town, so I figured I'll replace them sometime within the next year. I'm now in "the next year". It's 2025 & I've noticed over the last 4-5 months, I am losing air frequently from all the tires & am making biweekly trips to the gas station air pumps. In the past 2-3 months the cracks have increased significantly & now I'm afraid to fill to the recommended air pressure. I think these tires are quite dangerous in the way they seem to be breaking apart. My plan is to get them replaced as soon as I'm financially able. My SUV, only had about 36,000 miles on it when I bought it in 2023. Now it only has 42,000. I don't understand how these tires could be in such bad condition with such awesome, thick tread. I've found an awful lot of complaints re: these specific Michelin Latitude Tour Tires breaking/splitting apart. I don't understand why these specific tires haven't been recalled. There's an incredible danger in driving with these faulty tires. I'm surprised there's been no reported accidents. I'm now afraid to drive much at all, until I can get them replaced.

NHTSA ID

11677107

Incident

Jul 20, 2025

This car burned through oil like you would not believe. I was unaware of the issues surrounding the engine in my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox until my engine stalled and completely shutdown while I was driving to work in January 2025. I was very lucky I was the only one on the road at the time and was able to move the car to the shoulder but had I been on the highway, I could’ve died in a wreck that would cause. Huge safety issue. The low oil pressure light came on right before but hadn’t done so at all prior and I had been super deligent with all oil changes. It truly just burned up all that oil and the engine to this day has yet to start again. Purchased the car used in Santa Ana, CA in. February 2024. Mechanics had looked it over thoroughly during purchase and before we took it across country and found zero issues yet 11 months later the engine was toast. Now I am stuck with a piece of garbage in my driveway that I still owe money on. This has to be a violation of consumer laws now knowing that GM has been aware of this issue for over a decade!

NHTSA ID

11670428

Incident

Jan 20, 2025

Have a 2013 Equinox. After driving for 30 minutes the Stabilink light comes on, car car shakes & extreme reduced power. Now my car will not start have been without car. And about to lose my job.

NHTSA ID

11670364

Incident

Jun 19, 2025

Gm motors sent a recall for 2013 chevy equinox due to bad pistons and excessive oil consumtion . Took to dealership to attempt to fix but they denied to. My car now stalls after a thousand miles in after oil change and it continues to do so while I'm driving. I'm concerned as for my own safety and the others that my car might suddenly die on the highway while traveling to work. I need help with this matter please.

NHTSA ID

11670035

Incident

May 8, 2020

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 ID

11668386

Incident

Jun 20, 2025

I have a crack in the manifold leading to an exhaust leak. This is apparently a very, very common and known issue with the equinox but there's no recall on the 2013 model. Sounds like there should be.

NHTSA ID

11665022

Incident

Jun 5, 2025

All at once it is burning all the oil. I have done regular oil changes and all was well until about 2 months ago. Was driving car and it made noises so checked oil and none registered on dip stick. Added oil and few weeks later took for oul change and again no oil on dipstick. Looked up 2013 Chevy equinox and saw they had a recall that lasted 10 yrs or 100,000 miles. The car has 86000 miles and we had no idea about recall. We are 2nd owner... It was fixed free for many years but we missed the 10 yr deadline. I am worroed car will lose all oil and catch fire. I think Chevrolet should fix this vehicle since they said it had faulty parts in recall. Can you please help me.

NHTSA ID

11663169

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

Engine and coolant system. The engine consumes the oil. Burns the oil way too fast. Also the cooling fan is inoperable. I’m afraid the car will overheat. Check engine light is on.

NHTSA ID

11658092

Incident

Apr 28, 2025

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 ID

11649602

Incident

Mar 20, 2025