2013 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel system Problems

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

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

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

Excess oil consumption resulting in having to get oil changed monthly. Oil can be full one day and empty the next without any warning. I have read it is a defected piston however the special circumstances gm was granted rather than a recall has expired according to gm customer service. I was never sent anything in this exception either

NHTSA ID

11567662

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

At about 115,000 miles my carefully maintained one-owner vehicle began to occasionally shudder, and then finally stalled on a couple of occassions. I found out later (after the check-engine light was activated, apparently due to a failing catalytic converter) that the shuddering, and the ruined catalytic converter, were both due to excessive oil consumption--the result of a piston ring defect that I learned about years after a class-action settlement that I was never notified about. The dealer charged me $230 to diagnose these problems. My safety was at risk because of the engine stalling (this happened while driving on two separate occasions), and also because of exhaust/oil fumes seeping into the interior of the vehicle when switching the A/C to defrost mode. Failed catalytic converter and excessive oil consumption was confirmed by the dealer but GM/Chevrolet and dealership refuse to provide remedy. (See https://www.classaction.org/blog/new-class-action-claims-more-chevy-equinox-gmc-terrain-vehicles-plagued-by-oil-consumption-issue) (See also https://www.classaction.org/blog/lawsuit-says-2013-equinox-terrain-drivers-not-given-proper-notice-of-oil-consumption-deal-due-to-gm-mistake) Neither the dealership nor General Motors notified me of the settlement or Special Coverage Adjustments that would have required them to cover the repair costs, and although I have contacted GM Customer Care several times and spoken to various case managers, they have refused to acknowledge their failure to notify me about the problem, much less cover the needed repair costs. It is worth noting that GM notified me about previous recalls, they never informed me about the costly, dangerous problem that I now have to deal with on my own. The problem eventually resulted in a ruined front catalytic converter. The dealership estimates that repairs would cost more than $8000 (more than the vehicle's market value). Please help--I NEVER RECIEVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM GM ABOUT DEFECTS!

NHTSA ID

11511685

Incident

Dec 10, 2022

I was driving along and all of a sudden heard and felt a crunching underneath my car. I went directly home and upon shutting my vehicle off, it ran for a few seconds more before quitting. There was also fluid(gear oil) pouring out from underneath my car. No warning lamps or messages. I had the vehicle towed to a mechanic where it was confirmed that the fuel pump and transfer case were non operational.

NHTSA ID

11476745

Incident

Jun 5, 2022

2013 Equinox Awd - Issue while driving and coming to a stop or low idle car stalls out while waiting to turn in intersection. Very scary car goes into limp mode after about 15 minutes of driving with engine light on. Have taken to dealer ship in 3/31/2022 code p0191 and p0172 vehicle runs rough. Dealer replaced fuel tank fuel pump and said fixed. Driving home 15 min issue happened again took back to dealer. Dealer ran many test and replaced many parts with no luck solving issue after having car in shop until 7/29/2022. Dealer said to get a new car they have no idea how to fix issue and not safe to drive when stalling in bust traffic. Dealer stated they called manufacture and they didn’t have a answer for fix to issue.

NHTSA ID

11476716

Incident

Mar 25, 2022

Fuel pump stopped working and caused the car to stall while moving at high speeds. Only has 120000 miles on it. Almost crashed into another car.

NHTSA ID

11463784

Incident

May 2, 2022

Excessive oil consumption. 4 quarts plus oil used between oil changes. Reeders in Knoxville TN did part of recall but not all and made us pay for it. Work done on 4/9/2019. Oil consumption gets worse every oil change. GM should be forced to fix this issue due to emissions laws and cost factor at $7 a quart. No wonder current administration wants electric cars. Maybe GM should ve turned in to current administration for these excessive emissions.

NHTSA ID

11456708

Incident

Mar 14, 2022

ON 9/25/21, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TEMPERTURE LIGHT AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WHEN THE SERVICE MAN CHECKED THE OIL HE SAID THERE WAS ALMOST NO OIL LEFT IN THE ENGINE. MY DASHBOARD SAID THAT I HAD 18% OIL.THE ENGINE WAS ALSO MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPING WAS DIFFICULT. THE DEALERSHIP DID AN OIL CHANGE AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT HAVING THE PISTONS CHANGED, CLOSE TO $3,000. I HAD HEARD THE ENGINE NOISE ONCE BEFORE, i BOUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE PERSON REFUSED TO DO AN OIL CHANGE AND HE DID NOT CHECK MY OIL. THE OIL PERCENTAGE AT THAT TIME WAS BETWEEN 33 AND 38%. THE SERVICE PERSON KEPT RANTING THAT THE COMPANY WAS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE OIL CHANGE IT WAS TOO EARLY. I HAVE A BUYER PROTECTION PLAN THAT PAYS FOR MY OIL CHANGES. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO KNOW HOW BAD THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM IS SO THEY ARE HAVING ME COME TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN CHECK MY OIL IN BETWEEN THIS OIL CHANGE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE OIL PROBLEM, I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL FROM GM ALERTING ME FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION VRS. DASH BOARD OIL CONSUMPTION USAGE AS INDICATED BY THE CARS COMPUTER. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE SERVICE PERSONS, GENERAL MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT ALERTED THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY AS OUR SOURCE OF INCOME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AND ENGINE FIRE, LOSS OF LIFE COULD HAVE HAPPENED. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL AND ALERTED THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF CHOOSING TO IGNORE IT. THEY SHOULD REALIZE THAT A DEAD CUSTOMER CAN NOT DRIVE A CAR. IF THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP BECAUSE OF THE INACCURATE OIL READING, ALERTING THE CUSTOMER SOONER MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE PROBLEM. PRO ACTIVE WORKS BETTER THAN HIDING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. I AM TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO THAT OTHERS NEVER EXPERIENCE WHAT I DID. THIS MAY BE THE LAST GM CAR I EVER BUY.

NHTSA ID

11441066

Incident

Sep 25, 2021

Engine runs rich with a P0172 code and requires a new fuel pump to resolve the issue. Causes an engine light, fluctuating tach reading at idle, excess fuel consumption, and some performance issues as the computer figures out how to compensate.

NHTSA ID

11424272

Incident

Jul 11, 2021

My car received a recall and special coverage notice some months ago and the recall part for the oxygen sensor was fixed but the special coverage they are not wanting to fix the dealership or Gm motors. My Cadillac converter made my pistons go bad because of the oil consumption and there was an open special coverage that I was not notified of last year in 2020 that closed and that would cover the piston ring where so they’re saying they will not cover it anymore even though it was caused by the Cadillac converter that is in the special coverage that is still open for 2022. The dealership at the Chevrolet here in my hometown tells me they are not going to fix it because the coverage is expired on both ends and they’re tired of dealing with me and to go pick up my car. They have also even recommended me to just fill it up with oil every 2500 miles when in reality it’s not even driving those 2500 miles When it eats up the oil. I am risking my car engine blowing out due to this. I am only 19 years old I got this car start my first job and I need it for my job I am risking losing my employment due to this also. They even recommended me that I could drive to my job that’s two hours at a distance back-and-forth so that would be four hours a day and that nothing would happen the next day my engine light turned on showing that the oil fill line was very low. Then they are saying that my paperwork is expired but it is not plus on the paperwork for the special coverage it say that if it is aspired to still fix the deal with the oil consumption. They are taking advantage of me because I am a young woman who is only 19 and they think that I do not know anything about it I feel unsafe driving my car and I want them to fix what needs to be fixed. They are telling me they will not fix it anymore even though the special coverage is still current and they are tired of dealing with me.They told me to go pick up my car because they will not fix it. I am tired of not being heard.

NHTSA ID

11423078

Incident

Jun 26, 2021

While traveling down one of the main highways outside of Stillwater Ok. While heading into Stillwater our 2013 Equinox lost power and died. We were almost rear ended my a semi. Thank goodness he swerved and we were able to partially be able to coast to the side of the road. As soon as we got to the shoulder and put the car in Park a HUGE puddle of oil gushed out of the car and it had to be towed. The excessive oil consumption that we were not aware of ( and we faithfully had our cars maintained, oil changed, etc) and destroyed the engine of our car. When I first started contacting GM,Chevrolet etc. I was told there was nothing wrong. We put in over $6,000 in our 2013 equinox and would appreciate very much a reimbursement. Thanks- Mp

NHTSA ID

11417853

Incident

Mar 18, 2018

ENGINE TIMING WAS OFF ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED AND SPEND A LOT TO REPAIR IT. LOW OIL WAS SPOTTED AT THAT POINT, BUT THE SPECIAL WARRANTY WASN'T OUT YET DETAILING TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND O2 SENSORS IF THERE WAS HIGH RATES OF OIL CONSUMPTION. NEARLY A YEAR LATER, AND I'M SEEING TIMING ISSUES AGAIN. I AM NOT SEEING HIGH ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION YET. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY ADDITIONAL ISSUES WRONG WITH THESE ENGINES FROM 2010-2017 EQUINOX/TERRAIN THAT HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES AND HAVING THEIR WHOLE ENGINES REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES JUST FOR THE ISSUES TO COME BACK ON A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11413055

Incident

Apr 20, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PINEGAR CHEVROLET (769 E, US-60, REPUBLIC, MO 65738) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE 02 SENSORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE ISSUE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11407867

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY 2013 EQUINOX HAS A OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND A ENGINE NOISE ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, LOOSING THE POWER BRAKES, STEERING CAUSING LOOS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11406155

Incident

Mar 20, 2021

Mileage

155,000 mi

2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CODE P0014 CODE DEFINITION CAMSHAFT POSITION 'B' - TIMING OVER-ADVANCED OR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE (BANK 1) REPLACED BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST VVT. VEHICLE IS LOSING ABOUT A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER. DID A DIAGNOSTIC. OLD CODE FOUND, NO NEW "PROBLEMS" FOUND. WAS TOLD RUNNING NORMAL. IT DIED 2 TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF AT A GREEN LIGHT, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR END ACCIDENT TWO TIMES. FORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T NEED TO BREAK OR I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER READING OTHER REVIEWS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUATION OF A 2011 PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX. WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT A CHEVY TAHOE, BUT WITH CHEVY'S HISTORY IT APPEARS WE'LL LOOK AT A DIFFERENT BRAND.

NHTSA ID

11398431

Incident

Feb 5, 2021

Mileage

124,050 mi

AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON JANUARY 15TH 2021, I WAS INFORMED BY JEFFERSON CHEVROLET THAT MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN AND MISFIRING PISTONS. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR SIX MONTHS. IT HAS A HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY ADDING OIL. EVEN THE PRIOR VISIT IN DECEMBER 2020, THE REPRESENTATIVE AT JEFFERSON CHEVROLET IN DETROIT MICHIGAN INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD NO OIL AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE AND THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM ANY INSPECTIONS UNTIL THEY PERFORM ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON HOW TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11388521

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

Mileage

101,716 mi

MY 2013 EQUINOX CHEVY, I WAS DRIVING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. ACTING FUNNY TILL I GOT HOME... THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NEXT MORNING WE WERE GOING TO TAKE IT TO GM FOR TAKE A LOOK AT BUT WON'T STAY RUNNING. STILL DIDN'T GIVE ANY ALERT.

NHTSA ID

11385110

Incident

Dec 18, 2020

Mileage

10 mi

HELLO, I BOUGHT THIS 2013 2 WEEKS AGO. HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN EXTRA CHARGE AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT! FAST FORWARD 2 WEEKS TO THE DAY I GOT THE CAR....CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON...OIL ETC....TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OIL, I GOT A $100 OIL CHANGE AND THE NEXT DAY THE OIL WAS GONE AGAIN AND HAS CREATED ME A PROBLEM NOW THAT I CAN'T GET TO AND FROM. WHAT'S GOING ON? HOW COME CONSUMERS AREN'T BEING MADE AWARE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE BEFORE PURCHASING A VEHICLE? DISGUSTING!

NHTSA ID

11383907

Incident

Dec 10, 2020

MY ECO-TEC ENGINE BURNS OIL. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE WORKED ON TWICE FOR THE SAME REPAIR RESULTING IN OVER $3,000 PAID OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES OR LESS. I ALSO HAVE TO ADD 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL ON A WEEKLY BASIS. ADDITIONALLY, NOW MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL ISSUE WHERE I'M NOW BURNING FUEL.

NHTSA ID

11365322

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION MY EQUINOX TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME (ON THE STREETS), AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN AND BEGAN TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ANOTHER TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLOW TRAFFIC. ONCE AGAIN, AFTER HAVING TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. ON THE FREEWAY!!! I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT FAULT FOR IT. THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE WITH THIS SUV. I'VE HAD THIS EQUINOX SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2019 AND I KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING LIFE THREATENING ISSUES WITH THIS SUV

NHTSA ID

11361497

Incident

Sep 25, 2020

WHILE HAVING THE ENGINE DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE FAULTY PISTON ASSEMBLIES THAT CAUSED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IT WAS FOUND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND THE O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS WORN SUFFICIENTLY TO WARRANT REPLACEMENT. IT WAS COMMENTED THAT THE FUEL IN THE LUBRICATING OIL DUE TO THE LEAKING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP LIKELY ENRICHED THE EXHAUST VIA THE PCV SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, O2 SENSOR AND CONVERTER. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY THE FAULTY PISTON ASSEMBLY CLAIM # 2304031 CONSISTING OF REPLACEMENT OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, O2 SENSOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REQUIRED GASKET WAS $1,975.38 US DOLLARS LABOR INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324188

Incident

Feb 5, 2020

Mileage

113,563 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. TURNING RIGHT, IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN FINALLY TOOK OFF. THIS WAS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF SOMETHING POTENTIALLY WRONG. WHEN WE MADE IT TO WORK, IT APPEARED TO BE OK. WHEN WE STARTED IT, EXHAUST APPEARED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXHAUST FUMES WERE ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY, WE LOWERED THE WINDOWS. WHEN WE STARTED IT, THERE IS NOTICEABLY A CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE, THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL, AND OIL COVERS THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WE SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE, AND WE FOUND A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN FLORIDA WHICH DESCRIBES OUR VEHICLE'S ISSUES ALMOST PERFECTLY. OIL CONSUMPTION IS HIGH, IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, EXHAUST ENTERING THE CABIN IS DEADLY, AND THE CHANGE OF THE ENGINE SOUND.

NHTSA ID

11318969

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

114,000 mi

GAS PETAL IS STICKING AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL I PUMP THE BREAKS

NHTSA ID

11306885

Incident

Jan 28, 2020