RoadVitals

2013 Chevrolet Equinox Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Dec 13, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 749 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 13, 2023

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 and they all put me back in the same vehicle after voicing my concerns about safety. Instead of putting me in a safer vehicle they ignored it. This has been happening since I purchased the vehicle in November 2022

NHTSA ID
11560023
Incident
Nov 17, 2022
Steering
Filed Nov 21, 2023

DRIVING HOME AND STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING LIKE THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. 11/08/23 PURCHASED NOV OR DEC OF 2022 FROM DAN CUMMINS-AS IS NO ONE MENTIONED THIS. HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK IT UP AND IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED A DEATH WOBBLE

NHTSA ID
11556219
Incident
Nov 8, 2023
Steering
Filed Jul 23, 2020

MY CAR MADE AN AGGRESSIVE RIGHT TURN ON ITS OWN. BACK STORY: I STARTED UP MY CAR AND STARTED SLOWLY DRIVING STRAIGHT OUT OF A STREET PARKING SPOT. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS SLIGHTLY RESISTING ME. I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS PULLING SOME TO THE RIGHT (I ACTIVELY HAD TO COUNTER IT). ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE BLOCK MY CAR MADE AN AGGRESSIVE RIGHT TURN ON ITS OWN (THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 90 DEGREES BEFORE I COULD FIGHT IT BACK AND COME TO A STOP FROM ~20MPH). WHILE STOPPED I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO CENTER. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED ALL TIRES. THERE WAS NO FLATS OR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES, TIRE PRESSURE GAGES WERE READING NORMAL. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS STILL FIGHTING ME. THINKING IT COULD BE THE BANKED ROAD (BUT NEVER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE), I TURNED RIGHT ONTO A FLAT STREET. THE CAR STILL WAS TRYING TO PULL ME TO RIGHT ON A FLAT STREET FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AND THEN IT EASED UP AND DROVE NORMALLY AGAIN. TWO DAYS LATER THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" WARNING APPEARED FOR 30-60 SECONDS UPON STARTING MY CAR THEN DISAPPEARS ON ITS OWN. STEERING PROBLEMS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE AND HAS NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE PAST 4 DAYS WITH MINIMAL DRIVING. THE WARNING TO SERVICE POWER STEERING IS NOT CONSISTENT UPON STARTING MY CAR AND HAS NEVER APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CAR STEERING ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ID
11341091
Incident
Jul 19, 2020
Mileage
127,600 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 1, 2019

NOISE AND BURNING AROUND 6 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK

NHTSA ID
11228844
Incident
May 30, 2016
Mileage
68,345 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 1, 2019
Crash reported

POWER STEERING FAILED; LOST POWER TO CONTROL PANEL; IN TRYING TO STEER VEHICLE AROUND A CURB I HIT A TREE AND CAR ROLLED TO SIDE. ALL AIRBAGS INFLATED.

NHTSA ID
11217242
Incident
May 31, 2019
Mileage
188,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Jan 14, 2019

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD IT SERVICED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY TO STORE AND WE LOST POWER OF CAR, STEERING LOCKED. WE WERE ABLE TO BARELY GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI. CAR COMPLETELY DIED AND A HUGE POOL OF OIL CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. PAID OVER $6,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE AND WIRING AND OTHER PARTS BECAUSE OF THE OIL, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. GUESS WHAT... DRINKING OIL, OIL LEAK, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THIS WAS A NEW ENGINE. SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY ON CAR IN 2014 HAVE HAD MAJOR TROUBLE WITH IT!!! WE ARE NOT MADE OF MONEY, BUT THIS 2013 IS THE WORST CAR AND DANGEROUS TOO, DESPITE WHAT THEY SAY!!!!

NHTSA ID
11170012
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Mileage
164,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Nov 13, 2018

ON OCT. 23, 2018, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. CALLED ONSTAR IN AFTERNOON FOR CODE;ONSTAR DID NOT PROVIDE CODE BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE SERVICED ASAP AND MADE APPOINTMENT AT NEARBY DEALERSHIP FOR NEXT MORNING. THAT EVENING WHEN BRAKING TO LEAVE A PARKING AREA, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED/STALLED OUT. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID SENSOR.

NHTSA ID
11151126
Incident
Oct 23, 2018
Mileage
57,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 22, 2018

CAR WOULD NOT START. CHARGED BATTERY UP CAR STARTED. INSIDE CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK. SOMMERS DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $800.00 TO PUT A BRAND NEW BLOWER MOTOR IN. BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND NOW SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ID
11130791
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed May 5, 2018

I HAD MY VEHICLE OIL CHANGE ON APRIL 8, 2018 ,AS OF APRIL 30, 2018 THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE NO OIL ON THE GROUND MY SENSOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE STATED I HAD OVER 50% OF OIL LEFT COULD NOT GET OVER 35 MPH THE CAR WAS SHAKING IMMENSELY AND RATTLING AS WELL WHEN YOU STARTED THE CAR IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. I COULD NOT GET ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD TO STAY IN THE BACK ROADS

NHTSA ID
11092068
Incident
Apr 30, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Feb 13, 2018

ON A COLD WINTER DAY APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES, I EXITED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON COMING TO A STOP AT THE TOLL PLAZA, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING NOISE, THE 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER' NOTIFICATION APPEARED AS WELL AS THE TRACTION ACTIVATION. THE CAR DIED BUT STARTED BACK UP TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND DISCOVERED THE PCV SYSTEM FROZE UP AND BLEW THE REAR MAIN SEAL. THE CAR HAD 103K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WAS PURCHASED NEW. NEVER HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH IT AND ALWAYS WE'LL MAINTAINED. ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE MOTOR TO THE TUNE OF $5,575. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT WOULD NOT START. THE STABILITRACK AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS CAME ON AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
11072791
Incident
Feb 7, 2018
Mileage
103,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Nov 28, 2017

THE CAR DIDN'T START AFTER PARKING FOR FOOD PICKUP, WE NOTICED THAT AFTER GETTING A BOOST, THE 'ENGINE LIGHT' WAS LIT, IT STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AGAIN, BUT WE USED OUR INSURANCE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE, AGAIN THE 'ENGINE LIGHT' REMAINED LIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, WHEREAS WE PURCHASED A BATTERY CHARGER. DURING DRIVE/ WAITING AT MULTIPLE RED LIGHTS, AND BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, THE CAR STALLS- TO THE POINT WE PUT IT 'N', AFTER EXPERIENCING STALLS WHEN PLACED IN 'P'. THE OIL CAN BE LOW, BUT NO INDICATOR ON THE PANEL, BUT THE PANEL READS CHECK ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SO WE TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND INFORMED IT WAS THE BATTERY, SEEKING ANOTHER OPINION, WE WERE TOLD IT WASN'T THE BATTERY, BUT ANOTHER PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. UPON TRYING TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED, WE WERE TURNED DOWN DUE TO THE 'ENGINE LIGHT'. WE WENT TO A REPUTABLE CAR PART DEALER, AND INFORMED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, TIMING SENSOR, ALONG WITH (2) TWO OTHER CODES. THE BATTERY IS HID UNDER A HOUSING/ COVER, WHICH MADE IT HARD TO GET A BOOST, WHEN THE RECOMMENDED CHARGING PROCEDURE DIDN'T WORK. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING, AND RESEARCH LEADS US TO UNDERSTAND, THAT A COSTLY REPAIR IS AHEAD. PLUS, OUR RESEARCH OF THE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS, SHOWS THAT THEY OCCURRED IN EARLIER MODELS. THE (2013)VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A NATIONAL CAR RENTAL AGENCY, NOV 2015, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AT PURCHASE TIME, WITH UNRESOLVED ISSUES AS EARLIER MODELS? ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR HAS VEERED/ JERKED TO EITHER SIDE, FROM STOP TO GO, AND WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT US TURNING THE WHEEL. THANK THE LORD THE LATTER, OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS, AND DRY PAVEMENT. THE 'WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN' DATE IS THE LATEST DATE, NOT THE ONLY DATE.

NHTSA ID
11051079
Incident
Nov 28, 2017
Mileage
73,900 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2017

FLAT TOW THIS CAR BEHIND MOTOR HOME. YESTERDAY WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM STOP AT A REDLIGHT THE CAR STEERING BEGAN TO PULSATE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT SHAKING THE CAR AND MOTOR HOME. STOPPED IMMEDIATELY IN TRAFFIC. AFTER ACCELERATING FROM STOP THE CAR WAS NORMAL. FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE TOWING ABOUT 10000 MILES OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. VERY UPSETTING AND I FEEL DANGEROUS EVENT. DID NOT NOTICE POTHOLES OR ROUGHNESS OF THE STREET WHERE IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
11032055
Incident
Oct 5, 2017
Mileage
22,350 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 14, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WOBBLE WHILE BEING FLAT TOWED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHANDLER CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO SAFETY ISSUES. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE BLUE LOX MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE GMC MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,833.

NHTSA ID
11005333
Incident
Jun 30, 2017
Mileage
44,833 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AL CERA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED IN THE PSCM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND THE CASE WOULD BE FORWARDED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

NHTSA ID
10995573
Incident
Jun 16, 2016
Mileage
53,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 31, 2016

WHEN TOWING WITH RV THE FRONT WHEELS START A SEVERE WOBBLE WHICH SHAKES THE REAR OF THE RV. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES; SEVERAL AT HWY SPEED AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE HWY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE WOBBLE IS TO STOP THE VEHICLE; THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT HWY SPEED. I HAD INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE NEW BLUE OX TOW BAR BUT I CHECKED THAT WITH THE MANUFACTURER; THEY INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS A GM PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 50 MPH. FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN SEPTEMBER, 2016

NHTSA ID
10938943
Incident
Dec 21, 2016
Mileage
42,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 9, 2016

AT ABOUT 95,000 MILES THE 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX'S ENGINE STARTED STALLING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP OR WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE/REVERSE. THINKING IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE GAS, THE GAS WAS RAN OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NEW GAS WAS PUT IT; THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. CAR IS ABLE TO IDLE WITHOUT STALLING IF IN PARK OR NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ID
10905126
Incident
Aug 27, 2016
Mileage
95,500 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 13, 2014

RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM SAYING THERE MAY BE A STEERING ISSUE DESCRIBED AS STEERING VERY HARD, BUT ONLY ON LONG TRIPS. GM SAID THEY WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS THE STEERING HARD HAPPENS. SEEMS STRANGE THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL IT DOES. THEY DID SAY THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 150,000 MILES FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664094
Incident
Dec 12, 2014
Mileage
10,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 20, 2014
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 40 MPH AND MAKING A QUICK TURN, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND FROZE FOR A MINUTE IN A 3 WAY INTERSECTION. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN AND AFTER A MINUTE IT RESET AGAIN. THEN CONTINUING DRIVING PRESSING THE BRAKES WITH LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND FELT FUNNY. TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER TO ADDRESS SITUATION. PRETTY SCARY SITUATION HERE AND A SAFETY CONCERN FOR SURE. WITH ONLY 25K MILES WITH 3 MAYOR ISSUES POSTED HERE, I'M GETTING RID OF THIS VEHICLE AND TAKE A LOSS....VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH GM BUT BEFORE THAT I WILL WRITE A BIG LETTER TO GM CEO ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592912
Incident
May 20, 2014
Mileage
25,767 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ID
10577115
Incident
Oct 16, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .