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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 751 safety complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with the US government. Of those, 20 describe a crash, 5 mention a fire, 20 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering visibility and the electrical system.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 412 complaints, 55% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 80,000 miles, the median across the 515 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2012 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

751 complaints on file

751

Complaints

20

Describe a crash

5

Mention fire

20

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints fell 46% year on year: 14 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 26 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 412 · 55%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 144 · 19%
POWER TRAIN 80 · 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 69 · 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 63 · 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 43 · 6%
AIR BAGS 25 · 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 20 · 3%
STEERING 19 · 3%
VISIBILITY 19 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 12 · 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 · 2%
0 165 331

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 751.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 106.

112 84 56 28
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2012 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2013 Chevrolet EQUINOX, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 17.4% 19.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

16V582000 · August 4, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.
The risk
Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 25302.

General Motors LLC · up to 367,808 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

16V502000 · July 5, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

General Motors LLC · up to 8,367 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

4 injured · 66,500 miles

2013 2LT EQUINOX 2.4L FWD 67000 MILES ISSUES: OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES, USES 2 QTS + BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, STARTED AT 50K MILES, QUOTED OVER $2000 TO REPLACE PISTONS, RINGS, AND TIMING CHAIN (KNOWN ISSUE ON 2.4L ECO-TEC MOTORS, OIL AND FILTER ALWAYS CHANGED ON OR BEFORE TIME DUE WITH DEXOS 1 VALVOLINE OIL AND AC DELCO FILTER). POSSIBILITY OF BREAKDOWN, ENGINE FAILURE. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER DUE TO OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE: $800 FAULTY EXHAUST MANIFOLD STARTING AT 55K MILES, CRACKED, LEAKING FUMES INTO PASSENGER AREA, QUOTED $600 TO REPLACE PLUS RECOMMEND REPLACING ENGINE MOUNTS TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE: $1000 (KNOWN ISSUE ON 2.4L ECO-TEC MOTORS). FREQUENT

NHTSA complaint 11194465, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

4 injured

Chevy equinox has known TSB 14882 for blocked PCV port due to too small design. Exhaust and gas smell enters cabin and makes CO alarm go off. Feeling of whoosy and safety issue. GM called and reported issue but they refused to even look at vehicle. If exhaust from engine venting due to high pressure with PCV known clog issue - could cause loss of consciousness next time. Consider this a near miss.

NHTSA complaint 11448827. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 7,600 miles

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN (GOING MAYBE 5 MPH) WHEN REAR ENDED BY A 1998 CHEVY LUMINA. HER HOOD AND FRONT WAS ALL DAMAGED AND NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED (OPENED)!! . I HIT MY HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND EAR STARTED BLEEDING. ( IN A DAZE). MANY BRUISES AND HURT BACK AND NECK. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10575009. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 93,000 miles

The contact owned a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH down an inclined road, the front driver-side air bag was erroneously deployed causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash down an embankment. During the crash, the driver sustained a concussion and left arm, neck, and rib injuries which required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away to the insurance company. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.

NHTSA complaint 11501222. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

168,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11763006, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11761531, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES

crash

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 complaint 11752917. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

crash · towed

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

NHTSA complaint 11752919. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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 complaint 11747310. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 complaint 11736975. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Equinox

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 71 1 —
2025 228 0 —
2024 79 1 —
2023 95 3 —
2022 177 5 —
2021 96 4 —
2020 309 4 1
2019 302 4 —
2018 408 5 1
2017 273 0 —
2016 396 1 —
2015 680 2 —
2014 548 1 —
2012 685 3 —
2011 782 3 2
2010 784 3 —

Other 2013 Chevrolet models

Malibu 835 Cruze 586 Volt 308 Silverado 1500 301 Impala 272 Tahoe 232 Sonic 217 Camaro 187

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst