2013 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. Part of Generation 2 — 2010–2017.

20122014
Complaints
980
per 10K Sold
41.1
US Sales
238,192
Crashes
27
Fires
10
Injuries
23
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2013 Chevrolet Equinox Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1410 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:98,851 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:4
#2144 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:60,561 mi
#378 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:99,848 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox.

Engine Problems
410
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Avg Miles
98,851
Wipers & Visibility
144
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,561
Transmission / Drivetrain
78
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
99,848
Electrical Faults
67
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
52,056
Fuel System
42
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
86,422
Airbags
25
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
Avg Miles
61,582
Electronic Stability Control
20
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
90,423
Steering Defects
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
81,268
Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
33,281
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
160,129
Visibility
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
33,933
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
41,589
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
111,896
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
52,511
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
62,380
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
103,785
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
33,605
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Software
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Seals/Gaskets
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Chevrolet Equinox

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~376,175 vehicles.

16V582000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
~367,808 affected

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.

16V502000Electrical System:ignition · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~8,367 affected

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."

Other Chevrolet Equinox Years

2013 Chevrolet Equinox — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2013 Chevrolet Equinox has 980 NHTSA complaints, 27 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 410 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (410 complaints, avg 98,851 mi); Wipers & Visibility (144 complaints, avg 60,561 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (78 complaints, avg 99,848 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,578 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox include 27 crash-related reports, 10 fire reports, 23 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 376,175 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Equinox reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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