Is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox a bad year?
749 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 417, 12× a quiet Equinox year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox were filed between 73k and 122k miles. You're at 95,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Equinox owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 95,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 417 (56%) | 73k–122k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 79 (11%) | 53k–113k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 45 (6%) | 59k–117k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Stability control | 19 (3%) | 51k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (1%) | 19k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 159 (21%) | 42k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 69 (9%) | 8k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 25 (3%) | 27k–88k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 19 (3%) | 22k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 13 (2%) | 6k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 12 (2%) | 7k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 95,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 749 complaints: 20 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 30 say the car was towed.
12 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Oil consumption issue a quart of oil has to be added to the car once a week according to a Chevrolet service bulletin, the most common cause is stuck oil control rings.
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.
16 days after an oil change, driving on freeway feeder road, engine started knocking an had noticeable power loss, engine has started burning 3+ quarts of oil a week.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 95,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox: 2
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. Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 568
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Neighbouring years
2012 Equinox: 683 complaints, consider selling · 2014 Equinox: 549 complaints, consider selling.
Every Chevrolet Equinox year
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Equinox years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox a bad year?
749 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 417, 12× a quiet Equinox year. At 95,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox were filed between 73k and 122k miles. You're at 95,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (417), transmission and drivetrain (79), fuel system (45), stability control (19), body structure (11). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 73k–122k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 16V-582), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-502). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.