2013 Chevrolet Equinox: problems, recalls and what it’s worth
2 recall campaigns to confirm with a dealer. A lot of owner complaints, 56% about engine & cooling.
Ask for the VIN and check it, then get a pre-purchase inspection.
Known problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
No generation-wide weak spot is flagged in GarageIntel’s research for this year and model. A specific car can still have its own problems, so get it inspected.
2013 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.
- Electrical
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Details 16V502000
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."
Fix: 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.
- Visibility & wipers
Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Details 16V582000
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.
Fix: 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.
2013 Chevrolet Equinox safety investigations and free repairs
No open safety investigations.
Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):
- Transmission: On some vehicles, a link ball socket in the front wiper transmission may separate.
- Exhaust and emissions: Emission Recalls and Special Coverage.
- Engine: Some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine and certified to the EPA Bin 4 emission standard and the California Cleaner Federal Vehicle option of Bin…
- Warranty extension: This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Screen and audio: Certain 2013 model year buick encore, lacrosse, regal, verano, chevrolet camaro, cruze, equinox, malibu, volt, gmc terrain model vehicles equipped…
3 more in the full VIN report.
A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.
Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.
2013 Chevrolet Equinox safety and fuel
From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.
What owners complain about
751 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, which is a lot.
Share of complaints that mention each area. One complaint can mention several.
Other Chevrolet Equinox years
2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
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