2013 Chevrolet Equinox: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
750 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Equinox (2010–2017) with the 2.4-litre four-cylinder is known for consuming oil, which leads to timing-chain wear and, if neglected, engine failure; General Motors extended the warranty on the piston rings. The complaint counts are steady rather than spiking, and the 2016–2017 years score 86 and 91. Read the full note on the model page. 2013 specifically: a year the record favours — 750 complaints, score 71/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 750 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 57.69
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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
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…
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 risk…
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V582000 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 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. |
| 16V502000 | Electrical System:Ignition | 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… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,650
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine412 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Visibility/Wiper144 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Power Train80 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System69 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other63 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Fuel/Propulsion System43 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Chevrolet Equinox years
Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (412 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 71/100, computed from 750 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox's most common problem?
412 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox cost to run per year?
About $6,096 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,480 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/08/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 750 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 750 NHTSA complaints on record (57.7/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (45.5/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems