YearToAvoid

2013 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#5 most-complained of 21 Equinox years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Chevrolet Equinox has 751 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 80 out of 100 — #5 highest of 21 Equinox model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (426 complaints, 57% of the total). Complaints report 20 crashes, 5 fires, and 20 injuries.

Complaints
751
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
20 / 5
Injuries / deaths
20 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
18.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2013 Chevy Equinox problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine426 (57%)
  2. Visibility & Wipers155 (21%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain80 (11%)
  4. Electrical System73 (10%)
  5. Other64 (9%)
  6. Fuel System45 (6%)
  7. Brakes32 (4%)
  8. Airbags25 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (3%)
  10. Steering19 (3%)
2013 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter722012 Q42014 Q32016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42021 Q32023 Q22025 Q1
971 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (72).

2013 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V582000Aug 4, 2016Visibility & Wipers367,808 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 16V502000Jul 5, 2016Electrical System8,367 vehicles

    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 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."

    Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

    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.

2013 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,025
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Equinox years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid95782319.5
2012Avoid75685321.5
2013Avoid80751221.5
2014Caution55548121.5
2015Avoid85679223

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #5 of 21 among Equinox model years (Complaint Index 80/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 751 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most reported problem areas are engine (426 complaints), visibility & wipers (155 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (80 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 80,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, most recently reported 2016, covering visibility & wipers and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox at 21.5 MPG combined (18.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.