YearToAvoid

2013 Chevrolet Equinox Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 80 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, 11% of all 751 complaints filed for the year. No related recall is listed for this component. Median mileage at failure is 84,306.5 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
80
11% of 751
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
84,307 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle unexpectedly fails to accelerate at various speeds, with dealers diagnosing a transmission control module that needs reprogramming but lacking the software to do it.
  • Transmission does not upshift when accelerating, reported as an ongoing issue on V6-engine models.
  • Vehicle shakes severely, around 35 mph, while driving up an incline, a problem the dealer could not duplicate.
  • Transmission goes into reverse or feels like neutral while the vehicle is still in drive, forcing the driver to brake and shift back to park.
  • Owners note the vehicle has no way to check transmission fluid level since there is no dipstick, which they consider a safety hazard.

When 2013 Chevrolet Equinox transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 17, 2013, latest Jun 29, 2026.

2013 Chevrolet Equinox transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter132013 Q32015 Q42017 Q32018 Q42020 Q22021 Q42023 Q4
80 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q1 (13).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Equinox model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010182 (23%)
  2. 2011145 (19%)
  3. 201284 (12%)
  4. 201380 (11%)
  5. 201440 (7%)
  6. 201563 (9%)
  7. 201626 (7%)
  8. 201732 (12%)
  9. 201866 (16%)
  10. 201936 (12%)
  11. 202039 (13%)
  12. 202117 (18%)
  13. 202210 (6%)
  14. 20235 (5%)
  15. 202411 (14%)
  16. 202534 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2013 Chevrolet Equinox owners reported transmission or powertrain problems?
NHTSA lists 80 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Equinox, which is 11% of the 751 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox transmission?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for this component and model year.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2013 Equinox?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 84,306.5 miles.
What kinds of transmission failures do owners describe?
Owners describe failure to accelerate requiring a transmission control module reprogram, failure to upshift on V6 models, severe shaking on inclines around 35 mph, and unexpected shifts into reverse or neutral while in drive.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these complaints?
Across all complaints filed for the 2013 Equinox that year, NHTSA records 1 crash and 1 injury, with 0 fires reported.

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.