The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 420 of 751 complaints (56%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 685 in 2012 to 751 in 2013.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 751
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,400–$3,300
- Combined MPG
- 19–26
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | vs. 2013 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–3,300 | 2,400–3,300 | 2,400–3,300 | 2,400–3,300 | 2,400–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–26 | 19–26 | 19–26 | 19–26 | 19–26 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–22 / 23–31 | 16–22 / 23–31 | 16–22 / 23–31 | 16–22 / 23–31 | 16–22 / 23–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 342–468 | 342–468 | 347–481 | 347–476 | 347–481 | |
| Complaints filed | 783 | 685 | 751 | 549 | 680 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 30 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 24 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | |
| Injuries reported | 41 | 13 | 20 | 11 | 19 | |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
Engine: 420 of 751 NHTSA complaints (56%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox get?
EPA rates it 19–26 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA estimates $2,400–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 381 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 381 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 454 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 347 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 457 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 347 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 481 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 481 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 420 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 80 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 69 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 32 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 29 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 13 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 166 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 64 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.