2013 Chevrolet Equinox: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox: 2 recalls, 751 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.

Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V502000 · 2016 · 8,367 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: If the key is removed without the transmission in park, the vehicle May rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #16V582000 · 2016 · 367,808 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Inoperative windshield wipers May reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 20 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (412): the most common themes are excess oil use (140), warning light on (112), stalls / loses power (109).
- Visibility/Wiper (144): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (10), warning light on (6), electrical failure (4).
- Transmission & drivetrain (80): the most common themes are warning light on (21), hard / delayed shifting (14).
- Electrical (69): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (16), electrical failure (12), warning light on (10).
The 2013 Chevrolet Equinox has 751 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 22 Equinox model years for complaints (1.8× the average Equinox year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (106 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (685 complaints, 3 recalls), 2014 (548 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 26 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Equinox problems?
Owners have filed 751 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (412), visibility/wiper (144), transmission & drivetrain (80).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 8 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.