2013 Chevrolet Equinox transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 16V502000Jul 5, 20168,367 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

  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.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 29, 2026COEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   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 for these exact problems and I was not told this nor was…

   NHTSA complaint #11747310 · source
2. Filed Dec 4, 2025INEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2013 Chevrolet Equinox (~132,000 miles) has a serious and unsafe oil consumption problem. I had a full oil change, and only two weeks later the dipstick was completely dry. The vehicle provided no warning lights, no low-oil indication, and the GM Oil Life Monitoring System gave an inaccurate reading, failing to alert me to the critically low oil level. On November 25, 2025, while stopped with my foot firmly on the brake, the vehicle began constantly jumping and jerking…

   NHTSA complaint #11702890 · source
3. Filed Oct 13, 2025WAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   When gas is applied the transmission skips and doesn't get the power needed to drive car safely. I don't have any lights to indicate this is a problem within the engine. This recall has been issued for my vehicle but when I contacted the customer service for repairs, my vehicle information says there is no recalls for my vehicle. I did receive a letter in the mail stating my car has a recall

   NHTSA complaint #11693096 · source
4. Filed Mar 4, 2025NCElectrical SystemOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

   It failed inspection after repairs secondary air injection pump TCM PMC . Check engine light came back on after it passed .

   NHTSA complaint #11646364 · source
5. Filed Feb 5, 2025MNEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   We live in mn, weather was below zero and was driving home in my 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with 45,000 miles on it. Car started to shutter and just shut off. Called tow truck, mechanic said pcv froze and blew out rear seal. I am 24 and fighting brain cancer (medulloblastoma)…I have heard this is a design flaw and Chevrolet knows it. I have medical bills and college debt that are continuous….now I have no vehicle…it will be a couple thousand dollars to fix as long as they don’t…

   NHTSA complaint #11640930 · source
6. Filed May 8, 2024TXElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Engine Problems Due to Excessive Oil Consumption, Rattling, and Failure. Then There Is The Electrical Issues Which Would Drive Anyone Insane causing certain functions not to work. The constant dimming of the screen it self.Im very upset cause im a single mom of a college student, I can’t afford these kind of issues.

   NHTSA complaint #11587746 · source
7. Filed Oct 19, 2023OHEngineOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

   As I was coming to a red light, I heard a pop from underneath the front. About 3/4 miles down the road, I started smelling rotten eggs and hearing a rubbing noise. At the next red light, with my foot on the brake, the noise went away but the smell got stronger. When the light changed, the noise came back louder so I safely pulled off the road and had it towed to a dealership. No warning lights came on to indicate a problem. The dealership would not look at it because of a…

   NHTSA complaint #11550931 · source
8. Filed Oct 2, 2023OHTransmission & Drivetrain

   Issue started appx 2015-2017, loss of oil in between oil changes but would only happen every 6-9 months, took it to Chevy dealership for inspection because there was no oil anywhere. They did 2 free oil changes 3 months apart and said nothing wrong with vehicle, even when I explained it wasn't long enough. But miracously it stopped for about 3-4 years and started slowly again, had mechanic look at it and he didn't see oil anywhere but found that the Equinox has had piston…

   NHTSA complaint #11547788 · source
9. Filed Feb 22, 2023PATransmission & Drivetrain

   While driving in November of 2022 my truck started to make some really horrific noises. Got it into a shop who proceeded to tell me that my transfer case basically exploded. While trying to research my options for repair ( which this & extensive oil burning and consumption seem to be very common on this year, make, and , model) I learned through GM that my truck also has a branded title which wasn't disclosed to me at purchase from a dealership, because they said they didn't…

   NHTSA complaint #11508601 · source
10. Filed Sep 8, 2022MOElectrical SystemSuspensionTransmission & Drivetrain

    SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE AND MADE CAR PAYMENT ONE, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BEST VEHICLE FOR ME. THEN SHORTLY THERE AFTER CAME THE RECALLS/PROBLEMS (Catalytic Converter, Electrical System inside the vehicle, and last but not least, the Engine. I have to make sure I take the vehicle in 1000-1500 miles early than normal because of the oil is low and the vehicle. The vehicle starts to vibrate/shake in the steering wheel and making noise that I know that it is time for the…

    NHTSA complaint #11483535 · source
11. Filed Jul 31, 2022WIFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

    I was driving along and all of a sudden heard and felt a crunching underneath my car. I went directly home and upon shutting my vehicle off, it ran for a few seconds more before quitting. There was also fluid(gear oil) pouring out from underneath my car. No warning lamps or messages. I had the vehicle towed to a mechanic where it was confirmed that the fuel pump and transfer case were non operational.

    NHTSA complaint #11476745 · source
12. Filed May 11, 2022IATransmission & Drivetrain

    No prior symptoms or warning lights the transfer case in my equinox went upon further research tons of equinox’s and similar gm cars have had the same issue where a part inside the transfer case cause the case to crack and fluid to leak out if this happens when driving the car will become inoperable creating a safety hazard gm made a replacement transfer case without the issue but never issued a recall a quick look online and you will see a ton of consumer complaints related…

    NHTSA complaint #11464238 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology