2013 Chevrolet Equinox Powertrain & Transmission Problems

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 forward as if it was trying to move on its own. During driving, I also began hearing a loud crunching, metal-on-metal noise whenever I accelerated or drove under 50 mph. Because these symptoms started suddenly and were severe, I took the vehicle to my mechanic the same day. On November 26, 2025, the mechanic confirmed that the engine had suffered major internal damage due to running with almost no oil. The timing chain and VVT components needed to be replaced. The mechanic confirmed that oil starvation caused this failure despite a recent oil change, and the inaccurate oil life monitoring system contributed to the hazard by failing to alert me to the critically low oil. This defect presents a significant safety hazard, as the vehicle can jerk unexpectedly, stall, lose power, or suffer sudden engine failure while driving, all without warning. I have since learned that excessive oil consumption and inaccurate oil life readings are widespread in GM 2.4L Ecotec engines. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this safety-related defect.

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

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

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 find other things wrong with it when I can afford to fix it.

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 dispute with my repair service. So it was towed to a mechanic that took a picture of the transfer case blow-out. He does not do this type of repair. So I had it towed to a 2nd dealership. This dealership visually confirmed the transfer case issue but indicated he would not let his mechanics work on it because "it is too rusted and the chassis is bent." So I have a 3rd dealership that says they will do the repair. I am currently waiting for their inspection report.

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 ring issues about the same time I took to dealership. Now in 2023, I cannot drive my car any further than 30 miles without it starting to jerk all over because it is out of oil. I literally stalled on the highway a few times putting myself and my family in danger, I called the dealership and service dept. told me nothing they can do unless I pay for it because they checked it back in 2015-2017 so claim is closed. in the meantime, my family's safety is at risk, I take extreme care of my vehicle so I check my oil daily and if it starts to jerk, I know it's lost the oil again. I carry oil in my car for this reason, but there was a recall and now it won't be honored because it took so long to fully arise.

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 klnow. I don't know if this all ties into the branded title, but I feel like there needs to be a recall to address the faulty transfer case and the excessive oil consumption.

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.

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 to this issue I do believe gm knew about it and instead of doing the right thing just made a replacement and left it at that.

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.

I was driving on the highway and the stabilitrak light came on as well as the power steering, ABS, traction control light and engine light then my car literally slowed down and had no power. I was doing 60 mile an hour and it down shifted to almost 5 miles an hour

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift out of PARK and the key would not move, preventing the contact from turning off the vehicle. The contact also mentioned that the service air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact initially called the dealer where they informed him to tow the vehicle to the dealer location. The contact then called AAA where they were able to reset the gear box; the contact was then able to shift the vehicle into the DRIVE and drove to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the failure with a defective gear box; the vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer while they awaited for the parts to repair the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V502000 (Electrical System, Power Train) however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the vehicle was shuddering. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain had fractured and caused engine damage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,539.

ON 9/25/21, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TEMPERTURE LIGHT AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WHEN THE SERVICE MAN CHECKED THE OIL HE SAID THERE WAS ALMOST NO OIL LEFT IN THE ENGINE. MY DASHBOARD SAID THAT I HAD 18% OIL.THE ENGINE WAS ALSO MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPING WAS DIFFICULT. THE DEALERSHIP DID AN OIL CHANGE AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT HAVING THE PISTONS CHANGED, CLOSE TO $3,000. I HAD HEARD THE ENGINE NOISE ONCE BEFORE, i BOUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE PERSON REFUSED TO DO AN OIL CHANGE AND HE DID NOT CHECK MY OIL. THE OIL PERCENTAGE AT THAT TIME WAS BETWEEN 33 AND 38%. THE SERVICE PERSON KEPT RANTING THAT THE COMPANY WAS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE OIL CHANGE IT WAS TOO EARLY. I HAVE A BUYER PROTECTION PLAN THAT PAYS FOR MY OIL CHANGES. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO KNOW HOW BAD THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM IS SO THEY ARE HAVING ME COME TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN CHECK MY OIL IN BETWEEN THIS OIL CHANGE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE OIL PROBLEM, I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL FROM GM ALERTING ME FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION VRS. DASH BOARD OIL CONSUMPTION USAGE AS INDICATED BY THE CARS COMPUTER. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE SERVICE PERSONS, GENERAL MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT ALERTED THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY AS OUR SOURCE OF INCOME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AND ENGINE FIRE, LOSS OF LIFE COULD HAVE HAPPENED. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL AND ALERTED THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF CHOOSING TO IGNORE IT. THEY SHOULD REALIZE THAT A DEAD CUSTOMER CAN NOT DRIVE A CAR. IF THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP BECAUSE OF THE INACCURATE OIL READING, ALERTING THE CUSTOMER SOONER MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE PROBLEM. PRO ACTIVE WORKS BETTER THAN HIDING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. I AM TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO THAT OTHERS NEVER EXPERIENCE WHAT I DID. THIS MAY BE THE LAST GM CAR I EVER BUY.

MY 2013 EQUINOX HAS A OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND A ENGINE NOISE ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, LOOSING THE POWER BRAKES, STEERING CAUSING LOOS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE

84,000 MILES, TRANSFER CASE HOUSING CRACKED. DEALER STATED THAT THE SIDE WAS "BLOWN OUT" DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND STRONG SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. DROVE STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP. NEW TRANSFER CASE INSTALLED FOR $2,600. OF COURSE, THE 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 5 YEAR. THIS CAR IS 7 YEARS.

AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON JANUARY 15TH 2021, I WAS INFORMED BY JEFFERSON CHEVROLET THAT MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN AND MISFIRING PISTONS. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR SIX MONTHS. IT HAS A HUNDRED AND ONE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY ADDING OIL. EVEN THE PRIOR VISIT IN DECEMBER 2020, THE REPRESENTATIVE AT JEFFERSON CHEVROLET IN DETROIT MICHIGAN INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD NO OIL AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE AND THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM ANY INSPECTIONS UNTIL THEY PERFORM ANOTHER OIL CHANGE. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON HOW TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE.

WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM HOME AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A SMOOTH STRAIGHT ROAD THE VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN JERK LIKE SLAMMING ON BRAKES. MADE CONTROL DIFFICULT MOMENTARILY

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION MY EQUINOX TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING HOME (ON THE STREETS), AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN AND BEGAN TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ANOTHER TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLOW TRAFFIC. ONCE AGAIN, AFTER HAVING TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE SUV TURNED OFF. ON THE FREEWAY!!! I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT FAULT FOR IT. THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE WITH THIS SUV. I'VE HAD THIS EQUINOX SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2019 AND I KEEP UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE ON IT. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING LIFE THREATENING ISSUES WITH THIS SUV

SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION I'M ADDING OIL CONSTANTLY