This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems
moderate 320 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
320
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
1fire
8injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 320 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 21 model years of Chevrolet Equinox we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 320.
Engine accounts for 43% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Equinox 2.4L EcoTec engine burns oil at an abnormal rate due to piston ring defects, with owners reporting consumption of 1 quart per 1,000–1,500 miles or worse. Many owners add 2–8 quarts between scheduled oil changes and hear constant knocking or ticking from the engine. The most dangerous aspect: the low oil pressure warning lamp frequently fails to illuminate even when the pan is dry. Owners keep filling it and keep driving, unaware they're running the engine on fumes.
Cold-weather failures compound the problem. The PCV system freezes in sub-zero temperatures, blocking crankcase ventilation and building dangerous pressure that blows the rear main seal. The engine dumps its oil onto the road in minutes, and the driver gets no warning until the oil pressure light flickers on—often too late. Stalling during highway merges and city traffic is common. Timing chains wear prematurely from lack of lubrication, grinding and rattling before snapping. Catalytic converters fail from combustion contamination caused by oil burning into the cylinders.
GM issued a Special Coverage Adjustment (N192291100) and extended warranty, but coverage is VIN-specific and many owners report their identical vehicles are excluded. The initial SCA expired in 2020; the extended window (2020–2021) was narrow and many missed it due to COVID lockdowns or late notification. Class-action settlements exist, but owners repeatedly report never receiving notification letters. Dealers confirm the oil consumption problem as "known," acknowledge the piston ring defect, and then deny coverage because the owner's VIN falls outside the arbitrary list—even when a mechanic documents the exact same failure mode described in GM's own service bulletin.
Same Chevrolet Equinox engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption due to piston ring wear
Engine burns oil at abnormally high rates (1+ quart per 1000-1500 miles or more), caused by defective piston rings on the 2.4L EcoTec engine. Owners report adding 2-8 quarts between scheduled oil changes. The low oil pressure warning lamp frequently fails to illuminate despite critically low oil levels, leaving drivers unaware of the problem until catastrophic damage occurs.
When: Typically begins around 50,000-70,000 miles; many owners report issues within first 3-5 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine burns oil at excessive rates (1+ quart per 1000 miles or more); Knocking or ticking noises from engine, especially under load; Rough idle or shaking at stops; Low oil on dipstick with no warning lamp; Smoke or blue exhaust; Check engine light illuminates; Engine stalling at stops or during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: GM Special Coverage Adjustment N192291100 (expired 2020) and extended warranty through 7.5 years/120,000 miles (15285/16118) covered piston and piston ring replacement, typically quoted $2,400-$4,000+ by dealers. Many owners cite dealer estimates for engine rebuild at $2,400-$8,000. Class-action settlement exists but many owners report missing notifications or being outside coverage windows.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Special Coverage Adjustment N192291100 and extended warranty for affected 2013 Equinox/Terrain with 2.4L engine. However, coverage is VIN-specific and many owners report their VINs are excluded despite having identical vehicles and engines. Warranty expired in 2020 for initial SCA; extended coverage window (2020-2021) was narrow and many owners missed the deadline. GM often refuses coverage citing warranty expiration or VIN exclusion.
PCV system freezing causing rear main seal failure
In cold weather, moisture in the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system freezes, blocking the orifice and causing crankcase pressure to build up excessively. This pressure blows out the rear main seal, draining all engine oil. Failures occur suddenly during operation with no warning lights to alert the driver. Owners report complete oil loss while driving, creating immediate engine damage and loss of power.
When: Occurs during below-freezing temperatures (documented at -4°F, 9°F, sub-zero wind chills); typically happens within minutes to hours of cold-weather startup
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surging or lurching at idle in cold weather; Engine stalling or losing power while driving; No oil pressure warning light until critical failure; Blue/gray smoke from engine; Oil pooling or spraying under vehicle; Low oil pressure message appearing only after seal failure; Reduced engine power notification
Repairs/costs cited: Rear main seal replacement alone costs $1,400-$2,000. If timing chain or engine damage occurred from oil loss, rebuild or replacement required at $7,600-$8,000. Owners report replacing rear seal only to have it fail again due to underlying PCV design. One owner paid $7,651.87 for engine replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Service Bulletin 14882 (Document ID 4098165) covering 2010-2014 Equinox/Terrain with 2.4L EcoTec engine specifically for this scenario. However, coverage is VIN-specific and most owners report their VINs are excluded despite matching vehicle year, make, model, and engine. GM refuses coverage with statement that VIN is not included in bulletin, even when mechanics and dealers confirm the exact same failure condition.
Timing chain wear and failure
Timing chain loses tension or fails prematurely, often exacerbated by excessive oil consumption that starves the chain of lubrication. Causes grinding noises, reduced power, and potential complete engine shutdown during operation. Engine disassembly reveals metallic debris and severely worn timing components.
When: Documented at 66,000-127,000 miles; failures often occur after owner attempts to address oil consumption via oil consumption tests or repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding or clanking from engine; Timing chain rattling or knocking; Loss of engine power or sudden deceleration; Check engine light illuminates; Engine stalls; Reduced engine power warning message
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain replacement quoted at $1,800-$2,500. Often discovered as secondary failure after engine damage from oil loss. Owners report metallic debris found throughout engine indicating internal damage. Some repairs bundled with piston/ring replacement at $2,500+.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific GM recall or special coverage program identified in narratives for timing chain. Some dealers cover under warranty or extended warranty programs, but many owners report denial after warranty expiration.
Catalytic converter failure from oil consumption
Excessive oil consumption causes combustion chamber to be coated with carbon and oil, which damages the catalytic converter. Check engine light illuminates due to catalytic converter efficiency codes. The converter must be replaced, adding significant repair cost on top of the underlying oil consumption issue.
When: Typically occurs within 2-3 years or around 100,000+ miles when oil consumption has been severe
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Reduced engine power; Possible rattling or odd noises from exhaust
Codes mentioned: Catalytic converter efficiency fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replacement quoted at $800-$1,000. Owners report being charged $230+ for diagnosis. One owner reported repair estimate exceeding $8,000 for complete repairs (converter + engine work).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer assistance identified. Owners report dealers confirming the failure but refusing remedy under warranty.
Stalling during idle or low-speed driving
Vehicle stalls when stopped at traffic lights, stop signs, or during low-speed maneuvering such as backing up or merging. Stalls can repeat multiple times in succession. Restarts after delay but may stall again. Creates serious safety risk if stalling occurs during highway merging or heavy traffic. Root cause appears linked to excessive oil consumption, PCV issues, and failing solenoids.
When: Can occur at any mileage once oil consumption or PCV problems develop; some owners report stalling beginning in early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at complete stops; Multiple stalls in succession (up to 14+ reported); Rough idle preceding stalls; Check engine light may or may not illuminate; Engine restarts but stalls again shortly after
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis and repair of stalling condition often requires replacement of camshaft position solenoids (intake and exhaust), priced at $100-$300+ in labor and parts. Root cause of stalling frequently goes undiagnosed or is attributed to solenoid failure alone rather than underlying oil consumption or PCV issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall for stalling. Dealers may repair solenoids under warranty if within coverage, but do not address the underlying excessive oil consumption or PCV design defect.
Exhaust fumes backing into cabin
When air conditioning is switched to defrost mode or is turned on, exhaust and oil fumes seep into the passenger cabin. Owners report gagging, choking, and headaches from breathing exhaust gases while driving. This appears related to excessive oil consumption and combustion issues creating back-pressure in the exhaust system.
When: Reported during winter months when defrost is in use; appears linked to severity of oil consumption
Symptoms owners cite: Gas/exhaust fumes smell in cabin when AC is on; Fumes worse when switching to defrost mode; Choking or gagging sensation; Headaches from exposure during driving
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair identified in narratives. One owner mentioned exhaust manifold replacement at $600 plus $1,000 for engine mount replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented. Dealers reportedly dismiss complaint or blame environmental conditions.
Synthesized from 320 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
My family and I were driving on the highway and my engine stopped without any warning lights or notifications. We were able to safely coast from the left lane to the shoulder. We had the car towed to a nearby dealership. When they inspected my car they said there was no oil in in the engine and that the crank was locked up. I was told I would need to replace the engine. My car has about 134,000…
I bought my 2013 Chevy equinox in july of 2019, about a month after buying it my husband checked the oil and the oil wasnt even on the dipstick. After that we kept an eye on it and every week we have to put at least a quart of oil in the vehicle. We have brought it to our shop and have determined that there is excessive oil consumption at the 100,000 mile mark.
While driving, the car turned off and was unable to start back up. The engine blew after the timing belt jumped time. After talking to multiple people in our area, engine failure, excessive oil consumption, and problems with the timing belt are a huge problem with this year model that Chevrolet should do something to remedy. The repair is more expensive than the car is worth so I will now be car…
I hardly drive my truck since teleworking but it has oil consumption. I get my oil changed every time it is due and within 1500 miles there will be nothing on the stick now I check it everyday. I was not informed about this and missed the lawsuit. My truck is in very good condition. GM and the Cheverolet dealer should be responsible. I noticed this about a year ago but was just informed of the…
I was driving at 55mph and the red lights came on saying to check engine oil low-I pulled over immediately and my engine was already blown. I get my oil changes every 3000-3500 miles. The mechanic said that the rear seal gasket blew and the engine was gone immediately. I now have a car that I still owe on and I need a new engine at 120,000 miles. Very upset that the price you pay for these…
My 2013 equinox Chevy, I was driving down on the highway without engine light warning. Acting funny till I got home... Then the engine light came on, next morning we were going to take it to gm for take a look at but won't stay running. Still didn't give any alert.
I purchased the vehicle November 7, 2024 with 137,251 miles. The car shakes and jerks violently while in idle, mostly at stop signs and red lights. The car will lag or stall while accelerating on the highway. It gets so extreme that the vehicle has almost failed and cut off while in motion. That raised red flags and safety concerns for me as the driver, my children as passengers, pedestrians, and…
600 mile trip for christmas. Car would idle rough at stops and stalled numerous times as starting out. The root cause is excessive oil consumption on this direct fuel injection gm 2.4 liter engine. Gm has known about this problem and has put out a tsb extending the warranty for 2011-2012 models with this problem, but are making it extremely difficult for consumers to take advantage of this…
This car burns through oil faster than anything despite regular oil changes and fills in between. Never sends a sensor for low oil and now it is believed to have blown a head gasket likely due to this oil issue. There was an extended fix for pistons issued but the date to qualify was before I purchased this car so I was not eligible-I just saw this recently. This is a danger causing the engine to…
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 320 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 229 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 77,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 95,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Chevrolet/Equinox.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.