FaultScore

2013 Chevrolet Equinox brake problems

13 of the 988 complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox are about the braking system — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 22,549 miles.

C

13

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 12 92.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 7.7%

Brakes across every Chevrolet Equinox year

2005 108 15.1%
2006 85 11.9%
2007 28 3.9%
2010 23 3.2%
2011 27 3.8%
2012 14 2.0%
2013 13 1.8%
2014 12 1.7%
2015 16 2.2%
2018 132 18.4%
2019 80 11.2%
2020 109 15.2%
2023 16 2.2%
2024 13 1.8%
2025 24 3.4%
2026 16 2.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Columbus, GA

SERVICE BRAKES

Car feels like it is going to take off at a red light. Then it rumbles and cuts off at the light. I purchased car from US Auto Sales. DOWC paid PepBoys for multiple repairs for breaks rotors and the light that keeps coming on is service stabile track they got the light to cut off but the issue still persisted. They even changed all things dealing with the gas line. This car is still idling high at stop signs like it will take off on its own. And still cuts off at a red light. This is very unsafe and many drivers have almost run onto the back of me. I told US Auto Sales, DOWC, and PepBoys and they all put me back in the same vehicle after voicing my concerns about safety. Instead of putting me in a safer vehicle they ignored it. This has been happening since I purchased the vehicle in November 2022

NHTSA complaint #11560023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Terrell, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

Purchased car from dealer on 7/1, car seemed fine at dealer and then died. Took car to oil change place, discovered underneath frame completely rotted out. Called dealer, dealer unwilling to fix, replace or refund vehicle. Had car further inspected to find complete engine, transmission, frame, axle, steering, brake issues. There were no signs of anything wrong at the dealership.

NHTSA complaint #11531435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Villa Rica, GA

SERVICE BRAKES

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly brake and jerk. After the failure, the vehicle would drive and operate as needed. The contact experienced the failure approximately six times. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11457578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Muskegon, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

BOUGHT THE CAR USED 8 MONTHS AGO WITH 55K MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN IT 20K MILES, AND IT BURNS OIL, WITH THE OIL LIGHT NOT BEING ILLUMINATED, YET THE COMPUTER TELLS ME I HAVE A HIGHER % OF OIL LIFE LEFT. TIMING CHAIN IS GOING OUT, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, AND THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM TURNS OFF. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING APPEARS FINE, BUT BETWEEN 0-20MPH WITH AWD ON THE BREAK SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE FAILING; THEN WHEN STABILITRAK IS TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE PERFORMS NORMAL. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR. MOST OF THESE ISSUES OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #11317050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles BEL AIR, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

ON OCT. 23, 2018, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE MORNING. CALLED ONSTAR IN AFTERNOON FOR CODE;ONSTAR DID NOT PROVIDE CODE BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE SERVICED ASAP AND MADE APPOINTMENT AT NEARBY DEALERSHIP FOR NEXT MORNING. THAT EVENING WHEN BRAKING TO LEAVE A PARKING AREA, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED/STALLED OUT. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #11151126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,549 miles Bozeman, MT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR ON A ROCKY OFF-ROAD MOUNTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS ROAD. THE ROAD CONSISTED OF A LOW GRADE INCLINE, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FROZE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND THE BRAKES FROZE UP AND THE VEHICLE WAS GAINING MOMENTUM DANGEROUSLY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS UNTIL THE GRADE LEVELED. HOWEVER, I WAS FOUND MYSELF LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED. I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES COMING TOWARD ME AROUND THE CURVES. I HAVE DRIVEN ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROADS MANY TIMES BEFORE, AND I ASSUMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT IT WAS NOT SUITABLE TO OFF-ROAD DRIVING. I WANT TO WARN OTHERS TO NOT TAKE THIS VEHICLE OFF ROAD, EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE AND IS ASSUMED BY BUYERS AS A SAFE VEHICLE DRIVING IN ROCKY, OFF-ROAD CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10645086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Corydon, IN

SERVICE BRAKES

ME AND MY WIFE OWN A 2013 CHEVY EQUINOX. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 18MONTHS AND PURCHASED THIS BRAND NEW. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FOWARD COLLISION SENSOR ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY OTHER VEHICLE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY. MYSELF AND MY WIFE HAVE BOTH HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS TO HER ALL THE TIME SINCE SHE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER. SHE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO HER OVER 20 TIMES IN THE PAST 1.5 YRS. FORWARD COLLISION WARNING WILL GO OFF WITH NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AND THEN THE BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY ENGAGE. I HAVE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE. I HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE AS A PASSENGER ON (3) OCCASSIONS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE HAVE HAD THIS SUV FOR 18MONTHS AND SHE HAS TAKEN IT TO (2) DEALERSHIPS. BOTH STATED THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THIS AND TOLD US TO DE-ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. WHY HAVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE AND YOU ARE TOLD TO TURN IT OFF BY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX IT?? I DONT EVEN KNOW IF THEY HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET TO INQUIRE. DEALERSHIPS WE UTILIZED WERE JOHN JONES FROM CORYDON, IN AND COYLE CHEVROLET LOCATED IN CLARKSVILLE, IN. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE BUT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10641382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,315 miles SAN Diego, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

1ST OCCURRENCE - 7-22-14 -TRAVELING ON THE 8 WEST AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE "COLLISION AVOIDANCE" SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASH ACTIVATED AND IT DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL, THERE WAS NOT A CAR WITHIN 200 YARDS. 2ND OCCURRENCE - 7-25-14 - TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON AERO DR. AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH, WITH NO CARS WITHIN 100 YARDS, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED. 3RD OCCURRENCE - 7-28-14 - GOING TO WORK AT 6:00 AM TRAVELING NORTH BOUND ON MISSION VILLAGE DR. AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, COLLISION AVOIDANCE ACTIVATED, RED LIGHT ON THE DASH & BRAKING, NO CARS WERE IN SIGHT AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10617362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES SQUEAL REALLY BAD WHEN BACKING UP BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. WATER SEEMS TO BE LEAKING INTO THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10616035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES SQUEAL REALLY BAD WHEN BACKING UP BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. WATER SEEMS TO BE LEAKING INTO THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10606749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Houston, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

MARCH 2013 RADIO CONTROL WENT OFF/ RADIO DISPLAY SCREEN FROZE FOR FEW HOURS. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN ON/OFF RADIO AND STAYED ON THE SAME VOLUME. TURNED OFF THE CAR TO RESET AND IT DID NOT GO AWAY. TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR FOLLOW UP. STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE GOES ON FOR NO REASON WHEN PRESSING BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10583627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,386 miles Indian Land, SC Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING NORTH BEHIND A PICKUP TRUCK ,HE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND IT APPEARED AS IF IT MADE ME GO FASTER INSTEAD OF STOPPING.. I COULD NOT STOP AND I RAN INTO THE REAR OF THE PICKUP TRUCK. MY EQUINOX WAS TOTALED. MY SEAT BELT ACTIVATED AND HELD ME IN PLACE AND THE AIR BAG ACTIVATED. MY ONSTAR CAME TO MY ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED ME TO STAY IN PLACE TILL HELP ARRIVED AND TURN ON THE IGNITION AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHT SWITCH .I DIDN'T REMEMBER EVER TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF .COULD THIS VEHICLE BE ANOTHER ONE IN THE VEHICLES IN THE CLASS THAT HAS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM THAT CAUSES ACCIDENTS ? I SUFFERED A CONTUSION OF THE UPPER CHEST AREA. THE OTHER DRIVER WENT TO HIS DOCTOR FOR CHECK UP .

NHTSA complaint #10575865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 550 miles Durham, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOISE WAS THE RESULT OF MOISTURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH MORNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 550.

NHTSA complaint #10526084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2013 Chevrolet Equinox problems

← Full 2013 Chevrolet Equinox report