2013 Chevrolet Equinox: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 29, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · CO

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 it disclosed on the carfax report!! Very upsetting as I will be without a means of transportation.

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Engine · KS

Excessive oil consumption i have the same 2.1 liter echo tech engine that was previously involved in the lawsuit against General Motors for the 2013 chevy equinox excessive oil consumption. My car has stalled, jerked and keeps me in the auto parts stores buying oil all the time even long before time to change the oil.

Filed Dec 4, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · IN

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 the federal safety agency investigate this safety-related defect.

Filed Dec 24, 2024 · Engine · MO

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 other drivers as well. I looked up common issues and discovered that this particular problem is common in this car and i immediately called GM. I was told by GM, the manufacturer, that they did offer a, “Special Coverage Adjustment” back in 2020 for “N192291100 Excessive Engine Oil Consumption – US Only.” Some 2013 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine (RPO LEA) may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles [3,200 km] per quart [0.946 L] of engine oil), due to piston ring wear. If this condition is present, an audible rattle or knock from the engine may be heard. The engine oil pressure telltale may illuminate on the instrument panel or the following message may appear in the Driver Information Center: "Oil Pressure Low – Stop Engine". Dealers are to perform an oil consumption test and install new pistons and piston rings if excessive consumption is found. In addition, dealers are to repair or replace any engine components that require repair or replacement if the need for such repair or replacement was solely caused by excessive oil consumption due to piston ring wear. The repairs will be made at no charge to the Customer. This warranty expired in 2020. The car lags while accelerating. The car has suddenly stopped twice while driving. The car shakes and jerks violently especially while in idle. The car has been serviced for two oil changes since date of purchase and has been diagnosed of engine burning oil. GM will not consider offering any assistance.

Filed Dec 9, 2024 · Engine · MO

High oil consumption, car has had 3 oil changes in less than one month. After about a week after a new oil change, check engine light will come on. Car will shake and jerk while in idle.

Filed Jul 1, 2024 · Engine · 151,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally, and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain had failed. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic for a second opinion, where it was confirmed that the timing chain had fractured, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · IN

Recall for oil burning consumption I took car to dealership to fix but I’m continuing to have the same problems and still no oil light comes on and it continues to use oil some where and it never leaks onto the ground and new problems now it’s jerking when at a stop if idle for to long a warning light says reduced engine power. Very unsafe in traffic

Filed Oct 2, 2023 · Transmission · OH

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.

Filed Apr 9, 2023 · Engine · VA

For the past 2 years i have had my vehicle in the shop for repairs that have been unnecessary. The car would display check engine light, to the car jerking, and not wanting to accelerate, to shutting completely off at times. I have had the transmission replaced 2 times. To as of today april 8th,2023 mechanic at carmax where i have been taking car for every issue since i purchased it from them. Now says it has a oil consumption issue. Which i have had to take the vehicle back to carmax many times for . And yet still the issue is not fixed. Now they want me to pay for a new long block engine. And say that there is no special coverage from chevy for this oil consumption issue now.

Filed Mar 21, 2022 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Feb 7, 2022 · Engine · IN

General Motors has a problem with the pcv system in the Chevy equinox with the 2.4. When it’s super cold out moisture freezes in the pcv system and causes the motor not to breathe and blows the rear main seal out and drains all the oil out and my check engine light came on and said low oil pressure which if you are traveling down the interstate and the motor locks up because of loss of oil it can cause a huge accident. General Motors has a bulletin out on this same problem but says it’s vin specific and they will not cover my Chevy equinox even tho it is the right year and motor size on the bulletin. My wife was driving and the vehicle started chugging and jerking and was making all kind of noises due to no oil. When she brought it home the driveway was covered in oil. I towed it into my shop and let it thaw over night and investigated and found the pcv was full of water and that’s what froze causing it to blow the rear main seal out. Now that there is no water in the pcv system I still have to put 2 quarts of oil in it every other day due to the rear main seal blowing out. Talked to General Motors over and over and they won’t cover it. I own my own mechanics shop and inspected it.

Filed Nov 12, 2020 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · MI

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