2013 Chevrolet Equinox: Timing chain broke
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Equinox report: timing chain broke. CarComplaints.com lists 8 owner complaints, average mileage 116,750 miles.
NHTSA has 420 owner complaints for the 2013 Equinox in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11761531 (filed 09/02/2026): “We changed the external fuel pump, we changed the oil cap to the vented oil cap, we changed the oil 2x within 2 days, once trying to get it by until we could get the new fuel pump on,and once directly after and still had issues. losing power and getting stran…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11747310 (filed 06/29/2026): “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 mu…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace engine (4 reports) replace timing chain (3 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $1,600 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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