2006 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility is the leading concern among 695 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 16 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
141 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2015
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE BELL STARTED RINGING, THEN THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. TC-ABS-BRAKE, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED UP AS LIKE STANDARD BEFORE POWER STEERING. I PULLED OVER IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WENT TO A GM AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP THE SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO DO???? I WAS TALKED INTO PUTTING A NEW BRAIN IN THE EQUINOX SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS $$$$$ AND IT STILL DID THE SAME THING. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER (CHEVY) THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, CALLED AND SAID THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM, YEA A BENT WIRE?? WORKED FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND NOW ITS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. OH BY THE WAY I WAS INFORMED THAT I DID NOT NEED TO PUT A NEW BRAIN IN THE CAR THE OLD ONE WAS VERY GOOD. GM IS A REALY BAD PLACE TO BUY ANY CAR ANY MORE, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER ONLY THE $$$ THEY SOLD ME A CAR THEY NEW FULL WELL HAD PROBLEMS.
Electrical system, Aug 17, 2015
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF CAUSING LOST OF STEERING,BRAKES ETC...GOT TRUCK PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED TO RESTART IT TOOK 6 TRIES BEFORE RESTARTING,THEN ON THE SAME DAY STOPPED AT STORE CUT OFF TRUCK RETURNED AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN TAKING 6 TRIES IT MADE NO NOISE WHEN TRYING TO START AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP WITH ALL THE SEVERAL WARNINGS THEN IT WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AND EVERYTHING FLASHED ON THE CLUSTER..THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR OTHER TIMES AND I AM VERY CONCERNED CAUSE IT HAPPENS WITH NO NOTICE.ON AUG 17 2015 I WENT TO START THE TRUCK AND IT WOULD START AND REPEATED THE SAME THINGS LISTED ABOVE. AFTER ABOUT SIX HRS I WENT TO START IT AGAIN IT STARTED..THIS IS PROBLEM CAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL SHUT DOWN IF II AM DRIVING IN TOWN OR THE HIGHWAY.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 17, 2015, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 27, 2015
HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING SUB. NEW BATTERY, ALL LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKS, KEY SLIDES OUT WHEN CARE IS ON. ENGINE AND FAN COME ON FOR NO REASON.
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING FAILED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, May 26, 2015
I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX WHICH I BOUGHT IN 2010. WHILE I HAD VARIOUS "OF AGE" REPAIRS, SUCH AS FUEL SYSTEM ISSUES AND A FAN MOTOR; WITH THE AGE AND MILEAGE, THEY SEEMED NORMAL. IN 2013 I REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR SIMULTANEOUSLY; AS THE CODE WAS FOR EGR, BUT WOULD ONLY INTERMITTENTLY KICK IN THE TSS CODE (THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC 3 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET THE CODE TO STAY SO WE COULD FIND THE PROBLEM). AMONG LOOKING ONLINE FOR THE PROBLEM, IT WAS COMMON, BUT MY DEALER WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT THE CODE. JUNE, 2014, THE BRAKES STARTED PULSATING ON THE CAR IN LOW SPEEDS. I WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET IT TO STOP. TWICE, PUMPING THE BRAKES AT AN INTERSECTION FAILED, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A WRECK WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. THE ABS AND TC LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC: HE EVALUATED EACH CONNECTION AND CLEANED THEM, WHERE THE ABS HARNESS CONNECTS TO THE MAIN HARNESS. HE FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES. AFTER 2 MORE MONTHS OF DANGEROUS DRIVING, AND A WHOLE NEW SET OF BRAKES (ALL 4), ONLINE RESEARCH PREVAILED ONCE AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON; AND SUGGESTED A RATHER CHEAP FIX. THE 18 IN WIRE HARNESS FROM THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR TO THE MAIN HARNESS HAD AN ISSUE. SURE ENOUGH I, A WOMAN, AFTER BEING TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T CARRY THE PART, ORDERED IT ONLINE AND REPLACED IT IN 15 MINUTES. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. MAY, 2015. WHAT APPEARED TO BE A THERMOSTAT ISSUE ENDED UP BEING A COOLANT RESERVOIR PROBLEM. THE RESERVOIR WAS BROKEN, WHERE THE PLASTIC NIPPLE THAT COMES OUT THE BOTTOM ATTACHES WITH THE HOSE. AFTER I CONTACTED ALL PARTS STORES IN THE AREA, I WAS TOLD WHILE IT WAS COMMON FOR CHEVROLET TRUCKS AND EQUINOX VEHICLES, THE EQUINOX PART WAS NO MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PARTS STORES. I HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER ONLINE, THANK GOODNESS IT WORKED.
Electrical system, May 7, 2015
IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK AND YOU CAN NOT TURN THE CAR ON. SOMETIME YOU CAN NOT GET THE KEY OUT AND SOMETIMES T FEELS LIKE THE PINS IN THE SWITCH ARE NOT DROPPING . THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND NOW HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 8, 2015
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE HEAT ON AND IT WOULDNT GO HIGHER THEN LOW AND ABOUT 5 MILES LATER I WENT HIGHER ON ITS OWN. ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER THE HEAT STARTED BLOWING AND THEN STOPPED AND NOW WILL NOT BLOW HOT OR COLD AIR. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 6, 2015
I GOT IN MY CAR THIS MORNING AND MY FAN WASN'T WORKING FOR MY HEATER. WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ITS WINTER AND MY WINDOWS ARE ICED OVER. I LOOKED UP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK FOR HEAT OR COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V489000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE MOTOR BLOWER, RESISTOR, BLOWER AND PIT TAIL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,480.
Electrical system, Feb 11, 2015
I HAD LEFT WORK, DRIVEN ABOUT 6 MILES, SHUT ENGINE OFF TO FILL WITH GAS, GOT BACK IN TO CRANK ENGINE AND NOTHING - NO LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAD HAULED TO GARAGE, BATTERY WAS PUT ON SLOW CHARGE OVER NIGHT, SHOWED LITTLE LOW BUT WOULD CRANK CAR, MFG REPLACED BATTERY BUT 2 MONTHS LATER IT WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. PUT BATTERY ON CHARGE OVERNIGHT AGAIN. HASN'T OCCURRED AGAIN BUT FOUND OUT SOMEONE ELSE HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH TRAILBLAZER, HE HAS TO CARRY A JUMP BOX AROUND WITH HIM.. LOCAL GM DEALER HAS NOT FOUND HIS PROBLEM EITHER..WHAT DO WE DO TRADE IN WITH DEALER THEN LET IT BECOME THEIR PROBLEM? *TR
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Feb 4, 2015
THE HEATING SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILED AND BLOWS COLD AIR AFFECTING THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING ABILITY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE PROBLEM IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF THE CAR TO DEFROST. AS NOTED IN A LETTER FROM GM'S DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT INVESTIGATIONS AND SAFETY TO THE NHTSA ON DECEMBER 23, 2009, THE 2010 EQUINOX WAS RECALLED SINCE A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT RESULTED IN NON-OPERATIONAL DEFROST SYSTEMS THAT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, AND VIOLATED FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 103. IN OTHER WORDS, GM HAS ADMITTED ON ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MANUFACTURER?S DEFECTS THAT CAUSE IN-OPERABLE DEFROST SYSTEMS ARE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. CHEVROLET EQUINOX DRIVERS ARE AT STAKE. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD COULD LEAD TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS VEHICLE DAMAGE, INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND ORDER GM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTED PART / PARTS AND REFUND REPAIR COST TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE OR WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 30, 2015
WHEN I TURN ON MY TURN SIGNAL EITHER WAY, THE HIGH-BEAMS COME ON. I THOUGH IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY DOING, BUT I PAYED ATTENTION MANY TIMES AND IT WILL ALWAYS DO IT. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 30, 2015
VEHICLE RUNS FINE, SHUT IT OFF IT WON'T START. SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE 2 OR 3 TURNS TO START IT OTHER TIMES 10 TO 15 MINUTES TO START IT. REPLACED IGNITION CYLINDER, SWITCH AND TUMBLERS, THINKING THIS WAS IT. NO. NO ONE CAN FINE PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2006 EQUINOX FROM THE FORUMS I READ. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE IT LEAVES PEOPLE LIKE ME STRANDED. I HAVE EMAILED CHEVROLET ONCE ALREADY AND TOLD THEM IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I GET STRANDED FOR MY FAMILY TO SUE THEM. CHEVROLET TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALER, I CALLED AND THE PERSON I TALKED TO TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND IF THE PROBLEM DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR WAS THERE , THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $ 85.00 PER HR. , IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY , IT MIGHT GO A MONTH WITHOUT DOING IT AND THEN IT MIGHT DO IT 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR JANUARY 2014. I HATE TO TRADE IT IN, BECAUSE THEY WILL JUST SELL IT TO SOMEONE AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SOMEONE WITH CHILDREN AND HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. SO, IN ENDING THIS COMPLAINT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS 2006 EQUINOX PROBLEM. THANK YOU !! ( THIS GETS SCARY TO A 63 YR. WOMEN AT NIGHTTIME ). *TR
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2015
THE SWITCH HANGS UP WHEN TRYING TO CRANK THE AUTO. IT KEEPS TRYING TO CRANK THE ENGINE WHEN YOU RELEASE THE SWITCH. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 19, 2015
NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT STARTING WHEN CRANKED.\I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND CHANGED IT, BUT STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE POWERTRAIN/ENGINE CONTROL MODULES WERE THE ISSUES IN NUMEROUS CHEVY EQUINOX WHICH MAY BE THE REASON FOR THE CAR NOT STARTING. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 31, 2014
ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *JS
Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 13, 2014
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENT. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM SEEKER TOYOTA IN ST. ROBERT MO. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE THE. BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOCKED UP. THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. WE REPLACED THE CALIPERS, ROTORS, BRAKES PADS, AND THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER IT LOCKED UP AGAIN AND TRIED TO CATCH FIRE. NOW HAVE TO FIX AGAIN. THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, THE CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE. WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY AFTER SPENDING NEARLY $5000 FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE FEEL LIKE WE WERE RIPPED OFF AND WHY ISN'T THE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND HEAT ISSUES NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 26, 2014
ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WILL FLICKER WHEN STARTED AND WILL SOMETIMES DO IT WHEN BREAKS ARE APPLIED. DOES NOT START ON FIRST TRY SOMETIMES. SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STARTING BUT JUST STOPS. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 30, 2014
THE IGNITION GETS STUCK. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE IGNITION AND REPLACED THE KEYS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Electrical system, Aug 21, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ENTER THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TO BE REMOVED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Electrical system, Aug 21, 2014
THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD LOCK UP AND SOMETIMES IT TURNS OVER CONTINUOUSLY, LIKE IT IS STUCK. THE AIR CONDITION BLOWER HAS STOPPED WORKING 3 TIMES. IT WOULD SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING BUT THE SWITCH ACTUALLY WOULD BE BURNING OUT. I HEAR OTHERS THAT HAVE CHEVROLET VEHICLES HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MY HUSBAND HAS A 2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND WE HAVE REPLACED THE BLOWER TWICE IN IT IN LAST THAN A YEAR. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 6, 2014
IN THE LAST MONTH MY 2006 EQUINOX'S ENGINE HAS FAILED 5 TIMES, 3 TIMES WHILE SITTING AT INTERSECTIONS AND TWICE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ALL 5 TIMES THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE ON THE DASH AND THEN ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE HAS BEEN LOST. IT TAKES A GOOD MINUTE BEFORE THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER AGAIN. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SHOP FOR EXTENSIVE WORK (INCLUDING WHEEL BEARINGS AND IGNITION SWITCH) AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX OR EVEN PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT THE 2005 EQUINOX WAS RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE AND WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE '06 WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST??? *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 5, 2014
I FIRST REPORTED TO CHEVROLET IN 2011 THAT MY IGNITION/KEY IN MY 2006 EQUINOX WOULD GET "STUCK". IT WOULDN'T TURN AND I'D SPEND SOMETIMES SEVERAL MINUTES JUST TRYING TO GET THE KEY TO TURN SO I COULD START THE CAR. I SOMETIMES HAD TO TAP THE KEY FORWARD WITH A SCREWDRIVER HANDLE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. CHEVROLET SIMPLY SAID THANKS FOR TELLING US THAT YOU AND MANY MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BLOWER FAN NOT WORKING. IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMONLY REPORTED ISSUE AS WELL BUT I CANT SEEM TO FIND AN ACTUAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE BLOWER RESISTOR MOTOR/FAN PROBLEM. I'M JUST SO DISAPPOINTED IN CHEVY! CAN'T THEY AT LEAST OFFER FREE LABOR IF YOU BUY THE PARTS OR SOMETHING? WHEN ISSUES ARE WIDELY REPORTED??? *TR