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: engine
128 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2011
2006 EQUINOX STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATED AT STOP LIGHT. REPLACED THERMOSTAT, BUT DIDN'T RESOLVE. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKET . COST WITH INITIAL THERMOSTAT AND CURRENT WORK APPROXIMATELY $3K. MECHANIC SHOPS CONTACTED GM AND WERE NOT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SUCH AS MINE, THOUGH A MYRAID OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON LINE THAT STATES THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 3, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL POWER. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Dec 15, 2010
THE HEAT STARTED TO TAKE LONGER TO WARM UP THEN AFTER A MONTH OF THIS THE HEAT TOTALLY STOP WORKING. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE THEY CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $900-1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE AIR BLEND DOOR ON THE ACTUATOR THAT CONTROLS THE TEMP OF THE AIRFLOW. I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM GOING ON SINCE 2008 ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Dec 6, 2010
HEATER NOT WORKING ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX CAUSING SAFETY AND VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. ONE DAY THE AC AND HEAT WERE WORKING FINE, THE NEXT DAY THE HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR...NO HEAT AS WELL AS A NON-WORKING WINDOW DEFROSTER. THIS BEGAN IN EARLY NOVEMBER. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TEMPERATURE DOOR (BLEND DOOR). COST IS $100 FOR THE ANALYSIS AND ABOUT $1,000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I HAVE A SECURENET EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY SAY THIS IS NOT COVERED. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP NOW AWAITING MY APPROVAL TO DO THE WORK. I AM IN LIMBO AND LOOKING FOR ANOTHER SHOP WHO CAN MAYBE FIX IT CHEAPER. CONSIDERING THE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ABOUT THIS, AND THE FACT THE PARTS WERE CHEAP AND SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING SO SOON, THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Oct 4, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT IS BLOWING ICE COLD AIR THROUGH THE HEATER AS WELL AS THE DEFROSTERS I THINK ALONG WITH THE OTHER 329 PEOPLE WHO I READ ABOUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.AND THEY ALL ESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIRS IS 1,000 DOLLARS WE NEED HELP I TRIED REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT BUT NO HELP STILL COLD AIR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2010
MY SEATBELT IN THE BACK WHERE MY 4 YR OLD SIR BROKE, MY CD PLAYER MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WILL NOT TAKE CD'S. I DO NOT HAVE HEAT BUT MY A/C WORKS JUST FINE. *TR... UPDATED 10/26/11 *BF
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Equipment, Jul 18, 2010
TRUCK LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. TRUCK CAN BE WORKING ONE MINUTE AND YOU PARK AND COME BACK AND NOTHING IT WOULD START AND HAVE TO BE TOW AND THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS. THE ELEC SYSTEM ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. RUNNING AT 55 MPH AND A SEMI-TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND YOU WITH YOUR THREE SMALL GRAND CHILDREN IN THE BACK AND THE TRUCK JUST LOST IT SPEED WITH NO WARNING IS A FRIGHTENING THING TO HAPPENING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE STARTED, AND NOW THE LOWER COOLER FAN IS OUT THE ELEC. SYSTEM JUST KEEP BREAKING DOWN BACK TO BACK AND I HARDLY EVEN DRIVE IT ONLY TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND TO DO MY SHOPPING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 18, 2010
2006 EQUINOX WITH LESS THAN 55000 MILES NEEDS A NEW HEAD GASKET. YESTERDAY WAS THE 4TH TRIP TO THE DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING. THIS MORNING I WAS TOLD IT'S A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I DID A SMALL AMOUNT OF INTERNET RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I LOVE MY CAR BUT AM SO PISSED OVER THE RUN-AROUND I'VE BEEN GETTING FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED ON ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. IF I DIDN'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING BOSS, AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS COULD HAVE COST ME MY JOB AS I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN WORK AND THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I'M WITHOUT MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED. THANK GOD I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS OFFERED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 20, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE HEATER DOOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS CAR HAS 31,000 MILES. THEN WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND GOT CAUGHT IN A SNOW STORM. OUR VISIBILITY WAS EXTREMELY IMPAIRED AND WE ALMOST HIT 2 CARS. WE HAD TO PULL OVER EVERY 10 BLOCKS TO MANUALLY DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND CLEAR OFF THE FOG. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. NO HEATER/DEFROSTER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $1500.
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 20, 2010
BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS BROKEN AND DOES NOT ALLOW HEATED AIR TO BE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE VENTS -- ONLY COLD AIR. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS CONDITION BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE, REGARDLESS OF IT'S COUNTLESS DOCUMENTATIONS OF THE PROBLEM. WITHOUT HEAT BEING CIRCULATED THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IT CAUSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AS FOG AND HAZE WILL COVER THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD AND ELIMINATE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. TO REPAIR THE DOOR THE ENTIRE DASH OF THE VEHICLE MUST BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE DOOR, TOTALING OVER $1,200 IN LABOR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 4, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX 23,000 MILES. DURING VERY HEAVY RAIN I LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY SO I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT DIE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THERE WAS ROOM FOR ME TO GET RIGHT (SLOWLY...) THE RAIN GOT LIGHTER AND ACCELERATION RESUMED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 9, 2010
VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE WEEK AT ABOUT 40 MPH. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Jan 19, 2010
HVAC SYSTEM WENT OUT ON 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS 38,000 MILES AND WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY WHICH WAS 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. WE LIVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS,COLORADO AND HAD MAJOR SNOWSTORM WHEN HEATER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 25. SAFETY OF DRIVER AND OTHERS WERE PUT AT JEOPARDY DUE TO VEHICLE HEATER FAILURE. FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT DEFROST PUTTING DRIVER AT RISK. AFTER GETTING HOME SAFELY LOOKED AT INTERNET SITE (TOPIX.COM) AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 230 OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WITH SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS HAD THE SAME TYPE FAILURE OF THE 2006 EQUINOX HEATER SYSTEM FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM BY CHEVROLET PUTTING AT RISK THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE MODEL WHEN CHEVROLET KNOWS OF THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER SYSTEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON JANUARY 8, 2009 AND EXPLAINED HEATER FAILURE AND CONCERN TO LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE IS NO VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE AND THAT THE NUMBER OF HEATER FAILURES FOR THIS MODEL VERSUS SALES OF THIS MODEL IS LOW. COSTS TO REPLACE HEATER ON VEHICLE WAS $1100 BUT DUE TO MY COMPLAINT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED BY CHEVROLET DUE TO NUMBER OF HEATER FAILURES ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK BY NOT BEING ABLE TO USE DEFROSTER TO PROVIDE CLEAR VISIBILITY ON WINDSHIELD AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS PRESENTLY A SAFETY RECALL (#090298) DATED DECEMBER 18,2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V489000 FOR THE 2010 EQUINOX DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ISSUE. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THE HEATER SYSTEM IN THE 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR VEHICLE OWNERS. OWNERS ARE HAVING TO PAY FROM $800 TO $1100 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE HEATER SYSTEM REPAIRED SO THAT THEY CAN SAFELY DRIVE IN THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SAFELY SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH A WORKING DEFROSTER. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE NHTSA. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 12, 2010
1) FAIRLY NEW CHEVY EQUINOX (2006) WITH $65,000 MILES OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING - WITHIN A DAY, DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING - CAR SHOWED NO SYMPTOMS UNTIL PROBLEM OCCURRED 2) CAR OVERHEATS AND STALLS OUT AS A RESULT - PER THE MECHANIC, IT HAS BLOWN HEAD GASKETS 3) HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT $2,800 - THE CAR ISN'T EVEN FOUR YEARS OLD AFTER RESEARCHING MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF MY COST OF REPAIR WAS WITHIN THE AVERAGE FOR SUCH REPAIRS, I SAW THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX, AND THAT IT IS LIKELY A FAULTY DESIGN ISSUE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2010
LOSES ANTIFREEZE AFTER EACH TIME IT IS USED. ALWAYS HAVING TO PUT MORE ANTIFREEZE BACK IN IT. ALSO, HEAT QUITS WORKING OFTEN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 4, 2010
DRIVING DOWN ROAD, HEATER QUIT WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 200 MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 30, 2009
NO HEAT. DEALER SAYS THAT THE AIR MODE DOOR IS BROKEN. DASH NEEDS TO COME OFF TO REPAIR IT. PART $65.00 LABOR $1200.00. MY CAR HAS 42,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING SAME MATTER. WHEN WILL YOU RECALL? NO HEAT AND 25 DEGREES OUTSIDE IS UNSAFE! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 30, 2009
NO START. CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED. WILL HAVE TO PRESS ON GAS TO START CAR. SOMETIMES THAT DOES NOT WORK EITHER. HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO START. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 14, 2009
I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR. THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND WILL HAVE TO GET IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY DESPITE GM SUGGESTING THAT I HAVE IT DIAGNOSED THEN CALL THEM BACK. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE BLEND DOOR, BASED ON INFORMATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BASED ON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE INTERNET. IT DOES NOT APPEAR AS THOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 7, 2008
STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE, EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS WILL NOT START AT ALL AUTOWAY CHEVROLET REPLACE THE PART HOWEVER THE SAME THING KEEP HAPPENING EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. THE TRUCK WAS NEW WHEN PURCHASED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Oct 10, 2008
THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR OVER A YEAR. WHERE I GO TO START MY CAR, MY KEY TURNS OVER BUT THE ENGINE NEVER KICKS ON. ITS MAKES AN ODD NOISE, NOT GRINDING BUT A NOISE. IT TAKES ABOUT 6-7 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL KICK ON. ONCE IT FINALLY STARTS THERE IS BLACK SMOKE AND FLUID COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE RPM'S REV UP TO 8K THAN DOWN TO 4K, THE CAR IDLES AND SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO DIE. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES SINCE APRIL 15, 2008. SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AND THEY STATE THE CAR IS UP TO GM STANDARDS. I HAVE WASTED MUCH TIME AND MONEY INTO THIS ISSUE AND SOON THE CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE A FEELING THAT ONCE THE WARRANTY IS UP THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME AN ARM AND LEG TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WILL A LITTLE BIT UNDER 34K MILES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 14, 2008
TOOK 150 MILE TRIP FROM DELAWARE TO NJ. CAR DIED IN DRIVE WAY OF DESTINATION. TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY NOT COVERING REPAIRS. PICKED UP CAR I NJ AUG 30TH WITH NEW ENGINE. DROVE APPROX 500 MILES AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TOWED TO DEALER ON 9/14, WAITING FOR DEALER TO CONTACT US. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2008
17 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, ROTORS, BEARINGS, TRANSMISSION, CLICKING/OTHER SOUND IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT FIXED AS OF YET BY GM, BROKEN DOOR HINGE, BROKEN LICENSE PLATE BOLT RECEIVERS, STARTER, SEAT BELT CLIP, AIR CONDITIONER, REMOTES, NOISES IN FRONT END, ENGINE MISS, CLUNKING WHEN WHEELS SPUN ON WET PAVEMENT. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Nov 20, 2007
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX PROBLEM WITH FRONT END. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT END. SHE STATES THAT THE ENGINE REVS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING FROZE TWICE.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 3, 2007
EXHAUST FUMES COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE VENTS, AFTER RESTARTING A WARM ENGINE. THE EXHAUST SMELL GIVES ME A HEADACHE. I HAVE SPOKE TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVROLET REPAIR DEPTS. HAVE HEARD THE COMPLAINT, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB