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: steering
34 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Feb 19, 2011
I TOOK MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX TO DEALERSHIP FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. WE WERE LOSING STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER 2ND VISIT I WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I SEE FROM INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER AND GM DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES AUTO OWNERS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT OUR COST. *TR
Steering, Feb 17, 2011, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING BEGAN TO SMOKE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,147.
Electrical system, Steering, Mar 22, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE THEN TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS LATER AND EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING FAILED TO RESET AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 6 MILES THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LOOSE GROUND WIRE. UPDATED 05/12/10. *JB
Steering, Nov 27, 2008
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. UPON TURNING ON THE CAR, IN COOL WEATHER(25DEGREESF),THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO PROVIDE POWER ASSIST. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES LIKE THIS. LATER THAT EVENING AROUND 1 HOUR LATER, WENT OUT AND POWER STEERING WORKED PROPERLY. FIRST AND ONLY TIME IT HAPPENED TO DATE. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, NO FAILURE OR CODES. WARRANTY EXPIRES IN 2 WEEKS. *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
Steering, Nov 3, 2007
POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Steering, Jul 6, 2007
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS AT A COMPLETE FAILURE. SINCE THEN, THE PUMP FAILS DURING SOME TURNS, AND CAUSES A VERY HARD PULL TOWARDS TO OUTSIDE OF THE TURN. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO SAFELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Oct 12, 2006
I NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD AT 70 MPH AS I REACHED TO TURN ON THE DEFROSTER. I WAS SAVED BY THE SLEEP STRIP, WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN ENOUGH TO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOOSE AND ERRATIC STEERING AND WOBBLES WHEN CHANGING LANES. I MUST SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY TO GO AROUND CURVES, EVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS 3 TIMES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER STATES THAT IT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ON THIS MODEL CAR. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES". I FEEL THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IN THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *NM
Electrical system, Steering, Sep 19, 2006
ON FRIDAY JULY 14, 2006 MY WIFE CAME OUT OF WORK AT AROUND 4:00 PM ON A VERY HOT DAY AND ATTEMPTED TO START HER EQUINOX & WHEN IT STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT ENGAGED. I LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME OF GOLF AND WENT TO HER AID. WHEN I GOT THERE AND STARTED THE CAR, THE STEERING WORKED FINE. WE LEFT IT A THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT WEEK WHERE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY DID RECOVER AN ERROR CODE INDICATING SOMETHING FAILED IN THE IGNITION. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM AGAIN OCCURRED ON FRIDAY SEPT. 18, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM ON ANOTHER VERY HOT DAY. I CALLED TO GET IT TOWED & WHEN THEY ARRIVED APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS LATER, THE PROBLEM AGAIN WAS NOT APPARENT. I HAD IT TOWED ONCE MORE TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM THAT I FELT IT WAS RELATED TO A VERY HOT INTERIOR. THEY HAD IT THE ENTIRE NEXT WEEK AND AGAIN FOUND NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. SUNDAY SEPT 17, 2006 AFTER HAVING THE CAR 2 DAYS, IT FROZE UP TWICE AGAIN WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. ALL PROBLEMS OCCURRED ON HOT DAYS WHERE THE CAR WAS CLOSED UP. THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE CAR AGAIN AND IS TELLING ME THAT HE SEES NO PROBLEM. I AM WONDERING WHY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE & WHY MY CAR COMPANY IS APPEARING TO BE OF LITTLE OR NO HELP. *JB