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: other or unspecified
58 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2016
MY HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR. THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BROKE, AND IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $1000 TO FIX IT! THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF IT HAD GONE OUT IN -30 DEGREE MINNESOTA WINTER TEMPERATURES.
Other or unspecified, Oct 10, 2016
AIR BLEND DOOR BROKEN. HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING.
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2016
THE HEATING SYSTEM NO LONGER PRODUCES HOT AIR FOR THE HEATER/DEFROSTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A BROKEN (DEFECTIVE) CHEAP PLASTIC ARM THAT CONNECTS THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR TO AN ACTUATOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BLEND. ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL IS $750-$1000. LIVING IN THE NORTHWEST IT'S CRUCIAL TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING HEATER/DEFROSTER. A WINTER WITHOUT SUCH CAN PROVE TO BE DISASTROUS, EVEN FATAL. WHAT WILL GM DO ABOUT THIS DEFECT?
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 30, 2016
MY CARS ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION REDUCING MY SPEED AND NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT! WHEN IT RAINS, SNOWS OR GOES THROUGH A CAR WASH THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND NO MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 10, 2016
MY HEATER IS ONLY BLOWING OUT A LITTLE BETTER THAN COOL AIR I WOULD SAY IT IS RIGHT BELOW WARM AND I HAVE A 14 MONTH OLD CHILD THE FIX IS 750.00 DOLLARS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MAYBE A RECALL IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ??
Other or unspecified, Jan 20, 2016
TAKATA RECALL RECENTLY MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS HAS STOPPED HEATING UP MY VEHICLE. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE ARTICLES OF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DUE TO THE HEATER BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN. TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED IS AROUND 1,000 DOLLARS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS, AFTER KNOWING THAT MORE THAN SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN AN RECALL SENT OUT. I WOULD LIKE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL SO MANY PEOPLE ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH NO HEAT!!!! THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING A DEFROST
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2015
HEATER BLEND DOOR- TEMPERATURE DOOR IS BROKEN. THIS REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $1000.00. AFTER READING SEVERAL THOUSAND REVIEWS, THIS IS A PROBLEM OCCURRING IN ALL OF THE 06 CHEVY EQUINOX'S. CHEVY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AND ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT MOST CAN NOT AFFORD AND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS REPLACED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2015
IGNITION LET'S THE KEY GO WHILE VEHICLE IS STARTED. RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM CHEVROLET STATING A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR IGNITION CYLINDER. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER ON 7/14/15 AND THEY SAID MY IGNITION HOUSING IS BAD ALSO. TRYING TO CHARGE ME 230.00 TO FIX THE IGNITION. I FEEL A RECALL NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THE ENTIRE IGNITION NOT JUST THE CYLINDER. MY KEY STICKS SOMETIMES IN THE ON POSITION. MY KEY IS ABLE TO BE PULLED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE RUNNING. MY KEY SOMETIMES STICKS IN THE OFF POSITION SO I CAN'T START IT.
Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2015
NO HEAT FROM HEATER ...BLOWS COLD AIR THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY 7 YEAR OLD DISABLE SON WHO CANNOT REGULATE HIS BODY TEMP VERY WELL.
Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2015
HEAT STOPPED WORKING. COOLANT LEVELS ARE FINE, NO EXPLANATION
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2015
IGNITION IS STICKING. SOMETIME CANT TURN THE KEY.
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2015
THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR IS THE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE ANY HEAT, WHICH MEAN I DO NOT HAVE DEFROSTERS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, IN WHICH THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THIS VEHICLE.. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS NOT RECALLED. I WAS TOLD MY MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP IT COULD COST $4,000 TO FIX. I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME IT IS SET UP TO FAIL, AS IT IS CHEAPLY MADE! IS CHEVY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED WHEN THEIR DEFROSTERS SUDDENLY FAIL. I USED A PLUG IN HEATER TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS THIS PAST WINTER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THE HEATER KEPT BLOWING MY FUSES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!!
Other or unspecified, Feb 19, 2015
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF AND IT TAKES ALONG TIME TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AND THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. *TR
Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2015
THE ISSUE WITH THE HVAC APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, NO HEAT JUST COLD AIR, DEFROSTER WILL NOT DEFROST WINDOWS BUT FOGS THEM ALL UP, WHICH IS REALLY A PROBLEM @ 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. SPOKE TO DEALER ABOUT TSB # 11135 ISSUED BY GM MAY OF 2012 AND THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN. WENT BACK TO DEALER CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL JUST SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THEY COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO REPLICATE THIS (WHAT NO FAULT CODES). INTERMITTENT NO START WHEN ACTUALLY USING KEY TO START, DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THIS ALSO. IT APPEARS THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS VERY GOOD AT NOT WANTING TO FIX OR ABLE TO REPLICATE ANY OF THESE ISSUES. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT MARCH 25, 2014 WITH 99,704 MILES ON IT, CURRENT MILEAGE IS JUST SHY OF 103,000. COME ON GM STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND TELL YOUR DEALERS TO BE TRUTHFUL WHEN RESALING A VEHICLE THAT HAS A TRACK RECORD LIKE THIS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 21, 2014
THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR AND AFTER HAVING MY '06 EQUINOX TO THE GM DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW (THEY SAID THEY FIXED WHAT THE BULLETIN NO.: 11135 SAID TO FIX) BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THEY SAID IT'S GOING TO COST ME $1085 TO FIX IT. I SAY THAT GM NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS...I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Other or unspecified, Nov 15, 2014
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT THE HEATER WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR , NO HEAT , TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THIS COULD COST ME $1200, OR $800, , I ALREDY REPLACED ONCE AND NOW HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2014
I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING AROUND 6:10 TO TAKE MAY DAUGHTER TO THE BUS STOP. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO GET WARM AND BEFORE I WENT TO PULL OFF, I TURNED ON THE HEAT, THE TEMP SETTING WAS SET IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. I TURNED THE KNOB ALL THE WAY TO HEAT AND THEN TURNED THE BLOWER SETTING UP. NOTHING BUT COLD AIR. WE SAT AT THE BUS STOP AND EVEN AFTER IT CAME THERE WAS STILL NO HEAT. LATER THAT MORNING I TOOK MY OTHER CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I SIT IN A VERY LONG CAR POOL LINE AND DROP THEM OFF AT THE FRONT DOOR. THE ENTIRE TRIP WAS WITHOUT HEAT. IN THE AFTERNOON I REPEAT THE MORNING BY PICKING UP THE CHILDREN WITHOUT HEAT. THE ENGINE WAS HEATED UP THERE WAS NO REASON THAT I KNEW OF THAT THE HEATER SHOULD NOT WORK. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND CHEVY HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. I WAS ALSO INFORMED OF WHAT THIS WOULD COST ME TO REPAIR AND WHY.I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A PLASTIC PART AND REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD BE TAKEN APART. *TR
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 23, 2013
HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER DIAGNOSIS BY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY/DAMAGED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED SAFETY COMPLAINTS FILED IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. A RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE ATTAINED AS THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS ITEM IS AROUND $1000. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BY GM SINCE IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE INABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD IS NOT THERE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2012
VERY COLD MORNING. WINDOWS FOGGED UP. TURNED ON DEFROST HEARD SOMETHING POP AND FELT COLD AIR COME INTO THE CAR. DROVE TO WORK BY WIPING THE WINDOW WITH NAPKINS. CALLED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CALLED DEALER TO ASK IF THEIR WAS A RECALL AND CHECK PRICE AGAINST MECHANICS. DEALERS PRICE WAS THE SAME. INTERESTING PART WAS DEALER DENIED ANY SUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT GM WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT THE DEALER SAYS I DO NOT QUALIFY. THIS IS NO CHEAP REPAIR. LOOKING FOR A CLASS ACTION OR GOOD LAWYER. FOUND YOUR SITE TO VENT AND HELP OTHERS. *TT
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Other or unspecified, Jan 19, 2012
ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011, I BEGAN NOTICING THE START UP PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. IT INTERMITTENTLY HAS EXCESSIVE CRANKING TIME TO START AND AS OF LATELY (JAN. 19, 2012) IT ONLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO GET IT SERVICED THE SAME DAY AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. I PAID FOR THAT BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE RADIO REPLACED AND THE GAS HAS HAD MANY FUEL DELIVERY ISSUES. I BELIEVE IT IS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS RECALLED IN THE 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. IT NEEDS TO ALSO BE RECALLED FOR THE 2006 SO THAT I CAN STOP WASTING MY TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WASN?T BUILT RIGHT. THANK YOU. *TT
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 19, 2012
I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF A 2006 EQUINOX. NO HEAT!!! I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED INTO AND HAVE WASTED OVER $900 ON TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! SHAME ON THEM!!! I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN A FREEZING COLD CAR EVERY DAY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE $1200 THAT I FIND OUT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO THIS!! I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CHEVY OWNER SINCE I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR YEARS AGO...BUT NOW I WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING ONE OR EVEN SUGGESTING ONE TO A ANYONE. *TT
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Jan 18, 2012
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT NOT WORKING IN MY CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER THEY CHARGED ME $50.00 TO LOOK AT IT, DISCOVERED IT WAS THE BLEND AIR DOOR THAT WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT WAS ODD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM TO HAVE. $40.00 PART FOR A $900.00-$1200.00 FIX. HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED AS WE NEED THE HEAT IN WI. ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN I DRIVE. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM NERVOUS TO EVEN USE MY HEAT AS I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS HAPPENING OFTEN. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO KEEP FIXING THIS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2011
CPSC# I1130330A. 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. VECICLE HAS NO HEAT, THIS IS DO TO A 35.OO PLASTIC PART THAT SHOULD SWITCH FROM HEAT TO COOL WHICH IS STUCK AND MALFUNCTIONING INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *LN
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2011
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK WITH AMERICAN CARS BUT MY WIFE LIKED IT. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS SHE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ALMOST EVERY COMPLAINT FILED LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. IF I HAD THE POWER I WOULD CLASSIFY THE CHEVY EQUINOX AS LEMON AND RECALL THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BUT I DON'T. GM NEED TO STEP TO THE PLATE AND ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECALL THE EQUINOX YEAR 2005-2006 NOW!!!! *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2011
VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON AND DEFROSTER NOT LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN. NO HEAT MEANS WINDOWS FOG UP AND AND CAN NOT SEE TO DRIVE, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN RAINY OR SNOWY COLD WEATHER. ACCORDING TO OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THE COST TO REPAIR IS AROUND $1200 FOR $50-$80 METAL PART.