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: visibility/wiper
34 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Visibility/wiper, Nov 8, 2021
My 2006 Chevrolet Equinox blows cold air will not defrost windshield. And while driving I push the gas pedal and it’s like surges and jumps. The car manufacturer knows about the issues and they don’t vare
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2020
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU GET CONSTANT VIBRATION CAUSING YOU TO SKID. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND ALSO DEFROST IS NOT WORKING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ESPECIALLY IN THE COLD AND SNOW.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 12, 2019
WEAK PLASTIC IN THE BLEND DOOR OF THE HVAC SYSTEM CAUSES DOOR TO BREAK AND GET STUCK IN THE "COLD" POSITION. NO HEAT IN SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN MEANS YOUR WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFROST AND VISIBILITY DROPS BECOMING HAZARDOUS IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 4, 2018
ONE WIPER BLADE QUIT FUNCTIONING AND CAUSES SEVERE DANGER TO THE DRIVER. HEATER QUIT WORKING CAUSING FOGGING ISSUES AND KEEPING MY KIDS & WIFE IN DANGER. APPARENTLY THESE ISSUES ARE VERY COMMON ACCORDING TO THE 2009 REPORT GM RECALLED 59,000 VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 24, 2018
MY HEATER ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN MY WINDSHIELD HAS A LAYER OF FROST OR SNOW ON IT, I HAVE NO ABILITY TO CLEAR IT BY WAY OF UTILIZING MY DEFROST. I DRIVE WITH ALL OF MY WINDOWS DOWN AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVING CONSTANTLY IN ATTEMPTS TO SEE. CHEVY IS AWARE THAT THEY MADE A PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE. THEY EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON A CHEAP PLASTIC PART THAT TENDS TO BREAK AT 60,000 THAT WAS COVERED UNTIL 2016 OR 120,000 MILES. I HOWEVER DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I DON'T SCAN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE IF I'M NOT EXPERIENCING ISSUES AT THE TIME. MY CHEAP DEFECTIVE PART BROKE WHEN UNDER 58,000 MILES AND UNFORTUNATELY IN 2017. CHEVY HIDES BEHIND THIS AND IS NOT WILLING TO FIX A DEFECTIVE PART AND ULTIMATELY DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT CHEVY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND IS ULTIMATELY A SAFETY ISSUE. CHEVY NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED-PERIOD.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATER BLOWER ONLY BLEW OUT COLD AIR AND WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (JIM BUTLER CHEVROLET IN FENTON, MO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER ARM WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Engine, Visibility/wiper, Apr 12, 2017
IN ALL DRIVING MODES, HEATER ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR, NOT HOT AIR
Visibility/wiper, Jan 9, 2017
TEMP CONTROL DOOR FAILED CAUSING NO DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING IN CAR. CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE DRIVER INABILITY TO SEE THRU WINDSHIELD AND HAS RECALLED SOME YEAR MODELS, BUT NOT 2006 MODELS. I REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR $1162.49. THE PART IS NOT EXPENSIVE, REQUIRES MANY HOURS OF TAKING APART DASHBOARD.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 21, 2016
HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR IN WINTER IN CHICAGO CAN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING , VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Service brakes, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Mar 19, 2016
ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND CHANGES THE VEHICLE BREAKING DISTANCE. IT IS ALSO UNKNOWN HOW MUCH IT WILL CHANGE THE DISTANCE. SO IT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT. THIS IS DUE TO NOT KNOWING WHERE TO BREAK FOR PROPER STOPPING DISTANCE. ENGINE PROBLEM WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TURNS OVER THEN STALLS. ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TURNING IT OVER. WIPER ISSUE. MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE HEAVY SNOW FALL HAPPENS. THIS IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IF MY VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD DURING A BLIZZARD OR HEAVY SNOW VISIBILITY IS LOST ON HALF MY WINDSHIELD.
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, 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
Visibility/wiper, Dec 14, 2014
HEATER AND DEFROSTER ARE NOT WORKING. BLOWER WORKS GREAT BUT IN THE WINTER COLD AIR DOES NOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO WARM AIR AT ALL. THIS MAKES DRIVING CONDITIONS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE COLD WEATHER. MY WIFE DEPENDS ON THIS CAR TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUE IS A PART THAT COSTS ABAUT $65 BUT THE LABOR COST IS ABAUT $1000 WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT. CHEVROLET SHOULD STEP UP AND PUT A RECALL ON FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Nov 12, 2014
HEATER / DEFROST SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. LIVE IN IDAHO AND TEMPERATURES GET BELOW ZERO. NO WAY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. CHEVY DEALERSHIP QUOTED REPAIR OF THE HEATER VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AT $1200.00, SINCE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. HISTORY SHOWS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH DOOR ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Oct 20, 2014
TRIED TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FROST. ONLY COLD AIR CAME OUT OF VENT. SAME COLD AIR ON ALL HVAC SETTINGS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Sep 14, 2014
FAILURE OF THE HVAC BLEND DOOR [1] HAS MADE DEFROSTING THE FORWARD WINDSHIELD IN COLD TEMPERATURES IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LIMITING OF VISIBILITY AND IN VIOLATION OF STANDARD 103 [2] FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. GM HAS ADMITTED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IN THAT A DEALER REPLACEMENT USES AN UPDATED HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH MORE ACCURATELY LIMITS THE ROTATIONAL TRAVEL. THE FAILURE OF THE HVAC BLEND DOOR OCCURS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL FAULTY DESIGNED HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR TRAVELS TOO FAR CAUSING STRUCTURAL STRESS ON THE BLEND DOOR WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BLEND DOOR. THIS RESULTS IN VENT AIR NOT PASSING OVER THE HEAT CORE, THEREFORE MAKING DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD NOT POSSIBLE IN COLD CONDITIONS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 27, 2014
TEMP DOOR ACTUATOR BROKE LEAVING ME WITHOUT HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS. REPAIR COST OF DOOR $50.00 COST OF LABOR $1200.00. THE DOOR IS MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC BUT THE ENTIRE FIREWALL MUST BE REMOVE TO REPLACE PART. THEN MY ENGINE BLEW 1 YEAR LATER. COST $1700.00. NOW MY ENGINE BLEW AGAIN. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 28, 2014
THE HEATER VENT DOOR HAS BECOME INOPERABLE RESULTING IN NO HEAT ENTERING THE CABIN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE BUT YET NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY GM (ONLY SERVICE BULLETINS). THIS IS A FLAWED DESIGN AND IS A HAZARDOUS SAFETY ISSUE DURING AN ICE/SNOW EVENT. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN OVERHEATING FOR NO APPARENT REASON (EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT & FLUSHING THE SYSTEM). THESE SYMPTOMS ALL BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE HEATING PROBLEM MATURED. RELATED OR NOT, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH SIMILAR (MAJOR) EXPENSE IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE(S). THERE IS SOMETHING FLAWED IN THE DESIGN OF THIS COOLANT/HEATING SYSTEM AND GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!! *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jan 9, 2014
THE HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR WHILE DRIVING NOT ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST AND LIMITING VISIBILITY. I HAD TO PULL OVER MULTIPLE TIMES TO WIPE WINDSHIELD DOWN TO SEE SO I COULD GET HOME. NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2013
THE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND WAS REPLACED FOR ONLY $50 DUE TO CARMAX DEALER WARRANTY. NOW MY CAR HAS 115K MILES ON IT AND THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AGAIN. I BELIEVE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM, A BROKEN BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *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.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2013
THERE IS 241 SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THE HEATER BLEND DOOR! THE BLEND DOOR ON THE 2006 EQUINOX IS DEFECTIVE CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND ANY ONE ELSE ONE THE ROAD. THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ROTATES TO FAR CAUSING THE BLEND DOOR TO BREAK. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN OVER A SHORT PERIOD BUT OVER A LONGER TIME FRAME. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS COLD. THE WINDSHIELD WILL FREEZE UP AND WITH NO HEAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COULD GET FROST BITE. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUES A SAFETY RECALL NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING ABOUT THIS IF ANYTHING? *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jul 19, 2013
MY HEATER QUIT BLOWING HOT AIR AND THUS, THE WINDOWS FOG UP. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IT IS THE BLEND DOOR. UPON FURTHER READING OF THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY 2006 EQUINOX HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A 10 HOUR LABOR JOB AND SO 1000.00 TO REPLACE. SINCE THIS EFFECTS VISIBILITY, I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 16, 2012
HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Nov 24, 2012
FAULTY TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. NO HEAT RESULTING IN NO DEFROST OR DEFOGGER. MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN LIVING IN THE MIDWEST IN THE COLD AND WET SEASON. YOU (GM) SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLASTIC PIECE BEING REPLACED, NOT THE CONSUMER. THIS SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT RESULT FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR