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
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2012
NO WARM AIR FROM DEFROSTER HEATER. THERMOSTAT REPLACED, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. MECHANIC TOLD ME HEATER DOOR BLEND DOOR BROKEN. NO RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH COMMON PROBLEM. 2010 EQUINOX REPORTED SAME PROBLEM AND HAS RECALL. APPROX $ 1000 REPAIR AND DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. GM SHOULD RECALL 2006 EQUINOX ALSO. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Oct 16, 2012
STARTING IN DECEMBER 2011, OUR HEATER BLEND DOOR BROKE ON OUR 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. IT IS A WIDE-SPEAD ISSUE WITH THE EXACT MAKE/MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE, EFFECTING SEVERAL HUNDRED, IF NOT THOUSANDS. CHEVROLET HAS RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN MAY OF 2012) WITH THE EXACT ISSUE, AS WELL AS RE-DESIGNED THE DOOR FOR FUTURE FIXES, BUT REFUSES TO HELP REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR ME. EVEN KNOW THE PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE THE MILEAGE FACTOR IN THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART, AND IS OVER THE MILEAGE NOW, GM REFUSES TO HELP. MY CAR HAS NO HEAT AT ALL, WINDSHIELD DOES NOT DE-FROST, DOES NOT DE-FOG. MY WIFE HAS TO USE THIS CAR TO DROP OUR AUTISTIC SON AT HIS SCHOOL AS WELL AS TO GO TO WORK, WE CAN'T HAVE NO HEAT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Oct 5, 2012
WHILE DRIVING ON A COLD AND RAINY DAY, MY WINDOWS BEGAN TO GET FOGGY. I TURNED ON MY DEFROST AND MY WINDOWS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I THEN NOTICE IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR I TURNED THE KNOBS TO SEE IF I HAD IT ON AIR CONDITIONING INSTEAD OF DEFROST BUT IT WAS ON THE CORRECT SETTING. I BECAME VERY AFRAID BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD! I HAD TO KEEP WIPING OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A TOWEL JUST TO GET TO WORK. I THEN I HAD TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS RETURNING HOME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS COMMON IN 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THERE IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT BREAKS AFTER CONSTANT USE(HEATER BLEND DOOR) AND IT WILL CAUSE THE DEFROST TO ONLY BLOW EITHER COLD OR HOT AIR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 800-1000 TO FIX OR MORE DEPENDING WHO FIXES IT. I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN RAINY WEATHER AND SOON WINTER WILL ARRIVE. GM SHOULD REALLY REPLACE THIS PART BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM A FAULTY PIECE OF PLASTIC. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Sep 26, 2012
THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTUAL INCIDENT. I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE LACK OF HEAT AND DEFROSTING CAPABILITIES OF THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX MAY CAUSE. IF THE ISSUE OF THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED THERE IS A CHANCE THAT A WINDOW WILL NOT BE DEFROSTED AND THE DRIVERS VIEW WILL BE OBSTRUCTED. THERE IS ALSO THE HEALTH ISSUE FOR NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. NOT BEING WARM OR ABLE TO SEE AND CAUSE RISING COSTS OF BOTH CARE AND HEALTH CARE COSTS. HELP PUSH THE ISSUE TO GMC AND GET THE PROBLEMS FIXED AT THEIR COST. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Sep 17, 2012
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IN JANUARY OF 2011, 10 1/2 MONTHS AFTER OWNING IT (OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE), THE HEATER BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR PROBLEM OCCURRED ON OUR CHEVROLET AS WELL. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, AND IT'S EFFECTING VISIBILITY IN THE COOLER MONTHS. WE LIVE IN WESTERN WASHINGTON, AND DURING THE FALL/WINTER, YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD (ONLY HAVE COLD AIR AVAILABLE THROUGH VENTS). *TR
Visibility/wiper, Sep 12, 2012
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX (130,000 MILES), WHEN I TRIED TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD ONLY COLD AIR BLEW CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP. I COULD NOT SEE AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD. AFTER AN HOUR LONG WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE THE DEFROST STILL ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. I LIVE IN THE EXTREME NORTH-EAST WHERE WE HAVE AN EXCEPTIONALLY LONG WINTER WHICH HASN'T EVEN STARTED. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS PROBLEM (AND I AM NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE ONLY ONE) WILL RESULT IN A SITUATION WHERE I AND THE DRIVERS AROUND ME COULD BE PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR *JS
Visibility, Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2012
THE HEATER STOPPED PRODUCING WARM AIR. DIAGNOSED IT AS A HEATER BLEND DOOR PROBLEM. GM SENT US A LETTER ASKING TO FIX AND THEN DENIED THE CLAIM. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jul 17, 2012
THE DEFROST AND HEATING SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK. ONLY COLD AIR BLOWS FROM THE VENTS. THIS ALLOWS THE WINDOWS TO FOG AND CAUSES CONCERN. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX. THE FLAP TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF OUTSIDE AIR IS CONTROLLED BY A STEPPER MOTOR. THE MOTOR SHORT CIRCUITS, CAUSING THE FLAP TO BREAK. THUS THE FLAP IS INEFFECTIVE AND ALLOWS FOR FREEZING OR HOT TEMPERATURES TO FLOOD THE CAR. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jul 5, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOON ROOF WAS LEAKING DOWN TO THE DASH BOARD AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM AN ADJUSTMENT BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.