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
280 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility, Jan 23, 2010
NO HEAT, CAN'T DEFROST WINDSHIELD TO DRIVE AND SEE SAFELY.
Visibility, Jan 22, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE HEATER FAILED AND BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE HEATHER VALVE DOOR AND THE HEATER VALVE DOOR. THE DASHBOARD WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $1,500. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
Visibility, Equipment, Jan 20, 2010
2006 EQUINOX BLEND DOOR PREMATURELY MALFUNCTIONS AND RENDERS DEFOGGER AND HEATERS USELESS IMPAIRING THE VISION AND SAFETY OF THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. PLEASE REVIEW THE 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE LINKS I LISTED BELOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4 HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/WINDOW+DEFROSTER HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/2006/AC_HEATER/HEAT_BLOWS_OUT_COLD_AIR.SHTML HTTP://WWW.WEB2CARZ.COM/797/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/REVIEWS/OVERVIEW#ADDREVIEW. *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
Visibility, Jan 19, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE HEAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT IT IS A HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 72K MILES AND THIS PART SHOULDN'T BE FAILING ALREADY. IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO - A YOUNG COUPLE IN A REMOTE AREA OF NORTH DAKOTA IN THE WINTER. AND, THEY HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT. THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILS AND THEY ARE 200 HUNDRED MILES FROM THE NEAREST PLACE THEY CAN STOP FOR HEAT. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ALRIGHT WHEN THEY LEFT ON THEIR TRIP SINCE THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD. INSTEAD, THEY ARE FACED WITH A SITUATION THAT COULD BE FATAL. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS SITUATION ON ALL CHEVY EQUINOXES AND PONTIAC TORRENTS. *TR
Visibility, Jan 15, 2010
CAR HEAT STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. CAR ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR AND WILL NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. IN ADDITION THE WINDOWS FOG WITH NO SOURCE TO DEFOG . *TR UPDATED 01/25/10 *BF UPDATED 01/26/10.*JB
Visibility, Jan 6, 2010
MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2006 HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. DID SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY HEATER DOOR OR TEMP VALVE. NOW I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS. *TR
Visibility, Jan 5, 2010
I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX MY HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR IN ONLY BLOWS OUT COLD. IT STOPPED WORKING AT 26,000 MILES AND MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. CHEVROLET SAYS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I LIVE IN NEW YORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND A 4 YEAR OLD I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS BECAUSE I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH PEOPLE OWNING A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS GOING TO COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1,500 TO $1,800 DOLLARS I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN I CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY WHEN CHEVY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Visibility, Jan 4, 2010
2006 EQUINOX WITH 32,000 MILES. NO HEAT. DEALER SAID CONTROL WAS BAD, REPLACED THAT THEN SAID THE BLEND DOOR WAS ALSO BAD. HAD TO REPLACE THAT ALSO. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS FOR A 3 YR OLD CAR, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BY A COUPLE OF MONTHS. *TR
Visibility, Dec 31, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,986. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Power train, Visibility, Dec 23, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN WATER MADE CONTACT WITH THE TRANSMISSION THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE NORMAL SPEED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT WHENEVER WATER ENTERED THE TRANSMISSIONS PROTECTION SHIELD IT CAUSED THE VEHICLES SPEED TO DECREASE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIELD. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $570.00. THE CONTACT IS ALSO UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD SINCE THE HEATER MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE FAILURE WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,537.
Visibility, Dec 15, 2009
CAR STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR, DEALER WANTED UPWARDS OF $1500 TO FIX. I TRADED THE CAR AS IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE A REPAIR BASED ON THE WORTH AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Visibility, Dec 13, 2009
I HAVE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 AND IT HAVE 63 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND MY HEATER STOP WORKING AND I WENT TO THE WEBSITE AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BLEND DOOR AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY ADVISE ME THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK AND I DO NOT HAVE $1200 HUNDREDS DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND IT IS GETTING COLD WHERE I LIVE IN MARYLAND .THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND IT SHOULD BE A (RECALL) ON THEM I WILL BE CALLING THE GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE . *TR
Visibility, Dec 11, 2009
NO WARM AIR AS THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS BROKEN. ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL IS $1,200. CANNOT AFFORD THIS SO MY FAMILY AND I WILL FREEZE THIS WINTER AS THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. THIS IS BUT ONE OF A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY VARIOUS OWNERS CONCERNING THIS GM SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Dec 9, 2009
THE BLEND DOOR BROKE IN THE HVAC CASE. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAUSED THIS, THOUGH MY MECHANIC SAID THIS IS CAUSED BY THE HEAT BEING RUN THROUGH AT TOO HIGH A TEMPERATURE. *TR
Visibility, Dec 9, 2009
AS I COME TO FIND OUT, MAY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AS I AM. THE HEATER WILL NOT FUNCTION DUE TO, AS I WAS TOLD, A FAILURE OF A PLASTIC VENT DOOR HINGE DEEP BEHIND THE DASH. APART FROM THE INCONVENIENCE OF NO HEAT, LAST NIGHT ON MY HOME IT WAS RAINING AND THE TEMPERATURE WENT AS ABOUT 40 DEGREES F. WHEN MY WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST MY VISIBILITY WAS DIMINISHED AND A NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS LUCK LAST NIGHT, BUT ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED IF GM DOES NOT RECALL THIS MAJOR FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH GM AND THEY HAVE DESIGNED A METAL REPLACEMENT PART. THIS TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WANT TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT. PLEASE LOG MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND URGE GM TO RECALL THIS CAR. *TR
Visibility, Dec 7, 2009
CHEVROLET 2006 EQUINOX - NO HEAT/DEFROST - BROKEN BLEND DOOR WINDOWS FOGGING. *TR
Visibility, Dec 6, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND NOW THAT WINTER IS HERE, MY HEATER AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. I GET A POPPING SOUND WHEN I TURN ON THE HEATER AND ALL I GET IS COLD AIR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR 2005, 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX'S. I CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AND THAT MAKES DRIVING A HAZARD. CHEVY HAD TOLD ME ITS MY PROBLEM AND THAT ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY AMERICANS AND CHEVY GETS THE PASS AND DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Visibility, Dec 3, 2009
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX NOT BLOWING WARM AIR DUE TO FAULTY BLEND DOOR. *TR
Visibility, Dec 2, 2009
HOT AIR DOES NOT COME THROUGH VENTS, AND THEREFORE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD IS NOT ABLE TO DEFROST WHEN IT IS COLD. THIS CAUSE LOW VISIBILITY, WHICH CAN THEREBY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Visibility, Dec 1, 2009
2006 EQUINOX SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOWING WARM AIR IN THE CABIN, INHIBITING OUR ABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IN COLD WEATHER. GM DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF THE "BLEND DOOR" (AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS). QUOTE WAS OVER $900 FOR LABOR TO REPLACE A CHEAP PLASTIC PART. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Dec 1, 2009
THE DOOR THAT SEPARATES THE HEATER AND THE AC HAS SNAPPED OFF LEAVING ONLY AC ON. UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $811.00. REPLACED THE DOOR. I HAVE THE OLD DOOR IN MY POSSESSION. *TR
Visibility, Nov 30, 2009
THE HEATER IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DOES NOT WORK. IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR AND THE REPAIRS ARE IN UPWARDS OF $1200. WITHOUT HEAT, THE WINDOWS CAN FOG UP VERY QUICKLY LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING, THUS CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IT IS WINTER AND TEMPERATURES IN MY AREA REACH AS LOW AS 20 DEGREES, WITH CHILDREN, THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND WARM. IT SEEMS FROM OTHERS RESPONSES THAT THIS IS AN ASTRONOMICAL ISSUE WITH MANY CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS AND WE ARE ALL OUTRAGED AT THE LACK OF CONCERN FROM GM TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAFETY WITH ALL COMPANIES, GM SHOULD NOT TURN THE OTHER CHEEK TO THIS HAZARD. IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY AND FROM THE PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES, IT SEEMS A RECALL IS PAST DUE. *TR
Visibility, Nov 27, 2009
NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. THE HEATER/DEFROST WORKED FINE ONE DAY, THEN THE NEXT DAY WE TURNED IT ON AND IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING HOT, SO WE DETERMINED IT IS NOT THE WATER PUMP. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. WE REPLENISHED THE ANTI-FREEZE, BUT STILL NO WARM AIR. THE HEATER IS ONE THING, BUT THE DEFROST NOT WORKING IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Visibility, Nov 20, 2009
MY 2006 CHEVY. EQUINOX HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND I WAS TOLD ITS THE ACTUATOR AND THE BLEND DOOR. THERE ARE OVER 150 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4/P8#LASTPOST . IT IS THE BEGINNING OF WINTER AND I CAN NOT GO ALL WINTER WITHOUT A HEATER AND IF THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM THEN US CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR