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, Nov 20, 2009
TRIED TO TURN ON THE HEAT. WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I'M FINDING THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM: BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR ISSUE. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Visibility, Nov 19, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BLEND DOOR SHAFT BROKEN AND NO HEAT IS COMING OUT. DEALER WANTS $1100 TO FIX IT, CANNOT AFFORD IT. I AGREE, GM SHOULD RECALL, SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. *TR
Visibility, Nov 19, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX. THE HEAT JUST COMPLETELY GAVE OUT, ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND NOT ONLY DID MY ENTIRE DASH HAVE TO BE REMOVED, BUT IT WAS 7+ HOURS OF LABOR AND $1000+ OF REPAIR. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTED, AND THE BLEND DOOR WAS POORLY CONSTRUCTED. WHILE ONE END WAS PROPERLY INTACT, THE OTHER LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN CHEWED OFF. CHEVY SUGGESTED TO THE MECHANIC THAT HE LOOK FOR SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS FOUND. IT SEEMED TO BE A COMPLETE DEFECT OF THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER BEGINNING MY RESEARCH, I AM NOTICING THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. IT'S AMAZING HOW GM'S EXCUSE IS THAT, "CARS MESS UP" BUT I AM FINDING THAT SEVERAL EQUINOX ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Visibility, Nov 19, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. SHE STATED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT WAS INOPERABLE AND WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACHD CASE TEMPERATURE DOOR FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE REPAIRS WERE ESTIMATED AT COSTS OVER $800 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT OPERATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 41,457.
Visibility, Nov 18, 2009
MY HEAT JUST STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. CAN NOT DEFROST WINDOWS. ONLY AIR BLOWS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BROKEN, AND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MODEL/MAKE. IT WILL BE $1000.00 TO REPAIR, WHICH I DO NOT HAVE! *TR
Visibility, Nov 14, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX MY HEATER JUST WENT OUT I SEARCHED ON THE WEB SIGHT AND FOUND OUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR OR BLEND DOOR OR EVEN HEATER CORE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW WHAT CAN WE DO OUR FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURES DEFECT. *TR
Visibility, Nov 9, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Nov 5, 2009
MY 06 CHEVY EQUINOX BLEND DOOR FAILED WHEN LEAVING MY WORK 2 NIGHTS AGO. HEAT WAS NOT EVEN ON AND I HEARD IT THE WALL OF CHAMBER. I HAVE 4 ASE CERTIFICATIONS. SO WHEN MY HEAT DID NOT WORK LAST NIGHT WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE AND 2 KIDS IN THE CAR. I NEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. VERIFIED TODAY THAT THE BLIND DOOR IS NON-RESPONSIVE AND YES THE A/C IS WORKING FINE. NOW SINCE THE HEAT DOES NOT BLOW AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK THIS IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. EVEN MORE SO ONE COLD NEW JERSEY DAYS/ NIGHTS. BUNDLED UP PEOPLE IN A VEHICLE CAUSES HEAT BUILDUP THUS FOGGING THE WINDOWS ONCE YOU START DRIVING. WHICH CAN LEAD TO A VARY BAD ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO FOUND A FORUM WITH ABOUT 140 PEOPLE SAME ISSUE FOR THE KNOWN ISSUE OF TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. AND ALSO JUST BY GOOGLING THE ISSUE. LIKE STATED PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. WITH A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Visibility, Nov 4, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEAT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. THE DEALER STATED IT WILL COST $1,300 TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEATER. SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Visibility, Oct 31, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. NO EVENTS LED UP TO FAILURE I WENT TO TURN ON MY DEFROST ONE MORNING BEFORE GONG TO WORK AND THE HEAT DID NOT WORK. THE COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS B/W $1,000 AND $1,500. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED YET AS I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS AT THIS TIME TO FIX CAR. WILL TRY TO REPLACE PART MYSELF. THE BLOWER WORKS BUT IT ONLY PUTS OUT COLD AIR. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS ALOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SAYS GM HAS REDESIGNED PART (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR). GM HAD TO REALIZE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART DESIGN THAT CAUSED IT TO FAIL, SO WHY HAS NO RECALL BEEN ISSUED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS. POOR VISIBILITY CAN AND WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THE ISSUE FOR THEIR CURRENT OWNERS. I AM SURE THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE CHILDREN AND IF WE HAVE TO TRANSPORT THEM WE WILL BE PLACING THEM IN A UNSAFE SITUATION DUE TO THE INABILITY TO DEFROST WINDOWS IN THE WINTER, PROVIDE HEAT FOR THEM AND EVEN IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WINDOWS FOG UP HOW ARE YOU TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS W/O THE HEATING SYSTEM WORKING PROPERLY. I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND YOU WILL SEE MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EQUINOX AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN! THANK YOU! 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX OWNER. *TR
Visibility, Oct 28, 2009
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 63000 MILES ON IT. THE BLEND DOOR ON THE HEATER COIL ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING MY HEATER TO STOP BLOWING WARM AIR. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND TOTAL COST WAS $1079.60 AS THERE IS NO SERVICE PANEL TO ACCESS THIS AREA AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD THE EXACT SAME PART, THAT APPARENTLY IS DEFECTIVE,HAS NOT BEEN REDESIGNED AND THEY HAD TO PUT THIS SAME PART IN WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT BREAK AGAIN. THE BROKEN DOOR IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BUSINESS ENVELOPE AND IS A PIECE OF PLASTIC LINED WITH FOAM STRIPPING. NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO EVEN USE THE HEATER ASI LIVE IN OHIO AND CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR IN THE WINTER WITHOUT HEAT TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. AS I AM PAST MY WARRANTY, I UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS DOING NOTHING TO ASSIST EQUINOX OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 28, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BLOWS COLD AIR. BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR PROBLEM WHICH COST OVER 1,000 TO FIX (ENTIRE DASH NEEDS TO COME OFF TO REPLACE $78 ITEM). CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH 120 PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED OVER THE LAST MONTH AT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE, ALONE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4 WE ALL FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE PEOPLE ALL OVER US AND CANADA ARE SOON TO BE TRANSPORTING BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN IN THESE VEHICLES THROUGH THE WINTER COLD. HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH TO RAISE A CONCERN SOMEWHERE. *TR GERRY HIGGINS
Visibility, Oct 26, 2009
ACTUATOR DOOR (AIR TEMP BLEND DOOR) NOT ALLOWING HOT AIR IN. THIS MEANS NO HEAT OR DEFROST WITH COLD MONTHS COMING. APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AS SUCH. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR FOR REPAIR!!! *TR
Visibility, Oct 26, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT IN HER VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BLAND DOOR IN THE HEATER DUCT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST $1000. THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS OR EXISTING VEHICLE WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 54,000.
Visibility, Oct 25, 2009
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009, OUR HEAT WENT OUT IN OUR 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. IT HAS APPROX 61,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND IS IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND I HAVE NEVER HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE OWN ANOTHER CHEVROLET PRODUCT AND HAVE NO ISSUES WITH IT, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENGINEERING FAILURE. A CAR HEATER SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. *TR
Visibility, Oct 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE HEATING SYSTEM FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE LINKAGE FRACTURED FROM THE TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB
Visibility, Oct 19, 2009
BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BROKE AND NOW I HAVE NO HEAT AND CAN NOT SEE OUT MY WINDOW DUE TO MY DEFROSTERS NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK. *TR
Visibility, Oct 15, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE BLEND DOOR THAT BROKE AT THE SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE HVAC ACTUATOR. THIS CAUSES THE HEATER TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND THE DEFROST WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE WARM AIR IS BLOCKED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD SON AND THIS PROVED VERY DANGEROUS FOR US BECAUSE OF BOTH LACK OF HEAT AND INABILITY TO PROPERLY DEFROST THE DRIVERS WINDSHIELD. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS IN COLD FROSTING SITUATIONS IT IS HAZARDOUS FOR ME TO DRIVE. THE PART CAN BE FIXED BUT THE COST WILL BE $1,000.00+ TO REPLACE THE PART. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
I "TRIED" TO TURN ON THE HEATER TO HELP DEFOG MY WINDSHIELD DURING A RAIN STORM, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. BECAUSE OF THE COLD AIR, MY WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP EVEN MORE! THIS CREATED A VIABILITY ISSUE, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE I-17 TODAY (10/12/2009) I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO (2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX) THAT THE HVAC AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY REPAIR SHOP AND 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS THAT GM HAS REDESIGNED THIS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, AND HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, HOWEVER THEY HAVE YET TO ISSUE A RECALL. MY REPAIR SHOP IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ASSEMBLY. I WAS QUOTED THAT THIS IS A 9.5 HOUR PROCEDURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DISABLE THE DASH TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ASSEMBLY. IF MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THIS WOULD BE A ROUGHLY A $1,200 - $1,500 REPAIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
2006 EQUINOX ONLY BLOWING OUT EXTREMELY COLD AIR FOR THE DEFROSTER AND THE HEATER. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
HEATER BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR. UNSAFE FOR MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 6 MONTH BABY TO BE IN THE COLD WEATHER WITHOUT HEAT. ALSO UNSAFE BECAUSE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY DEFROSTED IN COLD WEATHER AND LEADS TO POOR VISIBILITY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BROKEN. REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED SO I PAID $1070.00 OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE WITHOUT A HEATER TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY IS COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED. *TR
Visibility, Oct 8, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM ONLY CIRCULATES COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63989.
Visibility, Oct 7, 2009
HEATER WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR ON MY 2006 EQUINOX. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY CHEVY OWNER. PLEASE CHEVY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU PRODUCTS. *TR
Visibility, Oct 7, 2009
THE AIR BLEND DOOR ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT BLOW WARM AIR FROM THE HEATER. I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS. THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE FOUND TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR