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
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Oct 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM WOULD ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
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
Electrical system, Visibility, Jul 29, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE A/C AND HEATER WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE SUN ROOF WOULD ALLOW WATER TO LEAK THROUGH WHEN IT WAS FULLY CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility, Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 1, 2014
SAME AS REPORTED BELOW, ABS ISSUES, IGNITION SWITCH, OVER HEATING, WATER SOUND IN DASH, BLEND DOOR ISSUES. ONLY HAVE 80K ON CAR BUT PROBLEMS SURPASS VALUE. WHY ARE THERE NO RECALLS FOR EQUINOX? *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
Electrical system, Visibility, Jun 3, 2014
THE BLEND DOOR ON THE HEATED IS BROKEN. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? IF NOT WHY ISN'T THERE? I SEE YOU ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2010 EQUINOX FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER WHO IS A COLLEGE STUDENTS DRIVES THIS CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD THE $1000+ TO REPAIR IT. *TR
Visibility, Mar 30, 2014
HEATER STOPPED WORKING ON VEHICLE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST MY FRONT WINDOW. THIS CREATES A DRIVING HAZARD DUE TO FOGGY WINDOW. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN COLD OR HUMID WEATHER SO IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *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, Jan 28, 2014
VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT OR DEFROST. TOOK TO SHOP. SHOP STATED BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN AND ACTUATOR NEEDS REPLACED. SHOP HAS TO DISSEMBLE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DASH TO ACCESS AND REPLACE THE 2 PARTS TO THE COST OF $1030.00. MAJORITY OF COSTS $750 IS LABOR TO DISSEMBLE AND REASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE DASH TO REPLACE 2 SIMPLE PARTS THAT TOTAL ABOUT $280 FOR GM. AS I AM FINDING OUT THIS IS A RECURRING EVENT WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF EQUINOX VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR
Visibility, Jan 14, 2014
I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO I DON'T NEED THE HEATER THAT OFTEN. LAST YEAR WHEN IT GOT COLD, I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND GOT NOTHING BUT COLD AIR BLOWING OUT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD PROBABLY COST AROUND $1000 - $1500 TO FIX. THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO PULL OUT THE WHOLE DASH AND IT WAS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE. WHEN I LOOK ON THE INTERNET, I SEE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK CHEVROLET WOULD DO A RECALL. I GUESS IF THEY IGNORE IT, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THEY WILL BE SAVING. *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, Jan 5, 2014
HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING. WENT ON-LINE AND SAW THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. WHEN IT RAINS THIS POSES AS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE DEFROSTER NOT WORKING. CAN YOU PLEASE RECALL SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Jan 2, 2014
HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND DEFROSTER IS ALSO NOT WORKING. WENT ON-LINE AND SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE THIS COSTLY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SAFETY ISSUE (CAN'T SEE OUT OF WINDOW BECAUSE DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK). I'VE BEEN CUTOFF BECAUSE I HAVE NO WARRANTY BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM SUCH AS A TOTAL RECALL. *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
Visibility, Nov 20, 2013
BLENDER DOOR BROKE NO HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS. *TR
Visibility, Nov 10, 2013
THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE HAS QUIT AND AFTER INVESTIGATING, WE BELIEVE THAT THE HEATER DOOR IN THE DASH COULD BE BROKEN. MY 16 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND WOULD NOT DEFROST. I SAW THAT TSB 11135 WAS RELEASED FOR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT BUT ONLY FOR LIMITED AGE AND MILEAGE. IT IS A $35 PART THAT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASH TO BE DISASSEMBLED RESULTING IN OVER $1000 IN LABOR COSTS. THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARDS IF OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEEDS AND THE WINDOWS FOG UP OR FROST OVER. *TR
Visibility, Oct 28, 2013
LOSS HEAT,AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILING TO OPERATE. *TR
Visibility, Oct 9, 2013
2006 EQUINOX: MY HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. UPON RESEARCH, I'VE LEARNED THAT I AM AMONG HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, WHO HAD HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH STEMS FROM A BROKEN BLEND DOOR. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MY FRONT WINDOWS DO NOT DEFROST ON COLD MORNINGS, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT DRIVING HAZARD ON THE ROADS. I AM AWARE THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED IN JUNE OF 2012 TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND OFFER REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE BULLETIN ONLY COVERS VEHICLES 'WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THE DATE YOUR VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE OR 120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST'. THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY CONCERN FOR VEHICLE OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF WHOSE MILEAGE/YEARS HAVE EXCEEDED THOSE SPECIFIED IN THE PARAGRAPH. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY CHEVROLET WOULD BE WILLING TO REPAIR SOME VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT ALL. ESPECIALLY IF THE COMPANY KNOWS THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK OF PUTTING THE LIVES OF ITS DRIVERS IN DANGER. *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, Aug 20, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE HEATER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL OF THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE BECAME ICY, IN WHICH THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE A/C HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS 160,000.
Visibility, Aug 13, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SUN ROOF FAILED TO CLOSE COMPLETELY CAUSING RAIN TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THE SUN ROOF RETRACTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Visibility, Aug 4, 2013
I LIVE IN ALASKA WHERE IT DOES GET COLD DURING THE WINTER TIME. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING FROM ANCHORAGE TO OUR HOME ABOUT 45 MILES AWAY WHEN SHE HAD NO HEAT INSIDE HER CAR. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND SENSOR CHECK THE HEATER CORE ALL WERE FINE. I COULD NOT FIGURED OUT WHY NO HEAT. NO HEAT ALSO MEANT I COULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD ( SAFETY HAZARD). I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND ASK OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS IF THEY HAD THE PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THE BLEND DOOR BREAKS. THE REASON IT BREAKS IS THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR ROTATES TO FAR, BREAKING THE TABS ON THE DOOR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY HAZARD? LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND YOU WILL FIND MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND STILL THE NHTSA DOES NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHY? *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, Jul 11, 2013
WE HAD A COLD FRONT COME THROUGH TODAY CAUSING MY WINDOW TO FOG. I CHANGED MY AIR TO HEAT BUT JUST GOT COLD AIR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT ITS MY BLEND DOOR. HE SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $45 FOR THE PART BUT $1200 IN LABOR!!!!! HE ALSO SAID THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF EQUINOX'S! THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND A RECALL ISSUED! I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING AND CAME SO CLOSE TO WREAKING I SAT IN THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CRIED! *TR