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
Electrical system, Visibility, Jun 16, 2013
THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL ON THE DRIVER SIDE NO LONGER WORKS, THE POWER LOCK ON THAT SIDE QUIT WORKING AS WELL. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A RECALL OF 2006 GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, BUT NOT MY CAR. IS THIS A COINCIDENCE OR NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM EQUINOX OWNERS? THE RISK THAT CAUSED THE RECALL WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. DO I NEED TO WORRY THAT MY CAR WILL CATCH FIRE? *TR
Visibility, Jun 8, 2013
I HAVE NO HEAT OR DEFROSTERS. IS THERE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN COLD WEATHER IS PRESENT. SHOULD I FILE A LAW SUIT? I UNDERSTAND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. MY GARAGE STATES $1100.00 TO FIX. WHAT SHOULD I DO AND HOW CAN I GET CHEVROLET TO PAY FOR THIS? *TR
Visibility, May 14, 2013
HEAT JUST STOPPED BLOWING OUT , WAS TOLD IT COULD BE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR, $25 PART AND $800 IN LABOR , THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT. *TR
Visibility, Mar 15, 2013
THE VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT AND ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR....DOES NOT ALLOW THE WINDOWS TO DEFROST AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility, Feb 25, 2013
NO HOT AIR BLOWS THROUGH VENTS, ONLY COLD AIR. ALSO, THE CAR CRANKS, BUT DOESN'T TURN OVER MOST OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO TURN OVER. VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A MOM. *TR
Visibility, Engine, Jan 8, 2013
I WAS DRIVING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL ONE MORNING AND THE HEATER STARTED BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. SOME TIME LATER, I TOOK MY CHEVY EQUINOX TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $1,000 TO REPAIR. THIS WAS A SHOCK BECAUSE MY MECHANIC IS VERY REPUTABLE; I HAVE USED HIM FOR YEARS. HE NEVER TRIES TO CHEAT ME OR ANY OF HIS OTHER CUSTOMERS. WHEN HE QUOTED ME THAT PRICE, THAT'S WHEN I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH MY CAR. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY - I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB A FEW MONTHS AGO. I CALLED CHEVROLET 3 TIMES AND NOBODY WOULD HELP ME. IN THE MEANTIME, I DID SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OVER 600 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THAT CHEVY/GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (CAR HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR) BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE COST-EFFECTIVE FOR CHEVY TO FIX IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHEVY/GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN CHEVY EQUINOX'S FROM ALL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. NOT ONLY WILL I NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN, I AM FILING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST CHEVY/GM FOR FAILING TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM. EVEN IF I DID HAVE THE MONEY, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT THIS COMPANY KNOWS IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Dec 21, 2012
A CHEAP PLASTIC PART (AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR ) BREAKS AND YOU LOSE ALL HEAT AND CANNOT DEFROST OR DEFOG WINDOWS, AND AS SUCH HAVE VIRTUALLY NO VISIBILTY, WHICH IN MY OPINION IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *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
Visibility, Nov 14, 2012
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK. THE BLOWER FAN AND ALL THE SWITCHES ARE FINE. WHEN I TURN THE TEMP KNOB TO HOT AIR, ONLY GET COLD COME OUT. DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SETTING THE MODE DOOR IS IN. VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON THEREFORE THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! IF WINDOWS ARE FOGGED OR ICED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER YOU CAN NOT SEE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN FATALITIES. I FOUND OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN.THE COST IS OVER 1,000 AND I AM BEING TOLD GM WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND WE ARE FREEZING IN MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT TO BE A "FAMILY" VEHICLE. THIS IS JUST ONE MORE PROBLEM TO THE LIST OF THINGS I HAVE ALREADY HAD FIXED IN THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *TR
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
Visibility, Oct 17, 2012
THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX IN APRIL OF 2009 AT 29,000 MILES. IT NOW NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2012 AT 57,500 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NO COST TO ME. BUT NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED, AGAIN AT $1100+ (DEALER ESTIMATE). AFTER A WEEKLONG BATTLE WITH GM, THEY OFFERED ME A 50% COST SHARE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 29,000 AND AGAIN AT 57,500!! IT HAS GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN DEFECT (DUE TO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS), BUT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL!! *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, Jul 6, 2012
MY HEATER STOPPED WORKING IT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO COMMON WITH ALL 2006 EQUINOX. *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.
Visibility, May 11, 2012
HEAT STOPPED WORKING. NOT ABLE TO TURN ON THE HEAT IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PART THAT WORKS THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN AND WOULD TAKE 24 HOURS AND ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE. *TR
Visibility, May 4, 2012
WHEN DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL ONE FREEZING COLD MORNING I TURNED ON THE HEAT IN MY CAR ONLY TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR! I BROUGHT IT TO A CHEVY DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE FOR THE LACK OF HEAT AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE TEMP BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN INSIDE THE HVAC CASE. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO FIX AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS WEBSITE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE...ON THE COLD RAINY MORNINGS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE ANY VISIBILITY WITH A BROKEN HVAC SYSTEM AND NO DEFROST FOR THE WINDSHIELD NOT TO MENTION THE INABILITY TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF ICE AND SNOW IN THE WINTER MONTHS! THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CHEVROLET HAS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND OFFER A SOLUTION SO DRIVERS CAN REMAIN SAFE ON THE ROADS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Apr 15, 2012
BOUGHT USED IN FEB 2012 FROM LOCAL DEALER THE HEATER WORKED FINE UNTIL EARLY APRIL. WE HAD WEIRD WEATHER HERE IN UPSTATE NY VERY WARM SO DID NOT NEED TO USE HEATER THAT MUCH. TOOK DAUGHTER TO WORK AT 4 AM AND TURNED ON HEAT AND COLD AIR IS COMING THRU VENTS, THE TEMP GAUGE IS FINE I AM THINKING MAYBE THE THERMOSTAT IS STUCK OPEN IT MIGHT BE ORIGINAL THERMOSTAT OR FROM WHAT I SEE ON THIS SITE THE MECHANICAL DOOR IS STUCK OR BROKEN. I SPOKE WITH DEALER HE SAID IT WAS COVERED IN THE WARRANTY TO PAY THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT , WITH SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS CAN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GET INVOLVED ON THIS IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE IF NO HEAT AND DEFROSTING WINDOWS AND GM SITS ON THEIR HANDS AND SAY IT IS WITHIN GM'S CRITERIA WELL GM OBVIOUSLY SUCKS AND DO NOT HONOR A MAJOR DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. I LIKE THE EQUINOX BUT ONLY HAD IT 2 MONTHS AND THIS IS NOT GOOD GLAD IT IS GETTING WARM NOW. *TR
Visibility, Apr 15, 2012
ON 4/14/12, THE HEATER/DEFROSTER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR ONLY. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO FOG AND LIMITED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF REPORT OF THE SAME FAILURE IN THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR DATING BACK TO 2008. *TR