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 18, 2011
I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU'VE HAD REGARDING THIS 2006 EQUINOX LT BLOWING COLD AIR. GMC IS NOT DOING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE DUE TO IT WILL NOT DEFROST WITHOUT HEAT AND DEFOG. *TR
Visibility, Nov 14, 2011
THE HEATING SYSTEM IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX FAILED. I SEE THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON ISSUE. WE BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE IN AND AFTER BEATING AROUND THE BUSH, THE DEALER IS QUOTING APPROX $1000 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR MECHANISM. MOSTLY LABOR, I UNDERSTAND THE PART ITSELF IS RATHER IN EXPENSIVE. SINCE THE DEFROST ON THE FRONT WINDOW NO LONGER FUNCTIONS SHOULDN'T THIS PART BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY HAZARD??? *TR
Electrical system, Visibility, Nov 14, 2011
HEATING PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TO THE BLEND AIR DAMPER (VALVE) BEING BROKEN FROM THE BLEND AIR ACTUATOR TORQUING IT TOO FAR. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR GM AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility, Nov 8, 2011
THE DEFROSTER HAS GONE OUT. THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK. THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Visibility, Nov 7, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS ON A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TURNED ON THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, BUT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V489000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 02/13/12
Electrical system, Visibility, Nov 6, 2011
2010 NOVEMBER 7 HEATER KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF, WEIRD TIMES, WHILE TURNING, SOMETIMES WHILE BRAKING HARD, ALSO LOST THE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW SWITCHES AND HEATER CONTROL 8 HEATER NOT WORKING TODAY 9 HEATER KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF, WEIRD TIMES, WHILE TURNING, SOMETIMES WHILE BREAKING HARD, ALSO LOST THE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW SWITCHES AND HEATER CONTROL 10 HEATER NOT WORKING TODAY 22 - MECHANIC FIXED MY BLOWER MOTOR; CAUSE WAS A LOOSE/BURNT CONNECTION IN THE BLACK CONNECTOR (RED/WHITE WIRE), UNDER THE TOE KICK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, 2011 JULY 18 TWICE AC FAN SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING 19 AC FAN SHUTOFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 20 AC FAN SHUTOFF COMPLETELY 24 - MECHANIC FIXED AC FAN, JUMPED WIRES (RED/WHITE WIRE, FAN CONTROLLER) NOVEMBER 5 LOOKS LIKE THE REASON MY HEATER IS NOT WORKING, IT'S THE FAN DOOR' NOT OPERATING, MECHANIC IS INVESTIGATING MORE.. *TR
Visibility, Nov 2, 2011
THE HEATER DOOR HAS BROKEN AND THE HEATER/DEFROSTER NO LONGER WORK. THE ISSUE CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD TO FROST OVER WHILE DRIVING. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Visibility, Oct 27, 2011
THE HEATER ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS NOT WORKING IT BLOWS COLD AIR. WE NOTICED IT ME AND MY FAMILY THAT IT STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED IN THE EVENING AND WE TURNED ON THE HEAT AND ONLY COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT, LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COSTLY REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP. I LOOKED ON-LINE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS BUT NONE YET AND FOUND OUT BY NUMEROUS ON-LINE COMMENTS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. THE COST TO GET IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP IS ANYWHERE FROM $700 TO $1500 AND THAT IS WAY OUT MY POCKETS. THE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE SAID THE COMMON PROBLEM IS THE "ACTUATOR" OR THE "HEATER CORE", BUT A LOT OF THEM WERE STEERING MORE TOWARDS THE "ACTUATOR" PART THAT CONTROLS THE DOOR FLAP TO GET EITHER HOT OR COLD AIR. IT'S A MANUFACTURER ERROR PLEASE HELP ME AND MY FAMILY ALONG WITH OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT'S OUR FAMILY VEHICLE AND WINTER IS APPROACHING I WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD OR BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT SAFELY WITH THE CONCERN OF IT FOGGING UP IMPAIRING MY VISION ON THE ROAD WHICH CAN ENDANGER OUR LIVES! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HEARING OUT MY CONCERN!! *TR
Visibility, Oct 26, 2011
WITHOUT WARNING THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILS AND THERE IS NO HEAT. THIS ALSO EFFECTS THE VISABILITY AS THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT PRODUCE AND HOT AIR AND IN A COLD CLIAMTE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND GMC REDESIGNED THE BLEND DOOR ON THE 2007 CHEVY EQUINOX SO THAT ONLY THE 2006 WAS EFFECTED. GMC CERTAINLY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY REDESIGNED THIS PART THE NEXT YEAR. THIS IS A WIDESPRED PROBLEM AS THE BLEND DOOR IS POORLY DESIGNED AS IS THE ACTUATOR. *TT
Visibility, Oct 25, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,585. UPDATED 11/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACTUATOR OVER ROTATED AND CRACKED THE BLEND DOOR. UPDATED 11/18/11
Visibility, Oct 20, 2011
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 DEFECTIVE ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR
Visibility, Oct 19, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR FAILED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR DURING COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A PARTIAL DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11
Visibility, Oct 17, 2011
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN EARLY SPRING 2011, TEMPERATURES IN OKLAHOMA ARE STILL COLD IN MARCH, THE HEATER STOPPED PUTTING OUT HOT AIR. THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT DEFROST. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND HAD TOLD ME THAT THE HEATER IS NOT WORKING. I GUESS I PROCRASTINATED ABOUT IT, AS TEMPERATURES BECAME WARMER, THE HEATER WAS NOT NEEDED. DURING THIS SPRING-SUMMER, I HAPPENED TO GO TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY COUSIN OWNS, THERE SITS A CHEVY EQUINOX, LIKE THE ONE WE OWN. I ASKED THE TECH, WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, HE STATED THAT THE HEATER STOPPED PUTTING OUT HOT AIR THROUGH THE HEATER DUCTS. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DISASSEMBLED. THERE WAS A BAD FEELING COMING UPON ME. HE SHARED HIS FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THIS JOB, AND THE DESIGN/PART THAT WAS USED FOR THIS SYSTEM, THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS HIS 2ND REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS BROKE. I AM LODGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO SUCH AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF NOT ONLY HEATING THE CAR INTERIOR COMPARTMENT, BUT ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM. I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THIS DEFECT WILL COST OVER $1200.00 TO FIX AT THE DEALER. THERE NEED TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2011
WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT DURING A RAIN STORM ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 18TH, 2011, I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE DASH AREA, AND THE HEATER WOULDN'T BLOW HOT AIR. THERE WAS/IS STILL COOL AIR BLOWING FROM THE VENT(S). BECAUSE OF THIS, THE DEFROSTER ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT/DOESN'T WORK EITHER, IT TOO ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. I HAD TO CRACK THE WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER FOR THE WINDOWS NOT TO FOG UP DURING MY DRIVE HOME. BELIEVING THIS WAS JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF REPLACING A HEATER CORE OR THERMOSTAT, AND BECAUSE I WOULDN'T NEED THE HEATER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS I DIDN'T START LOOKING INTO THE MATTER UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. IN HAVING THE PROBLEM CHECKED, IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A FAULTY HEATER BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR. THE COST TO FIX IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE, DUE TO THE LABOR INVOLVED. CHEVROLET SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL THAT NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ THAT CHEVY RECALLED A 2010 EQUINOX BECAUSE OF A DEFECT THAT CAUSED AN INOPERABLE DEFROST SYSTEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2006 MODEL. (FAILURE MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE). *KB
Visibility, Oct 11, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER AND NOTICED THAT THE HVAC SYSTEM ONLY EMITTED COLD AIR AND WOULD NOT CLEAR UP THE WINDOWS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BLENDOOR FOR THE HEATER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Visibility, Oct 10, 2011
THE HEATER AND DEFROST ONLY BLOW COLD AIR MAKING DRIVING A HAZARD. THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR NO LONGER WORKS. THIS MALFUNCTION DEFECT HAS ALREADY COSTS ME MORE MONEY THAN I CAN AFFORD AND NOW I LEARN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY CHEVY. *KB
Visibility, Sep 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Sep 20, 2011
THE HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR. I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT MY CAR IS ONE OF MANY. THERE WAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON THE CAR AT THE TIME. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Sep 19, 2011
MY CAR CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. I HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED AND NEW FLUIDS PUT IN A NEW THERMOSTAT PUT IN BUT IT CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOK AT (VAN DORN AUTO), I WAS TOLD THAT THE COOLING FANS ARE NOT WORKING. THE MECHANICAL SHOP (VAN DORN AUTO) CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE CHEVY DEALER THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FANS BECAUSE OF THE SIZING AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER A DIFFERENT SIZE TO SEND TO VAN DORN AUTO TO BE REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED FOR A RECALL THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL. HOW CAN THAT BE IF THE ORIGINAL PARTS HAVE TO BE RESIZED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. 2ND ISSUE THE WINDOWS OPERATED LIKE THEY ARE OFF TRACK WHEN IT RAINS. THIS HAS BEEN SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2006. EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALER, THEY TRY TO GET ME TO REPLACE THE PART BUT THEY WONT OFFER ANY DISCOUNTS. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURE AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. *KB
Visibility, May 11, 2011, crash
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. ACCORDING TO OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND THE SERVICE DEPT MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL GM DEALER, THE COST TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART IS AROUND $1300 FOR $50-$80 METAL PART. FURTHERMORE, BY REPLACING THE PLASTIC PART PREVIOUSLY USED TO A METAL PART IN THE NEWER VEHICLES CLEARLY SUGGEST GM KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRAPPY PLASTIC PART PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND GM NEED TO STEP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS ITEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. MY WIFE ALREADY DAMAGED THE CAR AND TOOK OUT A MAILBOX DUE TO REDUCE VISIBILITY. *TR
Visibility, Mar 31, 2011
CHEVY EQUINOX 2006-BROKEN BLEND DOOR DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACTUATOR. COST FOR DIAGNOSES $44, COST TO REPAIR $1,000. HAVE NOTICED THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AROUND THE 50,000 MILE MARK, MINE IS AT 51,000. PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT THE HEAT CEASES WITHOUT WARNING. DEFROST IS NOT USABLE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF EQUINOX OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND SHOULD BE UPDATED WITHOUT COST TO THESE CHEVROLET OWNERS. *TR
Visibility, Mar 30, 2011
HEAT STOPPED WORKING IN 06 EQUINOX. TOLD IT WAS THE AIR BLEND DOOR. $40 DOLLAR PART BUT $1000 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IS A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. THEY WILL NOT BACK IT. THIS LEAVES THE CAR WITH NO WAY TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTY CONCERN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 23, 2011
BROKEN BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR
Visibility, Mar 22, 2011
MY BLEND DOOR ALSO BROKE FROM DEEP INSIDE THE DASH CAUSING THE HEAT SETTING TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND I AM UNABLE TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP ON THE FIRST TRY AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE TO START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS. *TR
Visibility, Mar 18, 2011
JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO AND TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND IT COST ME $1200.00 TO FIX AND NOW AGAIN THE DOOR HAS BROKEN AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT A SECOND TIME. THERE IS NO HEAT AND THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE WINDOWS IMMEDIATELY FOGGED UP AND I COULDN'T SEE. THERE WAS AIR BLOWING BUT IT WAS COLD AIR. THERE IS NO HEAT AT ALL. *TR