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
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 14, 2011
THE BLEND DOOR IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX LT IS BROKEN. THE KNOB THAT TURNS IT FROM COLD TO HOT IS CRACKED AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS PIECE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD ON A COLD DAY WITH COLD AIR. I HAVE DRIVEN WITH FOGGED WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD ALMOST HITTING OBJECTS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE AND GM NEEDS TO PLACE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR
Visibility, Mar 12, 2011
COMPLAINANT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WHERE THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ON MARCH 1, 2011. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR TEMP ACTUATOR OVER ACTUATED AND BROKE THE AIR TEMP DOOR. THE AIR TEMP DOOR AND ACTUATOR ARE NOW FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE OF $1200 OF WHICH MOST OF THE COST IS LABOR DUE TO NEED TO DISASSEMBLE ALL OF THE DASHBOARD TO REPLACE PART. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *TR
Visibility, Mar 10, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO HEAT FUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ
Visibility, Feb 28, 2011
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX . THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER ON HIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PUT IT ON, IT WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR AND IT IMPAIRED HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR BLENDOR NOB AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. PM
Electrical system, Visibility, Feb 21, 2011
HEAT IN 2006 EQUINOX CHEVY QUIT DUE TO HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILURE. COST TO FIX WAS $944 + TAX. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT GMC EXPENSE, NOT THE CONSUMER. ALSO CAREGARD WARRANTY SERVICES INC. DIDN'T COVER THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE AIR AND HEATING SYSTEM IS COVERED IN THEIR POLICY. DUE TO SMALL PRINT AND A PLAY ON WORDS THEY CAN CLAIM THAT ANY PART THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT BY NAME IS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE HEATING SYSTEM IS COVERED. STAY AWAY FROM BOTH CHEVROLET AND CAREGARD WARRANTY SERVICES INC. *TR
Visibility, Feb 19, 2011
MY CAR LOST ALL HEATING FUNCTION DUE TO A FAULTY HEATER BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR WHICH PREVENTED HOT AIR FLOW FROM COMING INTO VEHICLE. THIS DOOR WAS INSIDE THE DASH CONSOLE AND REQUIRED DISASSEMBLING THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. WE WERE DRIVING AND UNABLE TO DEFROST OUR WINDSHIELD AS NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT OF VENTS AND ICE/FOG BUILD UP DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. THE VEHICLE BECAME A DANGER TO OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS AS WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED AND BLOCKED. DEALER AND GM CONSIDERED THIS A NON-SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES AUTO OWNERS TO REPAIR THE FAULTY PARTS. *TR
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2011
YESTERDAY I GOT IN MY VEHICLE, TURNED ON THE HEAT AND DEFROSTERS. I ONLY GOT VERY COLD AIR, THE CAR NEVER WARMED UP, THE WINDOWS NEVER DEFROSTED, THEY ONLY BECAME FOGGY INSIDE. G.M. SAYS THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF THIS PROBLEM. THE INTERNET RECORDS OVER 500 INCIDENTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX'S. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED, G.M. KNOWS THE PART (PLASTIC) FAILS BECAUSE ON LATER MODELS THEY BEGAN USING A METAL PART.
Visibility, Feb 9, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT BLOWER MALFUNCTIONED; NEITHER THE HEAT NOR DEFROSTER WOULD WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Visibility, Equipment, Jan 28, 2011
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX (49351 MILES) JUST QUIT BLOWING HOT AIR THROUGH VENTS OR DEFROSTER. DEALER SAYS A BROKEN BLEND DOOR COST $1500 TO REPAIR. SEEMS THIS MAKE/MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT 50000 MILES. WHAT IS CHEVROLET DOING TO HELP THE PURCHASERS OF THIS VEHICLE. NOT A [XXX] THING. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY/GM PRODUCT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN COOL TEMPS WHERE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE A FATALITY FOR CHEVY TO ADMIT FAULT AND CORRECT THIS. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!! *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Visibility, Jan 22, 2011
THE "BLEND" DOOR BROKE ON MY HEATER, CAUSING NO HEAT AT ALL. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS CAUSES ICE AND FROST TO BUILD ON MY WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION, THIS REPAIR IS RANGING FROM $900 TO $1200. WITH THIS COST I ONLY WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES FRANTICLY TRYING TO WIPE THEIR WINDOW TO PREVENT ICE / FROST WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Visibility, Jan 19, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE CIRCULATION VENTS WHEN THE HEATER WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HEATED AIR TO BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE WINTER, THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER STOPPED WORKING. THE NEXT DAY, THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND ONLY COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. UPDATED 04/27/11
Visibility, Jan 19, 2011
AS WITH WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED TO BE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS...WITH OUT WARNING OR PRIOR ISSUES, MY HEATER IS NO LONGER "HEATING" THE AIR. IT JUST BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE ACTUATOR/BLEND DOOR (WHICH IS A PLASTIC PART) AND THAT TO CORRECT IT, REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASH TO BE REMOVED, 8+ HOURS OF LABOR AND UPWARDS OF $1000 IN REPAIR COSTS. I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE SO EARLY INTO THE LIFE/OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO GET IT CORRECTED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT ALSO PREVENTS THE DEFROSTER FROM WORKING AS WELL. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN IN THE TEENS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE COLD AND SNOWY CONDITIONS. I HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OWNER FORUMS ACROSS THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE ALSO SINCE LEARNED THAT GM RECALLED THE 2010 MODEL FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON BUT IS IGNORING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE EARLIER MODELS. GM NEEDS TO BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY COST CUTTING WAYS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM VIA A RECALL. *TR
Visibility, Jan 18, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEATER ACTUATOR CRACKED AND CAUSED THE HEAT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500.
Visibility, Jan 14, 2011
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. MY PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THIS PAST OCTOBER (2010), I NOTICED MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. NO WARM OR HOT AIR COMES OUT OF ANY VENT OR DEFROSTER AT ANY FAN SPEED. MY CAR HAS NO HEAT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS TO DE-ICE OR REMOVE/PREVENT FOGGED WINDOWS WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN (AGES 2 AND 4 MONTHS) AND I MUST HAVE HEAT IN THE CARE FOR THEIR CARE AND SAFETY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND READING 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WERE DEFECTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS APPROXIMATELY $1500. THE INABILITY TO DEFROST AND DEFOG THE WINDOWS OF THIS 2006 EQUINOX IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS, CAUSING LACK OF VISIBILITY BEFORE AND DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. I RECOMMEND YOU LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/WINDOW+DEFROSTER PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE GM TO RECALL THIS FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Visibility, Jan 12, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THERE WAS NO AIR BEING BLOWN OUT AT ALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Visibility, Jan 11, 2011
TEMPERATURE HEATER DOOR BROKEN. DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK IN WINTER. *TR
Visibility, Jan 5, 2011
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK IN IT. I'VE HAD IT ABOUT 4.5 MONTH AND IT' GOING TO COST ME $1350.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS HEATER VALVE DOOR ACTUATOR MOTOR. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO FIX IT. IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD TO THEM. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH HEAT YOU CAN'T DEFROST YOUR WINDOW SO YOU CAN SEE WERE YOUR GOING AND THINK ALOT PEOPLE THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WILL AGREE WITH ME.I FEEL IF STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND VEHICLE YOU SHOULD STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND FIX 2006 EQUINOX! *TR
Visibility, Dec 31, 2010
HEAT BEGAN BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR, COULD NOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD. WAS ON A TRIP WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. IT BECAME VERY COLD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE; DANGEROUS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IS A BROKEN TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR ACTUATOR. GM IS SO FAR UNWILLING TO AID IN REPAIR COST. *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Dec 30, 2010
OUR CAR 2006 EQUINOX VIN [XXX] HEATER FAILED AND DEFROSTER THEN DID NOT WORK. DECEMBER 5 MY HEATER ON THIS CAR FAILED TO WORK CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN MY CAR AS IT WAS COLD AND DEFROST WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WINDOW KEPT FOGGING OVER. NOTED THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS. REPORTED THIS TO CHEVY. PART THAT DETERMINES HEAT VS COOL FAILS, PART COSTS ABOUT $38.22, CHEVY CHARGED OVER $1317 TO REPAIR AS THIS PART IS IN THE DASHBOARD AND SUPPOSEDLY DIFFICULT TO REACH!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Visibility, Dec 29, 2010
AT 46,000 MILES HEATER BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. CAN'T DEFROST WINDOWS. PROBLEM STARTED DECEMBER 23, 2010. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURE. DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING BETWEEN $800-$1200. ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO SWITCH OUT A PLASTIC PART THAT WAS PLACED INSTEAD OF A METAL ONE. *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Dec 24, 2010
IN OCT 2010 THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AIR GETTING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM LINES, BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR HAD GOTTEN A BIT LOW. BUT ADDING COOLANT AND TRYING TO "BURP" THE SYSTEM DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, I DISCOVERED THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD THE SAME NO-HEAT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT (WHICH IS THE SAME VEHICLE PLATFORM). IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A SMALL "DOOR" THAT ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW PAST THE HEATER CORE. APPARENTLY THIS "AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR" HAS A PLASTIC CONNECTING SHAFT TO AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND THE SHAFT IS PRONE TO BREAKING AFTER A FEW YEARS. THE TROUBLE IS... REPLACING THIS LITTLE PART IS NOT EASY. IT INVOLVES REMOVING MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD, WHICH TAKES A LONG TIME. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT A GM DEALER IS AROUND $1,000, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS. *TR
Visibility, Dec 22, 2010
2006 EQUINOX...HEAT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR..CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE..HVAC FAILS TO BLOW WARM AIR..HVAC TEMPERATURE DOOR FAILED..THIS IS ONLY HAPPENING IN 2006 EQUINOX..MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE 2006 EQUINOX. *TR
Visibility, Dec 21, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FROST UP. TOOK TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS A BROKEN HEATER BLEND DOOR AND IT COST ME $1598.00 TO FIX. CHEVROLET DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THEREFORE WILL NO ISSUE A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ON OTHER SITES AND THERE ARE SOME CASES OF PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THE PART 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Dec 15, 2010
THE HEAT STARTED TO TAKE LONGER TO WARM UP THEN AFTER A MONTH OF THIS THE HEAT TOTALLY STOP WORKING. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE THEY CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $900-1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE AIR BLEND DOOR ON THE ACTUATOR THAT CONTROLS THE TEMP OF THE AIRFLOW. I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM GOING ON SINCE 2008 ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT. *TR
Visibility, Dec 11, 2010
DEFROSTER/ HEATER INOPERABLE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN IN WINTER. UPDATED IVOQ 03/14/11 *TR