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, Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 25, 2010
MY HEATER ONLY BLOWS OUT COLD AIR! I'VE READ OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SIRES HOW GM DECIDED TO REPLACE A METAL DOOR ARM TO THE HEATER COMPONENT WITH A PLASTIC ONE WHICH ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BREAK AT ONE POINT. USUALLY 3-4 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE! APPARENTLY THEIR IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF LABOR INVOLVED TO REPLACE A $60-200 PART WHICH IS ONLY AVAILABLE THRU THE DEALER AND A MIN. OF $1000 LABOR TO FIX BECAUSE IT REQUIRES REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH AND OTHER VITAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE! IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND CHEVY IS NOW GOING TO START USING METAL ARMS?! GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS ITEM EVEN THOUGH DEALERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AGREE THIS IS A SET UP. *TR
Visibility, Oct 20, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEAT ON, IT ONLY BLEW WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR BLEND DOOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,352 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,600.
Visibility, Equipment, Oct 20, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT 3.4L AWD AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE, I DID NOT USE MY HEATER ALLSUMMER LONG. I TURNED IT ON AS OF 10/10/2010 AND THERE WAS NO HEAT AT ALL. IT WAS ONLY COLD AIR. I HEARD THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND IN SOME AREAS CAN BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RISK. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST WHERE DURING WINTER, THERE IS ALWAYS FROST ON WINDOWS. IF I DO NOT HAVE HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS OR GET ICE AND SNOW OFF, THIS CAUSES A RISK. AND PUTTING HOT OR WARM WATER ON THE WINDOW RISKS CRACKING THE WINDOW. THANKS FOR HEARING ME AND THIS SAFETY RISK, IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE THIS RECALLED AS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IS OVER $1000 TO FIX. *TR
Visibility, Oct 18, 2010
I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. LAST WEEK THE HEATER STOPPED BLOWING ANY WARM OR HOT AIR. I PUT IT IN FOR REPAIR AND ALMOST $1000 LATER I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC TABS OF THE HEATER BLEND DOOR HAD BEEN CRACKED OFF BY THE OVER TORQUING OF THE HEATER ACTUATOR MOTOR. I LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE AND MUST HAVE WARM/HOT AIR TO KEEP MY WINDOWS CLEAR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Oct 18, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. HEATER ACTUATOR DOOR BROKE. THIS LEADS TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WINDSHIELD CAN'T BE DEFROSTED DUE TO LACK OF HEAT CONTROL. 3 COLD SEASONS USE SHOULD PRESENT A RECALL. COMPLETELY FAILED CONSTRUCTION OF MAKEUP PARTS. THIS PRESENTS UNSAFE LACK OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Oct 15, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT WILL COST ATLEAST $1000 TO REPAIR A BLEND DOOR THAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE IN ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES. SEEMS TO ME THAT GMC SHOULD PAY THE PRICE SINCE SO MANY ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 14, 2010
HEAT DOES NOT WORK, HEATER TEMPERATURE VALVE HAS BROKEN. CAN NOT TURN HEAT TO HOT OR COLD. THE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND FREEZES WHEN BELOW 32, IT WAS A 15 HOUR PROJECT THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN 40,000 MILES IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED BY GM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 14, 2010
I CANNOT UNFOG MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE A HEATER FLAP HAS BROKEN. MY CAR BLOWS OUT ONLY COLD AIR BECAUSE OF THIS BROKEN PIECE (AS DIAGNOSED BY A GM REPAIR STATION). BRIGHT SUNLIGHT SHINING ON THE FOGGED (AND FROSTED BECAUSE OF THE COLD AIR BLOWING ON A WET, COLD WINDSHIELD) WINDSHIELD RESULTS IN ZERO VISIBILITY. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE BLEND DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,500.
Visibility, Oct 11, 2010
THE HEATER/DEFROSTER ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX FAILED TO PRODUCE HEAT. AS A RESULT, I COULD NOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR (PART# CH19130554) THAT IS CONTROLLED BY AN ELECTRIC ACTUATOR (PART# CH15781467). THE ACTUATOR IS NOT CALIBRATED APPROPRIATELY AND PLACES EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR CONNECTION. OVER TIME, THE PLASTIC BREAKS, DISABLING THE DOOR AND NOT ALLOWING HEAT TO BE DIRECTED INTO THE CABIN. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE DASHBOARD, DRIVING CONTROL CONSOLES AND STEERING COLUMN TO ACCESS THE BLEND DOOR. IT COST ME $1,145.08 TO REPLACE AND REQUIRED MY CAR TO BE IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 2 DAYS. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEEDED THE REPAIR COMPLETED SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM IN THE EARLY FALL MONTHS. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT BROKE IN THE WINTER. SINCE GM HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN ISSUES, I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. FROM MY INTERNET RESEARCH, I HAVE IDENTIFIED MANY OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE THE SAME CONCERN. SOME CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HEAT/DEFROST. I AM WRITING IN THE HOPES THAT THE NHTSA CAN INFLUENCE GM TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN, TO EXTEND VEHICLE WARRANTIES TO COVER THE REPAIR AND TO ASSIST THOSE WHOM ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 8, 2010
THE HEAT SETTING BLOWS OUT ONLY COLD AIR. GM REPAIR SERVICE SAID THAT THE PLASTIC AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. GM REP SAID THAT GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS SITUATED WITHIN THE DASHBOARD REQUIRING THE DASH TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED. GM REPAIR WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO REPAIR IT YET GM REP FROM CORPORATE SAYS GM IS UNAWARE OF SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 5, 2010
THE BLEND DOOR FOR THE HEATER SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK THEY CRACK.$ 1200.00 TO REPAIR THE ITEM AS THEY REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. WE CALLED GM AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER US A PENNY. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE POINT BEING HOW DO YOU DRIVE IN THE NORTHEAST OR ANY COLD CLIMATE AND SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD THIS WENT OUT AS WE WERE DRIVING IN SNOW CONDITIONS AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP WE HAD TO PULL OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY AS WE WOULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Oct 4, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT IS BLOWING ICE COLD AIR THROUGH THE HEATER AS WELL AS THE DEFROSTERS I THINK ALONG WITH THE OTHER 329 PEOPLE WHO I READ ABOUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.AND THEY ALL ESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIRS IS 1,000 DOLLARS WE NEED HELP I TRIED REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT BUT NO HELP STILL COLD AIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 4, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HEATER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR WOULD CLOSE AND THE HEAT WILL NOT COME THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Visibility, Oct 1, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 1, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BROKEN BLEND DOOR. NOTHING LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE IT JUST QUIT WORKING. I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET, CAN'T JUSTIFY $1500 TO REPLACE. *TR
Visibility, Sep 30, 2010
MY 2006 EQUINOX WAS DIAGNOSED ON MONDAY WITH A BROKEN BLEND DOOR, DAMAGED ACTUATOR (DUE TO BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN AND LEAKING), AND DAMAGED HEATING CORE (DUE TO BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN AND LEAKING). THE REASON I NEEDED TO GET A DIAGNOSIS IS BECAUSE IN MID APRIL THE FAN WAS BLOWING BUT NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT. AT THIS STAGE THERE WAS ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE JUST DRIVING NORMAL CITY DRIVING LIMITS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND THE TOTAL REPAIR COST ME $1500. THE SERVICE GUY I SPOKE TO TOLD ME HE SEES ABOUT 1 IN 25 EQUINOXS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. LIVING IN NEW ENGLAND IS IT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IF WE DO NOT HAVE HEAT? IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER WE CANNOT DEFROST OUR WINDOWS!! THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE OUT ON THE ROAD DRIVING WITH IMPAIRED VISION DUE TO FOGGY, SNOW COVERED, OR ICE COVERED WINDOWS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. GM SHOULD DEFINITELY RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON ALONE WHICH IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE!! WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIDS? YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT NOT LEAVING YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR IN EXTREME HEAT...I THINK THAT THE SAME APPLIES TO EXTREME COLD. WITHOUT HEAT THE SAME PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR AS WITH HEAT. HEAT IS A NECESSITY IN THE WINTER! *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Sep 30, 2010
THE PROBLEM WITH THE TEMP. DOOR NOT WORKING IS IF YOU NEED TO DEFOG OR DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS AND THE HEAT WON'T WORK YOU CANT SEE. AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THANK GOD I WAS JUST TRYING TO TAKE THE CHILL OUT OF MY VEHICLE ON A COOL FALL EVENING, NO MATTER WHAT I DID NO HEAT. STOP TO GET GAS, STARTED THE TRUCK....... HEAT CAME ON, NOW IT WON'T GO OFF. *TR
Visibility, Sep 21, 2010
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED BLOWING OUT COLD AIR WHEN I TURNED THE HEAT ON BACK IN MAY OF 2010. WE DECIDED TO LET IT GO SINCE IT WAS GETTING WARMER OUT AND NOW THAT IT'S GETTING COLDER HERE IN MI, WE DECIDED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WON'T WORK. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND WE STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND CAME ACROSS THOUSANDS OF POSTS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE BLEND DOOR IS MORE THAN LIKELY BROKEN, THE DASH HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX IT AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY SOMEONE OVER $1000 TO FIX IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48000 MILES ON IT AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH GM CARS IN THE PAST SO WE DECIDED NOT TO GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WILL RETHINK THIS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE CHEAP WAY VEHICLES ARE BEING MADE NOW. MAKES ME SICK WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS WORK FOR A CHEAP PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Visibility, Sep 11, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX "NO HEAT" - THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING. MY OPINION, IT IS A BAD DESIGN. MANY EQUINOX OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE DEFROST WILL NOT WORK. MY FAILURE HAPPENED AT 72,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX AS WELL AS THE PONTIAC TORRENT. I THINK GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS AT ONCE. IT SEEMS THE PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER AT A COST OF $65 - $200, HOWEVER THE LABOR IS $600 - $1200, NO CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO SPEND THAT ON AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Visibility, Sep 10, 2010
HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR FOR 1 WEEK. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND ADVISED BLEND DOOR STUCK, IT AND ACTIVATOR NEED REPLACED. ESTIMATED APPROX. $1000.00. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Aug 27, 2010
THE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM VALVE DOOR BREAKING. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY MY DEALER THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR YET IT IS COSTING CONSUMERS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. TO FIX. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRAP DOOR THAT RELEASES THE HEAT. *TR
Visibility, Jul 17, 2010
NOTHING SPECIAL DONE, BLEND DOOR JUST BROKE, THEREFORE WE HAVE NO HEATER OR DEFROSTER. CANNOT DRIVE CAR WHEN IT IS COLD AND DEFROSTER IS NEEDED OUTSIDE. WAS TOLD BY A GM DEALERSHIP $1200 JUST FOR LABOR. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE I HAVE READ. *TR
Visibility, Jun 27, 2010
I WAS LUCKY AND FOUND OUT WHEN IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND NOT COLD OUT... MY MECHANICS HAVE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS THE TEMP SWITCH AND VALVE THAT THEY WERE TOLD COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO HEAT .. AND I HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE HEAT DOOR ARM IS BROKE AND TAKE 7-8 HOURS TO REMOVE THE DASH. MANY EQUINOX HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUT HEAT AND DEFROST YOU CANT SEE TO USE THE CAR DURING COLD WEATHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING THE WINTER. *TR
Visibility, Jun 23, 2010
HEATER DOES NOT WORK ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DUE TO AN AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BEHIND THE DASH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LARGE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHEVY EQUINOX. ANY GOOGLE SEARCH WITH THE KEYWORDS "CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER PROBLEM" WILL PROVE THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE WINDOW WILL NOT DEFROST MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHEVY WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD GUESS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT. *TR