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, May 22, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX - THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HEATER ACTUATOR OCCURRING ON MANY VEHICLES. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE PROBLEM UNTIL SEARCHING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER ACTUATOR CAUSED ONLY COLD AIR TO BLOW. THIS PREVENTS WARM AIR FROM BEING DIRECTED TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO PREVENT BUILDUP OF FROST. DEPENDING ON WEATHER FRONTS PASSING THROUGH AND TIME OF DAY, THIS IS BECOMING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. ONE WOULD ASK: WHY NOT GET IT FIXED? I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AND THE RELATIVELY CHEAP REPLACEMENT PART REQUIRES $1200.00+ TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD REMOVED. IT IS NOT PRACTICAL IN MOST CASES TO PAY THIS AMOUNT FOR A SIMPLE PART REPAIR, AND IN MOST CASED TO COMPLEX FOR A DO-IT-YOURSELF MECHANIC. HUNDREDS OF CAR PART FAILURES ARE OCCURRING, AS APPARENT FROM COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. A FATAL ACCIDENT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. THERE ARE SOME REPORTS THAT GM AS RECOGNIZED THE POORLY DESIGNED PART AND THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS SO THEY ARE QUIETLY TRYING TO DESIGN A NEW PART. THIS HAS GOT REQUIRE A RECALL. *TR
Visibility, May 20, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERNAL HEAT WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,200.
Visibility, Apr 29, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. NO HEAT AS THE HVAC TEMPERATURE DOOR IS BROKEN. PART IS 79.00 CAD BUT DEALER NEEDS 8 - 10 HOURS TO REPLACE PART. MUST REMOVE DASH BOARD. CAR HAS 102,000 KMS. PART LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BREAK AND IF IT DOES, SHOULD BE EASIER TO REPLACE. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Apr 29, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX MANY OF THEM INCLUDING MINE HAVE NO HEAT THE DOOR BREAKS AND THE WHOLE DASH MUST COME OFF TO FIX. I CHECKED ONLINE AND MANY MANY OF THIS YEAR HAS OR HAD THIS PROBLEM. VERY COSTLY TO FIX. SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO THIS NEW OF A CAR. WHY NO RECALL OF THIS WITH SO MANY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? WHERE TO GO? NO HEAT NO DEFROST. *TR
Visibility, Apr 29, 2010
I HAVE A CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 IN WHICH THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR HAS BROKEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2006 MODELS. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. A CAR IN MAINE IN WINTER WITHOUT HEAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Apr 22, 2010
THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE HEATING BLEND DOOR WHICH CAUSES THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY & OBSTRUCTED VIEW WHEN CONDENSATION COLLECTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ALSO THE ILLUMINATED LIGHT ON THE CONTROL KNOB HAVE BURNT OUT CAUSING FURTHER INATTENTIVENESS WHILE DRIVING, IF LOOKING TO CHANGE THE SETTING. *TR
Visibility, Apr 21, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER IN THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN BLEND DOOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO RETURN HER CALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
Visibility, Apr 9, 2010
I WAS DRIVING ON A COLD MORNING AND DISCOVERED THAT I COULD NOT OBTAIN ANY HEAT OR DEFROSTER ACTION IN MY VEHICLE. FROM SEARCHING ONLINE I DISCOVERED THIS IS A VIOLATION OF YOUR RULE WHICH MOTOR VEHICLES MUST HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX AT THE PRESENT TIME. THE MODULE WHICH CONTROLS THE SAME PART WHICH FAILED IN MY VEHICLE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE END RESULT FROM THE MODULE FAILURE IS THE SAME THING WHICH I EXPERIENCED, THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR HAD BROKEN OFF WHERE IT IS DRIVEN BY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE ENTIRE DASH HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $895 LABOR AND $55 FOR THE PART. AFTER CALLING GM AND THEY INVESTIGATED THEY OFFERED ME A DISCOUNT WHICH REDUCED THE PRICE TO$458.40 WHICH I PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. ONCE THE PART BREAKS, THERE IS NO CHANCE OF DEFROSTER ACTION. THE CONSEQUENCES OF NO DEFROSTING ACTION IN WISCONSIN IN THE WINTER MEANS YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND NO WAY TO RECTIFY IT TEMPORARILY. IT CAN HAPPEN ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT SINCE ONCE THE CONTROL DOOR FAILS YOU HAVE NO DEFROST ACTION. I ASKED THE DEALER FOR THE PARTS WHICH WERE REPLACED AND HE TOLD ME THAT GM MIGHT ASK FOR THEM. AFTER 30 DAYS IF THEY DON'T WANT THEM I CAN HAVE THEM. *TR
Visibility, Mar 21, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 53K MILES. HEATER DOOR IS BROKEN. 8-9 HOURS OF LABOR PLUS PARTS. I LIVE IN WYOMING WITH -20 DEGREE MORNINGS DURING THE WINTER. MINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 200 MILES WITH NO PLACE TO STOP TO GET WARM. IF WE HAD NOT HAD REALLY WARM CLOTHS AND BLANKETS TO BUNDLE IN WE WOULD HAVE FROZE. FROM A SAFETY STAND POINT- ALL THE COVERS MADE MOVEMENT DIFFICULT. IF THERE HAD BEEN AN EMERGENCY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE QUICK ENOUGH. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 20, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE HEATER DOOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS CAR HAS 31,000 MILES. THEN WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND GOT CAUGHT IN A SNOW STORM. OUR VISIBILITY WAS EXTREMELY IMPAIRED AND WE ALMOST HIT 2 CARS. WE HAD TO PULL OVER EVERY 10 BLOCKS TO MANUALLY DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND CLEAR OFF THE FOG. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. NO HEATER/DEFROSTER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $1500.
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 20, 2010
BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS BROKEN AND DOES NOT ALLOW HEATED AIR TO BE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE VENTS -- ONLY COLD AIR. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS CONDITION BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE, REGARDLESS OF IT'S COUNTLESS DOCUMENTATIONS OF THE PROBLEM. WITHOUT HEAT BEING CIRCULATED THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IT CAUSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AS FOG AND HAZE WILL COVER THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD AND ELIMINATE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. TO REPAIR THE DOOR THE ENTIRE DASH OF THE VEHICLE MUST BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE DOOR, TOTALING OVER $1,200 IN LABOR. *TR
Visibility, Mar 12, 2010
HEATER BLEND DOOR IN 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS BROKEN. SYSTEM ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR AND THUS A SAFETY HAZARD AS DEFROST WILL NOT KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF FOG AND POSSIBLE ICE. *TR
Visibility, Mar 4, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX "AIR BLEND DOOR" NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. WE PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX FROM TERRY LABONTE CHEVROLET IN 2006. NOW AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 'AIR BLEND DOOR" MALFUNCTIONING IN THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM CAUSING THE SAFETY HAZARD OF THE WINDOWS REMAINING ICED/FOGGED UP IN CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS. FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS. I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A RECALL ON 2010 EQUINOX MODELS BUT THIS PROBLEM IS CONCURRENT WITH SEVERAL YEAR MODELS OF THE GM PRODUCT LINE INCLUDING OUR 2006 EQUINOX. ALL I CAN GET FROM ANYONE IS THAT WE HAVE TO COME IN AND PAY $85 TO GET THE PROBLEM "DIAGNOSED". THEN IF IT IS IN FACE THE AIR BLEND DOOR, IT WILL COST FROM $1,000 TO $1,500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM AND ITS COMPONENTS (EXCEPT FOR THE HEATER COIL) SHOULD BE FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR AND ANY MALFUNCTIONING ITEMS WITHIN SHOULD BE A SAFETY VIOLATION AND THAT THE VEHICLE BE FIXED FOR FREE. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL GM MODELS OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Mar 2, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS A BROKEN "HEATER BLENDER DOOR". APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO MY HEATER JUST STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY WANTED $1,000+ TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THE WHOLE DASH ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO THE HVAC BOX UNDER THE DASH TO ACCESS THE PART (HEATER BLENDER DOOR). THIS WINTER I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THERE IS NO HEAT TO DEFROST IT. WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND I CANNOT SEE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD BUT IT DOESN'T WORK IT JUST MAKES IT WORSE. ALSO USING THE AC DOESN'T WORK WHEN IT'S 32 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE DEFROSTED WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED ASAP. *TR
Visibility, Feb 25, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX LACK OF HEAT. THE HEATER DOOR VALVE MODULE ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Visibility, Feb 23, 2010
THE BLEND DOOR FOR THE HEATER SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK THEY CRACK.$ 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
Visibility, Feb 19, 2010
THE HEATER ON OUR 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD TRIP IN THE WINTER. WE EXPERIENCED VISIBILITY ISSUES AND ENDURED COLD TEMPERATURES FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TRIP. TURN OUT THE HEATER BLEND ASSEMBLY DOOR BROKE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THOUSANDS OF 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC VIBE MODELS. THE BREAK HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AFTER OUR MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. GM HAS REFUSED TO GOODWILL THE FIX, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE PART IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT BREAKS. *TR
Visibility, Feb 16, 2010
BLEND DOOR MALFUNCTION CAUSING NO HEAT IN 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR. *TR
Visibility, Feb 2, 2010
I DRIVE A 06 CHEVY EQUINOX IT HAS 70,000 MILES NOW AND A FEW MONTHS AGO MY HEATER WENT OUT I LIVE IN COLORADO AND IT'S WINTER I HAVE A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MY CAR WILL NOT DEFROST IN THE MORNING ITS EXTREMELY COLD AND IT SUCKS TO DRIVE WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE BECAUSE IT FREEZES ON THE INSIDE AND OUT OF MY WINDOWS AND ITS SO COLD ITS RIDICULOUS....THIS WEBSITE I WENT TO PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS ITS VERY COMMON AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE THE I DON'T HAVE 1200 TO FIX THIS DUMB BLEND DOOR PART THEY MADE SO CHEAP. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHY WONT THEY RECALL IT??? GO CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS DUMB CAR IS CAUSING....HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4/P9. *TR
Visibility, Jan 30, 2010
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. THIS MODEL ALSO HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT THE 2010 MODEL HAS. THE HEAT DOES NOT WORK FOR THE CAR OR DEFROSTER. IT CAUSES POOR VISION AND CREATES UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS A DOOR THAT IS DEFECTIVE THAT CONTROLS THE HEAT. THE WHOLE DASH HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER 800 DOLLARS. CHEVY KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT FAILS TO DO A RECALL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *TR
Visibility, Seat belts, Interior lighting, Jan 28, 2010
I HAD TO PAY $700 TO HAVE A DOOR IN MY HEATER REPLACED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING A LOT AND NOW THEY ARE PLACING METAL DOORS IN THE HEATER INSTEAD OF PLASTIC SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? I THINK I SHOULD BE REFUNDED MY MONEY SINCE THEY FIGURED OUT IT IS A MALFUNCTION OF THEIRS. MY SEAT BELT ALSO GOT STUCK WHERE MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT SITS SO I HAD TO GET A NEW ONE PUT IN. MY INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO HAVE A SHORT IN THEM. *TW
Visibility, Jan 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. HE STATED THAT THE DEFOG AND DEFROST SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHICH HAS CAUSED COLD AIR TO COME OUT OF THE VENTS. THE MALFUNCTION CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THAT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD APART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91000.
Visibility, Jan 26, 2010
NO HEAT AS OF JANUARY 2010. CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD, VERY LOW VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED BROKEN MODE DOOR. $1211 TO REPAIR, PLUS PARTS AND TAXES. *TR
Visibility, Jan 24, 2010
OWNED A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 34636 MILES, HEATER GAVE UP ON US, AND WENT TO FIND OUT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THAT THE HEATER CASE DOOR NEEDS REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATE OF $1500, WITH 9HRS OF LABOR. NO ACCIDENTS LEADING TO, OR INJURIES, AS OF YET, HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR WINDOWS DO FOG UP CAUSING, MY WIFE AND I, TO CLEAR THE INTERIOR FOG, AND THEN MOVE ON. *TR
Visibility, Jan 23, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HEATER DOOR ASSEMBLY HAS GONE OUT, HAZARDS UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS ADEQUATELY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY FAMILY. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. *TR