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
695 reports, newest first.
Visibility, Jan 14, 2014
I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO I DON'T NEED THE HEATER THAT OFTEN. LAST YEAR WHEN IT GOT COLD, I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND GOT NOTHING BUT COLD AIR BLOWING OUT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD PROBABLY COST AROUND $1000 - $1500 TO FIX. THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO PULL OUT THE WHOLE DASH AND IT WAS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE. WHEN I LOOK ON THE INTERNET, I SEE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK CHEVROLET WOULD DO A RECALL. I GUESS IF THEY IGNORE IT, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THEY WILL BE SAVING. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jan 9, 2014
THE HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR WHILE DRIVING NOT ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST AND LIMITING VISIBILITY. I HAD TO PULL OVER MULTIPLE TIMES TO WIPE WINDSHIELD DOWN TO SEE SO I COULD GET HOME. NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Engine, Jan 7, 2014
WAS IDLING IN CAR AT MILITARY CHECK POINT TO GET TO SCHOOL IN 2012 AND FANS UNDER HOOD GOT LOUD TO COOL IT DOWN. WENT DEAD SEVERAL TIMES. LET SIT 45 MINUTES. CHECKED RADIATOR AND WAS FULL OF WATER. BARELY MADE IT HOME, GOING DEAD ALL THE WAY. TOOK TO DEALER AND SAID COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AT ALL CHARGED ME OVER $100 TO CHECK IT. FOR MONTHS IT WOULD DO THIS OFF AND ON. THEN THE FAN UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEN THE CAR WOULD RUN WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OFF. NOW IN JANUARY 2014, THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND I HAVE NO DEFROST AND THE ENGINE TEMP. GAUGE IS ALL OF THE WAY TO HOT. I CAN ONLY RUN IT FOR 15 MINUTES THEN IT GOES DEAD AND I HAVE TO WAIT 45 MINUTES FOR IT TO COOL DOWN TO GO ANOTHER 45 MINUTES. REALLY BAD FOR ME BECAUSE IT TAKE ME 30 MINUTES TO GET TO WORK SO I HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER 45 MINUTES.....THAT'S THERE AND THEN 45 EXTRA HOME. *TR
Visibility, Jan 5, 2014
HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING. WENT ON-LINE AND SAW THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. WHEN IT RAINS THIS POSES AS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE DEFROSTER NOT WORKING. CAN YOU PLEASE RECALL SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Engine, Jan 3, 2014
I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX AFTER I DRIVE IT AND IT SITS FOR AWHILE...30 MINS OR SO ....IT DOESN'T WANT TO START AGAIN....I HAVE READ SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Jan 2, 2014
HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND DEFROSTER IS ALSO NOT WORKING. WENT ON-LINE AND SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE THIS COSTLY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SAFETY ISSUE (CAN'T SEE OUT OF WINDOW BECAUSE DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK). I'VE BEEN CUTOFF BECAUSE I HAVE NO WARRANTY BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM SUCH AS A TOTAL RECALL. *TR
Engine, Dec 22, 2013
OVER HEATING BLEW ALL WATER OUT HAD WRECKER TAKE TO LYNN SMITH DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS !ST TIME . TOOK BACK TO LYNNSMITH HEATING UP AGAIN ,COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM 2ND TIME .OVER HEATED ON DEC 15 TH ,REPLACED THERMOSTAT GOOD FOR TO DAYS OVER HEATED A 3RD TIME BLUE ALL WARER OUT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART A REAL PROBLEM CAR NOT RUNNING AND PAYMENTS WONT STOP COMING. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 16, 2013
2006 EQUINOX IS POSSESSED. I WOKE UP AT 2:30AM TO MY EQUINOX RUNNING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TO PUT THE KEYS IN IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD IN ORDER TO SHUT IT OFF. IT MUST HAVE RAN FOR AWHILE AS IT WAS WARM INSIDE. IT ALSO UNLOCKED ITSELF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
Power train, Wheels, Dec 15, 2013
HERD A GRINDING NOISE AND FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN A GEAR. BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO OGDEN CAR CARE WHERE I WAS TOLD IT'S A WHEEL BEARING ON THE LEFT AND THAT THE CAR IS PULLING EMISSIONS CODES BRING IT TO CHEVY. SO I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO SUNRISE CHEVROLET WERE THEY CONFIRMED A BAD WHEEL BEARING AND NO EMISSIONS CODES WERE SHOWING UP. SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AT ROUTE 66 TIRE AND AUTO WERE HE TOLD ME IT HAS A BROKEN AXEL AND WAS ONLY BEING HELD ON BY THE CV BOOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF THE BOOT WOULD HAVE COME OFF THE TRUCK COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE CRASH COSTING THE LIVES OF ITS OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRI I ERS ON THE ROAD. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2013
THE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND WAS REPLACED FOR ONLY $50 DUE TO CARMAX DEALER WARRANTY. NOW MY CAR HAS 115K MILES ON IT AND THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AGAIN. I BELIEVE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM, A BROKEN BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Visibility, Nov 20, 2013
BLENDER DOOR BROKE NO HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS. *TR
Visibility, Nov 10, 2013
THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE HAS QUIT AND AFTER INVESTIGATING, WE BELIEVE THAT THE HEATER DOOR IN THE DASH COULD BE BROKEN. MY 16 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND WOULD NOT DEFROST. I SAW THAT TSB 11135 WAS RELEASED FOR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT BUT ONLY FOR LIMITED AGE AND MILEAGE. IT IS A $35 PART THAT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASH TO BE DISASSEMBLED RESULTING IN OVER $1000 IN LABOR COSTS. THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARDS IF OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEEDS AND THE WINDOWS FOG UP OR FROST OVER. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 10, 2013
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 0 TO 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION CUTS OUT AND THE VEHICLE JERKS AND BUCKS LIKE IT WANTS TO DIE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME FROM SOON AFTER I BOUGHT IT NEW. THIS OCCURS SOMETIMES WHEN PULLING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS TO MAKE IT STOP AND PUSH IT AGAIN. WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU DON'T REACT QUICKLY. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS ONLINE AND ALL I CAN FIND IS THAT THE DRIVETRAINS WERE MADE THIS WAY AND GM ACKNOWLEDGES IT AND SAYS IT'S NORMAL. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE MINE WAS A 4 CYLINDER MOTOR, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT IS HAPPENING WITH ALL MOTOR TYPES. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL! IF THE CAR DOES ACTUALLY DIE ONE OF THESE TIMES, I WILL PROBABLY BE HIT AND INJURED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HAVE A SAFETY RECALL INITIATED. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 29, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Visibility, Oct 28, 2013
LOSS HEAT,AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILING TO OPERATE. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 24, 2013
WHILE DRIVING, EITHER JUST GETTING INTO THE CAR AND PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR HAVING DRIVEN FOR A DISTANCE, WHEN PUSHING ON THE BREAKS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THEY GRIND AND THE CAR DOESN'T STOP. SOMETIMES, THERE IS JUST A GRINDING SOUND AND I DON'T BOTHER PUSHING ON THE BREAKS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BREAKS LOOKED FINE. I WILL DRIVE FOR A WHILE AND IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR DAYS. THEN IT STARTS UP AGAIN....THE GRINDING. IT IS SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY THE TC AND/OR THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE I CUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART, THE LIGHT(S) MAY GO OUT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE SHOP (BOTH A DEALER REPAIR AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP) AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE ELECTRICAL, BUT NONE CAN CONFIRM. RESEARCH ON THIS SITE CONFIRMS THAT IT IS NOT JUST MY VEHICLE. I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND YET THIS STILL HAPPENED. CHEVY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Engine, Oct 23, 2013
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, COMPLETELY. NO POWER TO THE CONSOLE OR ANYTHING ELSE. I COULDN'T EVEN TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. I WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEONE GOING TO HIT ME BECAUSE IT WAS DARK. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 15, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ UPDATED 1/14/2014 *JS
Visibility, Oct 9, 2013
2006 EQUINOX: MY HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. UPON RESEARCH, I'VE LEARNED THAT I AM AMONG HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, WHO HAD HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH STEMS FROM A BROKEN BLEND DOOR. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MY FRONT WINDOWS DO NOT DEFROST ON COLD MORNINGS, CREATING A SIGNIFICANT DRIVING HAZARD ON THE ROADS. I AM AWARE THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED IN JUNE OF 2012 TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND OFFER REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE BULLETIN ONLY COVERS VEHICLES 'WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THE DATE YOUR VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE OR 120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST'. THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY CONCERN FOR VEHICLE OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF WHOSE MILEAGE/YEARS HAVE EXCEEDED THOSE SPECIFIED IN THE PARAGRAPH. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY CHEVROLET WOULD BE WILLING TO REPAIR SOME VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT ALL. ESPECIALLY IF THE COMPANY KNOWS THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK OF PUTTING THE LIVES OF ITS DRIVERS IN DANGER. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 24, 2013
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS NOW HAD THREE SEPARATE INCIDENCES OF SPONTANEOUS ENGINE TURN OVER. THE FIRST WAS IN MAY OF 2012, NEXT IN APRIL 2013, FOLLOWED BY AUGUST 2013. ON EACH OCCASION; THE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED AT THE TIME THAT IT SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED. WITH EACH EVENT I HAD TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, MOVE IT A COUPLE FEET, FOLLOWED BY SHIFTING TO DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT I WAS THEN ABLE RETURN THE CAR TO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE STARTER KIT, AND NEVER HAD ONE IN THE PAST. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR STARTED ON IT'S OWN, AND CERTAINLY CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *JS
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 23, 2013
HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER DIAGNOSIS BY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY/DAMAGED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED SAFETY COMPLAINTS FILED IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. A RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE ATTAINED AS THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS ITEM IS AROUND $1000. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BY GM SINCE IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE INABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD IS NOT THERE.
Steering, Aug 23, 2013
AS REPORTED BY OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CUTS OUT RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A MECHANIC WHO CAN WORK OUT WHY IT DOES THIS. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CAN CUT BACK IN AS QUICK AS IT DROPS OUT, THAT MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. THE ONLY ADVICE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN & ELECTRICS AT A GREAT COST WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL RECTIFY THE ISSUE. VERY SHOCKED THAT GM IS NOT RESPONDING TO THESE ISSUES. I GUESS THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A FATALITY BEFORE THEY SIT UP & LISTEN. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2013
THERE IS 241 SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THE HEATER BLEND DOOR! THE BLEND DOOR ON THE 2006 EQUINOX IS DEFECTIVE CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND ANY ONE ELSE ONE THE ROAD. THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ROTATES TO FAR CAUSING THE BLEND DOOR TO BREAK. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN OVER A SHORT PERIOD BUT OVER A LONGER TIME FRAME. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS COLD. THE WINDSHIELD WILL FREEZE UP AND WITH NO HEAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COULD GET FROST BITE. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUES A SAFETY RECALL NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING ABOUT THIS IF ANYTHING? *TR
Visibility, Aug 20, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE HEATER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL OF THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE BECAME ICY, IN WHICH THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE A/C HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS 160,000.
Visibility, Aug 13, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SUN ROOF FAILED TO CLOSE COMPLETELY CAUSING RAIN TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THE SUN ROOF RETRACTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.