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.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 28, 2011
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility, Nov 28, 2011
NO HEAT COMING IN THE SUV TO DEFROST WINDOWS OR TO WARM UP THE INSIDE. TOTAL REPAIR WILL BE $800.00 FOR A $30.00 PART. PLASTIC PLATE THAT CONTROLS THE AIR AND HEAT IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY THE PART AFTER SOMETIME GET WEAK FROM HOT AND COLD CONDITIONS. ONLY WAY TO FIX IS TO TEAR COMPLETE DASH BOARD OUT TO REACH BLOWER ASSEMBLY, REPLACE VENT DOOR AND REASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Nov 28, 2011
MY HEATER QUIT WORKING IN MY 2006 EQUINOX. APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. SINCE THE POTENTIAL DANGER IS THERE DURING THE WINTER GM SHOULD PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS PART! *KB
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 28, 2011
WHEN I START MY EQUINOX IT SOMETIMES IDLES DOWN AND THEN BACK UP TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. IT ALSO HAS DIED AFTER I HAVE STARTED IT. BUT THE MOST CONCERNING IS HAVING TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM DYING, AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. THEN IT WILL RUN JUST FINE. *KB
Electrical system, Visibility, Nov 24, 2011
HEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING IN TRUCK. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BY OTHER OWNERS , PERTAINING TO THE TEMP BLEND DOOR BEING DEFECTIVE. *TR
Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2011
CPSC# I1130330A. 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. VECICLE HAS NO HEAT, THIS IS DO TO A 35.OO PLASTIC PART THAT SHOULD SWITCH FROM HEAT TO COOL WHICH IS STUCK AND MALFUNCTIONING INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *LN
Electrical system, Visibility, Nov 19, 2011
THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF HEAT AND THE ABILITY TO DEFOG THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. ALSO THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE BY CHEVY WITH THOUSANDS OF FAILURES REPORTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES ACROSS THE INTERNET. *TR
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
Electrical system, Oct 26, 2011
WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COOLER I ATTEMPED TO PUT THE HEAT ON IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND NOTHING BUT COLD AIR CAME OUT! I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS A SAFTEY CONCER BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE NO DEFROST. THE LACK OF HEAT IS CAUSED BY THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILING TO OPERATE. THE BLEND DOOR ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW PAST THE HEATER CORE. THE AIR TEMPERATURE DOOR HAS A PLASTIC ARM WHICH IS CONNECTED TO AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS PLASTIC ARM BREAKING AND MOTOR MALFUNCTION. GM DEALERS REPLACE THE PLASTIC ARM WITH A METAL ARM AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER OF BETWEEN $1100 AND $1400 DOLLARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURES PART PROBLEM. GM SHOULD STEP UP AND MAKE THIS PROBLEM A RECALL ISSUE. SAFTEY IS INVOLVED. THE NEWER MODELS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. *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
Suspension, Structure, Oct 5, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS SHE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTAC STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS BETWEEN THE CUP HOLDERS AND IF A CUP WAS PLACED INSIDE, IT WOULD BLOCK THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FROM BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.