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, Mar 30, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ABNORMALLY. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EITHER PARKED OR IDLE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD INCREASE AND SHE WOULD BE FORCED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO PREVENT IT FROM OVERHEATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSTEAD TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Visibility, Mar 30, 2011
HEAT STOPPED WORKING IN 06 EQUINOX. TOLD IT WAS THE AIR BLEND DOOR. $40 DOLLAR PART BUT $1000 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IS A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. THEY WILL NOT BACK IT. THIS LEAVES THE CAR WITH NO WAY TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTY CONCERN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Mar 23, 2011
BROKEN BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Mar 22, 2011
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BLOWING COLD AIR. DEALERSHIP SAID PLASTIC DOOR PART IS BROKEN THAT CONTROLS DIRECTION OF COOL OR HOT AIR. $50.00 PART $1200.00 LABOR TO REMOVE DASH TO FIX, NOT UNDER WARRENTY. SAFETY ISSUE, MOISTURE BUILDS UP ON INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD AND FREEZES. *TR
Visibility, Mar 22, 2011
MY BLEND DOOR ALSO BROKE FROM DEEP INSIDE THE DASH CAUSING THE HEAT SETTING TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND I AM UNABLE TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP ON THE FIRST TRY AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE TO START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS. *TR
Visibility, Mar 18, 2011
JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO AND TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND IT COST ME $1200.00 TO FIX AND NOW AGAIN THE DOOR HAS BROKEN AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT A SECOND TIME. THERE IS NO HEAT AND THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE WINDOWS IMMEDIATELY FOGGED UP AND I COULDN'T SEE. THERE WAS AIR BLOWING BUT IT WAS COLD AIR. THERE IS NO HEAT AT ALL. *TR
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
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 2, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SECOND DEALER WHO ADVISED THE SAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
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
Suspension, Feb 23, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BUILT INTO THE HUB AND WHEN IT WOULD FAIL, IT COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWO YEARS AGO BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE BONE DRY AND HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
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
Service brakes, Electric, Feb 19, 2011
MY ABS BRAKES WERE LOCKING WHILE DRIVING AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR WHICH REQUIRED REPEATED STOMPING ON BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER REPAIRED FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND SENSORS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER OR GM DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE AND ALSO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR WAS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR
Steering, Feb 19, 2011
I TOOK MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX TO DEALERSHIP FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. WE WERE LOSING STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER 2ND VISIT I WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I SEE FROM INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER AND GM DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES AUTO OWNERS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT OUR COST. *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.
Power train, Feb 18, 2011
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING IT. THE CD/RADIO WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY DISPLAYING NUMBERS/LETTERS AND SIGNS. -FAILURE TO START -POOR FUEL ECONOMY -RADIO/CD FAILURE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY PCM, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER A NHTSA RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT IT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEMS LISTED ABOVE AT RANDOM TIMES: I CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO LISTING FOR RECALLS ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *LN
Steering, Feb 17, 2011, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING BEGAN TO SMOKE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,147.
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Feb 16, 2011
LAST SUMMER THE AC IN MY CAR STARTED TO ACT WEIRD, I JUST HAD BOUGHT THE CAR AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT FOR A WHILE. THEN, AFTER HAVING MY DAUGHTER AND HAVING HER GET OVER HEATED BECAUSE THE AC WAS FREEZING UP I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A REPAIR PLACE THAT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PLASTIC VERSUS A METAL ARM THAT OPENS A DOOR THAT ALLOWS THE COLD AND HOT AIR FLOW TO GO THROUGH MY CAR AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH IN FACT A METAL ONE. THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY, ROUGHLY 1000-1500 DOLLARS OF WHICH I DO NOT HAVE, SINCE SUMMER WAS NEARLY OVER I DECIDED IT WAS NOT THAT CRITICAL AND I DROVE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS VEHICLES IF I HAD A LONG WAY TO DRIVE SO MY BABY DIDN'T OVER HEAT IN HER CAR SEAT. NOW AS OF TODAY MY HEAT ISN'T WORKING, IT IS FREEZING OUTSIDE AND ONCE AGAIN THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD IS AT RISK BECAUSE SHE IS COLD. I HAVE READ TONS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND REVIEWS HAT TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE METAL ARM REPLACEMENT PART IS VERY CHEAP BUT THAT THE LABOR IS THROUGH THE ROOD. I CANNOT AFFORD THE LABOR AND I CANNOT AFFORD MY CHILD TO BE OVER HEATED OR FREEZING BECAUSE CHEVY/GM DECIDED TO BE CHEAP AND USE A PLASTIC PIECE INSTEAD OF METAL TO SAVE A BUCK OR TWO. I WANT THIS TO BE RECALLED, THIS IS AFFECTING HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN A 2006 EQUINOX. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUT MY CHILD IN AN UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT. *TR
Wheels, Feb 14, 2011
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS TWICE IN TWO YEARS. BOTH REPAIRS WERE OVER $900. NOW THE CAR IS BLOWING COLD AIR. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SEE THAT THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
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.
Electrical system, Feb 7, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED A WEEK LATER THAT ALL THE ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Feb 4, 2011
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. HAVE TO PUSH GAS PEDAL TO EVEN GET IT TO START AT TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEC OF 2007 WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. SECOND DAY AFTER WE HAD CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO WE BROUGHT IT IN. AFTER THAT IS WHEN THE STARTING ISSUES STARTED HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE ISSUE WILL NOT DUPLICATE ITSELF FOR THEM SO THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE TO THEM. *TR
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