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 22, 2011
THE "BLEND" DOOR BROKE ON MY HEATER, CAUSING NO HEAT AT ALL. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS CAUSES ICE AND FROST TO BUILD ON MY WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION, THIS REPAIR IS RANGING FROM $900 TO $1200. WITH THIS COST I ONLY WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES FRANTICLY TRYING TO WIPE THEIR WINDOW TO PREVENT ICE / FROST WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Visibility, Jan 19, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE CIRCULATION VENTS WHEN THE HEATER WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HEATED AIR TO BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE WINTER, THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER STOPPED WORKING. THE NEXT DAY, THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND ONLY COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. UPDATED 04/27/11
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jan 19, 2011
WE HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS CONTINUOUSLY HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT DEACTIVATES THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATOR. WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU CAN ONLY MOVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE PEDAL FLOORED AT 1 MILE PER HOUR WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE ON A HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND AS YOU CAN NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF HIGH SPEED VEHICLES THAT MAY BE APPROACHING. WE HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY AS TO THE POINT WE FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVY AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON VACATION AS WE COULD BE STRANDED. *TR
Visibility, Jan 19, 2011
AS WITH WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED TO BE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS...WITH OUT WARNING OR PRIOR ISSUES, MY HEATER IS NO LONGER "HEATING" THE AIR. IT JUST BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE ACTUATOR/BLEND DOOR (WHICH IS A PLASTIC PART) AND THAT TO CORRECT IT, REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASH TO BE REMOVED, 8+ HOURS OF LABOR AND UPWARDS OF $1000 IN REPAIR COSTS. I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE SO EARLY INTO THE LIFE/OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO GET IT CORRECTED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT ALSO PREVENTS THE DEFROSTER FROM WORKING AS WELL. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN IN THE TEENS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE COLD AND SNOWY CONDITIONS. I HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OWNER FORUMS ACROSS THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE ALSO SINCE LEARNED THAT GM RECALLED THE 2010 MODEL FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON BUT IS IGNORING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE EARLIER MODELS. GM NEEDS TO BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY COST CUTTING WAYS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM VIA A RECALL. *TR
Other or unspecified, Jan 18, 2011
MY TEMPERATURE DOOR ON THE HEATER HAS BROKEN OFF AT THE ACUATOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND MY HEATER DOESN'T WORK CAUSING DANGER WHEN COLD WITH NO DEFROST OR HEAT THE PART IS PLASTIC BUT REQUIRES 9 HOURS LABOR TO REPLACE AND 3 DAYS IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT IS IN SUCH A DIFFICULT LOCATION TO GET TO REQUIRING REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE DASH AND HVAC UNIT
Visibility, Jan 18, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEATER ACTUATOR CRACKED AND CAUSED THE HEAT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500.
Visibility, Jan 14, 2011
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. MY PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THIS PAST OCTOBER (2010), I NOTICED MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. NO WARM OR HOT AIR COMES OUT OF ANY VENT OR DEFROSTER AT ANY FAN SPEED. MY CAR HAS NO HEAT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS TO DE-ICE OR REMOVE/PREVENT FOGGED WINDOWS WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN (AGES 2 AND 4 MONTHS) AND I MUST HAVE HEAT IN THE CARE FOR THEIR CARE AND SAFETY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND READING 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WERE DEFECTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS APPROXIMATELY $1500. THE INABILITY TO DEFROST AND DEFOG THE WINDOWS OF THIS 2006 EQUINOX IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS, CAUSING LACK OF VISIBILITY BEFORE AND DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. I RECOMMEND YOU LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/WINDOW+DEFROSTER PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE GM TO RECALL THIS FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Visibility, Jan 12, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THERE WAS NO AIR BEING BLOWN OUT AT ALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Visibility, Jan 11, 2011
TEMPERATURE HEATER DOOR BROKEN. DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK IN WINTER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2011
2006 EQUINOX STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATED AT STOP LIGHT. REPLACED THERMOSTAT, BUT DIDN'T RESOLVE. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKET . COST WITH INITIAL THERMOSTAT AND CURRENT WORK APPROXIMATELY $3K. MECHANIC SHOPS CONTACTED GM AND WERE NOT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SUCH AS MINE, THOUGH A MYRAID OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON LINE THAT STATES THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Jan 7, 2011
I BROUGHT MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX IN FOR A OIL CHANGE ON 1/4/11 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CARRIER BEARING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMPLETELY SHOT. I WAS INFORMED TO BRING IT TO A MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY OTHERWISE I WILL LOSE MY DRIVE SHAFT. I BROUGHT MY CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GM AND THE PART WAS AROUND $500-$600. I CONTACTED GM BECAUSE IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WENT MY CAR COULD HAVE FLIPPED AND PUT ME AND OTHERS IN DANGER. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE COSTS OF THE BEARING. WHEN THE BEARING GOES, WHICH I'M TOLD SHOULD HAVE NEVER GONE, THE CAR SHOULD VIBRATE BADLY OR MAKE NOISES WHICH EVEN THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT NO SIGNS WERE GIVEN. IF I HAD NOT BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A OIL CHANGE I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DRIVE MYSELF ALONG WITH A DISABLED DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THIS CAR AND I HAVE PUT ALL OF US AT RISK EVEN OTHER DRIVERS. THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECTIVE BEARING THAT GM REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF. I FEEL THAT THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS EXPENSIVE PART AND THEN HAVE IT REPAIRED. THANK GOD FOR THE OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I FEEL SAVED MY LIFE AND OTHERS. *TR
Visibility, Jan 5, 2011
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK IN IT. I'VE HAD IT ABOUT 4.5 MONTH AND IT' GOING TO COST ME $1350.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS HEATER VALVE DOOR ACTUATOR MOTOR. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO FIX IT. IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD TO THEM. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH HEAT YOU CAN'T DEFROST YOUR WINDOW SO YOU CAN SEE WERE YOUR GOING AND THINK ALOT PEOPLE THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WILL AGREE WITH ME.I FEEL IF STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND VEHICLE YOU SHOULD STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND FIX 2006 EQUINOX! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 3, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL POWER. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.
Visibility, Dec 31, 2010
HEAT BEGAN BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR, COULD NOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD. WAS ON A TRIP WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. IT BECAME VERY COLD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE; DANGEROUS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IS A BROKEN TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR ACTUATOR. GM IS SO FAR UNWILLING TO AID IN REPAIR COST. *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Dec 30, 2010
OUR CAR 2006 EQUINOX VIN [XXX] HEATER FAILED AND DEFROSTER THEN DID NOT WORK. DECEMBER 5 MY HEATER ON THIS CAR FAILED TO WORK CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN MY CAR AS IT WAS COLD AND DEFROST WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WINDOW KEPT FOGGING OVER. NOTED THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS. REPORTED THIS TO CHEVY. PART THAT DETERMINES HEAT VS COOL FAILS, PART COSTS ABOUT $38.22, CHEVY CHARGED OVER $1317 TO REPAIR AS THIS PART IS IN THE DASHBOARD AND SUPPOSEDLY DIFFICULT TO REACH!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Visibility, Dec 29, 2010
AT 46,000 MILES HEATER BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. CAN'T DEFROST WINDOWS. PROBLEM STARTED DECEMBER 23, 2010. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURE. DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING BETWEEN $800-$1200. ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO SWITCH OUT A PLASTIC PART THAT WAS PLACED INSTEAD OF A METAL ONE. *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Dec 24, 2010
IN OCT 2010 THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AIR GETTING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM LINES, BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR HAD GOTTEN A BIT LOW. BUT ADDING COOLANT AND TRYING TO "BURP" THE SYSTEM DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, I DISCOVERED THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD THE SAME NO-HEAT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT (WHICH IS THE SAME VEHICLE PLATFORM). IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A SMALL "DOOR" THAT ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW PAST THE HEATER CORE. APPARENTLY THIS "AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR" HAS A PLASTIC CONNECTING SHAFT TO AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND THE SHAFT IS PRONE TO BREAKING AFTER A FEW YEARS. THE TROUBLE IS... REPLACING THIS LITTLE PART IS NOT EASY. IT INVOLVES REMOVING MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD, WHICH TAKES A LONG TIME. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT A GM DEALER IS AROUND $1,000, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS. *TR
Visibility, Dec 22, 2010
2006 EQUINOX...HEAT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR..CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE..HVAC FAILS TO BLOW WARM AIR..HVAC TEMPERATURE DOOR FAILED..THIS IS ONLY HAPPENING IN 2006 EQUINOX..MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE 2006 EQUINOX. *TR
Visibility, Dec 21, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FROST UP. TOOK TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS A BROKEN HEATER BLEND DOOR AND IT COST ME $1598.00 TO FIX. CHEVROLET DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THEREFORE WILL NO ISSUE A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ON OTHER SITES AND THERE ARE SOME CASES OF PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THE PART 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 17, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SLOW DOWN. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO DISCONNECT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Dec 15, 2010
THE HEAT STARTED TO TAKE LONGER TO WARM UP THEN AFTER A MONTH OF THIS THE HEAT TOTALLY STOP WORKING. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE THEY CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $900-1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE AIR BLEND DOOR ON THE ACTUATOR THAT CONTROLS THE TEMP OF THE AIRFLOW. I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM GOING ON SINCE 2008 ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT. *TR
Equipment, Dec 15, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON SHE COULD FEEL HOT AIR BLOWING FROM THE VENTS. DUE TO THE LOSS OF HOT AIR THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG AND DISRUPT HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Equipment, Dec 15, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE CONTACT WAS OPERATING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT; HOWEVER, HEAT WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY COLD AIR WOULD FLOW FROM THE VENTS INSTEAD OF HEAT; THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER FLAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A SCREW WAS INSTALLED TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000.
Visibility, Dec 11, 2010
DEFROSTER/ HEATER INOPERABLE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN IN WINTER. UPDATED IVOQ 03/14/11 *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Dec 9, 2010
IN OCTOBER OF 2010 MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT AND RECEIVED A DIAGNOSTICS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND THE REPAIR COST IS $1300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IF THERE IS A SNOW STORM OR JUST BEING TOO COLD. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER I TURN ON THE HEAT AND MY CONCERN IS BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD IF IT FOGS UP OR FREEZES. GMC HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A WEBSITE WITH OVER 400 COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR VEHICLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *TR