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.
Electrical system, Traction control system, Nov 1, 2010
OVER THE PAST YEAR MY CHEVY EQUINOX HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH CHANGE OUT TWICE BECAUSE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE IGNITION CYLINDER SWELLS AND THE KEY CAN NOT BE TURNED. THE PAST THREE MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHERE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND WILL NOT START AGAIN. *TR
Visibility, Oct 31, 2010
HEATER QUIT WORKING, NOW NO DEFROST. *TR
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2010
IT IS NOW THE END OF OCTOBER IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT IS VERY COLD AT 32 DEGREES. I TURNED MY HEAT ON IN MY EQUINOX AND IT IS BLOWING COLD AIR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND FOUND OUT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2006 EQUINOX ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DUE TO THE PLASTIC PIECE BRAKING ON THE HEATER BLEND DOOR. IT WILL COST $1,200 TO FIX. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THEIS PART. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE IT "IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS SO I MAY SEE THE ROAD, PUTTING MY LIFE, MY CHILDREN'S LIVES AND THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON THE ROAD IN DANGER. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM!
Visibility, Oct 29, 2010
IN MAY WE PURCHASED A CERTIFIED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. WE ARE RETIRED AND DO NOT PUT MILES ON THE CAR. WE ALSO LIVE IN NORTHEAST OHIO. THE FIRST COLD DAY WE PUT THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER ON. NEITHER WORKED. WE FOUND THAT THE HEATER DOOR WAS BROKEN. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR GM WOULD HELP. WE HAVE HAD IT FIXED. HOWEVER, THE HEATER DOOR NOR ACTUATOR HAVE NOT BEEN REDESIGNED TO ELEVATED THIS PROBLEM. WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM- NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. THIS IS A MAJOR JOB SINCE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD MUST BE REMOVED. HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DEFROSTERS ARE NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY IN COLD CLIMATES. IT APPEARS THAT GM AND DEALERS ARE DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 25, 2010
MY HEATER ONLY BLOWS OUT COLD AIR! I'VE READ OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SIRES HOW GM DECIDED TO REPLACE A METAL DOOR ARM TO THE HEATER COMPONENT WITH A PLASTIC ONE WHICH ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BREAK AT ONE POINT. USUALLY 3-4 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE! APPARENTLY THEIR IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF LABOR INVOLVED TO REPLACE A $60-200 PART WHICH IS ONLY AVAILABLE THRU THE DEALER AND A MIN. OF $1000 LABOR TO FIX BECAUSE IT REQUIRES REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH AND OTHER VITAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE! IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND CHEVY IS NOW GOING TO START USING METAL ARMS?! GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS ITEM EVEN THOUGH DEALERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AGREE THIS IS A SET UP. *TR
Equipment, Oct 24, 2010
JUST PURCHASED A USED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. SECOND DAY OF DRIVING, TURNED ON HEAT TO GET THE CHILL OUT OF THE AIR. HEAT DID NOT WORK. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE OVER A WEEK NOW. *TR
Visibility, Oct 20, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEAT ON, IT ONLY BLEW WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR BLEND DOOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,352 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,600.
Visibility, Equipment, Oct 20, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT 3.4L AWD AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE, I DID NOT USE MY HEATER ALLSUMMER LONG. I TURNED IT ON AS OF 10/10/2010 AND THERE WAS NO HEAT AT ALL. IT WAS ONLY COLD AIR. I HEARD THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND IN SOME AREAS CAN BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RISK. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST WHERE DURING WINTER, THERE IS ALWAYS FROST ON WINDOWS. IF I DO NOT HAVE HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS OR GET ICE AND SNOW OFF, THIS CAUSES A RISK. AND PUTTING HOT OR WARM WATER ON THE WINDOW RISKS CRACKING THE WINDOW. THANKS FOR HEARING ME AND THIS SAFETY RISK, IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE THIS RECALLED AS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IS OVER $1000 TO FIX. *TR
Visibility, Oct 18, 2010
I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. LAST WEEK THE HEATER STOPPED BLOWING ANY WARM OR HOT AIR. I PUT IT IN FOR REPAIR AND ALMOST $1000 LATER I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC TABS OF THE HEATER BLEND DOOR HAD BEEN CRACKED OFF BY THE OVER TORQUING OF THE HEATER ACTUATOR MOTOR. I LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE AND MUST HAVE WARM/HOT AIR TO KEEP MY WINDOWS CLEAR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Oct 18, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. HEATER ACTUATOR DOOR BROKE. THIS LEADS TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WINDSHIELD CAN'T BE DEFROSTED DUE TO LACK OF HEAT CONTROL. 3 COLD SEASONS USE SHOULD PRESENT A RECALL. COMPLETELY FAILED CONSTRUCTION OF MAKEUP PARTS. THIS PRESENTS UNSAFE LACK OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Oct 15, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT WILL COST ATLEAST $1000 TO REPAIR A BLEND DOOR THAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE IN ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES. SEEMS TO ME THAT GMC SHOULD PAY THE PRICE SINCE SO MANY ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 14, 2010
HEAT DOES NOT WORK, HEATER TEMPERATURE VALVE HAS BROKEN. CAN NOT TURN HEAT TO HOT OR COLD. THE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND FREEZES WHEN BELOW 32, IT WAS A 15 HOUR PROJECT THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN 40,000 MILES IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED BY GM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 14, 2010
I CANNOT UNFOG MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE A HEATER FLAP HAS BROKEN. MY CAR BLOWS OUT ONLY COLD AIR BECAUSE OF THIS BROKEN PIECE (AS DIAGNOSED BY A GM REPAIR STATION). BRIGHT SUNLIGHT SHINING ON THE FOGGED (AND FROSTED BECAUSE OF THE COLD AIR BLOWING ON A WET, COLD WINDSHIELD) WINDSHIELD RESULTS IN ZERO VISIBILITY. *TR
Seat belts, Oct 13, 2010
DEFECTIVE MIDDLE SEAT BELT ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. I FOLDED DOWN THE SEAT TO PUT SOMETHING LARGE IN THE BACK. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE SEAT BACK UP, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD TO LOOSEN THE SEAT BELT BUT TO NO AVAIL IT WON'T BUDGE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HE SAID ALL HE COULD DO IS CUT THE SEAT BELT AND ORDER ME A NEW SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. HE SAID HE WOULD CALL ME WITH AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE. 3 DAYS PASS AND NO CALLS FROM DEALER SO I CALLED HIM AND HE FINALLY LOOKED IT UP. HE SAID IT WOULD COST ME 375.00 TO REPAIR THIS SEAT BELT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I SEE NO REASON FOR THIS SEAT BELT TO MALFUNCTION. THE COST TO REPLACE SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY ANSWERS FROM THE DEALER OTHER THAN "IT HAPPENS". OH, AND OF COURSE MY CAR IS ABOUT 1000 MILES OUT OF THE 60 THOUSAND/ 5 YEAR WARRANTY. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE BLEND DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,500.
Visibility, Oct 11, 2010
THE HEATER/DEFROSTER ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX FAILED TO PRODUCE HEAT. AS A RESULT, I COULD NOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR (PART# CH19130554) THAT IS CONTROLLED BY AN ELECTRIC ACTUATOR (PART# CH15781467). THE ACTUATOR IS NOT CALIBRATED APPROPRIATELY AND PLACES EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR CONNECTION. OVER TIME, THE PLASTIC BREAKS, DISABLING THE DOOR AND NOT ALLOWING HEAT TO BE DIRECTED INTO THE CABIN. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE DASHBOARD, DRIVING CONTROL CONSOLES AND STEERING COLUMN TO ACCESS THE BLEND DOOR. IT COST ME $1,145.08 TO REPLACE AND REQUIRED MY CAR TO BE IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 2 DAYS. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEEDED THE REPAIR COMPLETED SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM IN THE EARLY FALL MONTHS. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT BROKE IN THE WINTER. SINCE GM HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN ISSUES, I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. FROM MY INTERNET RESEARCH, I HAVE IDENTIFIED MANY OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE THE SAME CONCERN. SOME CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HEAT/DEFROST. I AM WRITING IN THE HOPES THAT THE NHTSA CAN INFLUENCE GM TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN, TO EXTEND VEHICLE WARRANTIES TO COVER THE REPAIR AND TO ASSIST THOSE WHOM ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 9, 2010
ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL (TC) WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE ON, AND THE BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY AND FREQUENTLY WILL NOT WORK, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. THEY PULSE AND THE CAR DOES NOT SLOW, UNTIL THE BRAKES PEDAL IS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THE GARAGE HAS REPLACED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS TWICE, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, THE STRUTS, AND ALSO ROTATED THE TIRES, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTER INDICATES FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS S A WIDESPREAD AND PERSISTENT PROBLEM ON THE CHEVY EQUINOX. WE STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW TO FIX IT PERMANENTLY. *TR
Visibility, Oct 8, 2010
THE HEAT SETTING BLOWS OUT ONLY COLD AIR. GM REPAIR SERVICE SAID THAT THE PLASTIC AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. GM REP SAID THAT GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS SITUATED WITHIN THE DASHBOARD REQUIRING THE DASH TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED. GM REPAIR WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO REPAIR IT YET GM REP FROM CORPORATE SAYS GM IS UNAWARE OF SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 5, 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
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Oct 4, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT IS BLOWING ICE COLD AIR THROUGH THE HEATER AS WELL AS THE DEFROSTERS I THINK ALONG WITH THE OTHER 329 PEOPLE WHO I READ ABOUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.AND THEY ALL ESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIRS IS 1,000 DOLLARS WE NEED HELP I TRIED REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT BUT NO HELP STILL COLD AIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 4, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HEATER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR WOULD CLOSE AND THE HEAT WILL NOT COME THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Visibility, Oct 1, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 1, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BROKEN BLEND DOOR. NOTHING LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE IT JUST QUIT WORKING. I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET, CAN'T JUSTIFY $1500 TO REPLACE. *TR
Visibility, Sep 30, 2010
MY 2006 EQUINOX WAS DIAGNOSED ON MONDAY WITH A BROKEN BLEND DOOR, DAMAGED ACTUATOR (DUE TO BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN AND LEAKING), AND DAMAGED HEATING CORE (DUE TO BLEND DOOR BEING BROKEN AND LEAKING). THE REASON I NEEDED TO GET A DIAGNOSIS IS BECAUSE IN MID APRIL THE FAN WAS BLOWING BUT NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT. AT THIS STAGE THERE WAS ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE JUST DRIVING NORMAL CITY DRIVING LIMITS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND THE TOTAL REPAIR COST ME $1500. THE SERVICE GUY I SPOKE TO TOLD ME HE SEES ABOUT 1 IN 25 EQUINOXS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. LIVING IN NEW ENGLAND IS IT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IF WE DO NOT HAVE HEAT? IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER WE CANNOT DEFROST OUR WINDOWS!! THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE OUT ON THE ROAD DRIVING WITH IMPAIRED VISION DUE TO FOGGY, SNOW COVERED, OR ICE COVERED WINDOWS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. GM SHOULD DEFINITELY RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON ALONE WHICH IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE!! WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIDS? YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT NOT LEAVING YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR IN EXTREME HEAT...I THINK THAT THE SAME APPLIES TO EXTREME COLD. WITHOUT HEAT THE SAME PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR AS WITH HEAT. HEAT IS A NECESSITY IN THE WINTER! *TR
Visibility, Equipment, Sep 30, 2010
THE PROBLEM WITH THE TEMP. DOOR NOT WORKING IS IF YOU NEED TO DEFOG OR DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS AND THE HEAT WON'T WORK YOU CANT SEE. AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THANK GOD I WAS JUST TRYING TO TAKE THE CHILL OUT OF MY VEHICLE ON A COOL FALL EVENING, NO MATTER WHAT I DID NO HEAT. STOP TO GET GAS, STARTED THE TRUCK....... HEAT CAME ON, NOW IT WON'T GO OFF. *TR