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, Sep 21, 2010
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED BLOWING OUT COLD AIR WHEN I TURNED THE HEAT ON BACK IN MAY OF 2010. WE DECIDED TO LET IT GO SINCE IT WAS GETTING WARMER OUT AND NOW THAT IT'S GETTING COLDER HERE IN MI, WE DECIDED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER WON'T WORK. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND WE STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND CAME ACROSS THOUSANDS OF POSTS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE BLEND DOOR IS MORE THAN LIKELY BROKEN, THE DASH HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX IT AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY SOMEONE OVER $1000 TO FIX IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48000 MILES ON IT AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH GM CARS IN THE PAST SO WE DECIDED NOT TO GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WILL RETHINK THIS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE CHEAP WAY VEHICLES ARE BEING MADE NOW. MAKES ME SICK WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS WORK FOR A CHEAP PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2010
8/17/10 WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF - NO WARNING & ALL THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CAR AT THE CHEVY DEALER SINCE I PURCHASED BRAND NEW. TOOK CAR TO CHEVY DEALER & THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT THOUGHT IT MAY BE DUE TO A DIRTY THROTTLE BODY, SO THEY CLEANED IT. 9/1/10 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN AND AGAIN ON 9/3/10 SO MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH CHEVY DEALER & THEY SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE & THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE SWITCH. 9/10/10 PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN & CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. CHEVY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM YET. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN TO HAVE YOUR CAR SHUT OFF WHILE SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOES RESTART BUT I HAVE TO SIT AND TRY SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Visibility, Sep 11, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX "NO HEAT" - THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING. MY OPINION, IT IS A BAD DESIGN. MANY EQUINOX OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE DEFROST WILL NOT WORK. MY FAILURE HAPPENED AT 72,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX AS WELL AS THE PONTIAC TORRENT. I THINK GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS AT ONCE. IT SEEMS THE PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER AT A COST OF $65 - $200, HOWEVER THE LABOR IS $600 - $1200, NO CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO SPEND THAT ON AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Visibility, Sep 10, 2010
HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR FOR 1 WEEK. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND ADVISED BLEND DOOR STUCK, IT AND ACTIVATOR NEED REPLACED. ESTIMATED APPROX. $1000.00. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SWITCH FROM AIR CONDITIONING TO HEAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN THE BEGINNING BUT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRIP FLAPPER DOOR ON THE HEATING COIL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
Electrical system, Sep 1, 2010
CHEVROLET PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO KEEP ONE'S CAR FROM BEING STOLEN BUT THE WIDESPREAD ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE A DANGER TO ITS DRIVERS. THIS SYSTEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT HINDERS THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Aug 27, 2010
THE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM VALVE DOOR BREAKING. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY MY DEALER THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR YET IT IS COSTING CONSUMERS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. TO FIX. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRAP DOOR THAT RELEASES THE HEAT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2010
MY SEATBELT IN THE BACK WHERE MY 4 YR OLD SIR BROKE, MY CD PLAYER MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WILL NOT TAKE CD'S. I DO NOT HAVE HEAT BUT MY A/C WORKS JUST FINE. *TR... UPDATED 10/26/11 *BF
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 23, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ABS AND HUB SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY AFTER SHE PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Equipment, Jul 18, 2010
TRUCK LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. TRUCK CAN BE WORKING ONE MINUTE AND YOU PARK AND COME BACK AND NOTHING IT WOULD START AND HAVE TO BE TOW AND THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS. THE ELEC SYSTEM ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. RUNNING AT 55 MPH AND A SEMI-TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND YOU WITH YOUR THREE SMALL GRAND CHILDREN IN THE BACK AND THE TRUCK JUST LOST IT SPEED WITH NO WARNING IS A FRIGHTENING THING TO HAPPENING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE STARTED, AND NOW THE LOWER COOLER FAN IS OUT THE ELEC. SYSTEM JUST KEEP BREAKING DOWN BACK TO BACK AND I HARDLY EVEN DRIVE IT ONLY TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND TO DO MY SHOPPING. *TR
Visibility, Jul 17, 2010
NOTHING SPECIAL DONE, BLEND DOOR JUST BROKE, THEREFORE WE HAVE NO HEATER OR DEFROSTER. CANNOT DRIVE CAR WHEN IT IS COLD AND DEFROSTER IS NEEDED OUTSIDE. WAS TOLD BY A GM DEALERSHIP $1200 JUST FOR LABOR. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE I HAVE READ. *TR
Power train, Jul 13, 2010
HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEARS (NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING) WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WEEK. JUST YESTERDAY, WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE DECIDED TO GO BACK DOWN IN GEAR, AND IT MADE THE VEHICLE JUMP. THEN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, IT WOULD NOT GET OUT OF GEAR AND STAYED AT 15 MPH. I HAD TO LET OFF THE GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN RESUMED ACCELERATING. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BUT YESTERDAY WAS THE SCARIEST, WHEN I COULDN'T MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC AT THE SPEED THAT I NEEDED TO. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED THE LOT WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT IN FOR THIS THURSDAY. I BEGAN REVIEWING POSTS ON OTHER WEBSITES AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE WERE ON THIS VERY ISSUE. THIS IS VERY SCARY, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR
Air bags, Jul 10, 2010, crash
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY DAUGHTER'S FRONT CRASH ACCIDENT. HER CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE HIT A MAILBOX AND IN A SPIN ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT HER BACK. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO SHATTERED AND ALSO HAD A BACK FLAT TIRE. I CALLED OUR LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL GM. SHE CALLED GM BUT THEY GOT HER UPSET AND SHE IN OTHER WORDS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A DEFECT OF THIS MODEL AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Visibility, Jun 27, 2010
I WAS LUCKY AND FOUND OUT WHEN IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND NOT COLD OUT... MY MECHANICS HAVE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS THE TEMP SWITCH AND VALVE THAT THEY WERE TOLD COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO HEAT .. AND I HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE HEAT DOOR ARM IS BROKE AND TAKE 7-8 HOURS TO REMOVE THE DASH. MANY EQUINOX HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUT HEAT AND DEFROST YOU CANT SEE TO USE THE CAR DURING COLD WEATHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING THE WINTER. *TR
Visibility, Jun 23, 2010
HEATER DOES NOT WORK ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DUE TO AN AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BEHIND THE DASH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LARGE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHEVY EQUINOX. ANY GOOGLE SEARCH WITH THE KEYWORDS "CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER PROBLEM" WILL PROVE THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE WINDOW WILL NOT DEFROST MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHEVY WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD GUESS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 15, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FELT AN EXTREME PULSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER 20,000 MILES AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE ONCE AGAIN RESURFACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A THIRD TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP; THE DEALER WANTED TO RESURFACE THE FRONT ROTORS AGAIN. THE CONTACT REFUSED AS THE RESURFACED ROTORS ONLY FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT 20,000 MILES BEFORE THEY FAILED AGAIN. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 7/26/10 *CN UPDATED 07/29/10*JB
Electrical system, Jun 5, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WOULD NOT START YESTERDAY MORNING. PUT A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT, IT STARTED THEN WHEN I GOT TO THE STORE AND CAME OUT TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START! FINALLY GOT IT TO START AFTER I LIFTED THE HOOD AND BANGED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP AND PARKED IT, WAS TOLD TO DRIVE TRUCK AROUND TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND GUESS WHAT? IT WOULD NOT START. THEY CHARGED $230 TO "FIX" IT. WAS SUPPOSEDLY POOR TERMINAL FIT AT STARTER SOLENOID CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT AT STARTER RELAY. GOT MY TRUCK HOME, DECIDED TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN! :( *TR
Visibility, May 22, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX - THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HEATER ACTUATOR OCCURRING ON MANY VEHICLES. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE PROBLEM UNTIL SEARCHING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER ACTUATOR CAUSED ONLY COLD AIR TO BLOW. THIS PREVENTS WARM AIR FROM BEING DIRECTED TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO PREVENT BUILDUP OF FROST. DEPENDING ON WEATHER FRONTS PASSING THROUGH AND TIME OF DAY, THIS IS BECOMING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. ONE WOULD ASK: WHY NOT GET IT FIXED? I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AND THE RELATIVELY CHEAP REPLACEMENT PART REQUIRES $1200.00+ TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD REMOVED. IT IS NOT PRACTICAL IN MOST CASES TO PAY THIS AMOUNT FOR A SIMPLE PART REPAIR, AND IN MOST CASED TO COMPLEX FOR A DO-IT-YOURSELF MECHANIC. HUNDREDS OF CAR PART FAILURES ARE OCCURRING, AS APPARENT FROM COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. A FATAL ACCIDENT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. THERE ARE SOME REPORTS THAT GM AS RECOGNIZED THE POORLY DESIGNED PART AND THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS SO THEY ARE QUIETLY TRYING TO DESIGN A NEW PART. THIS HAS GOT REQUIRE A RECALL. *TR
Visibility, May 20, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERNAL HEAT WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,200.
Power train, May 20, 2010
WHILE DRIVING MY DAD'S 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, IT SUDDENLY STARTED VIBRATING RATHER BADLY AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH. I CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT, AND FOUND THAT THE CARRIER BEARING HAD RUSTED APART, AND BASICALLY WAS DOING NOTHING. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 23,750 MILES ON IT, BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO AGE. TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST $500. I HAVE READ DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM CONSUMERS THAT FEEL THE SAME AS I DO. GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM CONCERNING THIS AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT A DEFECTIVE POORLY MADE PART ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT NEEDS TO BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. A FAILURE OF THIS BEARING AT 70 MPH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED A DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE {SEPARATION}, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT GM CAN BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE IN THIS INSTANCE, BECAUSE THEY ARE RIPPING THE PUBLIC OFF WITH THEIR INFERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 18, 2010
2006 EQUINOX WITH LESS THAN 55000 MILES NEEDS A NEW HEAD GASKET. YESTERDAY WAS THE 4TH TRIP TO THE DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OVERHEATING. THIS MORNING I WAS TOLD IT'S A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I DID A SMALL AMOUNT OF INTERNET RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I LOVE MY CAR BUT AM SO PISSED OVER THE RUN-AROUND I'VE BEEN GETTING FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED ON ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. IF I DIDN'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING BOSS, AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS COULD HAVE COST ME MY JOB AS I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN WORK AND THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I'M WITHOUT MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED. THANK GOD I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS OFFERED. *TR
Power train, May 5, 2010
I TOOK MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX IN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO LOOK MY VEHICLE OVER UP AN DOWN TO FIX ANYTHING THAT WAS POTENTIALLY WRONG WITH IT BEFORE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 80,000 MILES TO WHICH THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG! 3,000 MILES LATER MY OIL CHANGING GUYS WHOM I TRUST AND ALWAYS USE POINTED OUT THAT MY CARRIER BEARING IS COMPLETELY OBLITERATED AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE IS 100% UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS POTENTIALLY A FATAL PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVE TRAIN FALLS OUT MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WOULDN'T LET HIS DOG RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND FRUSTRATED THAT GM WOULD ALLOW THESE UNSAFE PROBLEMS TO OCCUR ON THEIR VEHICLES(SHAME ON YOU GM). *TR
Visibility, Apr 29, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. NO HEAT AS THE HVAC TEMPERATURE DOOR IS BROKEN. PART IS 79.00 CAD BUT DEALER NEEDS 8 - 10 HOURS TO REPLACE PART. MUST REMOVE DASH BOARD. CAR HAS 102,000 KMS. PART LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BREAK AND IF IT DOES, SHOULD BE EASIER TO REPLACE. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Apr 29, 2010
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX MANY OF THEM INCLUDING MINE HAVE NO HEAT THE DOOR BREAKS AND THE WHOLE DASH MUST COME OFF TO FIX. I CHECKED ONLINE AND MANY MANY OF THIS YEAR HAS OR HAD THIS PROBLEM. VERY COSTLY TO FIX. SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO THIS NEW OF A CAR. WHY NO RECALL OF THIS WITH SO MANY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM? WHERE TO GO? NO HEAT NO DEFROST. *TR
Visibility, Apr 29, 2010
I HAVE A CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 IN WHICH THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR HAS BROKEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2006 MODELS. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. A CAR IN MAINE IN WINTER WITHOUT HEAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR