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, Seat belts, Interior lighting, Jan 28, 2010
I HAD TO PAY $700 TO HAVE A DOOR IN MY HEATER REPLACED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING A LOT AND NOW THEY ARE PLACING METAL DOORS IN THE HEATER INSTEAD OF PLASTIC SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? I THINK I SHOULD BE REFUNDED MY MONEY SINCE THEY FIGURED OUT IT IS A MALFUNCTION OF THEIRS. MY SEAT BELT ALSO GOT STUCK WHERE MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT SITS SO I HAD TO GET A NEW ONE PUT IN. MY INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO HAVE A SHORT IN THEM. *TW
Visibility, Jan 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. HE STATED THAT THE DEFOG AND DEFROST SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHICH HAS CAUSED COLD AIR TO COME OUT OF THE VENTS. THE MALFUNCTION CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THAT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD APART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91000.
Visibility, Jan 26, 2010
NO HEAT AS OF JANUARY 2010. CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD, VERY LOW VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED BROKEN MODE DOOR. $1211 TO REPAIR, PLUS PARTS AND TAXES. *TR
Visibility, Jan 24, 2010
OWNED A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 34636 MILES, HEATER GAVE UP ON US, AND WENT TO FIND OUT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THAT THE HEATER CASE DOOR NEEDS REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATE OF $1500, WITH 9HRS OF LABOR. NO ACCIDENTS LEADING TO, OR INJURIES, AS OF YET, HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR WINDOWS DO FOG UP CAUSING, MY WIFE AND I, TO CLEAR THE INTERIOR FOG, AND THEN MOVE ON. *TR
Visibility, Jan 23, 2010
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HEATER DOOR ASSEMBLY HAS GONE OUT, HAZARDS UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS ADEQUATELY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY FAMILY. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. *TR
Visibility, Jan 23, 2010
NO HEAT, CAN'T DEFROST WINDSHIELD TO DRIVE AND SEE SAFELY.
Visibility, Jan 22, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE HEATER FAILED AND BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE HEATHER VALVE DOOR AND THE HEATER VALVE DOOR. THE DASHBOARD WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $1,500. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
Visibility, Equipment, Jan 20, 2010
2006 EQUINOX BLEND DOOR PREMATURELY MALFUNCTIONS AND RENDERS DEFOGGER AND HEATERS USELESS IMPAIRING THE VISION AND SAFETY OF THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. PLEASE REVIEW THE 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE LINKS I LISTED BELOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4 HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/WINDOW+DEFROSTER HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/2006/AC_HEATER/HEAT_BLOWS_OUT_COLD_AIR.SHTML HTTP://WWW.WEB2CARZ.COM/797/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/REVIEWS/OVERVIEW#ADDREVIEW. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Jan 19, 2010
HVAC SYSTEM WENT OUT ON 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS 38,000 MILES AND WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY WHICH WAS 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. WE LIVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS,COLORADO AND HAD MAJOR SNOWSTORM WHEN HEATER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 25. SAFETY OF DRIVER AND OTHERS WERE PUT AT JEOPARDY DUE TO VEHICLE HEATER FAILURE. FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT DEFROST PUTTING DRIVER AT RISK. AFTER GETTING HOME SAFELY LOOKED AT INTERNET SITE (TOPIX.COM) AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 230 OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WITH SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS HAD THE SAME TYPE FAILURE OF THE 2006 EQUINOX HEATER SYSTEM FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM BY CHEVROLET PUTTING AT RISK THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE MODEL WHEN CHEVROLET KNOWS OF THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER SYSTEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON JANUARY 8, 2009 AND EXPLAINED HEATER FAILURE AND CONCERN TO LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE IS NO VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE AND THAT THE NUMBER OF HEATER FAILURES FOR THIS MODEL VERSUS SALES OF THIS MODEL IS LOW. COSTS TO REPLACE HEATER ON VEHICLE WAS $1100 BUT DUE TO MY COMPLAINT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED BY CHEVROLET DUE TO NUMBER OF HEATER FAILURES ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK BY NOT BEING ABLE TO USE DEFROSTER TO PROVIDE CLEAR VISIBILITY ON WINDSHIELD AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS PRESENTLY A SAFETY RECALL (#090298) DATED DECEMBER 18,2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V489000 FOR THE 2010 EQUINOX DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ISSUE. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THE HEATER SYSTEM IN THE 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR VEHICLE OWNERS. OWNERS ARE HAVING TO PAY FROM $800 TO $1100 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE HEATER SYSTEM REPAIRED SO THAT THEY CAN SAFELY DRIVE IN THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SAFELY SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH A WORKING DEFROSTER. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE NHTSA. *TR
Visibility, Jan 19, 2010
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE HEAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT IT IS A HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 72K MILES AND THIS PART SHOULDN'T BE FAILING ALREADY. IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO - A YOUNG COUPLE IN A REMOTE AREA OF NORTH DAKOTA IN THE WINTER. AND, THEY HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT. THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILS AND THEY ARE 200 HUNDRED MILES FROM THE NEAREST PLACE THEY CAN STOP FOR HEAT. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ALRIGHT WHEN THEY LEFT ON THEIR TRIP SINCE THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD. INSTEAD, THEY ARE FACED WITH A SITUATION THAT COULD BE FATAL. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS SITUATION ON ALL CHEVY EQUINOXES AND PONTIAC TORRENTS. *TR
Visibility, Jan 15, 2010
CAR HEAT STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. CAR ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR AND WILL NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. IN ADDITION THE WINDOWS FOG WITH NO SOURCE TO DEFOG . *TR UPDATED 01/25/10 *BF UPDATED 01/26/10.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 12, 2010
1) FAIRLY NEW CHEVY EQUINOX (2006) WITH $65,000 MILES OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING - WITHIN A DAY, DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING - CAR SHOWED NO SYMPTOMS UNTIL PROBLEM OCCURRED 2) CAR OVERHEATS AND STALLS OUT AS A RESULT - PER THE MECHANIC, IT HAS BLOWN HEAD GASKETS 3) HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT $2,800 - THE CAR ISN'T EVEN FOUR YEARS OLD AFTER RESEARCHING MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF MY COST OF REPAIR WAS WITHIN THE AVERAGE FOR SUCH REPAIRS, I SAW THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX, AND THAT IT IS LIKELY A FAULTY DESIGN ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 12, 2010
ON JAN. 11, 2010 I STARTED MY CAR TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE LEAVING FOR WORK. I LET THE CAR RUN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. DROVE THE 20 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK, AND WHEN I GOT DOWNTOWN, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF STREET AND STOP CAR. RESTARTED CAR AND PUT INTO DRIVE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS STILL ON, AND DON'T HAVE ANY POWER. WAS ABLE TO COAX CAR TO GO THREE BLOCKS TO PARKING LOT, AND CALLED DEALER WHO CAME AND GOT THE CAR. AFTER CHECKING, I WAS TOLD THAT WATER HAD LEAKED DOWN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDOW, FREEZING, THAWING AND BACKING UP WHICH GOT TO THE WIRING AND BURNT IT OUT. REALLY GLAD THAT I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE THAT MORNING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2010
LOSES ANTIFREEZE AFTER EACH TIME IT IS USED. ALWAYS HAVING TO PUT MORE ANTIFREEZE BACK IN IT. ALSO, HEAT QUITS WORKING OFTEN. *TR
Visibility, Jan 6, 2010
MY CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2006 HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. DID SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY HEATER DOOR OR TEMP VALVE. NOW I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS. *TR
Visibility, Jan 5, 2010
I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX MY HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR IN ONLY BLOWS OUT COLD. IT STOPPED WORKING AT 26,000 MILES AND MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. CHEVROLET SAYS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I LIVE IN NEW YORK. IT IS CURRENTLY 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND A 4 YEAR OLD I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS BECAUSE I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH PEOPLE OWNING A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS GOING TO COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1,500 TO $1,800 DOLLARS I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN I CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY WHEN CHEVY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 4, 2010
DRIVING DOWN ROAD, HEATER QUIT WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 200 MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Jan 4, 2010
2006 EQUINOX WITH 32,000 MILES. NO HEAT. DEALER SAID CONTROL WAS BAD, REPLACED THAT THEN SAID THE BLEND DOOR WAS ALSO BAD. HAD TO REPLACE THAT ALSO. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS FOR A 3 YR OLD CAR, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BY A COUPLE OF MONTHS. *TR
Visibility, Dec 31, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,986. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Power train, Visibility, Dec 23, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN WATER MADE CONTACT WITH THE TRANSMISSION THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE NORMAL SPEED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT WHENEVER WATER ENTERED THE TRANSMISSIONS PROTECTION SHIELD IT CAUSED THE VEHICLES SPEED TO DECREASE. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIELD. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $570.00. THE CONTACT IS ALSO UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD SINCE THE HEATER MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE FAILURE WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,537.
Visibility, Dec 15, 2009
CAR STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR, DEALER WANTED UPWARDS OF $1500 TO FIX. I TRADED THE CAR AS IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE A REPAIR BASED ON THE WORTH AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Visibility, Dec 13, 2009
I HAVE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 AND IT HAVE 63 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND MY HEATER STOP WORKING AND I WENT TO THE WEBSITE AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BLEND DOOR AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY ADVISE ME THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK AND I DO NOT HAVE $1200 HUNDREDS DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND IT IS GETTING COLD WHERE I LIVE IN MARYLAND .THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND IT SHOULD BE A (RECALL) ON THEM I WILL BE CALLING THE GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE . *TR
Visibility, Dec 11, 2009
NO WARM AIR AS THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS BROKEN. ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL IS $1,200. CANNOT AFFORD THIS SO MY FAMILY AND I WILL FREEZE THIS WINTER AS THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. THIS IS BUT ONE OF A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY VARIOUS OWNERS CONCERNING THIS GM SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Dec 9, 2009
THE BLEND DOOR BROKE IN THE HVAC CASE. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAUSED THIS, THOUGH MY MECHANIC SAID THIS IS CAUSED BY THE HEAT BEING RUN THROUGH AT TOO HIGH A TEMPERATURE. *TR
Visibility, Dec 9, 2009
AS I COME TO FIND OUT, MAY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AS I AM. THE HEATER WILL NOT FUNCTION DUE TO, AS I WAS TOLD, A FAILURE OF A PLASTIC VENT DOOR HINGE DEEP BEHIND THE DASH. APART FROM THE INCONVENIENCE OF NO HEAT, LAST NIGHT ON MY HOME IT WAS RAINING AND THE TEMPERATURE WENT AS ABOUT 40 DEGREES F. WHEN MY WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST MY VISIBILITY WAS DIMINISHED AND A NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS LUCK LAST NIGHT, BUT ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED IF GM DOES NOT RECALL THIS MAJOR FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH GM AND THEY HAVE DESIGNED A METAL REPLACEMENT PART. THIS TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WANT TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT. PLEASE LOG MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND URGE GM TO RECALL THIS CAR. *TR