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, Dec 7, 2009
CHEVROLET 2006 EQUINOX - NO HEAT/DEFROST - BROKEN BLEND DOOR WINDOWS FOGGING. *TR
Visibility, Dec 6, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND NOW THAT WINTER IS HERE, MY HEATER AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. I GET A POPPING SOUND WHEN I TURN ON THE HEATER AND ALL I GET IS COLD AIR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR 2005, 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX'S. I CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AND THAT MAKES DRIVING A HAZARD. CHEVY HAD TOLD ME ITS MY PROBLEM AND THAT ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY AMERICANS AND CHEVY GETS THE PASS AND DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Visibility, Dec 3, 2009
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX NOT BLOWING WARM AIR DUE TO FAULTY BLEND DOOR. *TR
Visibility, Dec 2, 2009
HOT AIR DOES NOT COME THROUGH VENTS, AND THEREFORE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD IS NOT ABLE TO DEFROST WHEN IT IS COLD. THIS CAUSE LOW VISIBILITY, WHICH CAN THEREBY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Visibility, Dec 1, 2009
2006 EQUINOX SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOWING WARM AIR IN THE CABIN, INHIBITING OUR ABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IN COLD WEATHER. GM DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF THE "BLEND DOOR" (AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS). QUOTE WAS OVER $900 FOR LABOR TO REPLACE A CHEAP PLASTIC PART. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Dec 1, 2009
THE DOOR THAT SEPARATES THE HEATER AND THE AC HAS SNAPPED OFF LEAVING ONLY AC ON. UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $811.00. REPLACED THE DOOR. I HAVE THE OLD DOOR IN MY POSSESSION. *TR
Visibility, Nov 30, 2009
THE HEATER IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DOES NOT WORK. IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR AND THE REPAIRS ARE IN UPWARDS OF $1200. WITHOUT HEAT, THE WINDOWS CAN FOG UP VERY QUICKLY LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING, THUS CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IT IS WINTER AND TEMPERATURES IN MY AREA REACH AS LOW AS 20 DEGREES, WITH CHILDREN, THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND WARM. IT SEEMS FROM OTHERS RESPONSES THAT THIS IS AN ASTRONOMICAL ISSUE WITH MANY CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS AND WE ARE ALL OUTRAGED AT THE LACK OF CONCERN FROM GM TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAFETY WITH ALL COMPANIES, GM SHOULD NOT TURN THE OTHER CHEEK TO THIS HAZARD. IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY AND FROM THE PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES, IT SEEMS A RECALL IS PAST DUE. *TR
Visibility, Nov 27, 2009
NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. THE HEATER/DEFROST WORKED FINE ONE DAY, THEN THE NEXT DAY WE TURNED IT ON AND IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING HOT, SO WE DETERMINED IT IS NOT THE WATER PUMP. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. WE REPLENISHED THE ANTI-FREEZE, BUT STILL NO WARM AIR. THE HEATER IS ONE THING, BUT THE DEFROST NOT WORKING IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Visibility, Nov 20, 2009
MY 2006 CHEVY. EQUINOX HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AND I WAS TOLD ITS THE ACTUATOR AND THE BLEND DOOR. THERE ARE OVER 150 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4/P8#LASTPOST . IT IS THE BEGINNING OF WINTER AND I CAN NOT GO ALL WINTER WITHOUT A HEATER AND IF THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM THEN US CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *TR
Other or unspecified, Nov 20, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE TRUCK AS 51K MILES. THE CAR HEATER BEGAN NOT WORKING LAST WEEK. THIS MORNING, IN KENTUCKY IT WAS 45 DEGREES, I COULD NOT GET THE WINDSHIELD CLEARED FOR ANYTHING. I HAD TO PULL OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PHYSICALLY WIPE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE I HAVE NO HEAT ON A 3 YEAR OLD CAR. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, SPENDING 1,000 OR MORE FOR THE REPAIRS. PLEASE RECALL!!!!! *TR
Visibility, Nov 20, 2009
TRIED TO TURN ON THE HEAT. WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I'M FINDING THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM: BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR ISSUE. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Visibility, Nov 19, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BLEND DOOR SHAFT BROKEN AND NO HEAT IS COMING OUT. DEALER WANTS $1100 TO FIX IT, CANNOT AFFORD IT. I AGREE, GM SHOULD RECALL, SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. *TR
Visibility, Nov 19, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX. THE HEAT JUST COMPLETELY GAVE OUT, ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND NOT ONLY DID MY ENTIRE DASH HAVE TO BE REMOVED, BUT IT WAS 7+ HOURS OF LABOR AND $1000+ OF REPAIR. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTED, AND THE BLEND DOOR WAS POORLY CONSTRUCTED. WHILE ONE END WAS PROPERLY INTACT, THE OTHER LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN CHEWED OFF. CHEVY SUGGESTED TO THE MECHANIC THAT HE LOOK FOR SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS FOUND. IT SEEMED TO BE A COMPLETE DEFECT OF THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER BEGINNING MY RESEARCH, I AM NOTICING THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. IT'S AMAZING HOW GM'S EXCUSE IS THAT, "CARS MESS UP" BUT I AM FINDING THAT SEVERAL EQUINOX ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Visibility, Nov 19, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. SHE STATED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT WAS INOPERABLE AND WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACHD CASE TEMPERATURE DOOR FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE REPAIRS WERE ESTIMATED AT COSTS OVER $800 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT OPERATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 41,457.
Visibility, Nov 18, 2009
MY HEAT JUST STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. CAN NOT DEFROST WINDOWS. ONLY AIR BLOWS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BROKEN, AND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR MODEL/MAKE. IT WILL BE $1000.00 TO REPAIR, WHICH I DO NOT HAVE! *TR
Visibility, Nov 14, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX MY HEATER JUST WENT OUT I SEARCHED ON THE WEB SIGHT AND FOUND OUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR OR BLEND DOOR OR EVEN HEATER CORE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW WHAT CAN WE DO OUR FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURES DEFECT. *TR
Visibility, Nov 9, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Visibility, Nov 5, 2009
MY 06 CHEVY EQUINOX BLEND DOOR FAILED WHEN LEAVING MY WORK 2 NIGHTS AGO. HEAT WAS NOT EVEN ON AND I HEARD IT THE WALL OF CHAMBER. I HAVE 4 ASE CERTIFICATIONS. SO WHEN MY HEAT DID NOT WORK LAST NIGHT WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE AND 2 KIDS IN THE CAR. I NEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. VERIFIED TODAY THAT THE BLIND DOOR IS NON-RESPONSIVE AND YES THE A/C IS WORKING FINE. NOW SINCE THE HEAT DOES NOT BLOW AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK THIS IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. EVEN MORE SO ONE COLD NEW JERSEY DAYS/ NIGHTS. BUNDLED UP PEOPLE IN A VEHICLE CAUSES HEAT BUILDUP THUS FOGGING THE WINDOWS ONCE YOU START DRIVING. WHICH CAN LEAD TO A VARY BAD ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO FOUND A FORUM WITH ABOUT 140 PEOPLE SAME ISSUE FOR THE KNOWN ISSUE OF TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. AND ALSO JUST BY GOOGLING THE ISSUE. LIKE STATED PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERN. WITH A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Visibility, Nov 4, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEAT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. THE DEALER STATED IT WILL COST $1,300 TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEATER. SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Visibility, Oct 31, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. NO EVENTS LED UP TO FAILURE I WENT TO TURN ON MY DEFROST ONE MORNING BEFORE GONG TO WORK AND THE HEAT DID NOT WORK. THE COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS B/W $1,000 AND $1,500. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED YET AS I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS AT THIS TIME TO FIX CAR. WILL TRY TO REPLACE PART MYSELF. THE BLOWER WORKS BUT IT ONLY PUTS OUT COLD AIR. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS ALOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SAYS GM HAS REDESIGNED PART (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR). GM HAD TO REALIZE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART DESIGN THAT CAUSED IT TO FAIL, SO WHY HAS NO RECALL BEEN ISSUED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS. POOR VISIBILITY CAN AND WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THE ISSUE FOR THEIR CURRENT OWNERS. I AM SURE THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE CHILDREN AND IF WE HAVE TO TRANSPORT THEM WE WILL BE PLACING THEM IN A UNSAFE SITUATION DUE TO THE INABILITY TO DEFROST WINDOWS IN THE WINTER, PROVIDE HEAT FOR THEM AND EVEN IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WINDOWS FOG UP HOW ARE YOU TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS W/O THE HEATING SYSTEM WORKING PROPERLY. I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND YOU WILL SEE MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EQUINOX AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN! THANK YOU! 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX OWNER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 30, 2009
NO HEAT. DEALER SAYS THAT THE AIR MODE DOOR IS BROKEN. DASH NEEDS TO COME OFF TO REPAIR IT. PART $65.00 LABOR $1200.00. MY CAR HAS 42,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING SAME MATTER. WHEN WILL YOU RECALL? NO HEAT AND 25 DEGREES OUTSIDE IS UNSAFE! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 30, 2009
NO START. CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED. WILL HAVE TO PRESS ON GAS TO START CAR. SOMETIMES THAT DOES NOT WORK EITHER. HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO START. *TR
Visibility, Oct 28, 2009
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 63000 MILES ON IT. THE BLEND DOOR ON THE HEATER COIL ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING MY HEATER TO STOP BLOWING WARM AIR. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND TOTAL COST WAS $1079.60 AS THERE IS NO SERVICE PANEL TO ACCESS THIS AREA AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD THE EXACT SAME PART, THAT APPARENTLY IS DEFECTIVE,HAS NOT BEEN REDESIGNED AND THEY HAD TO PUT THIS SAME PART IN WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT BREAK AGAIN. THE BROKEN DOOR IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BUSINESS ENVELOPE AND IS A PIECE OF PLASTIC LINED WITH FOAM STRIPPING. NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO EVEN USE THE HEATER ASI LIVE IN OHIO AND CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR IN THE WINTER WITHOUT HEAT TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. AS I AM PAST MY WARRANTY, I UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS DOING NOTHING TO ASSIST EQUINOX OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 28, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BLOWS COLD AIR. BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR PROBLEM WHICH COST OVER 1,000 TO FIX (ENTIRE DASH NEEDS TO COME OFF TO REPLACE $78 ITEM). CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH 120 PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED OVER THE LAST MONTH AT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE, ALONE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4 WE ALL FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE PEOPLE ALL OVER US AND CANADA ARE SOON TO BE TRANSPORTING BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN IN THESE VEHICLES THROUGH THE WINTER COLD. HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH TO RAISE A CONCERN SOMEWHERE. *TR GERRY HIGGINS
Visibility, Oct 26, 2009
ACTUATOR DOOR (AIR TEMP BLEND DOOR) NOT ALLOWING HOT AIR IN. THIS MEANS NO HEAT OR DEFROST WITH COLD MONTHS COMING. APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AS SUCH. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR FOR REPAIR!!! *TR