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, Oct 26, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT IN HER VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BLAND DOOR IN THE HEATER DUCT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST $1000. THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS OR EXISTING VEHICLE WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 54,000.
Visibility, Oct 25, 2009
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009, OUR HEAT WENT OUT IN OUR 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. IT HAS APPROX 61,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND IS IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND I HAVE NEVER HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE OWN ANOTHER CHEVROLET PRODUCT AND HAVE NO ISSUES WITH IT, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENGINEERING FAILURE. A CAR HEATER SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. *TR
Power train, Oct 22, 2009
THE CENTER CARRIER BARING IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND FALLING APART. THE PART HOWEVER IS ON BACKORDER FOR 3-6 MONTHS WHEREVER I CALL. I THINK SINCE THE PIECE IS IN SUCH GREAT DEMAND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Visibility, Oct 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE HEATING SYSTEM FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE LINKAGE FRACTURED FROM THE TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB
Visibility, Oct 19, 2009
BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BROKE AND NOW I HAVE NO HEAT AND CAN NOT SEE OUT MY WINDOW DUE TO MY DEFROSTERS NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK. *TR
Visibility, Oct 15, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE BLEND DOOR THAT BROKE AT THE SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE HVAC ACTUATOR. THIS CAUSES THE HEATER TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND THE DEFROST WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE WARM AIR IS BLOCKED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD SON AND THIS PROVED VERY DANGEROUS FOR US BECAUSE OF BOTH LACK OF HEAT AND INABILITY TO PROPERLY DEFROST THE DRIVERS WINDSHIELD. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS IN COLD FROSTING SITUATIONS IT IS HAZARDOUS FOR ME TO DRIVE. THE PART CAN BE FIXED BUT THE COST WILL BE $1,000.00+ TO REPLACE THE PART. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 14, 2009
I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR. THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND WILL HAVE TO GET IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY DESPITE GM SUGGESTING THAT I HAVE IT DIAGNOSED THEN CALL THEM BACK. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE BLEND DOOR, BASED ON INFORMATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BASED ON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE INTERNET. IT DOES NOT APPEAR AS THOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 14, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. TO RELEASE THE PEDAL SHE HAD TO PRESS IT RAPIDLY SEVERAL TIMES. SHE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE BRAKE FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND SOME RELATED SWITCHES; HOWEVER, SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE SWITCHES THAT WERE REPLACED. REPORT NUMBER 71764846662 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,700.
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
I "TRIED" TO TURN ON THE HEATER TO HELP DEFOG MY WINDSHIELD DURING A RAIN STORM, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. BECAUSE OF THE COLD AIR, MY WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP EVEN MORE! THIS CREATED A VIABILITY ISSUE, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE I-17 TODAY (10/12/2009) I WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO (2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX) THAT THE HVAC AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY REPAIR SHOP AND 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS THAT GM HAS REDESIGNED THIS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, AND HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, HOWEVER THEY HAVE YET TO ISSUE A RECALL. MY REPAIR SHOP IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ASSEMBLY. I WAS QUOTED THAT THIS IS A 9.5 HOUR PROCEDURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DISABLE THE DASH TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ASSEMBLY. IF MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THIS WOULD BE A ROUGHLY A $1,200 - $1,500 REPAIR. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
2006 EQUINOX ONLY BLOWING OUT EXTREMELY COLD AIR FOR THE DEFROSTER AND THE HEATER. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
HEATER BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR. UNSAFE FOR MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 6 MONTH BABY TO BE IN THE COLD WEATHER WITHOUT HEAT. ALSO UNSAFE BECAUSE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY DEFROSTED IN COLD WEATHER AND LEADS TO POOR VISIBILITY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BROKEN. REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED SO I PAID $1070.00 OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR
Visibility, Oct 12, 2009
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE WITHOUT A HEATER TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY IS COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE, AND THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $475.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5640. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Visibility, Oct 8, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM ONLY CIRCULATES COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63989.
Visibility, Oct 7, 2009
HEATER WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR ON MY 2006 EQUINOX. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY CHEVY OWNER. PLEASE CHEVY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU PRODUCTS. *TR
Visibility, Oct 7, 2009
THE AIR BLEND DOOR ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT BLOW WARM AIR FROM THE HEATER. I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS. THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE FOUND TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility, Oct 6, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE WINDOWS DID NOT DEFROST SINCE ONLY COLD AIR CIRCULATED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED HIS VISIBILITY TO BE IMPAIRED. A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR TEMPERATURE DOOR WAS BROKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,700.
Visibility, Oct 5, 2009
THE HEATER HAS GONE OUT. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE HEATER BLEND DOOR AND MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR CAN NO LONGER PROPERLY DEFROST WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO DO HERE I IDAHO. *TR
Suspension, Aug 22, 2009
FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUBS WERE REPLACED AT 32,000 MILES, ALL UNDER WARRANTY. THESE ARE NOW SOUNDING LIKE THESE ARE GOING BAD AGAIN. IT IS A 2006 EQUINOX FWD WITH 68,000 MILES. *TR
Air bags, Aug 10, 2009, crash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A ONE-AUTO ACCIDENT - 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX - HYDROPLANED AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT WITH THE FRONT END AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AN IMPACT TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED. EACH TIME THE FRONT BUMPER HAD DAMAGE SUSTAINED WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE IMPACT THE SET THE AIR BAG OFF. *TR
Power train, Jul 20, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH 41,000 MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 50 MPH I FELT A VIBRATION. A MECHANIC THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT I NEEDED A CARRIER BEARING FOR THE DRIVESHAFT, AND THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM FREQUENTLY. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALER TO SECURE THE REPLACEMENT PART, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS CURRENTLY AT LEAST A THREE MONTH WAIT FOR THE PART, AND THAT IT WAS NOT ADVISABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WAITING FOR THE PART AS THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE. CALLS TO OTHER DEALERS RESULTED IN THE SAME OUTCOME, THERE WERE MANY CUSTOMERS WAITING FOR THIS PART AND WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLE IN THE MEANWHILE. THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER, BUT IT IS CLEARLY APPARENT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS PART, AS IT SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACEMENT SO OFTEN AND IN LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. *TR
Structure, Jul 17, 2009
SOUNDS LIKE A DRAGGING MUFFLER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR JUST IDLING. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD JUST LISTEN TO IT, NEEDED TO USE A STETHOSCOPE TO PINPOINT WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. A BOLT HAD FALLEN FROM THE OIL PAN AND WAS OCCASIONALLY HITTING THE FLY WHEEL. WE WERE TOLD WE COULDN'T DRIVE IT UNTIL IT WAS FIXED AND THAT WE EITHER HAD TO HAVE IT DONE THERE OR TOWED TO WHERE IT WOULD BE FIXED. IF WE TRIED TO DRIVE IT THE FLY WHEEL COULD NOT ONLY HAVE BROKEN TEETH BUT ALSO THROW THE BOLT THROUGH THE ENGINE. WE WERE TOLD IF THEY COULD JUST USE A MAGNET TO REACH THE BOLT THEN IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY $400, BUT IF THEY HAD TO DROP THE TRANSMISSION IT WOULD BE MORE. I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS WOULD BE "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", $1000 LATER. I AM HOPING TO CONTACT GM WITH MY COMPLAINT, BUT NOT EXPECTING TO GET ANYWHERE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 16, 2009
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BAD AT 50,000. PROBLEM STARTED AT 25000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO AUTHORIZED GM DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ROTORS EVEN THOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THE BRAKES PULSATE AND THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *TR
Electrical system, May 19, 2009
I PURCHASED A 2006 EQUINOX-CHEVROLET ALMOST 3 YRS ALREADY. I HAD A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TWICE W/THE CAR, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOWED DOWN COMPLETELY AND WOULD NO ACCELERATE AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IS A PROBLEM THIS PARTICULAR MODEL CAR HAS FROM FACTORY.I HAVE READ EQUINOX COMPLAINT--RECALLS AND READ SEVERAL THAT ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REALLY BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR A CAR TO TURN OFF/SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH--THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS MATTER. I NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE AND I'M ALWAYS TRAVELING WITH MY GRANDKIDS. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. *TR
Structure, Apr 19, 2009
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX LT WITH 29,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW. NO COMPLAINTS UNTIL 4 APRIL WHEN DISCOVERED REAR FLOOR WET AND SPARE TIRE WELL FULL OF CLEAN CLEAR WATER. RAINED HEAVY DAY BEFORE NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN 15 DAYS. SPRAYED WATER OVER ENTIRE CAR, UNDER CAR, AROUND WINDOWS, WHEEL WELLS ETC. CAN FIND NO LEAKS. WAITING FOR NEXT BIG RAIN TO DECIDE. *TR