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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 10, 2016
AIR BLEND DOOR BROKEN. HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING.
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2016
WHAT IS HAPPENING: THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS STUCK BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR. THIS IS AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARM AND WORKING PROPERLY. IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. FROM A QUICK SEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING FAR TOO OFTEN FOR IT TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS A VERY POOR DESIGN WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2016
THE HEATING SYSTEM NO LONGER PRODUCES HOT AIR FOR THE HEATER/DEFROSTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A BROKEN (DEFECTIVE) CHEAP PLASTIC ARM THAT CONNECTS THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR TO AN ACTUATOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BLEND. ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL IS $750-$1000. LIVING IN THE NORTHWEST IT'S CRUCIAL TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING HEATER/DEFROSTER. A WINTER WITHOUT SUCH CAN PROVE TO BE DISASTROUS, EVEN FATAL. WHAT WILL GM DO ABOUT THIS DEFECT?
Electrical system, Sep 13, 2016
I BOUGHT A 2006 IN FEB ..IT WAS RUNNING FINE THEN ALL A SUDDEN THE HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR..A MONTH LATER IT JUST STARTED RUNNING HOT POUR WATER IN COOLANT LEVEL IT CUMES BACK OUT IN A PUDDLE ON DRIVER SIDE. ..TEMP GAUGE HITS RED WHEN IDLE UP...SMOKE OUT TAIL PIPE...COOLANT SMELL AROUND CAR...I NEED MY CAR NOW IM.WALKING!!!!
Service brakes, Sep 11, 2016
MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX A FEW MONTHS AGO THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REPEATEDLY STARTED COMING ON CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULSATE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE HUB BEARINGS SEEING THE CODES WE PULLED THOSE THE LOCK RING WAS BAD. DID NO GOOD SCAN THE VEHICLE AGAIN DIFFERENT CODES CAME OUT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE EQUINOX THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I PLAN ON CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY TOMORROW TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT I'M ALREADY $1,000 AND REPAIR OVER A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
Vehicle speed control, Wheels, Service brakes, Aug 30, 2016
SOUNDS LIKE THE BRAKES GRINDING, STARTS UNSAFE STOPPING DISTANCE AND HAPPENS OUT OF BLUE, I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP TRYING TO PUSH THE BRAKES SO IT CAN STOP. AT TIMES BRAKES WILL ALSO BE HARD AS ROCK NO WARNING AND HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL, BEEN HAPPENING OFF AND ON. ABS/TC LIGHTS ON, I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS, ALL WAS CHANGED AND STILL NOT FIXED. I KEEP READING ABOUT A PIG TAIL HARNESS BUT DON'T KNOW THE CORRECT PART NUMBER OR ITS LOCATION. STARTED AROUND MARCH/2016 AND ITS ONGOING, ALMOST GOT HIT YESTERDAY BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULDN'T BRAKE
Engine, Aug 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 25, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING.SOMETIMES, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OR REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. ALSO, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE FAN RAN FOR AN HOUR AFTERWARD, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Service brakes, Jul 25, 2016
GRINDING, MOANING, STARTS UNSAFE STOPPING DISTANCE AND HAPPENS OUT OF BLUE, ABS/TC LIGHTS OFF AND ON, SO FAR EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A WHEELSPEED SENSOR OR HARNESS. AT TIMES BRAKES WILL ALSO BE HARD AS ROCK NO WARNING AND HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL. BEEN HAPPENING FOR AWHILE OFF AND ON
Electrical system, Jul 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SLEEVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 14, 2016
THE KEY IS HANGING UP IN THE IGNITION AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF. IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION TO THEN START IT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE NOW STALLS WHILE RUNNING WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN IT DOES, ALL POWER CUTS OFF (POWER BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL, LIGHTS RADIO, BREAKS - ANYTHING ELECTRIC SHUTS OFF. HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND RESTART IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. HAPPENS ON THE STREET AS WELL AS FREEWAY. I WONDER WHETHER THIS IS COVERED BY A RECALL OR SOMETHING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE VERY SAFE.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 9, 2016
VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS UP TO 6 TIMES IN 20 MINUTES. IT HAS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AND CITY STREETS. HAD PCM REPROGRAMMED, NO LUCK. I HAVE BEEN TESTING DIFFERENT FIXES. WHILE DOING SO I NOTICED I AM ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT AT ANY IGNITION POSITION.
Electrical system, Jun 6, 2016
HVAC BLOWER MOTOR INOPERABLE WHILE MOVING ON HIGHWAY. BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR BURNED BECAUSE BLOWER MOTOR DRAWING TOO MANY AMPS.
Engine, Jun 4, 2016
CAR STARTED OVER HEATING DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM VALUE, BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER 93000 MILES RAN HOT WHILE IDLE.
Electrical system, May 27, 2016
IGNITION. WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN IGNITION IT IS VERY DIFFICULT...TAKES A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF TRIES TO GET IT TO TURN ON.
Service brakes, May 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE BRAKES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,785.
Service brakes, Apr 8, 2016
MY CHEVY EQUINOX HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS INCLUDING CHEVROLET NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE SPENT PLENTY OF MONEY. BUT, STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ABS & TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS PERIODICALLY COMING ON AND WITH THE UNCERTAINTY THAT MY BRAKES ARE GOING TO WORK PROPERLY EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? IT IS VERY UNSAFE. CHEVY HAS BEEN GUESSING AND JUST CHANGING DIFFERENT PARTS THAT DIDN'T NEED CHANGED. THEY EVEN TALKED TO CORPORATE OFFICE AND SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS FOR SURE. PLEASE TELL ME HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE? WHEN IT APPARENTLY ISN'T A ISOLATED INCIDENT. THEY ACTED LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS SITE IS EVIDENCE ITS A PROBLEM! I WAS TOLD BY PERSON/PERSONS AT BOTH SHOPS IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ARE THEY DRIVING THE SAME CAR I'M DRIVING? BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. BRAKES LOCK UP RANDOMLY OR GRIND AS CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD SEVERAL FEET EVEN ONCE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT MATCHES DESCRIPTION OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH THE PULSATION. I HAVE PROBABLY TEN DIFFERENT INVOICES BUT IT WON'T LET ME LOAD ALL OF THEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 30, 2016
MY CARS ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION REDUCING MY SPEED AND NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT! WHEN IT RAINS, SNOWS OR GOES THROUGH A CAR WASH THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND NO MECHANIC HAS BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Service brakes, Mar 24, 2016
WE HAVE NOTICED THE ABS AND TC LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON BRAKING/TURNING TO THE LEFT, AS WELL AS, WHEN BRAKING/HITTING A BUMP OR ROUGH TERRAIN. WE HAVE TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO BE TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIX ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS; THAT THIS IS A DEALERSHIP ISSUE. THIS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT OUR 75 YEAR OLD MOTHER DOESN'T DRIVE IT ALL THE TIME; HOWEVER, WHEN SHE DOES DRIVE, WE ARE WORRIED FOR HER SAFETY AND OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY WHEN THEY'RE WITH HER. I AM SHOCKED GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS.
Service brakes, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Mar 19, 2016
ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND CHANGES THE VEHICLE BREAKING DISTANCE. IT IS ALSO UNKNOWN HOW MUCH IT WILL CHANGE THE DISTANCE. SO IT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT. THIS IS DUE TO NOT KNOWING WHERE TO BREAK FOR PROPER STOPPING DISTANCE. ENGINE PROBLEM WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TURNS OVER THEN STALLS. ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TURNING IT OVER. WIPER ISSUE. MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE HEAVY SNOW FALL HAPPENS. THIS IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IF MY VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD DURING A BLIZZARD OR HEAVY SNOW VISIBILITY IS LOST ON HALF MY WINDSHIELD.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 10, 2016
MY HEATER IS ONLY BLOWING OUT A LITTLE BETTER THAN COOL AIR I WOULD SAY IT IS RIGHT BELOW WARM AND I HAVE A 14 MONTH OLD CHILD THE FIX IS 750.00 DOLLARS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MAYBE A RECALL IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ??
Service brakes, Feb 5, 2016
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AT TIMES AND HAVE GRINDING NOISE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND IT PUSHES BACK AND IT HAS AND AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON
Seats, Feb 1, 2016
JANUARY 2015 GM SENT A SPECIAL COVERAGE NOTICE REGARDING SEAT HEATERS THAT OVERHEAT AND FAIL. I OBJECT TO THE DIAGNOSIS FEE CHARGED IF THE HEATER ELEMENT IS NOT CAUSING THE FAILURE. IF IT IS ANOTHER PART SUCH AS A HEATER MODULE I WILL BE CHARGED $110.00 REFUNDED IF I REPLACE THE MODULE AT EXTRA COST. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE OF MY DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER AND GM SHOULD BEAT THE DIAGNOSIS FEE. CAN YOU HELP THIS CUSTOMER.
Engine, Jan 23, 2016
MY 2006 CHEVY EQINOX HAS PROBLEM WITH STARTING SINCE IT WAS NEW ,I TOOK IT IN GM SERVICE WHEN IT WAS 1 YEAR OLD AND TOLD THEM THE CAR STARTS HARD SOMETIME SHUTS OFF COUPLE TIMES BEFORE IT TURNS OVER AND GM SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS OK BUT NOW IT IS HARDER AND HARDER TO START IT UP I ALSO KNOW COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVING SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM I FOUND THERE IS THOUSANDS SAME ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS LIKE MY WITH SAME CAR, PLEASE HELP. THANKS.
Electrical system, Jan 21, 2016
I PURCHASED MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX NEW. AT 53K MILES MY IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY FROM MY RUNNING CAR. THERE WAS NO RECALL AND I HAD TO PAY THE DEALER LAST YEAR IN 2015. NOW IT IS HARD TO START AND AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR I HAVE TO OPEN ANOTHER DOOR BESIDES THE DRIVER DOOR TO DISABLE POWER TO THE DASH INSTRUMENTS, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND RADIO.