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, Jun 29, 2015
HEAT STOPPED WORKING. COOLANT LEVELS ARE FINE, NO EXPLANATION
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2015
IGNITION IS STICKING. SOMETIME CANT TURN THE KEY.
Service brakes, Jun 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ENGINE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED TO BELOW 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MORE THAN TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, THE SENSOR, AND REPROGRAMMED THE SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Service brakes, May 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, May 28, 2015
I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT AND THE WHEEL SNAPPED IN MY HANDS AND I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES AND SINCE I FELT UNSAFE I, OF COURSE, TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT. $900.00 LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THAT POINT THEY SAID THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT SUGGESTED WE WAIT UNTIL WE COULD ACTUALLY HEAR A THUMPING NOISE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL MAY 2015 RIGHT AFTER WE GIFTED THE CAR TO OUR GRAND DAUGHTER. NOW WE ARE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED BUT ANOTHER MECHANIC HAS TOLD US IT COULD BE IN THE ELECTRONICS. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION. THE STEERING COULD BECOME DISABLED AND CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Steering, May 28, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2015
THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR IS THE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE ANY HEAT, WHICH MEAN I DO NOT HAVE DEFROSTERS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, IN WHICH THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THIS VEHICLE.. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS NOT RECALLED. I WAS TOLD MY MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP IT COULD COST $4,000 TO FIX. I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME IT IS SET UP TO FAIL, AS IT IS CHEAPLY MADE! IS CHEVY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED WHEN THEIR DEFROSTERS SUDDENLY FAIL. I USED A PLUG IN HEATER TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS THIS PAST WINTER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THE HEATER KEPT BLOWING MY FUSES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!!
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, May 26, 2015
I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX WHICH I BOUGHT IN 2010. WHILE I HAD VARIOUS "OF AGE" REPAIRS, SUCH AS FUEL SYSTEM ISSUES AND A FAN MOTOR; WITH THE AGE AND MILEAGE, THEY SEEMED NORMAL. IN 2013 I REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR SIMULTANEOUSLY; AS THE CODE WAS FOR EGR, BUT WOULD ONLY INTERMITTENTLY KICK IN THE TSS CODE (THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC 3 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET THE CODE TO STAY SO WE COULD FIND THE PROBLEM). AMONG LOOKING ONLINE FOR THE PROBLEM, IT WAS COMMON, BUT MY DEALER WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT THE CODE. JUNE, 2014, THE BRAKES STARTED PULSATING ON THE CAR IN LOW SPEEDS. I WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET IT TO STOP. TWICE, PUMPING THE BRAKES AT AN INTERSECTION FAILED, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A WRECK WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. THE ABS AND TC LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC: HE EVALUATED EACH CONNECTION AND CLEANED THEM, WHERE THE ABS HARNESS CONNECTS TO THE MAIN HARNESS. HE FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES. AFTER 2 MORE MONTHS OF DANGEROUS DRIVING, AND A WHOLE NEW SET OF BRAKES (ALL 4), ONLINE RESEARCH PREVAILED ONCE AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON; AND SUGGESTED A RATHER CHEAP FIX. THE 18 IN WIRE HARNESS FROM THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR TO THE MAIN HARNESS HAD AN ISSUE. SURE ENOUGH I, A WOMAN, AFTER BEING TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T CARRY THE PART, ORDERED IT ONLINE AND REPLACED IT IN 15 MINUTES. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. MAY, 2015. WHAT APPEARED TO BE A THERMOSTAT ISSUE ENDED UP BEING A COOLANT RESERVOIR PROBLEM. THE RESERVOIR WAS BROKEN, WHERE THE PLASTIC NIPPLE THAT COMES OUT THE BOTTOM ATTACHES WITH THE HOSE. AFTER I CONTACTED ALL PARTS STORES IN THE AREA, I WAS TOLD WHILE IT WAS COMMON FOR CHEVROLET TRUCKS AND EQUINOX VEHICLES, THE EQUINOX PART WAS NO MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PARTS STORES. I HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER ONLINE, THANK GOODNESS IT WORKED.
Electrical system, May 7, 2015
IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK AND YOU CAN NOT TURN THE CAR ON. SOMETIME YOU CAN NOT GET THE KEY OUT AND SOMETIMES T FEELS LIKE THE PINS IN THE SWITCH ARE NOT DROPPING . THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND NOW HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
Engine, Apr 30, 2015
I HAVE OWNED A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX SINCE 2008. WE RECENTLY NOTICED A SWOOSHING FLUID NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH. WHEN THE CAR IDLES THE TEMP LIGHT GAUGE COMES ON AND THE NEEDLE GOES TO HOT. TOOK IT TO BILL JACOBS CHEVROLET IN JOLIET ILLINOIS TODAY AND THE ADVISED IT HAS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WITH A MINIMUM COST TO REPAIR OF $1500. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DIRECTED TO GM AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. MANY MECHANICS HAVE SAID IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND GM SHOULD BE DOING A RECALL. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 25, 2015
I REPLACED THE EGR VALVE SENSOR AND HOSE STILL GETTING A CODE 1404.I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAIN PROBLEM COULD BE UNLESS IT'S THE PCM CAUSING PROBLEMS AND IT HAS BEEN CHANGED AS WELL. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 16, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,048.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 9, 2015
I HAVE A CHEVROLET EQUINOX LX AND I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS AND TRACKING CONTROL SO I GOT THE BRAKES REPLACE AND THERE STILL A BAD GRINDING THE SAME THING BEFORE I REPLACE THE BRAKES THE ABS AND TRACKING CONTROL COME ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING AND STAY ON WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE CHANGE MY BRAKE IN 2014 WHEN I FIRST PURCHASE THE SUV I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER AND IF THERE WAS CAN SOMEONE GET BACK WITH ME OR CAN GMS HELP WITH THIS MATTER. *TR
Visibility, Apr 5, 2015
I HAVE NO HEAT, YESTERDAY, I DID . THIS MORNING MY HEAT WILL NOT WORK RECIRCULATION WORKS FAN CONTROLS WORK A/C WORKS, AFTER ALL OF MY HOURS OF RESEARCH, I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS . ITS THE VENT DOOR AND ACTUATOR, I NARROWED ALL DOWN AT FIRST COOLANT THERMOSTAT ETC. I FOUND MY RESULT FOR A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC ON THE VENT DOOR THAT BREAKS SO OFTEN SURE ITS A 70$ PART BUT AS A SINGLE FATHER , I CANNOT AFFORD A 1500.00$ SHOP FEE FOR THAT, THIS IS SOMETHING CHEVY KNOWS IS WRONG , AND CAN BE A VERY LIABLE HAZARD TO ACCIDENTS ! I LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA WHERE IT GETS PRETTY DARN COLD , YOU LOSE YOUR HEAT ON A WAY TO A KIDS HOCKEY GAME 100 MILES AWAY ON A FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN SNOWING AND 30 BELOW ZERO YES COULD CAUSE FATALITIES !! ITS WIDELY SPREAD ACROSS THE BOARD THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM , CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS , THEY NEED TO MAKE IT RIGHT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED FROM IT ! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2015
EVER SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD WHAT SOUNDS LIKE WATER IN THE DASH, I'VE BEEN READING THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE ANTIFREEZE WHICH IN SOME CASES LEAKED OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INTO THE VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO HAD MY HEATER BLEND DOOR GO BAD AND GOT THAT REPLACED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE SOME WHERE AND FROM WHAT I READ IT GOES INTO THE ENGINE HEADS AND CAUSES DAMAGE THERE. THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVE AND I DRIVE ABOUT 50 MILES A DAY 6 OR 7 DAYS A WEEK. ALL I DO IS PUT MONEY INTO IT ON PARTS SINCE I GOT IT. *TR
Engine, Mar 30, 2015
I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH DOWN A ROAD, AND MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY FINE, THEN MY CAR SLOWED TO 40MPH, THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT WORKED AND RAN FINE AFTERWARDS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE.
Service brakes, Mar 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKE HUB AND WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE MADE A BEEPING SOUND WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS HUB AND BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Electrical system, Mar 8, 2015
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE HEAT ON AND IT WOULDNT GO HIGHER THEN LOW AND ABOUT 5 MILES LATER I WENT HIGHER ON ITS OWN. ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER THE HEAT STARTED BLOWING AND THEN STOPPED AND NOW WILL NOT BLOW HOT OR COLD AIR. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 6, 2015
I GOT IN MY CAR THIS MORNING AND MY FAN WASN'T WORKING FOR MY HEATER. WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ITS WINTER AND MY WINDOWS ARE ICED OVER. I LOOKED UP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THEY DID NOT FULLY ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS DIMINISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK FOR HEAT OR COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V489000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE MOTOR BLOWER, RESISTOR, BLOWER AND PIT TAIL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,480.
Other or unspecified, Feb 19, 2015
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF AND IT TAKES ALONG TIME TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AND THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 11, 2015
I HAD LEFT WORK, DRIVEN ABOUT 6 MILES, SHUT ENGINE OFF TO FILL WITH GAS, GOT BACK IN TO CRANK ENGINE AND NOTHING - NO LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAD HAULED TO GARAGE, BATTERY WAS PUT ON SLOW CHARGE OVER NIGHT, SHOWED LITTLE LOW BUT WOULD CRANK CAR, MFG REPLACED BATTERY BUT 2 MONTHS LATER IT WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. PUT BATTERY ON CHARGE OVERNIGHT AGAIN. HASN'T OCCURRED AGAIN BUT FOUND OUT SOMEONE ELSE HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH TRAILBLAZER, HE HAS TO CARRY A JUMP BOX AROUND WITH HIM.. LOCAL GM DEALER HAS NOT FOUND HIS PROBLEM EITHER..WHAT DO WE DO TRADE IN WITH DEALER THEN LET IT BECOME THEIR PROBLEM? *TR
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Feb 4, 2015
THE HEATING SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILED AND BLOWS COLD AIR AFFECTING THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING ABILITY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE PROBLEM IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF THE CAR TO DEFROST. AS NOTED IN A LETTER FROM GM'S DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT INVESTIGATIONS AND SAFETY TO THE NHTSA ON DECEMBER 23, 2009, THE 2010 EQUINOX WAS RECALLED SINCE A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT RESULTED IN NON-OPERATIONAL DEFROST SYSTEMS THAT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, AND VIOLATED FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 103. IN OTHER WORDS, GM HAS ADMITTED ON ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MANUFACTURER?S DEFECTS THAT CAUSE IN-OPERABLE DEFROST SYSTEMS ARE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. CHEVROLET EQUINOX DRIVERS ARE AT STAKE. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD COULD LEAD TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS VEHICLE DAMAGE, INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND ORDER GM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTED PART / PARTS AND REFUND REPAIR COST TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE OR WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. *TR