2006 Chevrolet Equinox Complaint Log

IN NOVEMBER THE HEAT ON OUR 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WENT OUT-ONLY COLD AIR BLOWS. WAS INFORMED BY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER THAT THE HEAT BLENDER DOOR/VALVE FREQUENTLY BREAKS AND THAT THEY COULD REPAIR IT FOR 1500-1800$. IF THEY FREQUENTLY BREAK WHY HASN'T CHEVY ISSUED A RECALL AND STOPPED USING S SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR FAILED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR DURING COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A PARTIAL DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11

IN OCTOBER OF 2010 MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT AND RECEIVED A DIAGNOSTICS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND THE REPAIR COST IS $1300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IF THERE IS A SNOW STORM OR JUST BEING TOO COLD. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER I TURN ON THE HEAT AND MY CONCERN IS BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD IF IT FOGS UP OR FREEZES. GMC HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A WEBSITE WITH OVER 400 COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR VEHICLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

IT IS NOW THE END OF OCTOBER IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT IS VERY COLD AT 32 DEGREES. I TURNED MY HEAT ON IN MY EQUINOX AND IT IS BLOWING COLD AIR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND FOUND OUT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2006 EQUINOX ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DUE TO THE PLASTIC PIECE BRAKING ON THE HEATER BLEND DOOR. IT WILL COST $1,200 TO FIX. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THEIS PART. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE IT "IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS SO I MAY SEE THE ROAD, PUTTING MY LIFE, MY CHILDREN'S LIVES AND THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON THE ROAD IN DANGER. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM!

HEATER QUIT WORKING, NOW NO DEFROST. *TR

THE HEATING CONTROL ON MY VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENT. THERE IS NO INTERNAL HEAT. AS I LIVE IN A WINTER CLIMATE, THE LACK OF HEAT WITH MY BLOWER HAS MADE DEFROSTING MY VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED VEHICLES OF MY MAKE AND MODEL. THE PROBLEM IS A HEATING DOOR MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS HOT AND COLD. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT CHEVROLET WOULD NOT PROVIDE A NON-DEALERSHIP THE PART TO FIX IT. CHEVROLET FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS ANY SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALERSHIP IS OFFERING TO REPAIR IT FOR $1000. *TR

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER STOPPED WORKING AT 75K+ MILES. I AM TOLD BY DEALER AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY SAME EXACT VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THIS IS A FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE BLENDER DOOR ARM. IT WAS REPLACED WITH PLASTIC VERSUS METAL FOR 2006 IN EFFORT TO CUT CORNERS. THEY ALL CONSISTENTLY BREAK AT 3 YEARS OR MORE! VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN 20DEGREE WEATHER AND CONSTANTLY GET SICK! ALSO UNABLE TO DEFROST ICE AND HAZE FROM WIND SHIELD SINCE ONLY COLD AIR BLOWS OUT! THIS DIMINISHES THE VISIBILITY SIGNIFICANTLY! IF I CAN'T SEE FROM MY WINDSHIELD AND HAVE TO A) DRIVE WITH WINDOW OPEN AND FREEZE, B) USE HAND TO WIPE OFF WHILE DRIVING OR C) PULL OVER CONSTANTLY AND CLEAN OFF WINDSHIELD OR USE THE MINI PLUG IN HEATER I HAD TO PURCHASE TO HELP DEFROST MY ICED WIND SHIELD IN THE MORNING! OVER $1000 TO FIX. IT IS A DEFECT. PLEASE GOOGLE THIS YEAR AND "HEATER" YOU WILL FIND MANY MANY WEBSITES WITH EXACT COMPLAINTS. GM NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND FIX AT NO CHARGE! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEATER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

MY HEATER ONLY BLOWS OUT COLD AIR! I'VE READ OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SIRES HOW GM DECIDED TO REPLACE A METAL DOOR ARM TO THE HEATER COMPONENT WITH A PLASTIC ONE WHICH ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BREAK AT ONE POINT. USUALLY 3-4 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE! APPARENTLY THEIR IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF LABOR INVOLVED TO REPLACE A $60-200 PART WHICH IS ONLY AVAILABLE THRU THE DEALER AND A MIN. OF $1000 LABOR TO FIX BECAUSE IT REQUIRES REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH AND OTHER VITAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE! IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND CHEVY IS NOW GOING TO START USING METAL ARMS?! GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS ITEM EVEN THOUGH DEALERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AGREE THIS IS A SET UP. *TR

I TOOK MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IN FOR REPAIR WHEN MY WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER DIDN'T WORK EFFECTIVELY AND I DISCOVERED MY HEAT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CHARGED OVER $1100 TO REPLACE THE TEMPERATURE VALVE ACTUATOR AND THE HVAC DOOR VALVE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAD ONLY 44,495 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION, AND WHEN I WENT ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS COMPLAINED OF THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2006 EQUINOX. I WAS DISMAYED AT THE COST, BUT WAS MORE DISMAYED TO LEARN THEY REPLACED THE BROKEN PLASTIC PARTS WITH IDENTICAL PLASTIC PARTS ON WHICH THERE IS ONLY A 12-MONTH WARRANTY. I LEARNED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX ON WHICH THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC PARTS WITH METAL PARTS. THE 2006 EQUINOX SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED, SINCE A DEFROSTER WILL NOT CLEAR A WINDSHIELD IN WINTER WITH COLD AIR, WHICH IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD! GM SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AS A SAFETY ISSUE ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE BREAKABLE PLASTIC PARTS WITH METAL.

JUST PURCHASED A USED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. SECOND DAY OF DRIVING, TURNED ON HEAT TO GET THE CHILL OUT OF THE AIR. HEAT DID NOT WORK. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE OVER A WEEK NOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEAT ON, IT ONLY BLEW WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR BLEND DOOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,352 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,600.

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK IN IT. I'VE HAD IT ABOUT 4.5 MONTH AND IT' GOING TO COST ME $1350.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS HEATER VALVE DOOR ACTUATOR MOTOR. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO FIX IT. IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD TO THEM. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH HEAT YOU CAN'T DEFROST YOUR WINDOW SO YOU CAN SEE WERE YOUR GOING AND THINK ALOT PEOPLE THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WILL AGREE WITH ME.I FEEL IF STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND VEHICLE YOU SHOULD STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND FIX 2006 EQUINOX! *TR

I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. LAST WEEK THE HEATER STOPPED BLOWING ANY WARM OR HOT AIR. I PUT IT IN FOR REPAIR AND ALMOST $1000 LATER I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC TABS OF THE HEATER BLEND DOOR HAD BEEN CRACKED OFF BY THE OVER TORQUING OF THE HEATER ACTUATOR MOTOR. I LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE AND MUST HAVE WARM/HOT AIR TO KEEP MY WINDOWS CLEAR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT 3.4L AWD AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE, I DID NOT USE MY HEATER ALLSUMMER LONG. I TURNED IT ON AS OF 10/10/2010 AND THERE WAS NO HEAT AT ALL. IT WAS ONLY COLD AIR. I HEARD THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND IN SOME AREAS CAN BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RISK. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST WHERE DURING WINTER, THERE IS ALWAYS FROST ON WINDOWS. IF I DO NOT HAVE HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS OR GET ICE AND SNOW OFF, THIS CAUSES A RISK. AND PUTTING HOT OR WARM WATER ON THE WINDOW RISKS CRACKING THE WINDOW. THANKS FOR HEARING ME AND THIS SAFETY RISK, IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE THIS RECALLED AS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IS OVER $1000 TO FIX. *TR

I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. MY PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THIS PAST OCTOBER (2010), I NOTICED MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. NO WARM OR HOT AIR COMES OUT OF ANY VENT OR DEFROSTER AT ANY FAN SPEED. MY CAR HAS NO HEAT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS TO DE-ICE OR REMOVE/PREVENT FOGGED WINDOWS WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN (AGES 2 AND 4 MONTHS) AND I MUST HAVE HEAT IN THE CARE FOR THEIR CARE AND SAFETY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND READING 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WERE DEFECTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS APPROXIMATELY $1500. THE INABILITY TO DEFROST AND DEFOG THE WINDOWS OF THIS 2006 EQUINOX IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS, CAUSING LACK OF VISIBILITY BEFORE AND DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. I RECOMMEND YOU LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO FORUMS WHERE NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/WINDOW+DEFROSTER PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE GM TO RECALL THIS FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

DEFECTIVE MIDDLE SEAT BELT ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. I FOLDED DOWN THE SEAT TO PUT SOMETHING LARGE IN THE BACK. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE SEAT BACK UP, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD TO LOOSEN THE SEAT BELT BUT TO NO AVAIL IT WON'T BUDGE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HE SAID ALL HE COULD DO IS CUT THE SEAT BELT AND ORDER ME A NEW SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. HE SAID HE WOULD CALL ME WITH AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE. 3 DAYS PASS AND NO CALLS FROM DEALER SO I CALLED HIM AND HE FINALLY LOOKED IT UP. HE SAID IT WOULD COST ME 375.00 TO REPAIR THIS SEAT BELT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I SEE NO REASON FOR THIS SEAT BELT TO MALFUNCTION. THE COST TO REPLACE SEEMS VERY EXCESSIVE AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY ANSWERS FROM THE DEALER OTHER THAN "IT HAPPENS". OH, AND OF COURSE MY CAR IS ABOUT 1000 MILES OUT OF THE 60 THOUSAND/ 5 YEAR WARRANTY. *TR

I CANNOT UNFOG MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE A HEATER FLAP HAS BROKEN. MY CAR BLOWS OUT ONLY COLD AIR BECAUSE OF THIS BROKEN PIECE (AS DIAGNOSED BY A GM REPAIR STATION). BRIGHT SUNLIGHT SHINING ON THE FOGGED (AND FROSTED BECAUSE OF THE COLD AIR BLOWING ON A WET, COLD WINDSHIELD) WINDSHIELD RESULTS IN ZERO VISIBILITY. *TR

IN MAY WE PURCHASED A CERTIFIED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. WE ARE RETIRED AND DO NOT PUT MILES ON THE CAR. WE ALSO LIVE IN NORTHEAST OHIO. THE FIRST COLD DAY WE PUT THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER ON. NEITHER WORKED. WE FOUND THAT THE HEATER DOOR WAS BROKEN. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR GM WOULD HELP. WE HAVE HAD IT FIXED. HOWEVER, THE HEATER DOOR NOR ACTUATOR HAVE NOT BEEN REDESIGNED TO ELEVATED THIS PROBLEM. WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM- NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. THIS IS A MAJOR JOB SINCE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD MUST BE REMOVED. HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DEFROSTERS ARE NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY IN COLD CLIMATES. IT APPEARS THAT GM AND DEALERS ARE DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR

IN OCT 2010 THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AIR GETTING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM LINES, BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR HAD GOTTEN A BIT LOW. BUT ADDING COOLANT AND TRYING TO "BURP" THE SYSTEM DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, I DISCOVERED THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD THE SAME NO-HEAT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT (WHICH IS THE SAME VEHICLE PLATFORM). IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A SMALL "DOOR" THAT ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW PAST THE HEATER CORE. APPARENTLY THIS "AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR" HAS A PLASTIC CONNECTING SHAFT TO AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND THE SHAFT IS PRONE TO BREAKING AFTER A FEW YEARS. THE TROUBLE IS... REPLACING THIS LITTLE PART IS NOT EASY. IT INVOLVES REMOVING MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD, WHICH TAKES A LONG TIME. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT A GM DEALER IS AROUND $1,000, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS. *TR

THE BLEND DOOR FOR THE HEATER SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK THEY CRACK.$ 1200.00 TO REPAIR THE ITEM AS THEY REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. WE CALLED GM AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER US A PENNY. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE POINT BEING HOW DO YOU DRIVE IN THE NORTHEAST OR ANY COLD CLIMATE AND SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD THIS WENT OUT AS WE WERE DRIVING IN SNOW CONDITIONS AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP WE HAD TO PULL OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY AS WE WOULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT IS BLOWING ICE COLD AIR THROUGH THE HEATER AS WELL AS THE DEFROSTERS I THINK ALONG WITH THE OTHER 329 PEOPLE WHO I READ ABOUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.AND THEY ALL ESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIRS IS 1,000 DOLLARS WE NEED HELP I TRIED REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT BUT NO HELP STILL COLD AIR. *TR

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE BLEND DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,500.

HEAT DOES NOT WORK, HEATER TEMPERATURE VALVE HAS BROKEN. CAN NOT TURN HEAT TO HOT OR COLD. THE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND FREEZES WHEN BELOW 32, IT WAS A 15 HOUR PROJECT THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN 40,000 MILES IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED BY GM. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT WILL COST ATLEAST $1000 TO REPAIR A BLEND DOOR THAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE IN ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES. SEEMS TO ME THAT GMC SHOULD PAY THE PRICE SINCE SO MANY ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BLOWING COLD AIR. DEALERSHIP SAID PLASTIC DOOR PART IS BROKEN THAT CONTROLS DIRECTION OF COOL OR HOT AIR. $50.00 PART $1200.00 LABOR TO REMOVE DASH TO FIX, NOT UNDER WARRENTY. SAFETY ISSUE, MOISTURE BUILDS UP ON INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD AND FREEZES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING BEGAN TO SMOKE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,147.

THE HEATER/DEFROSTER ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX FAILED TO PRODUCE HEAT. AS A RESULT, I COULD NOT DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR (PART# CH19130554) THAT IS CONTROLLED BY AN ELECTRIC ACTUATOR (PART# CH15781467). THE ACTUATOR IS NOT CALIBRATED APPROPRIATELY AND PLACES EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE PLASTIC AIR BLEND DOOR CONNECTION. OVER TIME, THE PLASTIC BREAKS, DISABLING THE DOOR AND NOT ALLOWING HEAT TO BE DIRECTED INTO THE CABIN. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE DASHBOARD, DRIVING CONTROL CONSOLES AND STEERING COLUMN TO ACCESS THE BLEND DOOR. IT COST ME $1,145.08 TO REPLACE AND REQUIRED MY CAR TO BE IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 2 DAYS. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEEDED THE REPAIR COMPLETED SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM IN THE EARLY FALL MONTHS. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT BROKE IN THE WINTER. SINCE GM HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN ISSUES, I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. FROM MY INTERNET RESEARCH, I HAVE IDENTIFIED MANY OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE THE SAME CONCERN. SOME CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HEAT/DEFROST. I AM WRITING IN THE HOPES THAT THE NHTSA CAN INFLUENCE GM TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN, TO EXTEND VEHICLE WARRANTIES TO COVER THE REPAIR AND TO ASSIST THOSE WHOM ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR

THE HEAT SETTING BLOWS OUT ONLY COLD AIR. GM REPAIR SERVICE SAID THAT THE PLASTIC AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. GM REP SAID THAT GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS SITUATED WITHIN THE DASHBOARD REQUIRING THE DASH TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED. GM REPAIR WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO REPAIR IT YET GM REP FROM CORPORATE SAYS GM IS UNAWARE OF SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BROKEN BLEND DOOR. NOTHING LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE IT JUST QUIT WORKING. I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET, CAN'T JUSTIFY $1500 TO REPLACE. *TR

DEFROSTER/ HEATER INOPERABLE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN IN WINTER. UPDATED IVOQ 03/14/11 *TR

THE PROBLEM WITH THE TEMP. DOOR NOT WORKING IS IF YOU NEED TO DEFOG OR DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS AND THE HEAT WON'T WORK YOU CANT SEE. AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THANK GOD I WAS JUST TRYING TO TAKE THE CHILL OUT OF MY VEHICLE ON A COOL FALL EVENING, NO MATTER WHAT I DID NO HEAT. STOP TO GET GAS, STARTED THE TRUCK....... HEAT CAME ON, NOW IT WON'T GO OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HEATER BUT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE VENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED A PART WITHIN THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED AND WAS CAUSING THE HEATING SYSTEM TO FAIL. VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR FOR 1 WEEK. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND ADVISED BLEND DOOR STUCK, IT AND ACTIVATOR NEED REPLACED. ESTIMATED APPROX. $1000.00. *TR

2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. HEATER ACTUATOR DOOR BROKE. THIS LEADS TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WINDSHIELD CAN'T BE DEFROSTED DUE TO LACK OF HEAT CONTROL. 3 COLD SEASONS USE SHOULD PRESENT A RECALL. COMPLETELY FAILED CONSTRUCTION OF MAKEUP PARTS. THIS PRESENTS UNSAFE LACK OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL POWER. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

EVER SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD WHAT SOUNDS LIKE WATER IN THE DASH WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I'M CONSTANTLY REFILLING THE ANTIFREEZE DAILY, 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. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE SOME WHERE IN THE ENGINE. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HEADS DUE TO THE LEAKAGE. ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE OIL CAUSE WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I'VE ALREADY FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND THEY ALSO DID A REVERSE FLUSH AND THE WATER GUSHING NOICE IS STILL THERE. GM NEEDS TO GET THIS FIXED...

CHEVROLET PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO KEEP ONE'S CAR FROM BEING STOLEN BUT THE WIDESPREAD ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE A DANGER TO ITS DRIVERS. THIS SYSTEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT HINDERS THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. *TR

THE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM VALVE DOOR BREAKING. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY MY DEALER THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR YET IT IS COSTING CONSUMERS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. TO FIX. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRAP DOOR THAT RELEASES THE HEAT. *TR

8/17/10 WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF - NO WARNING & ALL THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CAR AT THE CHEVY DEALER SINCE I PURCHASED BRAND NEW. TOOK CAR TO CHEVY DEALER & THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT THOUGHT IT MAY BE DUE TO A DIRTY THROTTLE BODY, SO THEY CLEANED IT. 9/1/10 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN AND AGAIN ON 9/3/10 SO MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH CHEVY DEALER & THEY SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE & THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE SWITCH. 9/10/10 PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN & CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. CHEVY DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM YET. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN TO HAVE YOUR CAR SHUT OFF WHILE SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOES RESTART BUT I HAVE TO SIT AND TRY SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX AFTER I DRIVE IT AND IT SITS FOR AWHILE...30 MINS OR SO ....IT DOESN'T WANT TO START AGAIN....I HAVE READ SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEARS (NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING) WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WEEK. JUST YESTERDAY, WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE DECIDED TO GO BACK DOWN IN GEAR, AND IT MADE THE VEHICLE JUMP. THEN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, IT WOULD NOT GET OUT OF GEAR AND STAYED AT 15 MPH. I HAD TO LET OFF THE GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN RESUMED ACCELERATING. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BUT YESTERDAY WAS THE SCARIEST, WHEN I COULDN'T MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC AT THE SPEED THAT I NEEDED TO. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED THE LOT WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT IN FOR THIS THURSDAY. I BEGAN REVIEWING POSTS ON OTHER WEBSITES AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE WERE ON THIS VERY ISSUE. THIS IS VERY SCARY, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ABS AND HUB SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY AFTER SHE PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

BOUGHT IN JAN 2009 WITH 65,000 ON IT. SUMMER 09 IN A RAIN STORM IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE TURNED A FAUCET ON IN MY CAR THE WATER WAS COMING IN ON DRIVERS SIDE MY LEFT FOOT LOOKED LIKE IN THE TUB, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. OUT OF POCKET $100, THE BY END OF 09 THE REAL FUN BEGAN, HAD ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED, KNOCKING IN CAR WHEN CAR STARTED FOR FIRST 5 MINUTES. THE BY OCTOBER CAR WAS OVER HEATING, HEAT ONLY BLEW WHEN CAR WAS MOVING, CAR NOW HAD 118137 REPLACED THE ENDER BLOWER MOTORS, COOLANT FANS AND FAN MOTOR, CALLED AND REPORTED TO CHEVY, THEN IN NOVEMBER 010, IT ALL HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME HAD TO HAVE BLEND ARM DOOR REPLACED CAR CALLED CHEVY NOPE NOT A ISSUE PER INTERNET ITS MAJOR ISSUE. REPLACED AT MY COST $891. RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 2010, GASKETS AND SEALS BLEW CAR OVER HEATED THEN SHUT OFF, HAD TO LET IT COOL DOWN THEN START UP AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE, GASKETS AND SEALS. NOW 7/12 CHEVY WANTS TO REIMBURSE FOR THE PART BUT DECIDED TO FIGHT ME TOOTH AND NAIL ON THE REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR. TRADED IT IN APRIL 2012 COULD NOT LONGER AFFORD IT AND TRANS FELT LIKE ITS GOING TO GO. CHEVY SAID I WILL GET A PARTIAL REFUND OF BLEND ARM DOOR ONLY? WTF THE CAR PUT ME AND MY CHILDREN IN DANGER AND THAT'S ALL THEY WANT TO DO BUT YET FIGHT ME? ALSO I REPORTED TO CHEVY ALL THESE ISSUES, THE BBB, A LAWYER AT THIS POINT, 2 TV NETWORK NEWS PROGRAMS, AND ALL AVAILABLE MULTIMEDIA. *TR

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY DAUGHTER'S FRONT CRASH ACCIDENT. HER CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE HIT A MAILBOX AND IN A SPIN ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT HER BACK. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO SHATTERED AND ALSO HAD A BACK FLAT TIRE. I CALLED OUR LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL GM. SHE CALLED GM BUT THEY GOT HER UPSET AND SHE IN OTHER WORDS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A DEFECT OF THIS MODEL AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SWITCH FROM AIR CONDITIONING TO HEAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN THE BEGINNING BUT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRIP FLAPPER DOOR ON THE HEATING COIL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

MY HEADLIGHT ALWAYS GET FOGY AND BUILDING UP WATER INSIDE WHICH IT MIGHT CAUSE SHORTAGE IN THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OR EVEN CAUSE FIRE IN THE CAR, THE SEAL IS IN GOOD SHAPE. I TRIED TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THAT BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. MY ONLY GUESSING IS THE BULBS ARE CAUSING HEAT THAT MAKES FOG THEN TURNS TO BUILD UP WATER INSIDE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND I FOUND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY CHEVY HAVE A SOLUTION FOR MY ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING. I BEGAN LOOKING ONLINE TO POSSIBLY SEE WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG WITH IT ONLY TO FIND THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING MANY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING. APPARENTLY IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC BLEND DOOR PART AND ACTUATOR. THE TOTAL COST OF PARTS IS AROUND $150, HOWEVER THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $1000! THE REASON BEING IS THEY HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN ORDER TO REACH THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF THE CAR. I REALIZE WHEN OWNING A VEHICLE THAT ISSUES ARISE AND MUST BE DEALT WITH, BUT THE FRUSTRATING THING HERE IS CHEVY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL NOR A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS NOT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. I TEND TO DISAGREE. WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY DEFROST AND DE-ICE YOUR WINDSHIELD YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF IN VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS MY FEELING THAT GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS BETTER THAN THIS. ONE QUICK ONLINE SEARCH WILL REVEAL THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS. THEY HAVE SINCED REPLACED THE PLASTIC PART WITH WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY USED WHICH IS A METAL PIECE. THE PLASTIC PIECE WAS CHOOSEN AS A COST SAVINGS MEASURE THAT IN MY OPINION ONLY SAVED GM MONEY AND NOT THE END CONSUMER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I HOPE SOMETHING WITH BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WOULD NOT START YESTERDAY MORNING. PUT A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT, IT STARTED THEN WHEN I GOT TO THE STORE AND CAME OUT TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START! FINALLY GOT IT TO START AFTER I LIFTED THE HOOD AND BANGED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP AND PARKED IT, WAS TOLD TO DRIVE TRUCK AROUND TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND GUESS WHAT? IT WOULD NOT START. THEY CHARGED $230 TO "FIX" IT. WAS SUPPOSEDLY POOR TERMINAL FIT AT STARTER SOLENOID CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT AT STARTER RELAY. GOT MY TRUCK HOME, DECIDED TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN! :( *TR