NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I INSTALLED A SUNSHINE KIDS RADIAN XTSL IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX REAR-FACING CENTER USING THE LATCH SYSTEM/REAR FACING TETHER. A WEEK OR SO AFTER INSTALLING, AS MY DAUGHTER GOT IN THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE LATCH STRAP HAD LOOSENED SIGNIFICANTLY AND THAT THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER IN TIGHTLY. I TOOK MY DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR AND RE-INSTALLED THE SEAT IT TIGHTLY. I FOUND THAT I WAS THEN ABLE TO EASILY SHAKE THE SEAT AS THE LATCH STRAP LOOSENED. IT SEEMED LIKE THE ANGLE THAT THE LATCH CONNECTOR HIT THE CAR SEAT PREVENTED THE CONNECTOR FROM STAYING IN THE LOCKED POSITION. I WAS EASILY ABLE TO TAP THE CONNECTOR AND SEE THE LATCH BELT LOOSEN. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO GET A TIGHT INSTALL WITH THE SEAT BELT IN ANY SEAT POSITION, I SWITCHED OUT THE XTSL FOR MY BRITAX BLVD. CS AND EMAILED SUNSHINE KIDS JUVENILE PRODUCTS ABOUT THE ISSUE. THEY REPLIED PROMPTLY AND COURTEOUSLY AND SENT ME A NEW SUPER LATCH CONNECTOR. IT ARRIVED QUICKLY AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2006, MAKE=CHEVROLET, MODEL=EQUINOX). *TR
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING IT. THE CD/RADIO WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY DISPLAYING NUMBERS/LETTERS AND SIGNS. -FAILURE TO START -POOR FUEL ECONOMY -RADIO/CD FAILURE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR FAULTY PCM, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER A NHTSA RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT IT CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEMS LISTED ABOVE AT RANDOM TIMES: I CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO LISTING FOR RECALLS ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *LN
I TOOK MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX TO DEALERSHIP FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. WE WERE LOSING STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER 2ND VISIT I WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I SEE FROM INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER AND GM DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES AUTO OWNERS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT OUR COST. *TR
HEAT IN 2006 EQUINOX CHEVY QUIT DUE TO HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILURE. COST TO FIX WAS $944 + TAX. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW, AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT GMC EXPENSE, NOT THE CONSUMER. ALSO CAREGARD WARRANTY SERVICES INC. DIDN'T COVER THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE AIR AND HEATING SYSTEM IS COVERED IN THEIR POLICY. DUE TO SMALL PRINT AND A PLAY ON WORDS THEY CAN CLAIM THAT ANY PART THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT BY NAME IS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE HEATING SYSTEM IS COVERED. STAY AWAY FROM BOTH CHEVROLET AND CAREGARD WARRANTY SERVICES INC. *TR
YESTERDAY I GOT IN MY VEHICLE, TURNED ON THE HEAT AND DEFROSTERS. I ONLY GOT VERY COLD AIR, THE CAR NEVER WARMED UP, THE WINDOWS NEVER DEFROSTED, THEY ONLY BECAME FOGGY INSIDE. G.M. SAYS THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF THIS PROBLEM. THE INTERNET RECORDS OVER 500 INCIDENTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX'S. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED, G.M. KNOWS THE PART (PLASTIC) FAILS BECAUSE ON LATER MODELS THEY BEGAN USING A METAL PART.
ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011, I BEGAN NOTICING THE START UP PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. IT INTERMITTENTLY HAS EXCESSIVE CRANKING TIME TO START AND AS OF LATELY (JAN. 19, 2012) IT ONLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO GET IT SERVICED THE SAME DAY AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. I PAID FOR THAT BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE RADIO REPLACED AND THE GAS HAS HAD MANY FUEL DELIVERY ISSUES. I BELIEVE IT IS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS RECALLED IN THE 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. IT NEEDS TO ALSO BE RECALLED FOR THE 2006 SO THAT I CAN STOP WASTING MY TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WASN?T BUILT RIGHT. THANK YOU. *TT
MY ABS BRAKES WERE LOCKING WHILE DRIVING AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR WHICH REQUIRED REPEATED STOMPING ON BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER REPAIRED FRONT HUB BEARINGS AND SENSORS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER OR GM DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE AND ALSO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR WAS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TR
2006 EQUINOX LT I RECEIVE THE 30 DAY FACTORY WARRANTY I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER GROUP LLC I PURCHASED THE CAR 2-11-11 BEFORE THE 30 DAY WARRANTY WENT OUT I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR OVERHEATING ON FEB 8 GOT CAR BACK ON FEB 15, ON MARCH 11 TOOK THE CAR AGAIN FOR OVERHEATING RECEIVED CAR BACK ON MARCH 18, 4-27-11 TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE THE INSPECTION STICKER WAS 2010, ON MAY 03 TOOK THE CAR IN FOR OVERHEATING GOT CAR BACK ON MAY 10, TOOK CAR ON 8-22-11 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING AS OF TODAY THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO GET SERVICED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING TOOK THE CAR BACK 3/12 AND 5/12 FOR THE SAME ISSUES AND AS OF TODAY 10/29/12 THE SAME ISSUES I AM GETTING TIRED OF PAYING THE 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES, THE FANS TWICE AND SENSORS AND THEN THE FANS IT IS TO MANY PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVING WITH THESE EQUINOX AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE UN HAPPY NOTHING IS GETTING DONE ABOUT THIS SOMETHING NEED TO HAPPEN PISSED CUSTOMER I WAS SOLD A LEMON WHAT ABOUT THE LEMON LAW IN TEXAS THIS NEED TO BE A RECALL AND GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT BLOWER MALFUNCTIONED; NEITHER THE HEAT NOR DEFROSTER WOULD WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN EARLY SPRING 2011, TEMPERATURES IN OKLAHOMA ARE STILL COLD IN MARCH, THE HEATER STOPPED PUTTING OUT HOT AIR. THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT DEFROST. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND HAD TOLD ME THAT THE HEATER IS NOT WORKING. I GUESS I PROCRASTINATED ABOUT IT, AS TEMPERATURES BECAME WARMER, THE HEATER WAS NOT NEEDED. DURING THIS SPRING-SUMMER, I HAPPENED TO GO TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY COUSIN OWNS, THERE SITS A CHEVY EQUINOX, LIKE THE ONE WE OWN. I ASKED THE TECH, WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, HE STATED THAT THE HEATER STOPPED PUTTING OUT HOT AIR THROUGH THE HEATER DUCTS. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DISASSEMBLED. THERE WAS A BAD FEELING COMING UPON ME. HE SHARED HIS FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THIS JOB, AND THE DESIGN/PART THAT WAS USED FOR THIS SYSTEM, THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS HIS 2ND REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS BROKE. I AM LODGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO SUCH AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF NOT ONLY HEATING THE CAR INTERIOR COMPARTMENT, BUT ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM. I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THIS DEFECT WILL COST OVER $1200.00 TO FIX AT THE DEALER. THERE NEED TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. *TR
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX (49351 MILES) JUST QUIT BLOWING HOT AIR THROUGH VENTS OR DEFROSTER. DEALER SAYS A BROKEN BLEND DOOR COST $1500 TO REPAIR. SEEMS THIS MAKE/MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT 50000 MILES. WHAT IS CHEVROLET DOING TO HELP THE PURCHASERS OF THIS VEHICLE. NOT A [XXX] THING. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY/GM PRODUCT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN COOL TEMPS WHERE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I GUESS IT WILL TAKE A FATALITY FOR CHEVY TO ADMIT FAULT AND CORRECT THIS. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!! *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ABS AND TC LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKES GIVE IN AND WILL NOT STOP AS BEFORE. 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. DIFFERENT CODES AND READINGS WHEN HOOKED UP ON MACHINE BY MECHANIC. MASTER CYLINDER AND SENSOR, LEFT FRONT HUB BEARING REPLACED WITH SENSOR AND ABS MODULE REPLACED. STILL SAME PROBLEM. *TR
MY TEMPERATURE DOOR ON THE HEATER HAS BROKEN OFF AT THE ACUATOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND MY HEATER DOESN'T WORK CAUSING DANGER WHEN COLD WITH NO DEFROST OR HEAT THE PART IS PLASTIC BUT REQUIRES 9 HOURS LABOR TO REPLACE AND 3 DAYS IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT IS IN SUCH A DIFFICULT LOCATION TO GET TO REQUIRING REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE DASH AND HVAC UNIT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THERE WAS NO AIR BEING BLOWN OUT AT ALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
TEMPERATURE HEATER DOOR BROKEN. DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK IN WINTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED A WEEK LATER THAT ALL THE ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE CIRCULATION VENTS WHEN THE HEATER WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HEATED AIR TO BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE WINTER, THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER STOPPED WORKING. THE NEXT DAY, THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND ONLY COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. UPDATED 04/27/11
I BROUGHT MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX IN FOR A OIL CHANGE ON 1/4/11 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CARRIER BEARING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMPLETELY SHOT. I WAS INFORMED TO BRING IT TO A MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY OTHERWISE I WILL LOSE MY DRIVE SHAFT. I BROUGHT MY CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GM AND THE PART WAS AROUND $500-$600. I CONTACTED GM BECAUSE IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WENT MY CAR COULD HAVE FLIPPED AND PUT ME AND OTHERS IN DANGER. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE COSTS OF THE BEARING. WHEN THE BEARING GOES, WHICH I'M TOLD SHOULD HAVE NEVER GONE, THE CAR SHOULD VIBRATE BADLY OR MAKE NOISES WHICH EVEN THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT NO SIGNS WERE GIVEN. IF I HAD NOT BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A OIL CHANGE I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DRIVE MYSELF ALONG WITH A DISABLED DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THIS CAR AND I HAVE PUT ALL OF US AT RISK EVEN OTHER DRIVERS. THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECTIVE BEARING THAT GM REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF. I FEEL THAT THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS EXPENSIVE PART AND THEN HAVE IT REPAIRED. THANK GOD FOR THE OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I FEEL SAVED MY LIFE AND OTHERS. *TR
CPSC# I1130330A. 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. VECICLE HAS NO HEAT, THIS IS DO TO A 35.OO PLASTIC PART THAT SHOULD SWITCH FROM HEAT TO COOL WHICH IS STUCK AND MALFUNCTIONING INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *LN
TL*THE CONTACT 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEATER ACTUATOR CRACKED AND CAUSED THE HEAT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500.
AS WITH WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED TO BE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS...WITH OUT WARNING OR PRIOR ISSUES, MY HEATER IS NO LONGER "HEATING" THE AIR. IT JUST BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE ACTUATOR/BLEND DOOR (WHICH IS A PLASTIC PART) AND THAT TO CORRECT IT, REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASH TO BE REMOVED, 8+ HOURS OF LABOR AND UPWARDS OF $1000 IN REPAIR COSTS. I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE SO EARLY INTO THE LIFE/OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO GET IT CORRECTED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT ALSO PREVENTS THE DEFROSTER FROM WORKING AS WELL. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN IN THE TEENS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE COLD AND SNOWY CONDITIONS. I HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OWNER FORUMS ACROSS THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE ALSO SINCE LEARNED THAT GM RECALLED THE 2010 MODEL FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON BUT IS IGNORING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE EARLIER MODELS. GM NEEDS TO BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY COST CUTTING WAYS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM VIA A RECALL. *TR
2006 EQUINOX STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATED AT STOP LIGHT. REPLACED THERMOSTAT, BUT DIDN'T RESOLVE. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKET . COST WITH INITIAL THERMOSTAT AND CURRENT WORK APPROXIMATELY $3K. MECHANIC SHOPS CONTACTED GM AND WERE NOT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SUCH AS MINE, THOUGH A MYRAID OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON LINE THAT STATES THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
WE HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS CONTINUOUSLY HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT DEACTIVATES THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATOR. WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU CAN ONLY MOVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE PEDAL FLOORED AT 1 MILE PER HOUR WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE ON A HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND AS YOU CAN NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF HIGH SPEED VEHICLES THAT MAY BE APPROACHING. WE HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY AS TO THE POINT WE FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVY AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON VACATION AS WE COULD BE STRANDED. *TR
AT 46,000 MILES HEATER BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. CAN'T DEFROST WINDOWS. PROBLEM STARTED DECEMBER 23, 2010. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURE. DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING BETWEEN $800-$1200. ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO SWITCH OUT A PLASTIC PART THAT WAS PLACED INSTEAD OF A METAL ONE. *TR
HEAT BEGAN BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR, COULD NOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD. WAS ON A TRIP WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. IT BECAME VERY COLD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE; DANGEROUS. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IS A BROKEN TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR ACTUATOR. GM IS SO FAR UNWILLING TO AID IN REPAIR COST. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FROST UP. TOOK TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS A BROKEN HEATER BLEND DOOR AND IT COST ME $1598.00 TO FIX. CHEVROLET DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THEREFORE WILL NO ISSUE A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ON OTHER SITES AND THERE ARE SOME CASES OF PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THE PART 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. *TR
2006 EQUINOX...HEAT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR..CANNOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A SAFETY FEATURE..HVAC FAILS TO BLOW WARM AIR..HVAC TEMPERATURE DOOR FAILED..THIS IS ONLY HAPPENING IN 2006 EQUINOX..MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE 2006 EQUINOX. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE CONTACT WAS OPERATING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT; HOWEVER, HEAT WAS BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY COLD AIR WOULD FLOW FROM THE VENTS INSTEAD OF HEAT; THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER FLAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A SCREW WAS INSTALLED TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON SHE COULD FEEL HOT AIR BLOWING FROM THE VENTS. DUE TO THE LOSS OF HOT AIR THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG AND DISRUPT HER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
OUR CAR 2006 EQUINOX VIN [XXX] HEATER FAILED AND DEFROSTER THEN DID NOT WORK. DECEMBER 5 MY HEATER ON THIS CAR FAILED TO WORK CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN MY CAR AS IT WAS COLD AND DEFROST WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WINDOW KEPT FOGGING OVER. NOTED THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS. REPORTED THIS TO CHEVY. PART THAT DETERMINES HEAT VS COOL FAILS, PART COSTS ABOUT $38.22, CHEVY CHARGED OVER $1317 TO REPAIR AS THIS PART IS IN THE DASHBOARD AND SUPPOSEDLY DIFFICULT TO REACH!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. LETTER FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR COLLINS ON BEHALF CONSTITUENT RE THE CHEVY EQUINOX RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND OCCASIONALLY THE HEAT WOULD NOT WORK. DURING THE SUMMER, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE WHEN HIS DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITION MODE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED IT WAS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE 2005-2010 MODELS AND A RECALL HAD ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2010 MODEL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE DOOR BLEND, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE TEMP CONTROL AND BY THE DOOR MOVING BETWEEN THE HEAT AND AC, THE TEMPERATURE COULD BE ADJUSTED. THE DOOR USED TO HAVE A METAL TAB THAT CONNECTED TO THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. STARTING WITH THE 2005 MODELS, GM USED A PLASTIC TAB. THE TAB WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND SNAPPED OFF CAUSING THE DOOR TO STAY IN THE AC POSITION. *JB
I WAS READING THROUGH OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE A YEAR AGO. MY 2006 EQUINOX WAS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. I TOOK IT IN TO GET FIXED (WHILE STILL UNDER WARENTY) AND HAD TO PAY ABOUT $900. WELL, ABOUT $750 FOR LABOR. THEY SAID SINCE IT'S REGULAR WEAR & TEAR I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF IT BEFORE. THE HAD TO TAKE OFF MY ENTIRE DASH BOARD! IT WAS JUST A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT BROKE OFF THAT DOOR BEHIND ALL THE CONTROLS. I ACTUALLY GOT ON HERE BECAUSE RECENTLY MY SAFETY/AUTO THEFT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE I'M DRIVING! THE OTHER DAY MY CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH IT OR NOT! HAS ANYONE ELSE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS? IS IT A BIG DEAL? HELP? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR ACUATOR WOULD OVEREXTEND AND BREAK. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE HEAT AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON AND WOULD OCCUR AGAIN EVEN AFTER REPAIR IF THE HEAT WAS ON FULL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,622.
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR 19 MONTHS I HAD BOUGHT IT USED FROM A GM DEALER. I WAS DRIVING TO THANKSGIVING AND NOTICE IT NO LONGER BLEW HOT AIR. THE SUV ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT SO I BEGAN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT AN UNKNOWN PROBLEM, THE CHEVY EQUINOX FROM 2005 TO 2010 HAS A DEFECTIVE TEMPERATURE VALVE ACULATOR AS WELL AS THE HVAC DOOR VALVE, GM DECIDED TO MAKE THESE PARTS PLASTIC AND FROM OTHER BLOGS I HAVE READ THAT AS AN EQUINOX OWNER YOU WHERE NOT TO EVER USE YOUR HEAT ON ITS HIGHEST SETTING THIS WILL DESTROY THE VALVES. THEN UPON TALKING TO A GM DEALER I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE VALVES WILL COST 1500 DOLLARS AND THEY REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC PART AND GIVE YOU A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS IS A DANGER SINCE A DEFROSTER WILL NOT CLEAR A WINDSHIELD IN WINTER WITH COLD AIR. GM HAD THE DECENCY TO RECALL THE 2010 EQUINOX PART, BUT REFUSES TO HEAR OUT ANY OF THE OWNERS OF PRIOR YEAR MODELS. I TURN TO YOU IN HOPES SOME ONE WILL HELP. *TR
LIKE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, OF OTHER 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS, THE HEATER WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR OUT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART THAT WEARS OUT AND BREAKS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT GM IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER WHEN I AM DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND CANNOT SEE WHERE I AM DRIVING BECAUSE I CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDOWS, IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT MY CHILDREN ARE FREEZING. ANY LENGTH OF TIME IN THE DURING A MICHIGAN WINTER WE WILL RISK HYPOTHERMIA & FROSTBITE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS $900 TO FIX, WHICH LIKE MANY OTHERS I DON'T JUST HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY SITTING AROUND AND NOW HAVE TO WAIT AWHILE TO GET THE REPAIR MADE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS GO WRONG WITH CARS AND CARS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH GM'S DESIGN AND DECISION TO USE CHEAP PARTS THAT WOULDN'T LAST AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR POOR DECISION. *TR
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEAT IN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING, BUT THE FAN WORKS. A CHEVY DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED HEATER DOOR, WHICH COSTS $900-$1300 TO FIX AS THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE DASH BOARD APART. I FOUND OUT THIS IS HAPPENING ON A LOT OF 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. CHEVY SHOULD RECALL THIS AND FIX IT AS IT'S A FAULTY PART. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT NOW AS I NEED HEAT IN MY CAR AND NEED A DEFROSTER. CHEVY SHOULD RECALL AND PAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD REIMBURSE ANYONE THAT HAS ALREADY PAID. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE HEATING COIL WHICH WAS BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND HARD TO REACH AND REPLACE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
THE HEAT STARTED TO TAKE LONGER TO WARM UP THEN AFTER A MONTH OF THIS THE HEAT TOTALLY STOP WORKING. I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME. I HAVE RESEARCH THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE THEY CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $900-1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE AIR BLEND DOOR ON THE ACTUATOR THAT CONTROLS THE TEMP OF THE AIRFLOW. I HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM GOING ON SINCE 2008 ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT. *TR
OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND WHEN BRAKING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD. I CAN FEEL THE BRAKES PUMPING (ABS SYSTEM) AND MAKING A RATTLING NOISE WHEN TRYING TO STOP AND THE ABA AND TRACK LIGHTS STAYS ON. *TR
I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. I HAD NO SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS OF THE FAILURE I HAD WITH MY HEATER. NO LEAKS OR SYMPTOMS LEAD UP TO THE ISSUE- IT SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. BECAUSE GM (STARTING ROUGHLY IN 2005) STARTED MANUFACTURING VEHICLES WITH A PLASTIC BLEND DOOR FOR THE ACTUATOR- THE HEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ONLY BLOWS EXTREMELY COOL AIR. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING. WE ARE UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND SEE VISIBLY- THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM GM THAT WE ARE GETTING IS TO "ROLL A WINDOW DOWN" AND WITH 3 INFANTS IN THE CAR, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ESTIMATES RANGE FROM 900 TO 1800 TO FIX THIS PART (WHICH REQUIRES DISMANTLING THE ENTIRE DASH DOWN TO THE FIREWALL) WHICH ARGUABLY CAUSES A DOMINO EFFECT OF OTHER ISSUES TO THE VEHICLE. WITH NO VISIBILITY AND NOW WAY TO TRANSPORT MY INFANT CHILDREN SAFELY IN THE WINTER- THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL THAT IS A SAFETY AND HAZARD ISSUE ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. GM REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. AMERICANS CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR FIX, BUT ALSO CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE NO HEAT. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO AND WE ARE SUFFERING. *TR
THE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND WAS REPLACED FOR ONLY $50 DUE TO CARMAX DEALER WARRANTY. NOW MY CAR HAS 115K MILES ON IT AND THE HEATER IS BLOWING COLD AIR AGAIN. I BELIEVE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM, A BROKEN BLEND DOOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
HEATER WAS WORKING FINE YESTERDAY, THIS MORNING THE HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR, EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS FULLY WARMED UP. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY AIR TEMP DOOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $925. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A CONTINUING AND CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR AND MAKE. *TR
HEATER NOT WORKING ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX CAUSING SAFETY AND VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. ONE DAY THE AC AND HEAT WERE WORKING FINE, THE NEXT DAY THE HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR...NO HEAT AS WELL AS A NON-WORKING WINDOW DEFROSTER. THIS BEGAN IN EARLY NOVEMBER. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TEMPERATURE DOOR (BLEND DOOR). COST IS $100 FOR THE ANALYSIS AND ABOUT $1,000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I HAVE A SECURENET EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY SAY THIS IS NOT COVERED. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP NOW AWAITING MY APPROVAL TO DO THE WORK. I AM IN LIMBO AND LOOKING FOR ANOTHER SHOP WHO CAN MAYBE FIX IT CHEAPER. CONSIDERING THE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ABOUT THIS, AND THE FACT THE PARTS WERE CHEAP AND SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING SO SOON, THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR
2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND NOW HAS 31T MILES ON IT AND THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK. THEREFORE, MY WINDSHIELDS FREEZE UP AND CANNOT BE DEFROSTED. I AM PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD AND AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP SITED IT WOULD COST ME $1,076.00+TAX TO FIX THE AIR DIRECTOR DOOR. *TR
DRIVING 2006 EQUINOX AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE BRAKES DID NOT PRESS DOWN AND SEEM TO BE STUCK. *TR
NOTHING CAUSED THE FAILURE. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HEAT QUIT BLOWING. JUST BLOWS COLD AIR NOW. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE MY 6 YEAR OLD HANDICAPPED SON SHIVERING IN THE BACK SEAT. GM KNOWS ABOUT THEIR DEFECT BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME AS MY WINDOWS FROST UP DRIVING. THE PART IS A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE THAT GM USED THAT IS CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR TO BE FAULTY. TO ACCESS THIS PART THE WHOLE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED, STEERING COLUMN AND ALL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT IS THE MANUFACTURES PROBLEM. *TR
MY CAR LOST ALL HEATING FUNCTION DUE TO A FAULTY HEATER BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR WHICH PREVENTED HOT AIR FLOW FROM COMING INTO VEHICLE. THIS DOOR WAS INSIDE THE DASH CONSOLE AND REQUIRED DISASSEMBLING THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. WE WERE DRIVING AND UNABLE TO DEFROST OUR WINDSHIELD AS NO HEAT WAS COMING OUT OF VENTS AND ICE/FOG BUILD UP DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. THE VEHICLE BECAME A DANGER TO OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS AS WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED AND BLOCKED. DEALER AND GM CONSIDERED THIS A NON-SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRES AUTO OWNERS TO REPAIR THE FAULTY PARTS. *TR
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE, IT PULSATED AND THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/HUB ASSEMBLY AND THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON AGAIN. THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. AS YOU BRAKE, THE BRAKES PULSATE LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO ADJUST THEMSELVES. THIS IS SCARY AS YOU FEAR YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP OR REAR END SOMEONE EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE NEED TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE IN, BUT WHO WANTS SOMETHING CHEVROLET WON'T OR CAN'T FIX? *TR
2006 EQUINOX SUDDENLY BEGAN BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR, REGARDLESS OF THE HEAT/COLD SETTINGS, 100% OF THE TIME. THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE DEFROST FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE LEADING TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. OUT OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD, THE QUOTES FOR REPAIR RANGE FROM $800 TO $1800. THIS IS NOT AFFORDABLE AT THIS TIME, AND GIVEN ALL THE OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE INTERNET, I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD RESULTING FROM DECREASED VISIBILITY. FOR REFERENCE, PLEASE SEE THESE FORUMS FOR ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.WEB2CARZ.COM/797/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/REVIEWS/OVERVIEW HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4/P18 AFTER BRIEF BROWSING OF THESE FORUMS, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOWHERE NEAR UNIQUE TO MINE! *TR
OVER THE PAST YEAR MY CHEVY EQUINOX HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH CHANGE OUT TWICE BECAUSE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE IGNITION CYLINDER SWELLS AND THE KEY CAN NOT BE TURNED. THE PAST THREE MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHERE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND WILL NOT START AGAIN. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026