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2006 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

602 reports with mileage · 93 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 247 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports9 fire reports11 injury reports

Steering complaints

34 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2024
SteeringSuspensionWheels

Bent driveshaft

NHTSA ODI #11573657

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2022
SteeringUnknown Or OtherWheels

I just got the car on Thursday, 11/3/2022. around 1:00 pm. On 11/3/2022 around 3:30 pm, the following happened: The equinox started wobbling as I reached the speed of approximately 40 mph. Then I had a red light. After it turned green and I began driving, the vehicle started wobbling and it was hard to control my position in t…

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I just got the car on Thursday, 11/3/2022. around 1:00 pm. On 11/3/2022 around 3:30 pm, the following happened: The equinox started wobbling as I reached the speed of approximately 40 mph. Then I had a red light. After it turned green and I began driving, the vehicle started wobbling and it was hard to control my position in the traffic lane. Other drivers avoided me, and slowed down to prevent an accident. At this point, I reached a reduced speed construction area. When I drove at about 20 mph, the vehicle wobbled even worse. The driver’s side wheel started going clunk, clunk., so I pulled into a gas station. The left front tire was low, but nowhere near flat. A man put some air in the tire and it held the air. At that point, I recognized that it was too dangerous to drive the vehicle again. Chevy roadside assistance took it to the nearest dealer, Mills Chevrolet. They will look at it on Monday 11/4/2022.

NHTSA ODI #11492349

171,318 miles · Aug 12, 2020
Service BrakesSteering

FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZED UP. OVER-HEATING DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRICTION FROM BRAKES LOCKING. FRONT END STARTED SHAKING DUE TO FRONT END BRAKES SEIZING WHILE IN MOTION. FRONT CALIPERS SMOKING DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRICTION BUILD UP. I WAS ON US 265 IN NEW ALBANY, IN. SHAKING SEEMED TO SUBSIDE A BIT WHILE TURNING.

NHTSA ODI #11348852

172,000 miles · Apr 28, 2020
SteeringSuspensionWheels

BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 11/3/19, WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THERE WAS A HORRIBLE THUMPING AND VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING THE WHEEL. SO I TOOK IT BACK, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPLACE MY WHEEL HUB ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, I RETURN TO PICK UP MY CAR, THE SAME ISSUE IS THERE JUST NOT AS BAD, HE CLAIMED HE STILL REPLACED THE WHEEL HUB. SO…

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BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 11/3/19, WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THERE WAS A HORRIBLE THUMPING AND VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING THE WHEEL. SO I TOOK IT BACK, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPLACE MY WHEEL HUB ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, I RETURN TO PICK UP MY CAR, THE SAME ISSUE IS THERE JUST NOT AS BAD, HE CLAIMED HE STILL REPLACED THE WHEEL HUB. SO I TAKE THE TIRE OFF MYSELF AND INSPECT THE WHEEL HUB AND TIRES, AND THEY IN FACT DIDNT REPLACE THE HUB, THEY JUST SILICONED THE WHEEL HUB TO THE END OF THE AXLE SHAFT, WHICH NOW HAS CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO MY TRANS AND OR SUSPENSION. I CALL TO LET THEM KNOW AND THE OWNER FIRST PLAYED STUPID AS IF HE DIDNT KNOW IF THEY REPLACED IT, SO I TOLD THEM ID CALL BACK. I WAITED A WEEK CALLED BACK, LET HIM KNOW WHAT I FOUND ON THE WHEEL HUB THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED.. THEN HE GETS NASTY AND SAYS ITS OUT OF THEIR HANDS ECT, AND THEY DID REPLACE IT.. WELL NO WHEEL HUB IS GONG TO GO BAD IN LESS THEN A MONTH WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND THERE IS NO REASON AT ALL SILICONE SHOULD BE USED TO HOLD ANYTHING TO AN AXLE OR WHEEL HUB. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND WIFE, AND I AM SUPPOSE TO CONTINUE TO PAY ANOTHER 2700 DOLLARS ON A CAR THEY LIED ABOUT DURING MY WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11322567

180,000 miles · Apr 27, 2020
EngineSteeringWheels

CAR KEEPS OVERHEATING REPLACED EVERYTHING STILL OVERHEATING

NHTSA ODI #11322333

180,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTERWARDS, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTERWARDS, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #11217720

147,617 miles · Nov 12, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

WHILE TURNING ON THE CAR AND DRIVING THE TC, BRAKE LIGHT, ABS, ENGINE, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS TURN ON AND THE CAR TURNS OFF BUT CONTINUES TO DRIVE. AS YOU DRIVE IT CONTINUES TO RING THE BELLS AND TURN ON OF THE OFF AND ON INCLUDING THE RADIO. YOU CAN ALSO PULL THE KEY OUT AND IT CONTINUES TO DRIVE. ALL THIS ON HIGHWAY AND CITY ST…

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WHILE TURNING ON THE CAR AND DRIVING THE TC, BRAKE LIGHT, ABS, ENGINE, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS TURN ON AND THE CAR TURNS OFF BUT CONTINUES TO DRIVE. AS YOU DRIVE IT CONTINUES TO RING THE BELLS AND TURN ON OF THE OFF AND ON INCLUDING THE RADIO. YOU CAN ALSO PULL THE KEY OUT AND IT CONTINUES TO DRIVE. ALL THIS ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ODI #11151054

78,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

LOSS CONTROL OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING STABILIZER LIGHT CAME ON COULDN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #11062186

93,232 miles · Sep 25, 2015
Steering

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. I HAD SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON AT ONE TIME AND THE GAS LEVEL IN THE CAR WAS NOT REGISTERING. I WAS TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AT THE STORE SO I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFE TO PARK MY CAR. THI…

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I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. I HAD SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON AT ONE TIME AND THE GAS LEVEL IN THE CAR WAS NOT REGISTERING. I WAS TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AT THE STORE SO I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFE TO PARK MY CAR. THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME A WEEK PRIOR TO THE DATE ON THE REPORT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I PARKED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE THE NEXT DAY. THIS TIME AROUND, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR THE NEXT DAY, I NOTICED THAT ALL THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WENT OFF, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL NOT FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA ODI #10776555

109,000 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10749224

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems