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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

58 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT THE HEATER WILL ONLY BLOW COLD AIR , NO HEAT , TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THIS COULD COST ME $1200, OR $800, , I ALREDY REPLACED ONCE AND NOW HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655174

97,412 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING AROUND 6:10 TO TAKE MAY DAUGHTER TO THE BUS STOP. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO GET WARM AND BEFORE I WENT TO PULL OFF, I TURNED ON THE HEAT, THE TEMP SETTING WAS SET IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. I TURNED THE KNOB ALL THE WAY TO HEAT AND THEN TURNED THE BLOWER SETTING UP. NOTHING B…

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I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING AROUND 6:10 TO TAKE MAY DAUGHTER TO THE BUS STOP. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO GET WARM AND BEFORE I WENT TO PULL OFF, I TURNED ON THE HEAT, THE TEMP SETTING WAS SET IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. I TURNED THE KNOB ALL THE WAY TO HEAT AND THEN TURNED THE BLOWER SETTING UP. NOTHING BUT COLD AIR. WE SAT AT THE BUS STOP AND EVEN AFTER IT CAME THERE WAS STILL NO HEAT. LATER THAT MORNING I TOOK MY OTHER CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I SIT IN A VERY LONG CAR POOL LINE AND DROP THEM OFF AT THE FRONT DOOR. THE ENTIRE TRIP WAS WITHOUT HEAT. IN THE AFTERNOON I REPEAT THE MORNING BY PICKING UP THE CHILDREN WITHOUT HEAT. THE ENGINE WAS HEATED UP THERE WAS NO REASON THAT I KNEW OF THAT THE HEATER SHOULD NOT WORK. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND CHEVY HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. I WAS ALSO INFORMED OF WHAT THIS WOULD COST ME TO REPAIR AND WHY.I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A PLASTIC PART AND REQUIRES THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD BE TAKEN APART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654967

35,000 miles · Sep 23, 2013
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER DIAGNOSIS BY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY/DAMAGED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED SAFETY COMPLAINTS FILED IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. A RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE ATTAINE…

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HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER DIAGNOSIS BY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR FOR THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY/DAMAGED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED SAFETY COMPLAINTS FILED IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. A RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE ATTAINED AS THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS ITEM IS AROUND $1000. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BY GM SINCE IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE INABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD IS NOT THERE.

NHTSA ODI #10545003

99,892 miles · Jun 21, 2012
Unknown Or Other

VERY COLD MORNING. WINDOWS FOGGED UP. TURNED ON DEFROST HEARD SOMETHING POP AND FELT COLD AIR COME INTO THE CAR. DROVE TO WORK BY WIPING THE WINDOW WITH NAPKINS. CALLED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CALLED DEALER TO ASK IF THEIR WAS A RECALL AND CHECK PRICE AGAINST MECHANI…

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VERY COLD MORNING. WINDOWS FOGGED UP. TURNED ON DEFROST HEARD SOMETHING POP AND FELT COLD AIR COME INTO THE CAR. DROVE TO WORK BY WIPING THE WINDOW WITH NAPKINS. CALLED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CALLED DEALER TO ASK IF THEIR WAS A RECALL AND CHECK PRICE AGAINST MECHANICS. DEALERS PRICE WAS THE SAME. INTERESTING PART WAS DEALER DENIED ANY SUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT GM WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT THE DEALER SAYS I DO NOT QUALIFY. THIS IS NO CHEAP REPAIR. LOOKING FOR A CLASS ACTION OR GOOD LAWYER. FOUND YOUR SITE TO VENT AND HELP OTHERS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462675

47,859 miles · Jan 19, 2012
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainUnknown Or Other

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10444579

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2012
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF A 2006 EQUINOX. NO HEAT!!! I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED INTO AND HAVE WASTED OVER $900 ON TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! SHAME ON THEM!!! I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN A FREEZING COLD CAR EVERY DAY BECAUSE I CAN'T…

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I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF A 2006 EQUINOX. NO HEAT!!! I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED INTO AND HAVE WASTED OVER $900 ON TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! SHAME ON THEM!!! I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN A FREEZING COLD CAR EVERY DAY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE $1200 THAT I FIND OUT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO THIS!! I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CHEVY OWNER SINCE I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR YEARS AGO...BUT NOW I WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING ONE OR EVEN SUGGESTING ONE TO A ANYONE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10444488

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2012
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT NOT WORKING IN MY CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER THEY CHARGED ME $50.00 TO LOOK AT IT, DISCOVERED IT WAS THE BLEND AIR DOOR THAT WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT WAS ODD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM TO HAVE. $40.00 PART FOR A $900.00-$1200.00 FIX. HAD TO GE…

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I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT NOT WORKING IN MY CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER THEY CHARGED ME $50.00 TO LOOK AT IT, DISCOVERED IT WAS THE BLEND AIR DOOR THAT WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT WAS ODD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM TO HAVE. $40.00 PART FOR A $900.00-$1200.00 FIX. HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED AS WE NEED THE HEAT IN WI. ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN I DRIVE. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM NERVOUS TO EVEN USE MY HEAT AS I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS HAPPENING OFTEN. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO KEEP FIXING THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10444363

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2011
Unknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #10437129

300 miles · May 11, 2011
Unknown Or Other

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK WITH AMERICAN CARS BUT MY WIFE LIKED IT. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS SHE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ALMOST EVERY COMPLAINT FILED LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. IF I HAD THE POWER I WOULD CLASSIFY THE CHEVY EQUINOX AS LEMON AND RECAL…

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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK WITH AMERICAN CARS BUT MY WIFE LIKED IT. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS SHE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ALMOST EVERY COMPLAINT FILED LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. IF I HAD THE POWER I WOULD CLASSIFY THE CHEVY EQUINOX AS LEMON AND RECALL THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BUT I DON'T. GM NEED TO STEP TO THE PLATE AND ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECALL THE EQUINOX YEAR 2005-2006 NOW!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399957

65,000 miles · Apr 22, 2011
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON AND DEFROSTER NOT LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN. NO HEAT MEANS WINDOWS FOG UP AND AND CAN NOT SEE TO DRIVE, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD …

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VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON AND DEFROSTER NOT LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN. NO HEAT MEANS WINDOWS FOG UP AND AND CAN NOT SEE TO DRIVE, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN RAINY OR SNOWY COLD WEATHER. ACCORDING TO OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THE COST TO REPAIR IS AROUND $1200 FOR $50-$80 METAL PART.

NHTSA ODI #10397764

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.

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