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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

Visibility complaints

247 reports
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40,000 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Visibility

MY BLEND DOOR ALSO BROKE FROM DEEP INSIDE THE DASH CAUSING THE HEAT SETTING TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND I AM UNABLE TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP ON THE FIRST TRY AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE TO START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS …

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MY BLEND DOOR ALSO BROKE FROM DEEP INSIDE THE DASH CAUSING THE HEAT SETTING TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND I AM UNABLE TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP ON THE FIRST TRY AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE TO START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392493

85,423 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Visibility

JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO AND TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND IT COST ME $1200.00 TO FIX AND NOW AGAIN THE DOOR HAS BROKEN AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT A SECOND TIME. THERE IS NO HEAT AND THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE WINDOWS IMMEDIATELY FOGGED UP AND I COULDN'T SEE. THERE WAS AIR B…

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JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO AND TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BROKE AND IT COST ME $1200.00 TO FIX AND NOW AGAIN THE DOOR HAS BROKEN AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT A SECOND TIME. THERE IS NO HEAT AND THIS HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE WINDOWS IMMEDIATELY FOGGED UP AND I COULDN'T SEE. THERE WAS AIR BLOWING BUT IT WAS COLD AIR. THERE IS NO HEAT AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392193

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

THE BLEND DOOR IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX LT IS BROKEN. THE KNOB THAT TURNS IT FROM COLD TO HOT IS CRACKED AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS PIECE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFE…

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THE BLEND DOOR IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX LT IS BROKEN. THE KNOB THAT TURNS IT FROM COLD TO HOT IS CRACKED AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS PIECE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT IS ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD ON A COLD DAY WITH COLD AIR. I HAVE DRIVEN WITH FOGGED WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD ALMOST HITTING OBJECTS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE AND GM NEEDS TO PLACE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10390133

41,169 miles · Mar 12, 2011
Visibility

COMPLAINANT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WHERE THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ON MARCH 1, 2011. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR TEMP ACTUATOR OVER ACTUATED AND BROKE THE AIR TEMP DOOR. THE AIR TEMP DOOR AND ACTUATOR ARE NOW FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE OF $1200 OF WHI…

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COMPLAINANT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WHERE THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING ON MARCH 1, 2011. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR TEMP ACTUATOR OVER ACTUATED AND BROKE THE AIR TEMP DOOR. THE AIR TEMP DOOR AND ACTUATOR ARE NOW FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE OF $1200 OF WHICH MOST OF THE COST IS LABOR DUE TO NEED TO DISASSEMBLE ALL OF THE DASHBOARD TO REPLACE PART. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389911

59,000 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO HEAT FUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO HEAT FUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10389719

40,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Visibility

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX . THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER ON HIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PUT IT ON, IT WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR AND IT IMPAIRED HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR BLENDOR NOB AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. T…

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TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX . THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER ON HIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE MENTIONED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PUT IT ON, IT WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR AND IT IMPAIRED HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR BLENDOR NOB AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. PM

NHTSA ODI #10384791

72,500 miles · Feb 21, 2011
Electrical SystemVisibility

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10383467

52,317 miles · Feb 19, 2011
Visibility

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10383315

62,577 miles · Feb 18, 2011
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

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 C…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10383844

110,000 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Visibility

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…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10381343

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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