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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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49,351 miles · Jan 28, 2011
EquipmentVisibility

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 NEVE…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10379491

81,000 miles · Jan 22, 2011
Visibility

THE "BLEND" DOOR BROKE ON MY HEATER, CAUSING NO HEAT AT ALL. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS CAUSES ICE AND FROST TO BUILD ON MY WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION, THIS REPAIR IS RANGING FROM $900 TO $1200. WITH THIS COST I ONLY WONDER HOW MA…

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THE "BLEND" DOOR BROKE ON MY HEATER, CAUSING NO HEAT AT ALL. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS CAUSES ICE AND FROST TO BUILD ON MY WINDSHIELD, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION, THIS REPAIR IS RANGING FROM $900 TO $1200. WITH THIS COST I ONLY WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES FRANTICLY TRYING TO WIPE THEIR WINDOW TO PREVENT ICE / FROST WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378293

50,000 miles · Jan 19, 2011
Visibility

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10377910

44,000 miles · Jan 19, 2011
Visibility

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+ HO…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10377141

44,500 miles · Jan 18, 2011
Visibility

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 HA…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10377016

55,000 miles · Jan 14, 2011
Visibility

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 WINDO…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10376745

68,000 miles · Jan 12, 2011
Visibility

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.

NHTSA ODI #10376415

79,000 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Visibility

TEMPERATURE HEATER DOOR BROKEN. DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK IN WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375569

58,600 miles · Jan 5, 2011
Visibility

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 STR…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10374714

51,000 miles · Dec 31, 2010
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10373633

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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