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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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Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2010
EquipmentVisibility

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10373407

46,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Visibility

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 PLAS…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10373395

67,000 miles · Dec 24, 2010
EquipmentVisibility

IN OCT 2010 THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AIR GETTING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM LINES, BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR HAD GOTTEN A BIT LOW. BUT ADDING COOLANT AND TRYING TO "BURP" THE SYSTEM DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, …

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IN OCT 2010 THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AIR GETTING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM LINES, BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR HAD GOTTEN A BIT LOW. BUT ADDING COOLANT AND TRYING TO "BURP" THE SYSTEM DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, I DISCOVERED THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD THE SAME NO-HEAT PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX AND PONTIAC TORRENT (WHICH IS THE SAME VEHICLE PLATFORM). IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A SMALL "DOOR" THAT ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW PAST THE HEATER CORE. APPARENTLY THIS "AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR" HAS A PLASTIC CONNECTING SHAFT TO AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND THE SHAFT IS PRONE TO BREAKING AFTER A FEW YEARS. THE TROUBLE IS... REPLACING THIS LITTLE PART IS NOT EASY. IT INVOLVES REMOVING MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD, WHICH TAKES A LONG TIME. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT A GM DEALER IS AROUND $1,000, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372329

65,161 miles · Dec 22, 2010
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10372167

52,000 miles · Dec 21, 2010
Visibility

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 O…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10371979

60,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

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 FOU…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10370831

40,000 miles · Dec 11, 2010
Visibility

DEFROSTER/ HEATER INOPERABLE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN IN WINTER. UPDATED IVOQ 03/14/11 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369988

53,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
EquipmentVisibility

IN OCTOBER OF 2010 MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT AND RECEIVED A DIAGNOSTICS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND THE REPAIR COST IS $1300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST TH…

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IN OCTOBER OF 2010 MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT AND RECEIVED A DIAGNOSTICS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND THE REPAIR COST IS $1300. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IF THERE IS A SNOW STORM OR JUST BEING TOO COLD. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER I TURN ON THE HEAT AND MY CONCERN IS BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD IF IT FOGS UP OR FREEZES. GMC HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A WEBSITE WITH OVER 400 COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR VEHICLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369828

75,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
EquipmentVisibility

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER STOPPED WORKING AT 75K+ MILES. I AM TOLD BY DEALER AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY SAME EXACT VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THIS IS A FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE BLENDER DOOR ARM. IT WAS REPLACED WITH PLASTIC VERSUS METAL FOR 2006 IN EFFORT TO CUT CORNERS. THEY ALL CONSISTENTLY BREAK AT 3 YEARS OR MORE! VERY COMMON CO…

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2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER STOPPED WORKING AT 75K+ MILES. I AM TOLD BY DEALER AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY SAME EXACT VEHICLE OWNERS THAT THIS IS A FAULTY AND DEFECTIVE BLENDER DOOR ARM. IT WAS REPLACED WITH PLASTIC VERSUS METAL FOR 2006 IN EFFORT TO CUT CORNERS. THEY ALL CONSISTENTLY BREAK AT 3 YEARS OR MORE! VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN 20DEGREE WEATHER AND CONSTANTLY GET SICK! ALSO UNABLE TO DEFROST ICE AND HAZE FROM WIND SHIELD SINCE ONLY COLD AIR BLOWS OUT! THIS DIMINISHES THE VISIBILITY SIGNIFICANTLY! IF I CAN'T SEE FROM MY WINDSHIELD AND HAVE TO A) DRIVE WITH WINDOW OPEN AND FREEZE, B) USE HAND TO WIPE OFF WHILE DRIVING OR C) PULL OVER CONSTANTLY AND CLEAN OFF WINDSHIELD OR USE THE MINI PLUG IN HEATER I HAD TO PURCHASE TO HELP DEFROST MY ICED WIND SHIELD IN THE MORNING! OVER $1000 TO FIX. IT IS A DEFECT. PLEASE GOOGLE THIS YEAR AND "HEATER" YOU WILL FIND MANY MANY WEBSITES WITH EXACT COMPLAINTS. GM NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND FIX AT NO CHARGE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369798

83,300 miles · Dec 6, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

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 TEMPE…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10369357

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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