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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

What owners actually said

695 reports
94,000 miles · Mar 27, 2014
Engine

2006 EQUINOX OVERHEATED CAUSING CAR TO QUIT ON INTERSTATE, HAD TO BE TOWED, RENT A CAR, RENT A MOTEL ROOM, HAD MY CAR TOWED TO CHEVROLET SERVICE TALLAHASSEE, WAS TOLD THAT HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEM EXT COST 2400.00 IF NO OTHER PROBLEMS SO I HAD CAR TOWED HOME, HAD TO PAY FOR TRAILER AND GAS, TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC HE VERIFIED WHAT…

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2006 EQUINOX OVERHEATED CAUSING CAR TO QUIT ON INTERSTATE, HAD TO BE TOWED, RENT A CAR, RENT A MOTEL ROOM, HAD MY CAR TOWED TO CHEVROLET SERVICE TALLAHASSEE, WAS TOLD THAT HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEM EXT COST 2400.00 IF NO OTHER PROBLEMS SO I HAD CAR TOWED HOME, HAD TO PAY FOR TRAILER AND GAS, TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC HE VERIFIED WHAT CHEVROLET DEALER HAD SAID EST COST AT THIS POINT $2000.00 MAY BE MORE IF OTHER DAMAGES FOUND, RESEARCHED ONLINE FOUND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR EQUINOX CALLED GMC WAS TOLD HAD I TOOK IT TO CHEV. DEALERSHIP THEY MIGHT COULD HAVE HELPED ME GET DISCOUNT BUT COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE I TOOK IT TOOK LOCAL MECHANIC. THIS CAR IS A BIG DANGER ME AND MY GRANDKIDS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WE BARELY MADE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE. GMC NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575202

115,000 miles · Mar 21, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ONE DAY I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE HARDER THAN NORMAL TO PUSH TO STOP THE CAR AND THEN MY ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WHEN THEY DID THE CAR WOULD BRAKE FINE. THIS NOW HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS I START THE CAR AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING FOR THE LIGHTS TO C…

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ONE DAY I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE HARDER THAN NORMAL TO PUSH TO STOP THE CAR AND THEN MY ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WHEN THEY DID THE CAR WOULD BRAKE FINE. THIS NOW HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS I START THE CAR AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING FOR THE LIGHTS TO COME ON, UNTIL THEY DO, BRAKING IS SCARY. BOTH FRONT HUBS, BOTH FRONT SENSORS, ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON. ALSO HAD ALL FOUR TIRES AIR PRESSURE CHECKED. ALL OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE IS NOW STUMPED. I HAVE BEEN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON DIFFERENT SITES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574109

88,859 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2010. MOST RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY AND LOST STEERING. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY CONTINUOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2010. MOST RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY AND LOST STEERING. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE KEY CONTINUOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,859 AND THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 04/29/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK LOCK CYLINDER INTERMITTENTLY TURNED FREELY. UPDATED 05/2/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10573672

82,000 miles · Mar 16, 2014
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN AUGUST OF 2010. AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE I NOTICED THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD PARTIALLY JAMMED WHEN TRYING TO START. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT GRAPHITE IN THE SWITCH. IT STILL JAMS TO THIS DAY. I WAS CURIOUS IF THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECAL…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN AUGUST OF 2010. AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE I NOTICED THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD PARTIALLY JAMMED WHEN TRYING TO START. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT GRAPHITE IN THE SWITCH. IT STILL JAMS TO THIS DAY. I WAS CURIOUS IF THIS COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECALL I RECENTLY READ ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572626

68,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO THEN ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO THEN ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10566974

85,000 miles · Feb 14, 2014
Service BrakesSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSATE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE TRAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSATE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TEN TIMES WHERE THE FRONT BRAKES AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 04/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. UPDATED 04/24/14

NHTSA ODI #10564418

148,000 miles · Feb 1, 2014
Electrical System

THE CAR IS OVER HEATING EXCESSIVELY AND IT HAS ALSO AFFECTED THE HEATING SYSTEM IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET IN BRODHEADSVILLE, PA THAT IT WOULD COST ME $2,800.00. THIS PRICE IS EXTREMELY HIGH. UPON DOING RESEARCH, CHEVROLET, EQUINOX HAVE BEEN KNOW TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL ON ALL …

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THE CAR IS OVER HEATING EXCESSIVELY AND IT HAS ALSO AFFECTED THE HEATING SYSTEM IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET IN BRODHEADSVILLE, PA THAT IT WOULD COST ME $2,800.00. THIS PRICE IS EXTREMELY HIGH. UPON DOING RESEARCH, CHEVROLET, EQUINOX HAVE BEEN KNOW TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL ON ALL OF THE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562533

100,000 miles · Jan 28, 2014
Visibility

VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT OR DEFROST. TOOK TO SHOP. SHOP STATED BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN AND ACTUATOR NEEDS REPLACED. SHOP HAS TO DISSEMBLE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DASH TO ACCESS AND REPLACE THE 2 PARTS TO THE COST OF $1030.00. MAJORITY OF COSTS $750 IS LABOR TO DISSEMBLE AND REASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE DASH TO REPLACE 2 SIMPLE PARTS THAT TOTAL …

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VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT OR DEFROST. TOOK TO SHOP. SHOP STATED BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN AND ACTUATOR NEEDS REPLACED. SHOP HAS TO DISSEMBLE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DASH TO ACCESS AND REPLACE THE 2 PARTS TO THE COST OF $1030.00. MAJORITY OF COSTS $750 IS LABOR TO DISSEMBLE AND REASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE DASH TO REPLACE 2 SIMPLE PARTS THAT TOTAL ABOUT $280 FOR GM. AS I AM FINDING OUT THIS IS A RECURRING EVENT WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF EQUINOX VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561834

82,000 miles · Jan 24, 2014
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

I HAVE HAD ALL KIND OF TROUBLE OUT OF THIS VEHICLE. FIRST IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS. CHANGE ONE AN NOT LONG AFTER HAVE TO CHANGE ANOTHER. HAVE CHANGED ABOUT 4. THREE ON ONE WHEEL AN ONE ON THE OTHER. AND NOW HAVE TO CHANGE ANOTHER THAT I CAN TELL. THEN IT STARTED WITH BRAKES RECENTLY. THEY WOULD STICK. HAD BRAKES REPLACED THAT D…

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I HAVE HAD ALL KIND OF TROUBLE OUT OF THIS VEHICLE. FIRST IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS. CHANGE ONE AN NOT LONG AFTER HAVE TO CHANGE ANOTHER. HAVE CHANGED ABOUT 4. THREE ON ONE WHEEL AN ONE ON THE OTHER. AND NOW HAVE TO CHANGE ANOTHER THAT I CAN TELL. THEN IT STARTED WITH BRAKES RECENTLY. THEY WOULD STICK. HAD BRAKES REPLACED THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON VEHICLE. THEN WENT OFF HAVEN'T CAME ON SINCE BUT BRAKES HAVE STUCK MORE THAN ONE TIME. VERY DANGEROUS. NOW TO GET WITH THE AIR IN THE VEHICLE THAT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAIN ABOUT. WHILE CAR IS SITTING STILL THE VEHICLE WILL STAY WARM AN WARM AIR BLOWING OUT. WHERE IT HAS BEEN COLD WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE TEMP WOULD GO DOWN ON VEHICLE MAKING THE AIR BLOW OUT COOL AN I ABOUT FREEZE TO DEATH DRIVING. WINDOWS FOG UP FAST. NEED A RECALL IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE/ISSUES. CAN CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS IF NOT ADDRESSED OR FIXED. I DON'T LET ME KIDS RIDE IN THE CAR WITH ME ANYMORE CAUSE OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561310

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2014
Air BagsEngineStructureCrashInjury

HIT A ONE TON LOW BED DUMP TRUCK, THE WHOLE FRONT END OF MY SUV WAS DEMOLISHED, MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I ENDED UP WITH REALLY BAD WHIPLASH FROM THE ACCIDENT, TO WHERE I'M STILL IN MAJOR PAIN! WONDERING IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS? NEVER DEALT WITH A WRECK THIS BAD, I WAS JUST CURIOUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560310

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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