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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
141,000 miles · May 16, 2013
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. MAH

NHTSA ODI #10512453

134,000 miles · May 14, 2013
Visibility

HEAT JUST STOPPED BLOWING OUT , WAS TOLD IT COULD BE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR, $25 PART AND $800 IN LABOR , THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511836

100,000 miles · May 13, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ODI #10511774

68,000 miles · May 6, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,759. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510797

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2013
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM RELEASING THE CHILD FROM THE CAR SEAT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM RELEASING THE CHILD FROM THE CAR SEAT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510746

70,000 miles · Apr 11, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED INDEPENDENTLY, WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO POWERED OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE STARTED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED INDEPENDENTLY, WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO POWERED OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE STARTED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR UPDATED 05/28/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10505972

95,500 miles · Apr 11, 2013
Engine

SPOUSE DRIVING THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE VEHICLE HAD RISEN QUICKLY WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE GAUGE ONLY DECREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SUSPECTED A THERMOSTAT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY INDICATED THE SAME. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.…

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SPOUSE DRIVING THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE VEHICLE HAD RISEN QUICKLY WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE GAUGE ONLY DECREASED SLIGHTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SUSPECTED A THERMOSTAT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY INDICATED THE SAME. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. TESTS INDICATED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE HAD NO SYMPTOMS OF THIS ISSUE. NO LOSS OF COOLANT. NO COOLANT IN THE OIL. NO OIL IN THE COOLANT. NO WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. THE ONLY INDICATOR WAS THE QUICKLY RISING TEMPERATURE. AT THAT POINT, NO PREEMPTIVE MEASURES COULD BE TAKEN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505970

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2013
StructureSuspensionWheelsCrashInjury

I RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A GUARDRAIL AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS ON TOP OF THE GUARDRAIL INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED AS WELL AS MOST OF THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AS WELL AS GIVING ME A BLACK EYE, CROOKED TEETH, CUTS, BROKEN D…

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I RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A GUARDRAIL AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS ON TOP OF THE GUARDRAIL INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED AS WELL AS MOST OF THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AS WELL AS GIVING ME A BLACK EYE, CROOKED TEETH, CUTS, BROKEN DENTAL APPLIANCES, AND MY TEETH WENT THROUGH MY LIP. I STRONGLY BELIEVE MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND PREVENTED THE IMPACT OF MY FACE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT AIRBAGS ARE FOR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503970

26,000 miles · Mar 15, 2013
Electrical System

I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN AUGUST 2009 AND A FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I WOULD TURN THE KEY TO TURN THE CAR ON AND IT WOULDN'T COMPLETELY TURN OVER AND IT WOULD "STICK," CAUSING ME TO TURN THE CAR BACK TO OFF. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR THE FIRST TIME, THE SECOND …

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I OWN A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN AUGUST 2009 AND A FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I WOULD TURN THE KEY TO TURN THE CAR ON AND IT WOULDN'T COMPLETELY TURN OVER AND IT WOULD "STICK," CAUSING ME TO TURN THE CAR BACK TO OFF. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR THE FIRST TIME, THE SECOND TIME WOULD USUALLY WORK. NOW, IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WON'T TURN OVER WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS, IF I DON'T PRESS THE GAS THE ENGINE WON'T START AT ALL. I CAN TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 TIMES BUT IT REFUSES TO START WITHOUT THE GAS (I'M WORRIED I'M GOING TO FLOOD THE ENGINE NOW). THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY DURING ANYTIME OF DAY AND DURING ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN HAPPEN FOR DAYS/WEEKS THEN SUDDENLY THE PROBLEM COMES BACK AND ITS WORSE. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS ESPECIALLY WITH A CAR WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. NO DEALER WILL HELP ME BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NEVER ACT UP FOR THEM. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND I AM RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO BE LEFT STRANDED BECAUSE GM WON'T HELP ANYONE WITH A PROBLEM A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE SAME YEAR AND CAR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503226

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2013
Visibility

THE VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT AND ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR....DOES NOT ALLOW THE WINDOWS TO DEFROST AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503085

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems