← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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
42,000 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Electrical System

CHEVROLET PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO KEEP ONE'S CAR FROM BEING STOLEN BUT THE WIDESPREAD ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE A DANGER TO ITS DRIVERS. THIS SYSTEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT HINDERS THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353270

52,000 miles · Aug 27, 2010
StructureVisibility

THE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM VALVE DOOR BREAKING. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY MY DEALER THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR YET IT IS COSTING CONSUMERS APPROXIMATELY $1,000. TO FIX. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRAP DOOR THAT RELEASES THE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352258

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSeat Belts

MY SEATBELT IN THE BACK WHERE MY 4 YR OLD SIR BROKE, MY CD PLAYER MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WILL NOT TAKE CD'S. I DO NOT HAVE HEAT BUT MY A/C WORKS JUST FINE. *TR... UPDATED 10/26/11 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10349367

55 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ABS AND HUB SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED RECALL AND T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ABS AND HUB SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY AFTER SHE PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344945

9,010,900 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TRUCK LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. TRUCK CAN BE WORKING ONE MINUTE AND YOU PARK AND COME BACK AND NOTHING IT WOULD START AND HAVE TO BE TOW AND THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS. THE ELEC SYSTEM ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. RUNNING AT 55 MPH AND…

Read full complaint

TRUCK LOST SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. TRUCK CAN BE WORKING ONE MINUTE AND YOU PARK AND COME BACK AND NOTHING IT WOULD START AND HAVE TO BE TOW AND THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS. THE ELEC SYSTEM ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. RUNNING AT 55 MPH AND A SEMI-TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND YOU WITH YOUR THREE SMALL GRAND CHILDREN IN THE BACK AND THE TRUCK JUST LOST IT SPEED WITH NO WARNING IS A FRIGHTENING THING TO HAPPENING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE STARTED, AND NOW THE LOWER COOLER FAN IS OUT THE ELEC. SYSTEM JUST KEEP BREAKING DOWN BACK TO BACK AND I HARDLY EVEN DRIVE IT ONLY TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND TO DO MY SHOPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343864

80,000 miles · Jul 17, 2010
Visibility

NOTHING SPECIAL DONE, BLEND DOOR JUST BROKE, THEREFORE WE HAVE NO HEATER OR DEFROSTER. CANNOT DRIVE CAR WHEN IT IS COLD AND DEFROSTER IS NEEDED OUTSIDE. WAS TOLD BY A GM DEALERSHIP $1200 JUST FOR LABOR. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE I HAVE READ. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343782

48,800 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Power Train

HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEARS (NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING) WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WEEK. JUST YESTERDAY, WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE DECIDED TO GO BACK DOWN IN GEAR, AND IT MADE THE VEHICLE JUMP.…

Read full complaint

HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEARS (NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING) WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WEEK. JUST YESTERDAY, WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE DECIDED TO GO BACK DOWN IN GEAR, AND IT MADE THE VEHICLE JUMP. THEN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, IT WOULD NOT GET OUT OF GEAR AND STAYED AT 15 MPH. I HAD TO LET OFF THE GAS FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN RESUMED ACCELERATING. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A WEEK, BUT YESTERDAY WAS THE SCARIEST, WHEN I COULDN'T MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC AT THE SPEED THAT I NEEDED TO. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED THE LOT WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT IN FOR THIS THURSDAY. I BEGAN REVIEWING POSTS ON OTHER WEBSITES AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE WERE ON THIS VERY ISSUE. THIS IS VERY SCARY, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342893

104,000 miles · Jul 10, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY DAUGHTER'S FRONT CRASH ACCIDENT. HER CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE HIT A MAILBOX AND IN A SPIN ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT HER BACK. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO SHATTERED AND ALSO HAD A BACK FLAT TIRE. I CALLED OUR LO…

Read full complaint

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY DAUGHTER'S FRONT CRASH ACCIDENT. HER CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE HIT A MAILBOX AND IN A SPIN ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT HER BACK. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO SHATTERED AND ALSO HAD A BACK FLAT TIRE. I CALLED OUR LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL GM. SHE CALLED GM BUT THEY GOT HER UPSET AND SHE IN OTHER WORDS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A DEFECT OF THIS MODEL AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342436

48,000 miles · Jun 27, 2010
Visibility

I WAS LUCKY AND FOUND OUT WHEN IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND NOT COLD OUT... MY MECHANICS HAVE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS THE TEMP SWITCH AND VALVE THAT THEY WERE TOLD COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO HEAT .. AND I HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE HEAT DOOR ARM IS BROKE AND TAKE 7-8 HOURS TO REMOVE THE DAS…

Read full complaint

I WAS LUCKY AND FOUND OUT WHEN IT WAS SUMMER TIME AND NOT COLD OUT... MY MECHANICS HAVE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS THE TEMP SWITCH AND VALVE THAT THEY WERE TOLD COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO HEAT .. AND I HAVE DONE MORE RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE HEAT DOOR ARM IS BROKE AND TAKE 7-8 HOURS TO REMOVE THE DASH. MANY EQUINOX HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUT HEAT AND DEFROST YOU CANT SEE TO USE THE CAR DURING COLD WEATHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING THE WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340302

42,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Visibility

HEATER DOES NOT WORK ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DUE TO AN AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BEHIND THE DASH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LARGE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHEVY EQUINOX. ANY GOOGLE SEARCH WITH THE KEYWORDS "CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER PROBLEM" WILL PROVE THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE WINDOW WILL NOT DEFROST MAKI…

Read full complaint

HEATER DOES NOT WORK ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DUE TO AN AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BEHIND THE DASH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LARGE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHEVY EQUINOX. ANY GOOGLE SEARCH WITH THE KEYWORDS "CHEVY EQUINOX HEATER PROBLEM" WILL PROVE THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE WINDOW WILL NOT DEFROST MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHEVY WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD GUESS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339779

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