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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

Electrical System complaints

141 reports
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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

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…

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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

56,000 miles · Jun 5, 2010
Electrical System

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WOULD NOT START YESTERDAY MORNING. PUT A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT, IT STARTED THEN WHEN I GOT TO THE STORE AND CAME OUT TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START! FINALLY GOT IT TO START AFTER I LIFTED THE HOOD AND BANGED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP AND PARKED IT, WAS TOLD TO DRIVE TRUCK AROUND TO…

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2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WOULD NOT START YESTERDAY MORNING. PUT A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT, IT STARTED THEN WHEN I GOT TO THE STORE AND CAME OUT TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START! FINALLY GOT IT TO START AFTER I LIFTED THE HOOD AND BANGED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP AND PARKED IT, WAS TOLD TO DRIVE TRUCK AROUND TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND GUESS WHAT? IT WOULD NOT START. THEY CHARGED $230 TO "FIX" IT. WAS SUPPOSEDLY POOR TERMINAL FIT AT STARTER SOLENOID CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT AT STARTER RELAY. GOT MY TRUCK HOME, DECIDED TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN! :( *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334699

77,809 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Electrical System

HEATER IN MY WIFES EQUNAX JUST QUIT WORKING WHILE WAS DRIVING IT WINDSHIELD ICED OVER AND FOGED UP SHE HAD TO PULL OVER RITE AWAY TOBEFORE SHE WRECKED IT

NHTSA ODI #10322391

46,000 miles · Mar 22, 2010
Electrical SystemSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE THEN TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE THEN TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS LATER AND EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING FAILED TO RESET AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 6 MILES THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FIXED. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LOOSE GROUND WIRE. UPDATED 05/12/10. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10321311

30,000 miles · Mar 18, 2010
Electrical SystemStructure

BOUGHT MY 2006 EQUINOX LT AWD AND TWO MONTHS LATER I WAS OUT OF TOWN TOOK MY CAR TO THE CAR WASH AND CAME OUT OF IT AND MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. TRIED TO RESTART IT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED I TRIED TO DRIVE BUT COULD NOT GO ANY MORE THAN 20 MPH PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A NY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS …

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BOUGHT MY 2006 EQUINOX LT AWD AND TWO MONTHS LATER I WAS OUT OF TOWN TOOK MY CAR TO THE CAR WASH AND CAME OUT OF IT AND MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. TRIED TO RESTART IT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED I TRIED TO DRIVE BUT COULD NOT GO ANY MORE THAN 20 MPH PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A NY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS RUNNING LEAN CODES CAME UP GOT IT TO START AT THE END OF THE DAY AND I WAS ON MY WAY. BROUGHT IT BACK TO MY ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. CHANGED A GAS PEDAL, FUEL PUMP. ABOUT 7 MONTHS LATER PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND MY CAR JUST STALLED BROUGHT IT IN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER OUT OF TOWN IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION IN THE RAIN WITH A FULL CAR MY CAR DIED NO POWER PULLED OVER LUCKILY AND TURNED THE KEY AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN. AT ANOTHER POINT IN TIME I NOTICED THAT UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WATER WAS COMING IN WHEN THERE WAS A HEAVY RAINFALL. I TOO REPORTED THIS AN NO ANSWER. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH STARTING MY CAR I WOULD EITHER HAVE A HARD START OR IT WOULD STICK SO THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AT MY COST. IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TALKING TO THE MECHANICS THEY MAKE YOU THINK YOU ARE LOSING YOUR MIND BUT NOW READING THESE PROBLEMS I THINK I MIGHT HAVE DAMAGE TO MY COMPUTER. OH YEAH HERE IS ONE MORE PROBLEM I HAVE THE LIGHT ON MY HEAT KNOB IS OUT AND THEY TELL ME IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW COMPARTMENT THERE IS NO FUSE OR LIGHT THE WHOLE AREA NEEDS TO GET PULLED OUT AND REPLACED LABOR PLUS PART 600.00 NO THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320655

42,000 miles · Jan 12, 2010
Electrical System

ON JAN. 11, 2010 I STARTED MY CAR TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE LEAVING FOR WORK. I LET THE CAR RUN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. DROVE THE 20 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK, AND WHEN I GOT DOWNTOWN, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF STREET AND STOP CAR. RESTARTED CAR AND PUT INTO DR…

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ON JAN. 11, 2010 I STARTED MY CAR TO LET IT WARM UP BEFORE LEAVING FOR WORK. I LET THE CAR RUN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. DROVE THE 20 MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK, AND WHEN I GOT DOWNTOWN, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF STREET AND STOP CAR. RESTARTED CAR AND PUT INTO DRIVE. ALL WARNING LIGHTS STILL ON, AND DON'T HAVE ANY POWER. WAS ABLE TO COAX CAR TO GO THREE BLOCKS TO PARKING LOT, AND CALLED DEALER WHO CAME AND GOT THE CAR. AFTER CHECKING, I WAS TOLD THAT WATER HAD LEAKED DOWN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDOW, FREEZING, THAWING AND BACKING UP WHICH GOT TO THE WIRING AND BURNT IT OUT. REALLY GLAD THAT I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE THAT MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299082

5,640 miles · Oct 9, 2009
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE, AND THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $475.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5640. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE, AND THEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $475.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5640. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10286913

55,000 miles · May 19, 2009
Electrical System

I PURCHASED A 2006 EQUINOX-CHEVROLET ALMOST 3 YRS ALREADY. I HAD A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TWICE W/THE CAR, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOWED DOWN COMPLETELY AND WOULD NO ACCELERATE AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IS A PROBLEM THIS PARTICULAR MODEL CAR HAS FROM FACTORY.I HAVE REA…

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I PURCHASED A 2006 EQUINOX-CHEVROLET ALMOST 3 YRS ALREADY. I HAD A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TWICE W/THE CAR, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOWED DOWN COMPLETELY AND WOULD NO ACCELERATE AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IS A PROBLEM THIS PARTICULAR MODEL CAR HAS FROM FACTORY.I HAVE READ EQUINOX COMPLAINT--RECALLS AND READ SEVERAL THAT ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REALLY BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR A CAR TO TURN OFF/SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH--THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT CAN RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS MATTER. I NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE AND I'M ALWAYS TRAVELING WITH MY GRANDKIDS. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269458

64,000 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Electrical System

MY 2006 EQUINOX HAS BEEN SHUTTING ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING IT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH AND WITHOUT NOTICE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. HOW I MANAGED TO COAST FROM THE FAST LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING A WRECK, GOD ONLY KNOWS. IT HAS DONE THE SAME THING ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS. I WAS SIMPLY…

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MY 2006 EQUINOX HAS BEEN SHUTTING ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING IT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70 MPH AND WITHOUT NOTICE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. HOW I MANAGED TO COAST FROM THE FAST LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING A WRECK, GOD ONLY KNOWS. IT HAS DONE THE SAME THING ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS. I WAS SIMPLY RUNNING ERRANDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT STAY ON EITHER. AFTER WAITING A MINUTE, THE CAR RESTARTS AND CAN BE DRIVEN. BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES SO FOR REPAIRS AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. (GOING BACK FOR NUMBER 3 TODAY.) NO COMPUTER CODES APPEAR TO BE DIAGNOSED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I CAN'T BE DRIVING A CAR AND IT JUST DECIDES TO SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN. I HAVE KIDS AND CAN'T BE PUTTING THEIR LIFE IN DANGER OR EVEN THE OTHER MOTORIST. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ON OTHER CAR SITES AND FOUND 6 OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I THINK CHEVROLET NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263939

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