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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2017
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS IN MY VEHICLE SHUT ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE CAR IS PARKED AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME SHUTTING THEM OFF AFTER DRIVING AND ARRIVING TO MY DESTINATION. I ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #10965798

131,885 miles · Sep 21, 2015
Exterior Lighting

MY HEADLIGHT ALWAYS GET FOGY AND BUILDING UP WATER INSIDE WHICH IT MIGHT CAUSE SHORTAGE IN THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OR EVEN CAUSE FIRE IN THE CAR, THE SEAL IS IN GOOD SHAPE. I TRIED TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THAT BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. MY ONLY GUESSING IS THE BULBS ARE CAUSING HEAT THAT MAKES FOG THEN TURNS TO BUILD UP WATER IN…

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MY HEADLIGHT ALWAYS GET FOGY AND BUILDING UP WATER INSIDE WHICH IT MIGHT CAUSE SHORTAGE IN THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OR EVEN CAUSE FIRE IN THE CAR, THE SEAL IS IN GOOD SHAPE. I TRIED TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THAT BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. MY ONLY GUESSING IS THE BULBS ARE CAUSING HEAT THAT MAKES FOG THEN TURNS TO BUILD UP WATER INSIDE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND I FOUND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOPEFULLY CHEVY HAVE A SOLUTION FOR MY ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10766738

60,000 miles · Sep 3, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE BELL STARTED RINGING, THEN THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. TC-ABS-BRAKE, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED UP AS LIKE STANDARD BEFORE POWER STEERING. I PULLED OVER IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WENT TO A GM AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP THE SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO DO???? …

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WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE BELL STARTED RINGING, THEN THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. TC-ABS-BRAKE, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED UP AS LIKE STANDARD BEFORE POWER STEERING. I PULLED OVER IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WENT TO A GM AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP THE SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO DO???? I WAS TALKED INTO PUTTING A NEW BRAIN IN THE EQUINOX SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS $$$$$ AND IT STILL DID THE SAME THING. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER (CHEVY) THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, CALLED AND SAID THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM, YEA A BENT WIRE?? WORKED FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND NOW ITS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. OH BY THE WAY I WAS INFORMED THAT I DID NOT NEED TO PUT A NEW BRAIN IN THE CAR THE OLD ONE WAS VERY GOOD. GM IS A REALY BAD PLACE TO BUY ANY CAR ANY MORE, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER ONLY THE $$$ THEY SOLD ME A CAR THEY NEW FULL WELL HAD PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10761324

160,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THEY DID NOT FULLY ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS DIMINISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THEY DID NOT FULLY ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS DIMINISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10692151

79,642 miles · Jan 30, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHEN I TURN ON MY TURN SIGNAL EITHER WAY, THE HIGH-BEAMS COME ON. I THOUGH IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY DOING, BUT I PAYED ATTENTION MANY TIMES AND IT WILL ALWAYS DO IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680090

100,000 miles · Oct 26, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WILL FLICKER WHEN STARTED AND WILL SOMETIMES DO IT WHEN BREAKS ARE APPLIED. DOES NOT START ON FIRST TRY SOMETIMES. SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STARTING BUT JUST STOPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650154

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2014
Exterior LightingVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM WOULD ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM WOULD ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10641226

143,000 miles · Jun 15, 2012
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes

I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH 91,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER WITH CLEAN CAR FAX. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO CRANK. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO EVEN GET IT TO CRANK. I'M ASSUMING THIS A FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEM OF SOME SORT. ALSO, ONCE CRANKED T…

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I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH 91,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER WITH CLEAN CAR FAX. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO CRANK. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO EVEN GET IT TO CRANK. I'M ASSUMING THIS A FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEM OF SOME SORT. ALSO, ONCE CRANKED THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES IDLE ITSELF DOWN FROM 1 RPM TO 0 RPM THEN BACK TO 1 RPM. THERE IS ALSO A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM BACK END OF CAR WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH HAVING THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE WATER GETS INTO THE HEADLIGHTS. MOST OF THE EQUINOX'S THAT I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WILL BURST WHEN WET AND YOU HAVE NO HEADLIGHT UNTIL YOU HAVE IT FIXED. (WHICH YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS YOURSELF BECAUSE PART STORES REFUSE TO DO THE LABOR FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT TO EVEN REPLACE A BULB. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT CHEVROLET DID THAT SO IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, LIKE MYSELF, YOU ARE FORCED TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE AND HAVE IT REPLACED.) THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WEARING TOO FAST. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR ON THE BLOWER MOTOR TWICE IN 2 YEARS. THESE MAY NOT BE BIG PROBLEMS TO GM, BUT I RELY ON MY CAR TO TAKE ME TO WORK AND SCHOOL AND THE FACT THAT THEY GENUINELY DON'T CARE HAS FORCED ME TO NOT WANT TO BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET AGAIN. SEEING AS THEY HAD TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT PREVIOUSLY TO EVEN STAY IN BUSINESS, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD VALUE THEIR CUSTOMERS! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10461868

200,310 miles · May 27, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

LIGHTS DON'T TURN OFF,HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459757

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

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