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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

Visibility complaints

247 reports
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70,449 miles · Nov 10, 2010
Visibility

I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. I HAD NO SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS OF THE FAILURE I HAD WITH MY HEATER. NO LEAKS OR SYMPTOMS LEAD UP TO THE ISSUE- IT SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. BECAUSE GM (STARTING ROUGHLY IN 2005) STARTED MANUFACTURING VEHICLES WITH A PLASTIC BLEND DOOR FOR THE ACTUATOR- THE HEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ONLY BLOWS EXTREMELY…

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I OWN A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. I HAD NO SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS OF THE FAILURE I HAD WITH MY HEATER. NO LEAKS OR SYMPTOMS LEAD UP TO THE ISSUE- IT SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. BECAUSE GM (STARTING ROUGHLY IN 2005) STARTED MANUFACTURING VEHICLES WITH A PLASTIC BLEND DOOR FOR THE ACTUATOR- THE HEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ONLY BLOWS EXTREMELY COOL AIR. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING. WE ARE UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND SEE VISIBLY- THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM GM THAT WE ARE GETTING IS TO "ROLL A WINDOW DOWN" AND WITH 3 INFANTS IN THE CAR, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ESTIMATES RANGE FROM 900 TO 1800 TO FIX THIS PART (WHICH REQUIRES DISMANTLING THE ENTIRE DASH DOWN TO THE FIREWALL) WHICH ARGUABLY CAUSES A DOMINO EFFECT OF OTHER ISSUES TO THE VEHICLE. WITH NO VISIBILITY AND NOW WAY TO TRANSPORT MY INFANT CHILDREN SAFELY IN THE WINTER- THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL THAT IS A SAFETY AND HAZARD ISSUE ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. GM REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. AMERICANS CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR FIX, BUT ALSO CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE NO HEAT. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO AND WE ARE SUFFERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365211

82,000 miles · Nov 8, 2010
Visibility

HEATER WAS WORKING FINE YESTERDAY, THIS MORNING THE HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR, EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS FULLY WARMED UP. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY AIR TEMP DOOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $925. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A CONTINUING AND CONSTA…

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HEATER WAS WORKING FINE YESTERDAY, THIS MORNING THE HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR, EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS FULLY WARMED UP. CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY AIR TEMP DOOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $925. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A CONTINUING AND CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR AND MAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365056

59,277 miles · Nov 6, 2010
Visibility

IN NOVEMBER THE HEAT ON OUR 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WENT OUT-ONLY COLD AIR BLOWS. WAS INFORMED BY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER THAT THE HEAT BLENDER DOOR/VALVE FREQUENTLY BREAKS AND THAT THEY COULD REPAIR IT FOR 1500-1800$. IF THEY FREQUENTLY BREAK WHY HASN'T CHEVY ISSUED A RECALL AND STOPPED USING S SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364265

67,000 miles · Nov 5, 2010
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEATER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEATER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR AND TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10364117

54,500 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Visibility

NOTHING CAUSED THE FAILURE. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HEAT QUIT BLOWING. JUST BLOWS COLD AIR NOW. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE MY 6 YEAR OLD HANDICAPPED SON SHIVERING IN THE BACK SEAT. GM KNOWS ABOUT THEIR DEFECT BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME A…

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NOTHING CAUSED THE FAILURE. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE HEAT QUIT BLOWING. JUST BLOWS COLD AIR NOW. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE I CAN NOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE MY 6 YEAR OLD HANDICAPPED SON SHIVERING IN THE BACK SEAT. GM KNOWS ABOUT THEIR DEFECT BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME AS MY WINDOWS FROST UP DRIVING. THE PART IS A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE THAT GM USED THAT IS CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR TO BE FAULTY. TO ACCESS THIS PART THE WHOLE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED, STEERING COLUMN AND ALL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT IS THE MANUFACTURES PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364095

45,000 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Visibility

THE HEATER IN MY EQUINOX WENT OUT AT ABOUT 45,000-50,000 MILES. I WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDOW AND DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO ME BUT ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE PART FIXED AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR OF DRIVING WITH NO HEAT. IT COST ME $1,035 AND OF COURSE HAPPENED NOT TOO LONG AFTER MY WARRANTY HA…

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THE HEATER IN MY EQUINOX WENT OUT AT ABOUT 45,000-50,000 MILES. I WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDOW AND DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO ME BUT ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE PART FIXED AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR OF DRIVING WITH NO HEAT. IT COST ME $1,035 AND OF COURSE HAPPENED NOT TOO LONG AFTER MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364062

37,220 miles · Nov 3, 2010
Visibility

2006 EQUINOX SUDDENLY BEGAN BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR, REGARDLESS OF THE HEAT/COLD SETTINGS, 100% OF THE TIME. THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE DEFROST FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE LEADING TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. OUT OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD, THE QUOTES FOR REPAIR RANGE FROM $80…

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2006 EQUINOX SUDDENLY BEGAN BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR, REGARDLESS OF THE HEAT/COLD SETTINGS, 100% OF THE TIME. THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE DEFROST FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE LEADING TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. OUT OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD, THE QUOTES FOR REPAIR RANGE FROM $800 TO $1800. THIS IS NOT AFFORDABLE AT THIS TIME, AND GIVEN ALL THE OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE INTERNET, I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD RESULTING FROM DECREASED VISIBILITY. FOR REFERENCE, PLEASE SEE THESE FORUMS FOR ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.WEB2CARZ.COM/797/2006/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/REVIEWS/OVERVIEW HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4/P18 AFTER BRIEF BROWSING OF THESE FORUMS, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOWHERE NEAR UNIQUE TO MINE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363829

50,000 miles · Nov 2, 2010
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility

MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTING BLOWING COLD AIR IN 2009. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND DISCOVERED A PLASTIC PIECE KNOWN AS THE BLEND DOOR ASSEMBLY IS STUCK OR BROKEN AND IT WILL COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. WITHOUT HEAT MY WINDOWS WILL NOT DEFROST AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WENT TO A SITE (HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHE…

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MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTING BLOWING COLD AIR IN 2009. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND DISCOVERED A PLASTIC PIECE KNOWN AS THE BLEND DOOR ASSEMBLY IS STUCK OR BROKEN AND IT WILL COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. WITHOUT HEAT MY WINDOWS WILL NOT DEFROST AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WENT TO A SITE (HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-EQUINOX/TNMHVCTE76U9HGTH4/P5) AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF GM OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE FORCED GM TO RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363680

53,800 miles · Nov 2, 2010
EquipmentVisibility

THE HEATING CONTROL ON MY VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENT. THERE IS NO INTERNAL HEAT. AS I LIVE IN A WINTER CLIMATE, THE LACK OF HEAT WITH MY BLOWER HAS MADE DEFROSTING MY VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED VEHICLES O…

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THE HEATING CONTROL ON MY VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENT. THERE IS NO INTERNAL HEAT. AS I LIVE IN A WINTER CLIMATE, THE LACK OF HEAT WITH MY BLOWER HAS MADE DEFROSTING MY VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED VEHICLES OF MY MAKE AND MODEL. THE PROBLEM IS A HEATING DOOR MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS HOT AND COLD. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT CHEVROLET WOULD NOT PROVIDE A NON-DEALERSHIP THE PART TO FIX IT. CHEVROLET FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS ANY SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALERSHIP IS OFFERING TO REPAIR IT FOR $1000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363645

69,000 miles · Oct 31, 2010
Visibility

HEATER QUIT WORKING, NOW NO DEFROST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363430

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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