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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
168,000 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Structure

THE FRAME IS RUSTING WHERE THE SUBFRAME CONNECT TO THE CAR TO THE POINT WHERE THE SUBFRAME ISN'T REALLY CONNECTED ANYMORE

NHTSA ODI #11242894

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2019
Electrical SystemStructure

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THE FLOORBOARD IS STAYING WET, LIKE STANDING WATER. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAKES IT FEET WET AND SLIP OFF THE BREAK AND GAS PEDDLES. WHY HASNT GM FIXED THIS? NOT TO COUNT THE ELECTRICAL PART INVOLVED…

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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND THE FLOORBOARD IS STAYING WET, LIKE STANDING WATER. I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAKES IT FEET WET AND SLIP OFF THE BREAK AND GAS PEDDLES. WHY HASNT GM FIXED THIS? NOT TO COUNT THE ELECTRICAL PART INVOLVED! CAN WE SAY FIRE HAZARD?? COME ON GM, DO YOUR JOB!

NHTSA ODI #11229529

180,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTERWARDS, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTERWARDS, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #11217720

171,045 miles · Apr 8, 2019
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON APRIL 1, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON APRIL 1, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,045.

NHTSA ODI #11194720

200,000 miles · Mar 14, 2019
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL. WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR LONGER THEN 5 MINUTES IT OVER HEATS AND YOU LET IT COOL DOWN AND START TO DRIVE THEN OVER HEATS AGAIN BUT IT HAS ENOUGH COOLANT IN IT AND YOU FIX THE THERMOSTAT AND FLUSH THE SYSTEM. AND THERE IS NO HEAT IN THE CAR WHAT SO EVER.

NHTSA ODI #11186916

167,000 miles · Mar 14, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MIST FROM THE HEATER BLEW INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND CREATED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MIST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING OUT OF THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MIST FROM THE HEATER BLEW INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND CREATED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MIST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING OUT OF THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW WATER PUMP WAS NEEDED. THE MECHANIC FLUSHED OUT THE SYSTEM AND PLACED A NEW HEAT SYSTEM IN THE ENGINE WITH NEW ANTI-FREEZE. THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER THE SAME WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA ODI #11186752

199,000 miles · Feb 12, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WEAK PLASTIC IN THE BLEND DOOR OF THE HVAC SYSTEM CAUSES DOOR TO BREAK AND GET STUCK IN THE "COLD" POSITION. NO HEAT IN SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN MEANS YOUR WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFROST AND VISIBILITY DROPS BECOMING HAZARDOUS IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11176629

78,000 miles · Jan 17, 2019
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING ODOR. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING TURNED OFF AND THE RADIO SIGNAL WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAY-DANIELS CHEVROLET (601-863-8466, LOCATED A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING ODOR. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING TURNED OFF AND THE RADIO SIGNAL WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAY-DANIELS CHEVROLET (601-863-8466, LOCATED AT 6080 I-55, JACKSON, MS 39211), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE SAME DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #11170651

115,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherWheels

I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT IS THAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR IT HAS TO DO WITH MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL.. I THOUGHT THE BRAKE PADS WERE BAD. WHEN I CHANGED THEM IT HAD ALMOST BRAND NEW ONES ON.. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON AND MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON.. THE PEDAL HAS HARD SPOTS IN IT AND IT JUST GRINDS LIKE THE PADS ARE BAD WHEN…

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I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT IS THAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR IT HAS TO DO WITH MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL.. I THOUGHT THE BRAKE PADS WERE BAD. WHEN I CHANGED THEM IT HAD ALMOST BRAND NEW ONES ON.. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON AND MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON.. THE PEDAL HAS HARD SPOTS IN IT AND IT JUST GRINDS LIKE THE PADS ARE BAD WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES! ITS NOT SAFE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT! MY RESEARCH SHOWS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS CAR THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. ITS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A BIT NOW.. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND VERY DISAPPOINTED.. I HAVE 2 KIDS AND CAN'T EVEN FIX MY BRAKE PROBLEM BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TO REPLACE IT ALL.. THE PROBLEM IS MAINLY WHEN DRIVING SLOW THROUGH TOWNS THE BRAKES PEDAL LOCKS AND IT GRINDS AND I HAVE TO PUMP IT SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY AND GET IT TO WORK.. THEN I HAVE TO MY E BRAKE IF IT DON'T.. THANKS AN ANGRY CUSTOMER

NHTSA ODI #11164544

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2018
Unknown Or Other

RAN HOT .BLOWN HEAD GASGET

NHTSA ODI #11153210

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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