CAR WAS PARKED AND MY DAUGHTER WENT TO LEAVE TO COME HOME AND CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TRIED TO JUMP IT, BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT START. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE A PASS LOCK ISSUE. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Equinox years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
695 reportsI RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX (130,000 MILES), WHEN I TRIED TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD ONLY COLD AIR BLEW CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP. I COULD NOT SEE AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD. AFTER AN HOUR LONG WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE THE DEFROST STILL ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. I LIVE IN THE EXTREME NORTH-EAST WHERE WE HAVE AN EXC…
Read full complaint
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX (130,000 MILES), WHEN I TRIED TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD ONLY COLD AIR BLEW CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP. I COULD NOT SEE AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD. AFTER AN HOUR LONG WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE THE DEFROST STILL ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. I LIVE IN THE EXTREME NORTH-EAST WHERE WE HAVE AN EXCEPTIONALLY LONG WINTER WHICH HASN'T EVEN STARTED. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS PROBLEM (AND I AM NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE ONLY ONE) WILL RESULT IN A SITUATION WHERE I AND THE DRIVERS AROUND ME COULD BE PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR *JS
WAS DRIVING GETTING ONTO FREEWAY (ON THE ON RAMP) CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER. COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE LANE ONTO SHOULDER ALL THE WAY. IN RUSH HOUR OF COURSE. CAR WOULD START BUT AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND TRIED TO PULL IT OVER MORE IT WOULD LOSE ALL POWER AGAIN. HAD A TODDLER AND BABY IN 95 HEAT ON SIDE OF FREEWAY. HAD TO H…
Read full complaint
WAS DRIVING GETTING ONTO FREEWAY (ON THE ON RAMP) CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER. COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE LANE ONTO SHOULDER ALL THE WAY. IN RUSH HOUR OF COURSE. CAR WOULD START BUT AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND TRIED TO PULL IT OVER MORE IT WOULD LOSE ALL POWER AGAIN. HAD A TODDLER AND BABY IN 95 HEAT ON SIDE OF FREEWAY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. TRIED TO DIVE IT NEXT DAY, DIED AGAIN. TURNS OUT, WHEN EVER THE TURN SIGNALS/FLASHERS ARE USED, IT KILLS ALL POWER IN THE CAR. CAUSING IT TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AND RUNS FINE WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS. VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE A CAR DIE WHILE DRIVING IT. WE REFUSE TO DRIVE IT IN FEAR OF IT CAUSING FURTHER ISSUES. *TR
THE HEATER STOPPED PRODUCING WARM AIR. DIAGNOSED IT AS A HEATER BLEND DOOR PROBLEM. GM SENT US A LETTER ASKING TO FIX AND THEN DENIED THE CLAIM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE EASILY THE ABS KEPT KICKING IN FOR NO REASON I HAD ALMOST HIT A CAR INFRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SO HARD IT ALSO KICKS IN AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES PEDAL STARTS PULPUTATIONS AND GETS HARD AND MAKING A NOISE LIKE THE ABS HAS KICKED ON. *…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE EASILY THE ABS KEPT KICKING IN FOR NO REASON I HAD ALMOST HIT A CAR INFRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SO HARD IT ALSO KICKS IN AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES PEDAL STARTS PULPUTATIONS AND GETS HARD AND MAKING A NOISE LIKE THE ABS HAS KICKED ON. *TR
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH ONE PREVIOUS OWNER FROM A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I USE THE BLINKER, MY BRIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND I WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THEM OFF. THEN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WOULD START TO SMOKE. I WOULD PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE V…
Read full complaint
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH ONE PREVIOUS OWNER FROM A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I USE THE BLINKER, MY BRIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND I WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THEM OFF. THEN MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WOULD START TO SMOKE. I WOULD PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS HAS NOT LEAD TO A FIRE YET, BUT VERY EASILY COULD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT HALF A DOZEN TIMES IN A MONTH. THE DEALER WHOM I HAD JUST BOUGHT IT FROM REFUSED TO HELP COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF THIS PIECE. I AM NOW PAYING FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF. I'M JUST NOT SURE IF THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON VEHICLE PROBLEM OR IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. *TR
BOUGHT THIS PIECE OF [XXX] USED IN 2011. AMONGST OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH IT A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THIS JUNK (SOME WEIRD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEEL, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3-4 TIMES TO START THE CAR, ETC) STARTED OVERHEATING JULY 2012. THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT - 280.00. STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN - THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR!!! …
Read full complaint
BOUGHT THIS PIECE OF [XXX] USED IN 2011. AMONGST OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH IT A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THIS JUNK (SOME WEIRD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEEL, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3-4 TIMES TO START THE CAR, ETC) STARTED OVERHEATING JULY 2012. THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT - 280.00. STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN - THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR!!! TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP FROM SHOP, OVERHEATING AGAIN. LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE GD HEAD GASKET! SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET RIPPED A NEW [XXX] TOMORROW MORNING. I DON'T KNOW TO BE MAD AT THE DEALERSHIP OR GM OR BOTH. I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. SHOULD HAD LEARNED WHEN I BOUGHT A 1996 BERETTA BRAND NEW YEARS AGO - THAT WAS A PIECE OF [XXX] ALSO. TRADED IN MY 1996 NISSAN SENTRA - WHY DIDN'T I JUST BUY ANOTHER NISSAN?? NO WONDER THEY WENT[XXX] NEAR BELLY UP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HAD FOUR PROBLEMS THAT WERE FIXED BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR: * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH (OUT OF FRUSTRATION). * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE …
Read full complaint
MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HAD FOUR PROBLEMS THAT WERE FIXED BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR: * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH (OUT OF FRUSTRATION). * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE ON A HOT DAY. TURNING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING A FEW TIMES FINALLY ENGAGED POWER STEERING ASSIST. * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE TURNING CORNERS AND REQUIRED ASSISTANCE FROM THE PASSENGER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING AND ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. STEERING COLUMN WAS SMOKING, SHAKING SIDE TO SIDE AND UP AND DOWN, AND FELT LIKE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WAS FALLING APART UNDER MY HANDS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THREE TIMES THE ESCONDIDO DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES. I THOUGHT IT WAS WRONG THAT I ALMOST DIED AND THERE IS NO ERROR CODE FOR THAT, BUT REALIZED I WAS TALKING TO A WALL. MY PROBLEMS CONTINUED AND I WENT TO THE POWAY DEALER WHO SAID THE OVERHEATED STEERING MOTOR WAS FORCING THE ENGINE INTO PROTECTIVE MODE. THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE MY CAR AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR ON GM WARRANTY. NONE OF THE DESCRIBED INCIDENTS HAVE RECURRED SINCE REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR. MY PROBLEMS SEEM SIMILAR TO THOSE STATED IN THESE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBERS: 10168607, 10181373, 10195505, 10207818, 10210502, 10245868, 10248789, 10250004, 10321311, 10364217, 10383115, 10383313, 10410417, 10419886, 10440553. THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEMS. I COULD HAVE DIED SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE IN OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD WITH ME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR B/C MY DAD WAS A LIFELONG CHEVY FAN. THIS IS NOT MY FATHER'S CHEVY. *TR
KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT HUBS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PULSATION CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT HUBS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PULSATION CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 8/24/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PULSATING CONTINUED. IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING IN THE ABS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 09/10/12
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration