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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
64,500 miles · May 1, 2011
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS. PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP BRAND NEW IN 2006. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION GETTING STUCK A LOT. IT PROGRESSIVELY BEEN GETTING WORSE SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT I'M NOT ALONE. HAVING VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE KEY WON'T TURN AND IT…

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I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS. PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP BRAND NEW IN 2006. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION GETTING STUCK A LOT. IT PROGRESSIVELY BEEN GETTING WORSE SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT I'M NOT ALONE. HAVING VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE KEY WON'T TURN AND IT TAKES ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES FUSSING WITH IT BEFORE IT LUCKILY TURNS ON. I HAVEN'T HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW YET OR BRING IT INTO THE DEALER AND FORK OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I HOPE IT DOESN'T DIE ALL TOGETHER. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR A DEFECT SUCH AS THIS. PLEASE RECALL THE IGNITION IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398444

65,000 miles · Apr 22, 2011
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON AND DEFROSTER NOT LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN. NO HEAT MEANS WINDOWS FOG UP AND AND CAN NOT SEE TO DRIVE, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD …

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VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON AND DEFROSTER NOT LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN. NO HEAT MEANS WINDOWS FOG UP AND AND CAN NOT SEE TO DRIVE, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN RAINY OR SNOWY COLD WEATHER. ACCORDING TO OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THE COST TO REPAIR IS AROUND $1200 FOR $50-$80 METAL PART.

NHTSA ODI #10397764

25,000 miles · Apr 13, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD WATER MOVING INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE STARTED IN AUGUST OF 2007. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND LIFTERS WERE FAILING. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE FAILUR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD WATER MOVING INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE STARTED IN AUGUST OF 2007. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND LIFTERS WERE FAILING. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,347. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 08/19/11

NHTSA ODI #10395764

51,000 miles · Mar 31, 2011
Visibility

CHEVY EQUINOX 2006-BROKEN BLEND DOOR DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACTUATOR. COST FOR DIAGNOSES $44, COST TO REPAIR $1,000. HAVE NOTICED THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AROUND THE 50,000 MILE MARK, MINE IS AT 51,000. PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT T…

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CHEVY EQUINOX 2006-BROKEN BLEND DOOR DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACTUATOR. COST FOR DIAGNOSES $44, COST TO REPAIR $1,000. HAVE NOTICED THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AROUND THE 50,000 MILE MARK, MINE IS AT 51,000. PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT THE HEAT CEASES WITHOUT WARNING. DEFROST IS NOT USABLE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF EQUINOX OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND SHOULD BE UPDATED WITHOUT COST TO THESE CHEVROLET OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393891

82,000 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Equipment

NO HEAT IN 2006 EQUINOX. DOOR USED TO CHANGE FROM HEAT TO COOL BROKEN DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF ACTUATOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393787

74,000 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ABNORMALLY. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EITHER PARKED OR IDLE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD INCREASE AND SHE WOULD BE FORCED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO PREVENT IT FROM OVERHEATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ABNORMALLY. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EITHER PARKED OR IDLE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD INCREASE AND SHE WOULD BE FORCED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO PREVENT IT FROM OVERHEATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSTEAD TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10393767

85,000 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Visibility

HEAT STOPPED WORKING IN 06 EQUINOX. TOLD IT WAS THE AIR BLEND DOOR. $40 DOLLAR PART BUT $1000 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IS A DESIGN FLAW BY GM. THEY WILL NOT BACK IT. THIS LEAVES THE CAR WITH NO WAY TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393739

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

BROKEN BLEND DOOR ON 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392678

50,000 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BLOWING COLD AIR. DEALERSHIP SAID PLASTIC DOOR PART IS BROKEN THAT CONTROLS DIRECTION OF COOL OR HOT AIR. $50.00 PART $1200.00 LABOR TO REMOVE DASH TO FIX, NOT UNDER WARRENTY. SAFETY ISSUE, MOISTURE BUILDS UP ON INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD AND FREEZES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392543

40,000 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Visibility

MY BLEND DOOR ALSO BROKE FROM DEEP INSIDE THE DASH CAUSING THE HEAT SETTING TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND I AM UNABLE TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP ON THE FIRST TRY AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE TO START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS …

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MY BLEND DOOR ALSO BROKE FROM DEEP INSIDE THE DASH CAUSING THE HEAT SETTING TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR AND I AM UNABLE TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD. SINCE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. SOMETIMES IT STARTS UP ON THE FIRST TRY AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE TO START. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392493

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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