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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2006 Equinox is plagued by a heating problem, as in the heater only blows cold air.

The reported cause of this problem is a small door, known as the air temperature blend door, which allows air to flow past the heater core. This door has a plastic connecting shaft to an electric motor and the shaft is prone to breaking after a few years. The problem has a typical repair cost of over $800.

The 2006 Equinox also has a number of reported problems ranging from the key getting stuck in the ignition, to failing speed sensors, and trouble starting the engine. All in all, this car sounds like one worth avoiding.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
147,993 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Chevrolet Equinox electrical problems

electrical problem

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2006 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #90

Jan 152015

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 175,469 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Noticed that my car was not starting when cranked.\I thought it was the battery and changed it, but still having the problem. Researched the internet and found that the powertrain/engine control modules were the issues in numerous Chevy Equinox which may be the reason for the car not starting.

- Gaston, SC, USA

problem #89

Dec 312014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
Once the vehicle was put into park the key got stuck in the ignition.

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #88

Sep 052014

Equinox

  • 145,000 miles
We purchased this vehicle used for our college student. We bought this vehicle from seeker Toyota in St. Robert mo. Two days after purchase the. Brake system on the front passenger side locked up. This was supposedly inspected by the dealership. We replaced the calipers, rotors, brakes pads, and thought the problem was fixed, less than 2 months later it locked up again and tried to catch fire. Now have to fix again. The heater stopped working about a week after purchase, the cd player stopped working the day after purchase. We were told there was no warranty after spending nearly $5000 for this vehicle. We feel like we were ripped off and why isn't the brake problems and heat issues not on the recall list.

- Dixon, MO, USA

problem #87

Apr 012014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Sod, WV, USA

problem #86

Mar 202014

Equinox

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the key could be removed from the ignition while operating the vehicle. The contact also stated that it was difficult to enter the key in the ignition and to be removed on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #85

Oct 312011

Equinox

  • 110,000 miles
The ignition switch would lock up and sometimes it turns over continuously, like it is stuck. The air condition blower has stopped working 3 times. It would smell like something is burning but the switch actually would be burning out. I hear others that have Chevrolet vehicles have had similar problems. My husband has a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado and we have replaced the blower twice in it in last than a year.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #84

Jul 162014

Equinox

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In the last month my 2006 Equinox's engine has failed 5 times, 3 times while sitting at intersections and twice while driving down the road. All 5 times the lights have gone on the dash and then all power to the engine has been lost. It takes a good minute before the engine will turn over again. We have taken the car to the shop for extensive work (including wheel bearings and ignition switch) and they have not been able to fix or even pinpoint the problem. I know that the 2005 Equinox was recalled for this issue and want to know when the '06 will be added to the list"?"

- Orchard Park, NY, USA

problem #83

Jul 112011

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
I first reported to Chevrolet in 2011 that my ignition/key in my 2006 Equinox would get "stuck". it wouldn't turn and I'd spend sometimes several minutes just trying to get the key to turn so I could start the car. I sometimes had to tap the key forward with a screwdriver handle. I reported this issue because I found numerous complaints from other people reporting the same issue. Chevrolet simply said thanks for telling us that you and many many others are having the same issue but we're not going to do anything about it. Now I have a problem with the blower fan not working. It seems this is a commonly reported issue as well but I cant seem to find an actual service bulletin on the blower resistor motor/fan problem. I'm just so disappointed in Chevy! can't they at least offer free labor if you buy the parts or something" when issues are widely reported??"

- Dunkirk, NY, USA

problem #82

Feb 112014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 125,800 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that after numerous attempts, the vehicle failed to start. The contact also stated that the key could be removed while it was on accessory mode. Additionally, the contact stated that the A/C and the heater blower relay was melted and burned. The failure occurred on three occasions. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,800. Updated 11/12/14

- Brenswick, OH, USA

problem #81

May 142014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 84,300 miles
On 2 different occasions a few weeks apart the car went dead while in operation. The 1st time I was going around a curve, the 2nd time had just reached 55mph on the hwy and set the cruise. For the past few weeks started fine in the mornings but has trouble starting on next tries, and gets harder each time. Now I have a dead battery from trying to start the vehicle!

- Hartselle, AL, USA

problem #80

Jul 212014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 128,947 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving home after driving student to high school and smoke started coming from the area of the ignition/steering column and it smelled like something was burning. I am leaving it at Chevy dealers for investigation into what is causing the issue. I have had starting problems in the past month on occasion.

- Hill, NH, USA

problem #79

Jul 032014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the ignition switch housing broke. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the ignition housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000 and the current mileage was unknown. Updated 08/27/14 updated 09/17/2014

- Chatsworth, GA, USA

problem #78

Mar 012012

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
Purchased my Equinox in 2006 new at 12,000 miles serpentine belt broken, window has jumped going up and down since the day of purchase took back to the dealer but they couldn't find a problem.at 110000 miles the heat stop working.then by summer the A/C went too.and car has always had ignition issues my car will stay running even when you take the key from the ignition completely.GM doesn't care about car owners only profit... going back to Ford...

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #77

Dec 072012

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
Water swishing noise in dash area. Increasing difficulty turning key in ignition switch. Must pull it out, turn it over and push up and turn to get it to start car. At 65,000 miles door flap on A/C heater failed, weather was 15-20 degrees F in December and caused heater and defrost system to fail. We, incurred a $1400 repair bill for a $129 part, labor expensive as part is "difficult to get to". many other complaints for these same issue are posted on-line. Does someone have to get in a serious accident or die before they recall any of these?

- Oak Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #76

Jul 122007

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
A. I began to notice that at times the car would not start the first time I turned the key. I would have to turn the key to off position and try again, this could sometimes take a couple of times. The dealer did state that it was indeed the ignition switch. B. we also have an issue with the ignition when you turn it over it continues to try to start after it is running. The only way to make is stop is to step on the gas. C. when the car is shut off with the wipers or heater or even the radio on; when we start the Equinox, there is smoke coming out of the steering wheel area. It has a burning smell with it. Very dangerous. Just last week, I had my Equinox on with the air, and smoke came out of the steering wheel area while it was running idle. D. in the colder weather, there is frost on my inside front windshield. All windows are up, and there is no reason for this. This vehicle needs to have a massive recall as there are many issues going on with it. I would hate to see someone get hurt but I could see it happening if something is not done to correct these issues.

- Groveport, OH, USA

problem #75

Aug 252011

Equinox

  • 60,000 miles
Same as reported below, ABS issues, ignition switch, over heating, water sound in dash, blend door issues. Only have 80K on car but problems surpass value. Why are there no recalls for Equinox?

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #74

May 032006

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 380 miles
Our car ignition from day one has been an issue.there are times you try to start it wont.we took it back to dealer they told me I didn't know how to start my car, one time the ignition shut off while driving, onstar came on and had me go outside car and redo fuel cap, then turn key on with out starting, finally she had me restart car. We still have ignition issues, I even contacted GM though email got no response. They seem not to care.

- Grayson, KY, USA

problem #73

Jun 012013

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
2006 Chevrolet Equinox. Now has 095431 miles on it and this started around the 83K miles point. Key will not rotate from off position to on position, thus the car can not be started and this ha. This appears to be a known problem with several Chevrolet vehicles utilizing happened multiple time. The same ignition cylinder; however Chevrolet has failed to address please advise.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #72

Apr 012013

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
2006 Chevrolet Equinox. Key will not rotate from off position to on position, thus the car can not be started. The problem is with the ignition cylinder presumed, as the factory key is incapable of even being rotated to the on position. A second factory issued key that has been sparingly used since purchased was substituted for the original (problem key). This second key appeared to have resolved the problem, for the first two weeks of use, however now this new key will not work at all either. Based on my research via the web, this appears to be a known problem with several Chevrolet vehicles utilizing the same ignition cylinder; however Chevrolet has failed to address this known problem.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #71

Jun 012011

Equinox

  • 35,000 miles
I began to notice that at times the car would not start the first time I turned the key. I would have to turn the key to off position and try again, this could sometimes take a couple of times. I have had it to the dealer while it was under warranty over and over and they said they could not repeat the complaint. Then finally in 2013 they did and stated that it was indeed the ignition switch which would cost a good amount to get fix. They also showed me that while the key is in running position that it could be removed from the ignition. With the latest of many recalls on the GM vehicles I believe the Equinox should also be included in this as they experience the same problem.

- Holbrook, MA, USA

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