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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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,545 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 suspension problems

suspension problem

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2006 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments

problem #11

Oct 012022

Equinox

  • miles

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

Both front frame mounts that hold the engine suspension crossmember rusted away. What is even worse GM discontinued the replacement parts. I had to use components from a similar platform. This is a safety related rusting problem that is life threating as vehicle can become unstable and uncontrollable at highway speeds.

- Florence, NJ, USA

problem #10

Nov 102019

Equinox

  • 172,000 miles
Bought this car on 11/3/19, within the first week there was a horrible thumping and vibrating while driving or turning the wheel. So I took it back, they told me they would replace my wheel hub on the drivers side, I return to pick up my car, the same issue is there just not as bad, he claimed he still replaced the wheel hub. So I take the tire off myself and inspect the wheel hub and tires, and they in fact didnt replace the hub, they just siliconed the wheel hub to the end of the axle shaft, which now has caused other damage to my trans and or suspension. I call to let them know and the owner first played stupid as if he didnt know if they replaced it, so I told them id call back. I waited a week called back, let him know what I found on the wheel hub that was supposed to be replaced.. then he gets nasty and says its out of their hands ect, and they did replace it.. well no wheel hub is gong to go bad in less then a month with normal driving conditions, and there is no reason at all silicone should be used to hold anything to an axle or wheel hub. I am worried about the safety of my family and wife, and I am suppose to continue to pay another 2700 dollars on a car they lied about during my warranty.

- Glen Rock, PA, USA

problem #9

Jan 022019

Equinox

  • 115,000 miles
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

- Kilgore, TX, USA

problem #8

Mar 052018

Equinox

  • 150,000 miles

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

1. my ABS and traction control light come on almost everytime I drive the car. Most of the time they come on for no reason, just driving on smooth/good road conditions they come on or pulling out of a driveway. 2. doesn't matter if the ABS light is on or off, I've had to smash down on the brake pedal numerous times so I don't hit the car in front of me because the breaks feel like they aren't grabbing. Luckily my daughter wasn't in the car any of the times it's happened. I had the car looked at by a technician at a Chevy dealership and he found no issues with the brakes. 3. the front end of this vehicle is horrible. I've replaced the front hubs recently, and that did no good with either of these issues. 3. I was going through a drive thru, and all of a sudden the E-brake light came on, loud sound came out of speakers when I turned the wheel, and a number of lights on the dash came on. Luckily got out of the drive thru, and shut the car off, and it wouldn't turn back on. It jumped started but we figured out that the wire from the started to the alternator was loose and causing it to not charge the battery. We tightened it down and it fixed that problem. 4. I got into my car, started it up, and went to reverse and there was no power steering. I pulled back into the spot and turned off the car & then back on & it came back. My husband was just driving the car before me and he had no issues. I hope there is something recalled on this car. I've seen so many people with these same type of complaints. It's dangerous!!!

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #7

Jan 242014

Equinox

  • 82,000 miles
I have had all kind of trouble out of this vehicle. First it was the wheel bearings. Change one an not long after have to change another. Have changed about 4. three on one wheel an one on the other. And now have to change another that I can tell. Then it started with brakes recently. They would stick. Had brakes replaced that didn't fix the problem. Brake lights came on vehicle. Then went off haven't came on since but brakes have stuck more than one time. Very dangerous. Now to get with the air in the vehicle that I have seen several complain about. While car is sitting still the vehicle will stay warm an warm air blowing out. Where it has been cold when driving the car the temp would go down on vehicle making the air blow out cool an I about freeze to death driving. Windows fog up fast. Need a recall if so many people are have the same issue/issues. Can cause major problems if not addressed or fixed. I don't let me kids ride in the car with me anymore cause of this.

- Whitesburg, KY, USA

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problem #6

Mar 192013

Equinox

  • miles
I ran off the side of the road into a guardrail and could not stop until I was on top of the guardrail into an embankment. My entire front end was destroyed as well as most of the underneath of the car. My face hit the steering wheel causing me to lose consciousness as well as giving me a black eye, crooked teeth, cuts, broken dental appliances, and my teeth went through my lip. I strongly believe my airbags should have deployed and prevented the impact of my face to the steering wheel since I thought that is what airbags are for. My car was totaled.

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #5

Mar 012012

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 52,000 miles

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

I heard a thumping noise from what felt like under my feet. I then tried to push on the brakes, only having the pedal give a great amount of resistance with loud ABS noises. It will continue doing this until both my traction control light and ABS light come on. I had my brakes checked and they said everything was good. And of course it was out of my 50000 mile warranty. I still drive cautiously and try to get the lights on as quickly as possible when driving my children around so that we aren't seriously injured. Not until I started researching the problems I'm having with this particular vehicle did I realize I wasn't the only one. The brakes are the first to mention...then there's the ac/heater problem it won't blow hot air, and it won't blow cool air when stopped at a red light. Then that loud clunking noise made when I'm driving over bumps that sound like my front end is going to fall off. Oh and the fact that my speedometer will only increase by 3-5 mph increments. The dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong, after getting a speeding ticket by a camera light it was taken into a speed shop who verified its absolutely not working correctly. They couldn't even give me a reading because its broken. Nice!!!!! seriously is someone going to have to die, or seriously injured before someone steps up and takes responsibility?

- Mesa, AR, USA

problem #4

Feb 062012

Equinox

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, there was a loud knocking noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and stated that they could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 81,000.

- Marion, IA, USA

problem #3

Oct 032008

Equinox

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds she noticed a loud noise coming from the front passenger side wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and they advised her that the wheel bearing had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired for the front passenger wheel bearing for the fourth time in four years. In addition, the contac stated that the emergency brake was between the cup holders and if a cup was placed inside, it would block the emergency brake from being engaged. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Wallkill, NY, USA

problem #2

Jun 182009

Equinox

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the wheel bearings were built into the hub and when it would fail, it could cause the wheel to fracture from the vehicle. The front driver side wheel was replaced by the dealer two years ago but the failure recurred. In addition, the contact stated that all four wheels had to be replaced as a result. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and the contact was advised that the bearings were bone dry and had caused the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 114,000.

- Hiram, GA, USA

problem #1

Nov 012007

Equinox 6-cyl

  • miles
2006 Chevy Equinox problem with front end. Consumer stated that the vehicle is making a noise in the front end. She states that the engine revs. The consumer stated the steering froze twice.

- Burgaw, NC, USA

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