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? *TR
2006 Chevrolet Equinox complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
NO HOT AIR BLOWS THROUGH VENTS, ONLY COLD AIR. ALSO, THE CAR CRANKS, BUT DOESN'T TURN OVER MOST OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO TURN OVER. VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A MOM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED 90 MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL ONE MORNING AND THE HEATER STARTED BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. SOME TIME LATER, I TOOK MY CHEVY EQUINOX TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $1,000 TO REPAIR. THIS WAS A SHOCK BECAUSE MY MECHANIC IS VERY REPUTABLE; I HAVE USED HIM FOR YEARS. HE NEVER TRIES TO CHEAT ME OR ANY OF HIS OTHER CUSTOMERS. WHEN HE QUOTED ME THAT PRICE, THAT'S WHEN I KNEW SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH MY CAR. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY - I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB A FEW MONTHS AGO. I CALLED CHEVROLET 3 TIMES AND NOBODY WOULD HELP ME. IN THE MEANTIME, I DID SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OVER 600 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THAT CHEVY/GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (CAR HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR) BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE COST-EFFECTIVE FOR CHEVY TO FIX IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHEVY/GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN CHEVY EQUINOX'S FROM ALL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. NOT ONLY WILL I NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN, I AM FILING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST CHEVY/GM FOR FAILING TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM. EVEN IF I DID HAVE THE MONEY, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT THIS COMPANY KNOWS IS A PROBLEM. *TR
A CHEAP PLASTIC PART (AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR ) BREAKS AND YOU LOSE ALL HEAT AND CANNOT DEFROST OR DEFOG WINDOWS, AND AS SUCH HAVE VIRTUALLY NO VISIBILTY, WHICH IN MY OPINION IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR AND DEFROST DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR
I WOULD PRESS THE BRAKE AND IT FELT LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. AFTER A FEW TIMES, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. IN OCTOBER 2012, I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER TO GET IT DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT ABS SENSOR. THEN I WENT FOR ALMOST A MONTH WITHOUT AN INCIDENT AND NOW IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THIS LAST WEEK OF NOV. 2012, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SENSOR BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT IS NOT ON, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST GOING TO TEAR INTO EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THOSE WITH WHOM I TRAVEL. *TR
FAULTY TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. NO HEAT RESULTING IN NO DEFROST OR DEFOGGER. MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN LIVING IN THE MIDWEST IN THE COLD AND WET SEASON. YOU (GM) SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLASTIC PIECE BEING REPLACED, NOT THE CONSUMER. THIS SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT RESULT FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK. THE BLOWER FAN AND ALL THE SWITCHES ARE FINE. WHEN I TURN THE TEMP KNOB TO HOT AIR, ONLY GET COLD COME OUT. DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SETTING THE MODE DOOR IS IN. VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON THEREFORE THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! IF WINDOWS ARE FOGGED OR ICED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER YOU CAN NOT SEE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN FATALITIES. I FOUND OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN.THE COST IS OVER 1,000 AND I AM BEING TOLD GM WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND WE ARE FREEZING IN MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT TO BE A "FAMILY" VEHICLE. THIS IS JUST ONE MORE PROBLEM TO THE LIST OF THINGS I HAVE ALREADY HAD FIXED IN THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *TR
WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 10-35MPH MY BRAKES LOCK UP AND MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE PEDAL PUSHES BACK AT ME AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN I'M TRYING TO STOP IT. THE PROBLEM EVENTUALLY FIXES ITSELF BY TURNING OFF ITS ABS SYSTEM... THE ABS AND TC LIGHTS COME ON AND THEN I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM UNTIL I HAVE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GET IN MY CAR...AND SOMETIME DOES NOT CORRECT ITSELF UNTIL REACHING HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD MANY OCCURRENCES WHEN I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO STOP. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND MY LOCAL DEALER...IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ABS MODULE THAT NEEDS REPLACING. ON THEIR OWN GM FORUMS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM (AMONG MANY OTHERS WITH THIS MODEL)...I GUESS SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY RECALL THIS. *TR
2006 EQUINOX LT I RECEIVE THE 30 DAY FACTORY WARRANTY I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER GROUP LLC I PURCHASED THE CAR 2-11-11 BEFORE THE 30 DAY WARRANTY WENT OUT I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR OVERHEATING ON FEB 8 GOT CAR BACK ON FEB 15, ON MARCH 11 TOOK THE CAR AGAIN FOR OVERHEATING RECEIVED CAR BACK ON MARCH 18, 4-27-11 TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE THE INSPECTION STICKER WAS 2010, ON MAY 03 TOOK THE CAR IN FOR OVERHEATING GOT CAR BACK ON MAY 10, TOOK CAR ON 8-22-11 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING AS OF TODAY THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO GET SERVICED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING TOOK THE CAR BACK 3/12 AND 5/12 FOR THE SAME ISSUES AND AS OF TODAY 10/29/12 THE SAME ISSUES I AM GETTING TIRED OF PAYING THE 100 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES, THE FANS TWICE AND SENSORS AND THEN THE FANS IT IS TO MANY PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVING WITH THESE EQUINOX AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE UN HAPPY NOTHING IS GETTING DONE ABOUT THIS SOMETHING NEED TO HAPPEN PISSED CUSTOMER I WAS SOLD A LEMON WHAT ABOUT THE LEMON LAW IN TEXAS THIS NEED TO BE A RECALL AND GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
NO WARM AIR FROM DEFROSTER HEATER. THERMOSTAT REPLACED, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. MECHANIC TOLD ME HEATER DOOR BLEND DOOR BROKEN. NO RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH COMMON PROBLEM. 2010 EQUINOX REPORTED SAME PROBLEM AND HAS RECALL. APPROX $ 1000 REPAIR AND DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. GM SHOULD RECALL 2006 EQUINOX ALSO. *TR
THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX IN APRIL OF 2009 AT 29,000 MILES. IT NOW NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2012 AT 57,500 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NO COST TO ME. BUT NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED, AGAIN AT $1100+ (DEALER ESTIMATE). AFTER A WEEKLONG BATTLE WITH GM, THEY OFFERED ME A 50% COST SHARE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 29,000 AND AGAIN AT 57,500!! IT HAS GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN DEFECT (DUE TO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS), BUT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL!! *TR
STARTING IN DECEMBER 2011, OUR HEATER BLEND DOOR BROKE ON OUR 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. IT IS A WIDE-SPEAD ISSUE WITH THE EXACT MAKE/MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE, EFFECTING SEVERAL HUNDRED, IF NOT THOUSANDS. CHEVROLET HAS RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN MAY OF 2012) WITH THE EXACT ISSUE, AS WELL AS RE-DESIGNED THE DOOR FOR FUTURE FIXES, BUT REFUSES TO HELP REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR ME. EVEN KNOW THE PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE THE MILEAGE FACTOR IN THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART, AND IS OVER THE MILEAGE NOW, GM REFUSES TO HELP. MY CAR HAS NO HEAT AT ALL, WINDSHIELD DOES NOT DE-FROST, DOES NOT DE-FOG. MY WIFE HAS TO USE THIS CAR TO DROP OUR AUTISTIC SON AT HIS SCHOOL AS WELL AS TO GO TO WORK, WE CAN'T HAVE NO HEAT. *TR
ON AUG. 26TH,2012 MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX BROKE DOWN I TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT MY FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I PAID $750 DOLL FOR PARTS AND LABOR ,2 WKS BEFORE THAT HAPPENED MY CAR WAS GIVING OFF A FUEL SMELL AND WOULDN'T START UNLESS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THAT WORKED UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN .GM IS RECALLING EQUINOX 2007-09 FOR FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS CAUSING TO LEAK GAS CAUSING A FUEL SMELL AND IN DANGER OF THE CAR CATCHING FIRE BECAUSE OF GAS LEAKAGE AND ALSO DAMAGING THE FUEL PUMP MY CAR IS A 2006 BUT HAS THAT SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER A NEW FUEL PUMP ITS STILL GIVING ME THE SAME PROBLEMS I THINK ITS MY FUEL INJECTOR AND GM NEEDS TO ALSO RECALL MODEL YR 2006 I'M AFRAID I WILL NEED A NEW EXP FUEL PUMP AGAIN SOON OR WORSE MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE THEREFORE I'M PRAYING GM DOES THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE THE CHEVY EQUINOX 2006 IN ITS RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM . THANK YOU *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON A COLD AND RAINY DAY, MY WINDOWS BEGAN TO GET FOGGY. I TURNED ON MY DEFROST AND MY WINDOWS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I THEN NOTICE IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR I TURNED THE KNOBS TO SEE IF I HAD IT ON AIR CONDITIONING INSTEAD OF DEFROST BUT IT WAS ON THE CORRECT SETTING. I BECAME VERY AFRAID BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD! I HAD TO KEEP WIPING OFF THE WINDSHIELD WITH A TOWEL JUST TO GET TO WORK. I THEN I HAD TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS RETURNING HOME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS COMMON IN 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THERE IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT BREAKS AFTER CONSTANT USE(HEATER BLEND DOOR) AND IT WILL CAUSE THE DEFROST TO ONLY BLOW EITHER COLD OR HOT AIR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 800-1000 TO FIX OR MORE DEPENDING WHO FIXES IT. I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN RAINY WEATHER AND SOON WINTER WILL ARRIVE. GM SHOULD REALLY REPLACE THIS PART BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM A FAULTY PIECE OF PLASTIC. *TR
THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTUAL INCIDENT. I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE LACK OF HEAT AND DEFROSTING CAPABILITIES OF THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX MAY CAUSE. IF THE ISSUE OF THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED THERE IS A CHANCE THAT A WINDOW WILL NOT BE DEFROSTED AND THE DRIVERS VIEW WILL BE OBSTRUCTED. THERE IS ALSO THE HEALTH ISSUE FOR NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. NOT BEING WARM OR ABLE TO SEE AND CAUSE RISING COSTS OF BOTH CARE AND HEALTH CARE COSTS. HELP PUSH THE ISSUE TO GMC AND GET THE PROBLEMS FIXED AT THEIR COST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WHERE THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE IGNITION HAD BEEN REPLACED, AS WITH OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WERE REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER SERVICED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IN JANUARY OF 2011, 10 1/2 MONTHS AFTER OWNING IT (OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE), THE HEATER BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR PROBLEM OCCURRED ON OUR CHEVROLET AS WELL. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, AND IT'S EFFECTING VISIBILITY IN THE COOLER MONTHS. WE LIVE IN WESTERN WASHINGTON, AND DURING THE FALL/WINTER, YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD (ONLY HAVE COLD AIR AVAILABLE THROUGH VENTS). *TR
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
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 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. *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 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!!! 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 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 COMPLAI
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 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
THE DEFROST AND HEATING SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK. ONLY COLD AIR BLOWS FROM THE VENTS. THIS ALLOWS THE WINDOWS TO FOG AND CAUSES CONCERN. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX. THE FLAP TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF OUTSIDE AIR IS CONTROLLED BY A STEPPER MOTOR. THE MOTOR SHORT CIRCUITS, CAUSING THE FLAP TO BREAK. THUS THE FLAP IS INEFFECTIVE AND ALLOWS FOR FREEZING OR HOT TEMPERATURES TO FLOOD THE CAR. *TR
BOUGHT IN JAN 2009 WITH 65,000 ON IT. SUMMER 09 IN A RAIN STORM IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE TURNED A FAUCET ON IN MY CAR THE WATER WAS COMING IN ON DRIVERS SIDE MY LEFT FOOT LOOKED LIKE IN THE TUB, FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. OUT OF POCKET $100, THE BY END OF 09 THE REAL FUN BEGAN, HAD ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED, KNOCKING IN CAR WHEN CAR STARTED FOR FIRST 5 MINUTES. THE BY OCTOBER CAR WAS OVER HEATING, HEAT ONLY BLEW WHEN CAR WAS MOVING, CAR NOW HAD 118137 REPLACED THE ENDER BLOWER MOTORS, COOLANT FANS AND FAN MOTOR, CALLED AND REPORTED TO CHEVY, THEN IN NOVEMBER 010, IT ALL HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME HAD TO HAVE BLEND ARM DOOR REPLACED CAR CALLED CHEVY NOPE NOT A ISSUE PER INTERNET ITS MAJOR ISSUE. REPLACED AT MY COST $891. RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 2010, GASKETS AND SEALS BLEW CAR OVER HEATED THEN SHUT OFF, HAD TO LET IT COOL DOWN THEN START UP AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE, GASKETS AND SEALS. NOW 7/12 CHEVY WANTS TO REIMBURSE FOR THE PART BUT DECIDED TO FIGHT ME TOOTH AND NAIL ON THE REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR. TRADED IT IN APRIL 2012 COULD NOT LONGER AFFORD IT AND TRANS FELT LIKE ITS GOING TO GO. CHEVY SAID I WILL GET A PARTIAL REFUND OF BLEND ARM DOOR ONLY? WTF THE CAR PUT ME AND MY CHILDREN IN DANGER AND THAT'S ALL THEY WANT TO DO BUT YET FIGHT ME? ALSO I REPORTED TO CHEVY ALL THESE ISSUES, THE BBB, A LAWYER AT THIS POINT, 2 TV NETWORK NEWS PROGRAMS, AND ALL AVAILABLE MULTIMEDIA. *TR
MY HEATER STOPPED WORKING IT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO COMMON WITH ALL 2006 EQUINOX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOON ROOF WAS LEAKING DOWN TO THE DASH BOARD AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM AN ADJUSTMENT BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
PURCHASE CAR APPROX: 7/09 WITH APPROX: 33000 MILES. IN JAN 2010 NOTICE PROBLEMS STARTING CAR, HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF & ON EVER SINCE. CAR NOW HAS 114000 MILES. *TT
VERY COLD MORNING. WINDOWS FOGGED UP. TURNED ON DEFROST HEARD SOMETHING POP AND FELT COLD AIR COME INTO THE CAR. DROVE TO WORK BY WIPING THE WINDOW WITH NAPKINS. CALLED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CALLED DEALER TO ASK IF THEIR WAS A RECALL AND CHECK PRICE AGAINST MECHANICS. DEALERS PRICE WAS THE SAME. INTERESTING PART WAS DEALER DENIED ANY SUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT GM WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT THE DEALER SAYS I DO NOT QUALIFY. THIS IS NO CHEAP REPAIR. LOOKING FOR A CLASS ACTION OR GOOD LAWYER. FOUND YOUR SITE TO VENT AND HELP OTHERS. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 7/16/12 *CN THE HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKETS WERE REPLACED. IN JUNE 2012, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND WHITE SMOKE AND WATER WERE EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REAR HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AND THE #1 CYLINDER HAD FAILED AS WELL. UPDATED 07/18/12
I HAVE A 2006 EQUINOX THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH 91,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER WITH CLEAN CAR FAX. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO CRANK. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO EVEN GET IT TO CRANK. I'M ASSUMING THIS A FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEM OF SOME SORT. ALSO, ONCE CRANKED THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES IDLE ITSELF DOWN FROM 1 RPM TO 0 RPM THEN BACK TO 1 RPM. THERE IS ALSO A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM BACK END OF CAR WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH HAVING THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE WATER GETS INTO THE HEADLIGHTS. MOST OF THE EQUINOX'S THAT I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE WATER IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WILL BURST WHEN WET AND YOU HAVE NO HEADLIGHT UNTIL YOU HAVE IT FIXED. (WHICH YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS YOURSELF BECAUSE PART STORES REFUSE TO DO THE LABOR FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT TO EVEN REPLACE A BULB. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT CHEVROLET DID THAT SO IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, LIKE MYSELF, YOU ARE FORCED TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE AND HAVE IT REPLACED.) THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WEARING TOO FAST. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR ON THE BLOWER MOTOR TWICE IN 2 YEARS. THESE MAY NOT BE BIG PROBLEMS TO GM, BUT I RELY ON MY CAR TO TAKE ME TO WORK AND SCHOOL AND THE FACT THAT THEY GENUINELY DON'T CARE HAS FORCED ME TO NOT WANT TO BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET AGAIN. SEEING AS THE
MY 2006 EQUINOX INITIALLY BEGAN HAVING START UP ISSUES WHERE THE STARTER WOULD CRANK AND THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY AND THEN DIE. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. THEN I FIGURED OUT IF I GAVE IT GAS WHEN I STARTED IT UP IT WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF STARTING. SOMETIMES IT WORKED. THEN THE ISSUE WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE AND CAME BACK WITH A NEW ISSUE. THE NEW ISSUE IS SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE STARTER WOULD CLICK BUT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN IT WOULD START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON LOCATION, TIME OF DAY ETC. *TR
LIGHTS DON'T TURN OFF,HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
HEAT IS BLOWING COLD AIR. REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND DID NOT HELP. NO HEAT. READ ON-LINE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS YEAR/THIS VEHICLE. *JS
HEAT STOPPED WORKING. NOT ABLE TO TURN ON THE HEAT IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PART THAT WORKS THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN AND WOULD TAKE 24 HOURS AND ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE. *TR
WHEN DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL ONE FREEZING COLD MORNING I TURNED ON THE HEAT IN MY CAR ONLY TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR! I BROUGHT IT TO A CHEVY DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE FOR THE LACK OF HEAT AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE TEMP BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN INSIDE THE HVAC CASE. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO FIX AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS WEBSITE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE...ON THE COLD RAINY MORNINGS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE ANY VISIBILITY WITH A BROKEN HVAC SYSTEM AND NO DEFROST FOR THE WINDSHIELD NOT TO MENTION THE INABILITY TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF ICE AND SNOW IN THE WINTER MONTHS! THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CHEVROLET HAS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND OFFER A SOLUTION SO DRIVERS CAN REMAIN SAFE ON THE ROADS. *TR
BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 65,000 MILES. WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED, CAR LOST POWER. NO INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES BEFORE, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO OTHER WARNING WHATSOEVER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2005 & 2006 EQUINOX'S SINCE I WAS INFORMED OF HOW COMMON IT IS FROM THE LADY AT THE BMV....I KEPT ASKING MY CHEVY DEALER HOW DOES A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 65,000 MILES BLOW A HEAD GASKET AND SOMEHOW I DOUBT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE HEARD OF IT. *TR
OUR 2006 EQUINOX BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT 100000 MILES UNDER NORMAL USE. WE HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER 06 EQUINOX OWNERS ONLINE THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE FORUMS OF EQUINOX OWNERS DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM. CHEVY SHOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF FIXING THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *JS
ON 4/14/12, THE HEATER/DEFROSTER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR ONLY. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO FOG AND LIMITED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF REPORT OF THE SAME FAILURE IN THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR DATING BACK TO 2008. *TR
BOUGHT USED IN FEB 2012 FROM LOCAL DEALER THE HEATER WORKED FINE UNTIL EARLY APRIL. WE HAD WEIRD WEATHER HERE IN UPSTATE NY VERY WARM SO DID NOT NEED TO USE HEATER THAT MUCH. TOOK DAUGHTER TO WORK AT 4 AM AND TURNED ON HEAT AND COLD AIR IS COMING THRU VENTS, THE TEMP GAUGE IS FINE I AM THINKING MAYBE THE THERMOSTAT IS STUCK OPEN IT MIGHT BE ORIGINAL THERMOSTAT OR FROM WHAT I SEE ON THIS SITE THE MECHANICAL DOOR IS STUCK OR BROKEN. I SPOKE WITH DEALER HE SAID IT WAS COVERED IN THE WARRANTY TO PAY THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT , WITH SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS CAN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GET INVOLVED ON THIS IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE IF NO HEAT AND DEFROSTING WINDOWS AND GM SITS ON THEIR HANDS AND SAY IT IS WITHIN GM'S CRITERIA WELL GM OBVIOUSLY SUCKS AND DO NOT HONOR A MAJOR DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. I LIKE THE EQUINOX BUT ONLY HAD IT 2 MONTHS AND THIS IS NOT GOOD GLAD IT IS GETTING WARM NOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY COLD AIR BLEW FROM THE VENTS. THE CONTACT HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VENT THAT SHIFTED BETWEEN HEAT HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAT NO LONGER BLEW THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
TL* 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.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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