JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, 1 DAY AFTER OWNING IT ABS AND NO TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE'S A RUMBLE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC, SO HE PUT NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS ON AND CLEANED WHEEL SENSORS. TOOK IT TO SEARS AND HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE DONE. 2 DAYS LATER I'VE GOT THE SAME LIGHTS ON AND RUMBLE IN PEDAL. RAN FINE FOR THOSE 2 DAYS. I'VE READ WAY TO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NO SOLUTIONS TO BE COMFORTABLE ABOUT PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH IT! WHEN IS CHEVY GONNA WAKE UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM? THEY HAVE RECALLS FOR REFLECTOR AND CONSOLE LATCHES, BUT THEY DON'T FIND FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEMS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO ADDRESS? WHY IS IT GONNA TAKE ACCIDENTS OR POSSIBLY DEATHS BEFORE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAULTY VEHICLES? I SEE POST THAT SAY WE NEED SO MANY PEOPLE TO SEND IN COMPLAINTS OR SIGN PETITIONS TO GET SOMETHING DONE...........REALLY? WHY........CAN'T CHEVY READ FORUMS AND POSTS ABOUT THE VEHICLES THEY ARE PUTTING OUT THERE? OR CAN'T SOMEONE IN CHARGE OF SAFETY AND WELLBEING SEE HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF POSTS THERE ARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE? MY HUSBAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY MAN, I'M NOT SURE I'M WITH HIM ONE THIS ONE! WHY WOULD A COMPANY WITH SUCH A GREAT REPUTATION CHANCE THROWING IT DOWN THE CRAPPER! COME ON CHEVY STAND BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE SELLING AND MAKE IT RIGHT! *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 →
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY CONCERN WITH DEFROSTER FAILURE, BLEND DOOR AND ACTUATOR FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BLEND DOOR WAS REMOVED FROM THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A FAILED PLASTIC END PIECE THAT WAS SHEARED OFF THE DOOR BY THE ACTUATOR THAT CAUSED THE DOOR TO ROTATE WHICH MADE THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER INOPERABLE. THERE WAS VISIBLE BUBBLES IN THE PLASTIC PORTION THAT SHEARED OFF. *JB
MY CAR BLOWS COLD AIR. I HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE AIR FLOW BLEND DOOR INSIDE THE HEATER SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE REMOVED. TO REPAIR IT WILL COST $1291.00 AND $96.86 FOR THE DEALER TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM. I LIVE IN CHICAGO , MY WINDOWS WILL NOT DEFROST, I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A CAR WHEN YOU CAN'T GET A CLEAR WINDSHIELD NOT MENTION DRIVING IN A FREEZING COLD VEHICLE. *TR
I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED ON 11-21-11. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE THINKING THAT A PISTON WAS BAD, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE WAY IT FELT, LIKE NOT GETTING THE RIGHT PRESSURE FROM THE PISTON ONCE THE BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED/PRESSED. ONCE WE GOT THE CALL BACK FROM MECHANIC, HE STATED THAT WE NEEDED NEW ROTORS DUE TO BOTH BEING WARPED. I THOUGHT THAT THAT WILL TAKE THE PROBLEM AWAY BUT ONCE WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK, IMMEDIATELY WITHIN DAYS THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY STATED IT WAS A TIRE THE ONE CAUSING THE NOISE AND RATTLE ONCE THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. AT THE SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AS WELL AS THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS, THEY APPLIED LUG NUT TORQUE 100, INFLATION 35/35, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES. AFTER ALL OF THIS WAS DONE, I STILL GET ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET IT TESTED AT AUTOZONE FOR FREE AND GOT THIS CODE ON THEIR MACHINE OEM NUMBER TO CROSS: P0171 DEFINITION: FUEL TRIM BANK ONE CONDITION EXPLANATION: THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE USES THE OXYGEN SENSOR TO CALCULATE THE AIR/FUEL RATIO OF THE ENGINE. THE COMPUTER HAS RECOGNIZED A RICH OR LEAN CONDITION ON ONE BANK ONLY. PROBABLE CAUSE: A1. IF BANK ONE AND TWO SET TOGETHER SUSPECT FUEL PRESSURE OR MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR A2. OXYGEN SENSOR DEFECTIVE. A3. IGNITION MISFIRE-REPAIR. A4. FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT USED MY TRUCK FOR THE PAST 2 AND A HALF MONTHS FOR FEAR OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT IF BREAKS FAIL TO DO THEIR JOB OR LO
THIS VEHICLE BLOWS OUT COLD AIR WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. IT DOES NOT DEFROST AND TAKE CLOSE TO 30 MINUTES TO COME TO A TOLERABLE HEAT TEMPERATURE. I SPENT 500.00 TRYING TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. *TR
THE HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR NO MATTER WHAT TEMPERATURE SETTING IT IS ON. THERE IS ALSO NO DEFROST ON THE FRONT WINDOW. *KB
I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER OWNERS OF A 2006 EQUINOX. NO HEAT!!! I HAVE HAD THIS LOOKED INTO AND HAVE WASTED OVER $900 ON TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!! SHAME ON THEM!!! I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN A FREEZING COLD CAR EVERY DAY BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE $1200 THAT I FIND OUT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO THIS!! I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CHEVY OWNER SINCE I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR YEARS AGO...BUT NOW I WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING ONE OR EVEN SUGGESTING ONE TO A ANYONE. *TT
ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011, I BEGAN NOTICING THE START UP PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. IT INTERMITTENTLY HAS EXCESSIVE CRANKING TIME TO START AND AS OF LATELY (JAN. 19, 2012) IT ONLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO GET IT SERVICED THE SAME DAY AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. I PAID FOR THAT BUT THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE RADIO REPLACED AND THE GAS HAS HAD MANY FUEL DELIVERY ISSUES. I BELIEVE IT IS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS RECALLED IN THE 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. IT NEEDS TO ALSO BE RECALLED FOR THE 2006 SO THAT I CAN STOP WASTING MY TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT WASN?T BUILT RIGHT. THANK YOU. *TT
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT NOT WORKING IN MY CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER THEY CHARGED ME $50.00 TO LOOK AT IT, DISCOVERED IT WAS THE BLEND AIR DOOR THAT WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT WAS ODD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM TO HAVE. $40.00 PART FOR A $900.00-$1200.00 FIX. HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED AS WE NEED THE HEAT IN WI. ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN I DRIVE. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM NERVOUS TO EVEN USE MY HEAT AS I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS HAPPENING OFTEN. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO KEEP FIXING THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOWS WHETHER USING COLD OR HOT TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHUTTER DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS READING THROUGH OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE A YEAR AGO. MY 2006 EQUINOX WAS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. I TOOK IT IN TO GET FIXED (WHILE STILL UNDER WARENTY) AND HAD TO PAY ABOUT $900. WELL, ABOUT $750 FOR LABOR. THEY SAID SINCE IT'S REGULAR WEAR & TEAR I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF IT BEFORE. THE HAD TO TAKE OFF MY ENTIRE DASH BOARD! IT WAS JUST A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT BROKE OFF THAT DOOR BEHIND ALL THE CONTROLS. I ACTUALLY GOT ON HERE BECAUSE RECENTLY MY SAFETY/AUTO THEFT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE I'M DRIVING! THE OTHER DAY MY CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH IT OR NOT! HAS ANYONE ELSE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS? IS IT A BIG DEAL? HELP? *TR
HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR WHICH CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO UNSAFELY FOG UP ON COLD SNOWY AND OR RAINY DAYS. ALL VISIBILITY IS GONE AS THE INSIDE FOGS UP WIPERS ARE UNABLE TO CLEAR THE GLASS. MAY CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. IT IS TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS IS HAPPENING WITH EVERY 2006 EQUINOX OUT THERE. THE ACTUATOR GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE BLEND DOOR TO BREAK AND NOT ALLOW THE HEAT IN. *TR
AFTER A MONTH OF PURCHASING MY EQUINOX THE HEAT QUIT WORKING. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY EQUINOX TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WITH THE AIR TEMPERATURE DOOR BLEND BREAKING DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACTUATOR THAT OPENS AND CLOSES THE DOOR. THE ACTUATOR WILL PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE DOOR CAUSING IT TO BREAK OVER TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN COLD WEATHER STATES BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT TO DEFROST YOUR WINDOW PROPERLY. IF THIS DOOR BREAKS ON A ROAD TRIP YOU ARE LIKELY UNABLE TO SEE UNTIL YOU GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I BELIEVE THAT GM IS UNWILLING TO RECALL THIS PART DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS SO LABOR INTENSIVE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THE COST SHOULD NOT BE THE ISSUE AS PEOPLE'S SAFETY SHOULD BE THEIR MAIN CONCERN! I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND MAKE GM FIX THIS PROBLEM! *TR
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR WHEN THE HEAT SHOULD BE ON. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT. IT IS THE TEMP ACTUATOR DOOR. ACCORDING TO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE BY A CHEVY DEALER THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 EQUINOX. I EMAILED GENERAL MOTORS WHO OFFERED TO PAY 10% OF THE $1000.00 CHARGE IT WILL TAKE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE THIS MONEY. AND AFTER READING SEVERAL WEBSITES THERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I LIVE IN COLORADO WHERE IT IS 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE. MY WINDOWS WILL NOT DEFROST WITHOUT HEAT. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU MAY BE DRIVING IN DRY WEATHER...AND THEN IT STARTS SNOWING OR RAINING. HOW ARE WE TO SEE WHEN THE WINDOWS FOG OR FREEZE UP. AS WE SAY IN COLORADO...WAIT FIVE MINUTES AND THE WEATHER WILL CHANGE. BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE IF MY WINDOWS WON'T DEFROST AND I'M OUT ON THE PLAINS OR IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THERE ARE NO TOWNS FOR 150 MILES. THIS A VERY REALISTIC DANGER. GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MODEL, ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY THEY DO REALIZE IT ON THE 2010 MODEL. I HAVE BEEN A LIFE LONG CHEVY OWNER, AND MY FATHER RETIRED AFTER 32 YEARS WITH GM. IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE...I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT APROX 45MPH THE ENGINE JUST STALLED. NO WARNING NO SPUTTERING JUST DEAD. BOTH ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ONE WITH THE X THRU THE ENGINE. AFTER APROX 30 SECONDS IT STARTED BACK UP AND WAS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DRIVING AND VARIOUS SPEEDS. ON 12/28/11 IT HAPPENED TO US 3 TIMES WHILE OUT. I AM LEARY OF TAKING IT TO THE DEALER CLOSE TO US AS THEY RECENTLY DID A BRAKE JOB THAT I HAVE HAD TO TAKE BACK 4 TIMES AND AM AGAIN HAVING SYMPTOMS OF NEEDING BRAKES. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THE DEALER. *KB
HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR. HEATER JUST STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THE DEALER FOUND THE TEMP (AIR BLEND )DOOR BROKE AND IN THE DEFAULT COLD POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE THE TEMP DOOR AND THE ACTUATOR. PARTS $163 LABOR $930.60 PLUS MISC. TOTAL COST $1184.12. *TR
IT JUST GOT COLD IN MY REGION AND I NOTICED MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. IT JUST BLOWS COLD AIR OUT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THERE WERE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT A HEAT BLEND DOOR BREAKING IN THIS MODEL. THE PART COSTS APPROXIMATELY 30 DOLLARS TO BUY BUT THE ASSOCIATED LABOR IS OVER $1200 DOLLARS. CHEVROLET HASN'T RECALLED THIS EVEN THOUGH IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE A DEFROSTER IN ICY WEATHER. *TR
I'VE HAD THREE INCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING THAT I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF A MECHANIC STARTED IT UP TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT AFTER I TURN THE IGNITION OFF IT RESETS ITSELF. IT HAS HAPPENED THIS WAY SEVERAL TIMES NOW THAT I WAS IN A SAFE AREA BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT FAR FROM HOME.. *TR
2006 EQUINOX; AIR TEMP BLEND DOOR NOT OPERATING, NO HEAT NO DEFROST ON SUV. THIS POSES A ISSUE DURING WINTER MONTHS. CAUSING ISSUES VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER. HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS THAT DISCUSS MANY MANY EQUINOX SUV WITH SAME PROBLEM WITH VIN STARTING WITH 2CNDL. REALLY NEEDS A RECALL ON THIS ASAP... OVER $1000 TO REPAIR $35 TO $100 PART. (NOTE. I AM ENTERING COMPLAINT FOR A FRIEND WHO WORKS 2/3 JOBS AND DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO DO THIS HERSELF. I AM THE CONTACT PERSON). *TR
BLEND DOOR ISSUE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
THE HEATER BLEND DOOR AND /OR ACTUATOR HAVE FAILED. THERE IS NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. IT IS NOW WINTER AND BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, THE DEALER CANNOT GET REPAIRED IN THE NEXT WEEK OR MORE. PART COST = $55. ESTIMATED LABOR COST $1500. THIS REPAIR IS OVER 10% VALUE OF THE CAR AND I AM TOLD REQUIRES REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE CAR IS NOW UNUSABLE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. *TR
MY AIR BLEND DOOR BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS FOG UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND AIR DOOR WAS FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,714 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
VEHICLE HAS A BROKEN "HEATER BLENDER DOOR" WITH A REPAIR COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1000 (THE MAJORITY OF THE COST IS FOR LABOR; THE PART IS REASONABLY "CHEAP"). TURNING ON THE HEAT, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY PRODUCE COLD AIR. CONSIDERING IT IS WINTER, THIS PRESENTS A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO DEFROST FUNCTION FOR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD EASILY FOGS UP AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFOG IT. *TR
YESTERDAY THE HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BLEND DOOR AND THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED REPLACED. FROM RESEARCHING THE ISSUE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY GM. *TR
WHEN I START MY EQUINOX IT SOMETIMES IDLES DOWN AND THEN BACK UP TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. IT ALSO HAS DIED AFTER I HAVE STARTED IT. BUT THE MOST CONCERNING IS HAVING TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM DYING, AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. THEN IT WILL RUN JUST FINE. *KB
MY HEATER QUIT WORKING IN MY 2006 EQUINOX. APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. SINCE THE POTENTIAL DANGER IS THERE DURING THE WINTER GM SHOULD PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS PART! *KB
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *KB
NO HEAT COMING IN THE SUV TO DEFROST WINDOWS OR TO WARM UP THE INSIDE. TOTAL REPAIR WILL BE $800.00 FOR A $30.00 PART. PLASTIC PLATE THAT CONTROLS THE AIR AND HEAT IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY THE PART AFTER SOMETIME GET WEAK FROM HOT AND COLD CONDITIONS. ONLY WAY TO FIX IS TO TEAR COMPLETE DASH BOARD OUT TO REACH BLOWER ASSEMBLY, REPLACE VENT DOOR AND REASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD. *KB
HEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING IN TRUCK. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BY OTHER OWNERS , PERTAINING TO THE TEMP BLEND DOOR BEING DEFECTIVE. *TR
CPSC# I1130330A. 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. VECICLE HAS NO HEAT, THIS IS DO TO A 35.OO PLASTIC PART THAT SHOULD SWITCH FROM HEAT TO COOL WHICH IS STUCK AND MALFUNCTIONING INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. *LN
THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF HEAT AND THE ABILITY TO DEFOG THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. ALSO THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE BY CHEVY WITH THOUSANDS OF FAILURES REPORTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES ACROSS THE INTERNET. *TR
I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU'VE HAD REGARDING THIS 2006 EQUINOX LT BLOWING COLD AIR. GMC IS NOT DOING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE DUE TO IT WILL NOT DEFROST WITHOUT HEAT AND DEFOG. *TR
HEATING PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TO THE BLEND AIR DAMPER (VALVE) BEING BROKEN FROM THE BLEND AIR ACTUATOR TORQUING IT TOO FAR. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR GM AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
THE HEATING SYSTEM IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX FAILED. I SEE THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON ISSUE. WE BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE IN AND AFTER BEATING AROUND THE BUSH, THE DEALER IS QUOTING APPROX $1000 TO REPLACE THE BLEND DOOR MECHANISM. MOSTLY LABOR, I UNDERSTAND THE PART ITSELF IS RATHER IN EXPENSIVE. SINCE THE DEFROST ON THE FRONT WINDOW NO LONGER FUNCTIONS SHOULDN'T THIS PART BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY HAZARD??? *TR
THE DEFROSTER HAS GONE OUT. THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK. THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS ON A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TURNED ON THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, BUT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V489000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 02/13/12
2010 NOVEMBER 7 HEATER KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF, WEIRD TIMES, WHILE TURNING, SOMETIMES WHILE BRAKING HARD, ALSO LOST THE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW SWITCHES AND HEATER CONTROL 8 HEATER NOT WORKING TODAY 9 HEATER KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF, WEIRD TIMES, WHILE TURNING, SOMETIMES WHILE BREAKING HARD, ALSO LOST THE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW SWITCHES AND HEATER CONTROL 10 HEATER NOT WORKING TODAY 22 - MECHANIC FIXED MY BLOWER MOTOR; CAUSE WAS A LOOSE/BURNT CONNECTION IN THE BLACK CONNECTOR (RED/WHITE WIRE), UNDER THE TOE KICK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, 2011 JULY 18 TWICE AC FAN SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING 19 AC FAN SHUTOFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 20 AC FAN SHUTOFF COMPLETELY 24 - MECHANIC FIXED AC FAN, JUMPED WIRES (RED/WHITE WIRE, FAN CONTROLLER) NOVEMBER 5 LOOKS LIKE THE REASON MY HEATER IS NOT WORKING, IT'S THE FAN DOOR' NOT OPERATING, MECHANIC IS INVESTIGATING MORE.. *TR
THE HEATER DOOR HAS BROKEN AND THE HEATER/DEFROSTER NO LONGER WORK. THE ISSUE CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD TO FROST OVER WHILE DRIVING. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE INTERNET. *TR
THE HEATER ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX IS NOT WORKING IT BLOWS COLD AIR. WE NOTICED IT ME AND MY FAMILY THAT IT STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED IN THE EVENING AND WE TURNED ON THE HEAT AND ONLY COLD AIR WAS BLOWING OUT, LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COSTLY REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP. I LOOKED ON-LINE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS BUT NONE YET AND FOUND OUT BY NUMEROUS ON-LINE COMMENTS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. THE COST TO GET IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP IS ANYWHERE FROM $700 TO $1500 AND THAT IS WAY OUT MY POCKETS. THE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE SAID THE COMMON PROBLEM IS THE "ACTUATOR" OR THE "HEATER CORE", BUT A LOT OF THEM WERE STEERING MORE TOWARDS THE "ACTUATOR" PART THAT CONTROLS THE DOOR FLAP TO GET EITHER HOT OR COLD AIR. IT'S A MANUFACTURER ERROR PLEASE HELP ME AND MY FAMILY ALONG WITH OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT'S OUR FAMILY VEHICLE AND WINTER IS APPROACHING I WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD OR BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT SAFELY WITH THE CONCERN OF IT FOGGING UP IMPAIRING MY VISION ON THE ROAD WHICH CAN ENDANGER OUR LIVES! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HEARING OUT MY CONCERN!! *TR
WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COOLER I ATTEMPED TO PUT THE HEAT ON IN MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AND NOTHING BUT COLD AIR CAME OUT! I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS A SAFTEY CONCER BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE NO DEFROST. THE LACK OF HEAT IS CAUSED BY THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILING TO OPERATE. THE BLEND DOOR ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW PAST THE HEATER CORE. THE AIR TEMPERATURE DOOR HAS A PLASTIC ARM WHICH IS CONNECTED TO AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS PLASTIC ARM BREAKING AND MOTOR MALFUNCTION. GM DEALERS REPLACE THE PLASTIC ARM WITH A METAL ARM AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER OF BETWEEN $1100 AND $1400 DOLLARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURES PART PROBLEM. GM SHOULD STEP UP AND MAKE THIS PROBLEM A RECALL ISSUE. SAFTEY IS INVOLVED. THE NEWER MODELS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TT
WITHOUT WARNING THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR FAILS AND THERE IS NO HEAT. THIS ALSO EFFECTS THE VISABILITY AS THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT PRODUCE AND HOT AIR AND IN A COLD CLIAMTE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND GMC REDESIGNED THE BLEND DOOR ON THE 2007 CHEVY EQUINOX SO THAT ONLY THE 2006 WAS EFFECTED. GMC CERTAINLY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY REDESIGNED THIS PART THE NEXT YEAR. THIS IS A WIDESPRED PROBLEM AS THE BLEND DOOR IS POORLY DESIGNED AS IS THE ACTUATOR. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TEMPERATURE DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,585. UPDATED 11/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACTUATOR OVER ROTATED AND CRACKED THE BLEND DOOR. UPDATED 11/18/11
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 DEFECTIVE ON THE 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR FAILED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR DURING COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A PARTIAL DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN EARLY SPRING 2011, TEMPERATURES IN OKLAHOMA ARE STILL COLD IN MARCH, THE HEATER STOPPED PUTTING OUT HOT AIR. THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT DEFROST. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND HAD TOLD ME THAT THE HEATER IS NOT WORKING. I GUESS I PROCRASTINATED ABOUT IT, AS TEMPERATURES BECAME WARMER, THE HEATER WAS NOT NEEDED. DURING THIS SPRING-SUMMER, I HAPPENED TO GO TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY COUSIN OWNS, THERE SITS A CHEVY EQUINOX, LIKE THE ONE WE OWN. I ASKED THE TECH, WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, HE STATED THAT THE HEATER STOPPED PUTTING OUT HOT AIR THROUGH THE HEATER DUCTS. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DISASSEMBLED. THERE WAS A BAD FEELING COMING UPON ME. HE SHARED HIS FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THIS JOB, AND THE DESIGN/PART THAT WAS USED FOR THIS SYSTEM, THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS HIS 2ND REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS BROKE. I AM LODGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO SUCH AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF NOT ONLY HEATING THE CAR INTERIOR COMPARTMENT, BUT ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM. I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THIS DEFECT WILL COST OVER $1200.00 TO FIX AT THE DEALER. THERE NEED TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. *TR
WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT DURING A RAIN STORM ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 18TH, 2011, I TURNED ON THE HEATER AND HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE DASH AREA, AND THE HEATER WOULDN'T BLOW HOT AIR. THERE WAS/IS STILL COOL AIR BLOWING FROM THE VENT(S). BECAUSE OF THIS, THE DEFROSTER ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT/DOESN'T WORK EITHER, IT TOO ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. I HAD TO CRACK THE WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER FOR THE WINDOWS NOT TO FOG UP DURING MY DRIVE HOME. BELIEVING THIS WAS JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF REPLACING A HEATER CORE OR THERMOSTAT, AND BECAUSE I WOULDN'T NEED THE HEATER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS I DIDN'T START LOOKING INTO THE MATTER UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. IN HAVING THE PROBLEM CHECKED, IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A FAULTY HEATER BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR. THE COST TO FIX IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE, DUE TO THE LABOR INVOLVED. CHEVROLET SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL THAT NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ THAT CHEVY RECALLED A 2010 EQUINOX BECAUSE OF A DEFECT THAT CAUSED AN INOPERABLE DEFROST SYSTEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2006 MODEL. (FAILURE MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE). *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER AND NOTICED THAT THE HVAC SYSTEM ONLY EMITTED COLD AIR AND WOULD NOT CLEAR UP THE WINDOWS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BLENDOOR FOR THE HEATER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
THE HEATER AND DEFROST ONLY BLOW COLD AIR MAKING DRIVING A HAZARD. THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR NO LONGER WORKS. THIS MALFUNCTION DEFECT HAS ALREADY COSTS ME MORE MONEY THAN I CAN AFFORD AND NOW I LEARN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY CHEVY. *KB
TL* 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.
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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.
Full record for the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox → · Every Equinox year → · How the figures are calculated →