I've had my Equinox since about 55K miles (now it's at 168K), and just as the weather was turning colder this season, I found that the heater decided to start producing very meager heat. Basically, if I put the system on recirculate, and the fan on low, I get some noticeably warm air, but as soon as I turn up the fan or switch to defrost (and fresh air is drawn in) the air becomes cool to cold.

I took it to my mechanic, and they said that in my case, they think the blower door is actually ok (they can hear it shifting when the dials are changed, but they suspect a gummed up heater core. It was their opinion that GM made a bad choice in their coolant and it has resulted in many cases of gummed, clogged, or corroded cooling system components.

They suggested I take it to the dealer for official diagnosis by them, but regardless of whether it is the blower door or heater core, the labor is going to push the job right into the $1200-1500 range. YIKES. They did offer me some hope in that if it is heater core being clogged, I could try a $100 back flush of the heater core itself, and that might clear it for a season or two.

I'll update when I get an official diagnosis and or fix.

Update from Dec 14, 2019: So I finally got to a mechanic to have them flush the heater core, but the news got worse. The engine is leaking oil into the coolant, and based on two different independent mechanic opinions, the only remedy at this point is to replace the engine. And all associated parts of the coolant system (hoses, waterpump). I guess the good news is they might be able to save the radiator by using a good solvent flush to remove the oil residue. Basically, the repair bill would be somewhere in the $6-8k range... Looks like the old girl is going to get put out to pasture. :(

I just bought this vehicle in December it only had one owner. The heat went out in Feb. in which we still have a few more cold days. I see here on the site that there were recalls for the blend door and the recall has expired, how when you haven't properly fixed the problem. There should never be an end to the recall when these vehicles are still being purchased. Chevrolet should still be held responsible for making these repairs. I'm highly pissed. I really believed in Chevrolet and also have an Impala but I think I'm going to put my faith back in Buicks.

Purchased vehicle November 9, 2012. Lots of issues and money put into this car for the first few years but this report is about the heating system. Sometimes it took a while for heat to come on, Had the car back at Dealer on November 16th for numerous problems, I typed out a sheet day by day with issues and gave to them. There response to my complaint that they wrote on my sheet for Heat was "working as designed" What a joke,

I would have to wait 20 minutes to have the full effect of heat and defrosters in Winter, but hey "IT'S WORKING AS DESIGNED". Well guess what, found a recall 2016 that a lot of people had problems with blowing cold air. Searched for a recall , found one, printed and called the dealer. Took to Greenwood Chevrolet Oct 4, 2016. Special Policy #11135, T5863, said may also need actuator. Well according to their paper work they replaced a sleeve part 22912580. Good to go had good heat. Now as of Yesterday September 29, 2017 I HAVE NO HEAT AGAIN, BLOWING COLD AIR.

Today Called Greenwood Chevrolet and guess what, That recall is closed and have to pay out of my pocket I was told, no warranty for the last repair on recall. So needless to say I AM PISSED. I should not be having the same issues, it hasn't been a year yet. I am not done with this. I will write everyone and not stop til someone bends on this matter.

Leaning towards a FORD as next purchase in a couple months

I have only had this car for about 2 years, and one day the heat worked and one day it did not.

I live in Wisconsin and the weather here is pretty unpredictable, but what is predictable is that it is going to be cold during the winter.

I have 2 young children that need to be able to keep warm while in the car on the way to school, to the grocery store, lets just say anywhere. Is that too much to ask, to have a car that is dependable and functions properly.

I was told by my mechanic that this fix can range from 1000 - 3000 dollars to fix and that even if it is fixed, this issue could happen again as this is a manufacturing error and it is a known issue with this car.

I am furious and stressed and upset. I always thought Chevy's are good dependable cars, I even owned a Chevy 12 years ago, and did not have these issues. I guess Chevy doesn't make their cars like they used to nor care about their customers purchasing and driving these cars.

Because this is a know issue, this faulty part should be recalled, replaced with better material, (not plastic), and paid for to get fixed.

Very very unhappy.

When I bought my 2006 Equinox I had a problem with the heater, which was the heater switch. Cost me $750 to fix. The dealer (Chuck Graves) would not repair even though I had just purchases the Program Car. This to me was something they should have proved out before selling the SUV. I am quite sure they did not repair because of the cost . They wanted to charge me $1000.00 to repair.

Today, five years later I am having the exact same problem. My car was heating and then just cuts off and starts to blow cold air. This is a safety hazard, it is 21 degrees today and supposed to snow tomorrow. I need my heat and my defrost. I have to drive 48 miles a day to work. I am single so I have no one to depend on but myself. I have read so many complaints about the Equinox heating problems and now this has hit me twice. I lost my job last year and have taken a job where I have to drive 48 miles a day making 1/2 my salary from previous job. I do not have $1,000.00 to fix! I feel Chevrolet should be responsible for repairing something that cost so much to repair because of the design of this SUV. The entire dash has to be removed to replace one little plastic part (which is not worth a crap and a part which breaks easily).

I will never purchase another Chevrolet.

I have a 7 year old disable son who has problems regulating his temperature. My Equinox only blows out cool air when the heat is on and the A/C works fine. In the summer time it's not such a hassle, but in the winter I cannot take my son anywhere as he will freeze to death. We live in New England and the winter is frigid and you can get frostbite with in 10 min of being outside on some days. I cannot afford the costly repair of the heater core as I am the only one in my household of 3 that can work. My husband is also disabled and has severe spinal issues so my income must support all of us. Their medical bills alone outweigh my income, so having to pay for a part that should be recalled is not even remotely a bill that I can cover.

So here is what happened..... last winter (2014) the heat would work and then stop, sometimes I would get heat and other times not so much. Then in March we decided to take a trip to Myrtle Beach to stay with some family. On the 17 hour trip home the heat stopped... none, no warmth at all. My son was in his car seat in the back freezing. We had to stop and buy him blankets to try to keep him warm and my husband or myself had to sit with him to cuddle him, so his temp wouldn't drop. DO YOU, CHEVY, HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO KEEP A 7 YEAR OLDS BODY TEMP AT 98 DEGREES..... FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!

WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY

My wife's heater blend door broke, just like all of the other complaints, at about 60,000 miles. GM / Chevy wont replace it because its NOT a safety concern??? Really??? So if my wife's windshield is frozen over, I guess its ok to drive the kids to school then her to work.

My dad used to warn me about buying a Ford or anything American Motors....I might have to forget that advice and tell my four boys NOT to buy a Chevy. This is ridiculous!!!!

...and now...MORE problems with this vehicle!!!!!

I bought myself a "nice" used vehicle that had only had one owner, a 2006 Chevy Equinox, thinking this would be a nice reliable mode of transportation, even in the frigid winters we have in Northern Michigan. The heat was not blowing much if any warm air, but was guessing it was likely an easy/inexpensive fix at around $100 or so dollars.

I do some research to see what could be the issue and how to fix it and see that this is a consistent issue with this year and type of vehicle. Not only that, but the research also told me it was NOT so simple to fix and definitely NOT inexpensive. Now I am stuck with this vehicle as my only mode of transportation to get to and from work in an area that has closed down schools for nearly the entire week last week due to subzero temperatures!!!! If this is an issue that is prevalent to this type of vehicle across the board, I feel Chevrolet should have the responsibility of paying for the repairs/replacement of their shoddy parts on the vehicles they manufactured!!!