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.
I hate my chevy equinox. Recently when I had to replace the thermostats since it started overheating. It worked for a little while without overheating. Then we broke the system and bought a new over flow tank and replaced it. Now all of a sudden it started over heating again.
We bled the system and waited, then it dumped out a bunch of coolant on the ground. Now we're not sure why all of a sudden it is now again overheating.
It's hell when you have to let your vehicle run for 15 minutes before you take kids to school, so they'll stay warm. The heat output is so poor that a candle gives off more heat than the car does. Everything works fine, except the poor heating problem. Next winter comes along,I 'll put it in a storage unit and pray for ET to take it home with him.
I love this car-driving it for 8 years. I see the same complaints repeated. 1st problem: the car overheated and 2nd problem: no interior heat. For this car, they are related. 7/2014 car overheated on highway, almost cut off. Brown froth came from reservoir which was completely empty of coolant. Checked by mechanic, nothing identified. 5 weeks later (August) it did it again...bone dry again. Repeated the next 5 weeks... rust color foam came from reservoir cap with thick mud like residue. Same mechanic flushed the radiator . Another 5 weeks a repeat, mechanic could not identify and the heater stopped working. I carried a gallon of water in my car. Two more times of overheating then took to family mechanic on 2/18/15. No apparent leak under pressure and hot. Stumped but decided to change water pump ($266). Mechanic (Big T's) stated it took 45 minutes to get the air pocket out of radiator lines. The next day, car overheated & I returned it to the mechanic .
He discovered this issue is common for this year and make. A hair line leak was found at the head gasket causing air to get in the radiator lines. Option 1 was to replace gasket ($1200 +) or option 2, use a sealant to stop the leak. Once sealed, mechanic drove around town, car has interior heat (today 37 degrees) and is NOT over heating. He used $20 of sealant & time. I am so thankful for a great, honest, won't take you to the cleaners, mechanic. PTL-Praise the Lord.
- betsyb,
Warner Robins, GA, Honduras
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I hate my chevy equinox. Recently when I had to replace the thermostats since it started overheating. It worked for a little while without overheating. Then we broke the system and bought a new over flow tank and replaced it. Now all of a sudden it started over heating again.
We bled the system and waited, then it dumped out a bunch of coolant on the ground. Now we're not sure why all of a sudden it is now again overheating.
- Spring S., Boise, ID, US