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 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
147,993 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.
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..
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.
For a few months my key was having trouble turning in my ignition as well as my spare key. It finally stopped working all together. I had to get my car towed and had to have the housing and ignition replaced. My mechanic has informed me this is an ongoing problem with the Equinox models. My friend and I have the same model but different years and are realizing we are having the same issues. If this is such a problem for Chevy they need to place it on the recall list instead of consumers having to pay $450 for something they know is an existing problem.
My 2006 Chevy Equinox has trouble starting. The problem used to be intermittent, but has become more regular over the years. I have taken it to three different dealers to diagnose and they say there is no problem or they were unable to duplicate the issue. When the problem occurs it will only start if you hold the gas pedal to the floor. Otherwise, it will just crank and then turn off. I have seen many complaints about this online and found that the 2005 Equinox seemingly has the same problem and was issued a recall. I work hard to pay the bills and need someone to acknowledge the problem that these vehicles sre having.
- Hagerstown , MD, USA
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I have a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox ls. Purchased from the dealership brand new in 2006. I've been having problems with the ignition getting stuck a lot. It progressively been getting worse so I did some research and found that I'm not alone. Having very similar problems as probably hundreds of people. The key won't turn and it takes about 5-10 minutes fussing with it before it luckily turns on. I haven't had to call for a tow yet or bring it into the dealer and fork out hundreds of dollars. I hope it doesn't die all together. I don't feel that I should pay for a defect such as this. Please recall the ignition in this vehicle.
Heat in 2006 Equinox Chevy quit due to heater blend door failure. Cost to fix was $944 + tax. This is obviously a design flaw, and should be corrected at GMC expense, not the consumer. Also caregard warranty services Inc. Didn't cover the repair even though the air and heating system is covered in their policy. Due to small print and a play on words they can claim that any part that is not specifically called out by name is not covered, even though the heating system is covered. Stay away from both Chevrolet and caregard warranty services Inc.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact could not open the driver side window. The contact stated a week later that all the electronic functions on the front driver side door would not function. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the wiring harness in the front driver side door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
We have a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox that has continuously had an electrical short in the wiring harness that deactivates the gas pedal accelerator. When it happens you can only move the vehicle with the pedal floored at 1 mile per hour which is very dangerous when you are on a high speed highway with no other cars around as you can not move out of the way of high speed vehicles that may be approaching. We have had it into the dealer three times and it continues to happen again intermittently as to the point we feel it is unsafe to drive. We have filed a complaint with Chevy and they refuse to take any responsibility. We are afraid to take it on vacation as we could be stranded.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the heat stopped functioning. The contact's mechanic believed the problem was attributed to the heating coil which was behind the instrument panel and hard to reach and replace. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileages were approximately 50,000.
I have a 2006 Chevy Equinox that I bought brand new. I've had multiple problems with it. The first was issues with it not wanting to start. At that point it was still under warranty, and the dealership replaced the ignition. The problem has continued throughout the four years that I've had it, and now occurs almost every time I start my car. I've also had the heater blow cold air, and the dealer replaced blower door and actuator. I contacted GM, who agreed to pay half of the cost. That was in January of 2009. Since then, I've had multiple issues as well with the key getting "stuck" in the ignition. Usually after about 10 minutes of moving steering wheel back and forth, it will finally come out. This happened mostly this past summer when it was really hot outside. I've also heard clicking noises coming from the passenger side randomly when I turn my car right after my car has been parked and running for awhile. Another issue is revving up for no reason. Both times I was sitting at a stop light and then started to turn left and car revs up and seems to get stuck in gear then eventually kicks out. After reading the other reports, I am now scared that the next issue is going to be my car shutting down while I'm driving down the highway. I work in home health, therefore I am driving my car all day everyday. I also have a toddler and worry about his safety in my vehicle.
Over the past year my Chevy Equinox has been giving problems. I have had to have the ignition switch change out twice because when it is hot outside the ignition cylinder swells and the key can not be turned. The past three months there has been electrical problems where the traction control light comes on and the car just shuts off immediately and will not start again.
8/17/10 while driving my 2006 Chevrolet Equinox approximately 40 miles per hour the car just shut off - no warning & all the recommended service has been done on the car at the Chevy dealer since I purchased brand new. Took car to Chevy dealer & they could not duplicate but thought it may be due to a dirty throttle body, so they cleaned it. 9/1/10 while driving down the highway at 65 miles per hour the car shuts off again and again on 9/3/10 so made another appointment with Chevy dealer & they said they were able to duplicate the issue & they replaced the engine switch. 9/10/10 problem occurs again & car is at the dealership. Chevy dealer has not been able to fix problem yet. This is a real concern to have your car shut off while simply driving down the road. It does restart but I have to sit and try several times.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle would switch from air conditioning to heat while he was driving. The problem was intermittent in the beginning but the failure progressed and became more frequent. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the strip flapper door on the heating coil was defective. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 64,000.
Chevrolet passlock system is intended to keep one's car from being stolen but the widespread issues with this system are a danger to its drivers. This system has left me stranded several times because it hinders the engine from starting.
Truck lost speed without warning while driving in traffic. Engine cuts off while driving. Truck can be working one minute and you park and come back and nothing it would start and have to be tow and this has happen to me three times in the last 5 months. The elec system always have something wrong with it. Running at 55 mph and a semi-tractor trailer behind you with your three small grand children in the back and the truck just lost it speed with no warning is a frightening thing to happening. I have replaced the battery, the started, and now the lower cooler fan is out the elec. System just keep breaking down back to back and I hardly even drive it only to doctor appointments and to do my shopping.
2006 Chevy Equinox would not start yesterday morning. Put a brand new battery in it, it started then when I got to the store and came out tried to start it, it would not start! finally got it to start after I lifted the hood and banged on a couple of things. Drove it to dealership and parked it, was told to drive truck around to service department and guess what? it would not start. They charged $230 to "fix" it. Was supposedly poor terminal fit at starter solenoid causing excessive heat at starter relay. Got my truck home, decided to go get something to eat and truck would not start again! :(
Bought my 2006 Equinox lt AWD and two months later I was out of town took my car to the car wash and came out of it and my car went into limp mode. Tried to restart it and the same thing happened I tried to drive but could not go any more than 20 mph parked the car and had it towed to a NY dealership. They told me the car was running lean codes came up got it to start at the end of the day and I was on my way. Brought it back to my original dealer and they could not find a problem. Changed a gas pedal, fuel pump. About 7 months later pulling out of my driveway and my car just stalled brought it in could not diagnose the problem. Another couple of months later out of town in a major intersection in the rain with a full car my car died no power pulled over luckily and turned the key and it started up again. At another point in time I noticed that under the dash board on the passenger side water was coming in when there was a heavy rainfall. I too reported this an no answer. I also had problems with starting my car I would either have a hard start or it would stick so they replaced the alternator at my cost. It is so frustrating talking to the mechanics they make you think you are losing your mind but now reading these problems I think I might have damage to my computer. Oh yeah here is one more problem I have the light on my heat knob is out and they tell me in order to fix the problem I have to purchase a whole new compartment there is no fuse or light the whole area needs to get pulled out and replaced labor plus part $600 no thanks.
On Jan. 11, 2010 I started my car to let it warm up before leaving for work. I let the car run for about 10 minutes. Drove the 20 minute drive to work, and when I got downtown, the car shut down and all of the warning lights on the dashboard came on. Was able to coast to side of street and stop car. Restarted car and put into drive. All warning lights still on, and don't have any power. Was able to coax car to go three blocks to parking lot, and called dealer who came and got the car. After checking, I was told that water had leaked down the right front passenger side of the window, freezing, thawing and backing up which got to the wiring and burnt it out. Really glad that I wasn't on the interstate that morning.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Upland, CA, USA