2006 Chevrolet EQUINOX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
695 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 601 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 150 of 695 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 100 | 14.4% |
| Steering behavior | 50 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 150 |
| Electrical System | 130 |
| Visibility | 86 |
| Engine | 68 |
| Service Brakes | 63 |
| Unknown Or Other | 58 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 38 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 34 |
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 150; Electrical System: 130; Visibility: 86; Engine: 68; Service Brakes: 63; Unknown Or Other: 58; Engine And Engine Cooling: 38; Visibility/Wiper: 34
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 102 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 169 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 116 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 129 |
| 150,000 and above | 40 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 102; 50,000 to 74,999: 169; 75,000 to 99,999: 116; 100,000 to 149,999: 129; 150,000 and above: 40
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (169). 94 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 62 |
| 2010 | 130 |
| 2011 | 99 |
| 2012 | 60 |
| 2013 | 48 |
| 2014 | 97 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 8; 2007: 14; 2008: 17; 2009: 62; 2010: 130; 2011: 99; 2012: 60; 2013: 48; 2014: 97; 2015: 58; 2016: 31; 2017: 23; 2018: 18; 2019: 14; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 100 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10160445 · 2006-06-22 (June 22, 2006)
BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE BAD AT ONLY 1,200 MILES FROM FACTORY. DEALER WANTED TO JUST MACHINE THEM DOWN TO FIT BUT I MADE THEM REPLACE THEM. HAD BOTH KIDS IN CAR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP BECAUSE OF FAULTY BRAKES AND ROTORS FROM FACTORY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176882 · 2006-12-24 (December 24, 2006)
(1) ON OR ABOUT 10/27/06, ALARM SYSTEM DEACTIVATED ITSELF, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED ON, DOORS REMAINED LOCKED. (2) ON 11/01/06, ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATED ITSELF, DOORS LOCKED THEMSELVES. (3) ON 11/27/06, VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND WENT INTO 'LIMP' MODE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. ONSTAR AND DEALER RETRIEVED THE FOLLOWING ERROR CODES: (I) P1626 - THEFT DETERRENT FUEL ENABLE SIGNAL LOST, (II) C0276 - TRACTION CONTROL NOT ALLOWED (TCM / ABS), (III) U0100 - LOST COMMUNICATIONS WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,919 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168607 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
ON FRIDAY JULY 14, 2006 MY WIFE CAME OUT OF WORK AT AROUND 4:00 PM ON A VERY HOT DAY AND ATTEMPTED TO START HER EQUINOX & WHEN IT STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT ENGAGED. I LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME OF GOLF AND WENT TO HER AID. WHEN I GOT THERE AND STARTED THE CAR, THE STEERING WORKED FINE. WE LEFT IT A THE DEALER FOR THE NEXT WEEK WHERE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY DID RECOVER AN ERROR CODE INDICATING SOMETHING FAILED IN THE IGNITION. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM AGAIN OCCURRED ON FRIDAY SEPT. 18,…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170649 · 2006-10-12 (October 12, 2006)
I NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD AT 70 MPH AS I REACHED TO TURN ON THE DEFROSTER. I WAS SAVED BY THE SLEEP STRIP, WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN ENOUGH TO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOOSE AND ERRATIC STEERING AND WOBBLES WHEN CHANGING LANES. I MUST SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY TO GO AROUND CURVES, EVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS 3 TIMES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER STATES THAT IT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ON THIS MODEL CAR. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF FRONT WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181818 · 2007-02-06 (February 6, 2007)
TUESDAY FEB 6TH WENT TO LICENSE BRANCH IN SOUTH BEND IN. WAS INSIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF. WALKING TO THE EQUINOX, USED THE UNLOCK BUTTON. LIGHTS FLASHED, DOORS UNLOCKED. GOT INSIDE VEHICLE AND HAD NO POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT HAD COME ON IN THE VEHICLE TO INDICATE A LOW BATTERY OR ANY OTHER WARNING CONDITION PRIOR. I CALLED LIGONIER DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD TO CALL A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. GATE CHEVROLET OF SOUTH BEND CAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183845 · 2007-02-28 (February 28, 2007)
I TOOK MY 06' CHEVY. EQUINOX LT INTO THE SHOP TWO MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD DROVE MY CAR DOWN THE STREET AND WHEN I GOT READY TO COME HOME. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT DIDN'T MOVE ALL. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO TODEY CHEVROLET OF OXNARD, CA AND ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER THEY HAD CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COMPUTER IN MY CAR. THAT THERE HAD BEEN WATER LEAKING ON THE SIDE PSGR. DOOR. THE LEAK WAS SO EXTREME THAT ALL THE WIRING LEADING TO THE COMPUTER WAS RUSTED. I HAD MY CAR RETURNED TO ME AFTER ABOUT 2 WE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10183845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195506 · 2007-07-06 (July 6, 2007)
VEHICLE MAKE LOUD ROARING NOISE DURING HARD RAIN, AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT WAS HYDROPLANING, HOWEVER, THEY ROADS WERE PUDDLED ENOUGH TO CAUSE SUCH AN EFFECT ESPECIALLY AT 5,000 MILES, BRAND NEW TIRES. THE VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING, AND AFTER PUNCHING THE GAS, HAD NO RESPONSE. I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR, IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AS THE RAIN SUBSIDED. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE OF THE INCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198847 · 2007-08-08 (August 8, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO MOVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE SENSOR CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH PROMPTS THE RPM TO DOWNSHIFT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 21 DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500. THE CONSUMER STATED QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT DOWNSHIFTS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND MAY CAUSE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,056 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250998 · 2008-12-07 (December 7, 2008)
STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE, EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS WILL NOT START AT ALL AUTOWAY CHEVROLET REPLACE THE PART HOWEVER THE SAME THING KEEP HAPPENING EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. THE TRUCK WAS NEW WHEN PURCHASED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320655 · 2010-03-18 (March 18, 2010)
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 PULLI…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450007 · 2012-03-01 (March 1, 2012)
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 CAUSIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,502 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450007 at NHTSA ↗