CHEVROLET EQUINOX · model year

2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

950 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006CHEVROLETEQUINOX carries 950 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 26 crashes, 10 fires, 32 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 EQUINOX is visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system with 150 filings, followed by electrical system (130) and visibility (86). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2006 EQUINOX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

950
Complaints
26
Crashes
10
Fires
32
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

950 filings

Crashes Reported

26 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM150
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM130
VISIBILITY86
ENGINE68
SERVICE BRAKES63
UNKNOWN OR OTHER58
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING38
VISIBILITY/WIPER34
STEERING30
EQUIPMENT20
POWER TRAIN19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM15
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)14
SUSPENSION13

Recent Complaints

20251117SUSPENSION

Subframe rust ? my 2006 chev eq , has only 50, 000 mile on it and the sub frame is rust out ? I check for recall but said 0 ? I can’t under stand how ? Body guy said it going to cost thousands of dollars ! I can’t afford that ! ! what should I do ? There Should be a recall ? on this frame ! Frame is very important part of the car ! I had lot of chev from 1970 to 1980 with 150,000 miles on them ! With out this much rust , body guy stayed it been happening a lot with the chev , It look like it been happening for a while on my 2006 chev , eq before the 50,000 ! ? Very Very dangerous ! Very disappointing and worried that some thing could happen I only use it to go store , pick up kids from school, get food , go around town ,low mileage’s on it ! very disappointed in chev need. To recall this NEED Help ! Thank you

20251117UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Subframe rust ? my 2006 chev eq , has only 50, 000 mile on it and the sub frame is rust out ? I check for recall but said 0 ? I can’t under stand how ? Body guy said it going to cost thousands of dollars ! I can’t afford that ! ! what should I do ? There Should be a recall ? on this frame ! Frame is very important part of the car ! I had lot of chev from 1970 to 1980 with 150,000 miles on them ! With out this much rust , body guy stayed it been happening a lot with the chev , It look like it been happening for a while on my 2006 chev , eq before the 50,000 ! ? Very Very dangerous ! Very disappointing and worried that some thing could happen I only use it to go store , pick up kids from school, get food , go around town ,low mileage’s on it ! very disappointed in chev need. To recall this NEED Help ! Thank you

20240223SUSPENSION

Bent driveshaft

20240223WHEELS

Bent driveshaft

20240223STEERING

Bent driveshaft

20230627UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Unknown

20230109SUSPENSION

Both front frame mounts that hold the engine suspension crossmember rusted away. What is even worse GM discontinued the replacement parts. I had to use components from a similar platform. This is a safety related rusting problem that is life threating as vehicle can become unstable and uncontrollable at highway speeds.

20221104STEERING

I just got the car on Thursday, 11/3/2022. around 1:00 pm. On 11/3/2022 around 3:30 pm, the following happened: The equinox started wobbling as I reached the speed of approximately 40 mph. Then I had a red light. After it turned green and I began driving, the vehicle started wobbling and it was hard to control my position in the traffic lane. Other drivers avoided me, and slowed down to prevent an accident. At this point, I reached a reduced speed construction area. When I drove at about 20 mph, the vehicle wobbled even worse. The driver’s side wheel started going clunk, clunk., so I pulled into a gas station. The left front tire was low, but nowhere near flat. A man put some air in the tire and it held the air. At that point, I recognized that it was too dangerous to drive the vehicle again. Chevy roadside assistance took it to the nearest dealer, Mills Chevrolet. They will look at it on Monday 11/4/2022.

20221104WHEELS

I just got the car on Thursday, 11/3/2022. around 1:00 pm. On 11/3/2022 around 3:30 pm, the following happened: The equinox started wobbling as I reached the speed of approximately 40 mph. Then I had a red light. After it turned green and I began driving, the vehicle started wobbling and it was hard to control my position in the traffic lane. Other drivers avoided me, and slowed down to prevent an accident. At this point, I reached a reduced speed construction area. When I drove at about 20 mph, the vehicle wobbled even worse. The driver’s side wheel started going clunk, clunk., so I pulled into a gas station. The left front tire was low, but nowhere near flat. A man put some air in the tire and it held the air. At that point, I recognized that it was too dangerous to drive the vehicle again. Chevy roadside assistance took it to the nearest dealer, Mills Chevrolet. They will look at it on Monday 11/4/2022.

20221104UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I just got the car on Thursday, 11/3/2022. around 1:00 pm. On 11/3/2022 around 3:30 pm, the following happened: The equinox started wobbling as I reached the speed of approximately 40 mph. Then I had a red light. After it turned green and I began driving, the vehicle started wobbling and it was hard to control my position in the traffic lane. Other drivers avoided me, and slowed down to prevent an accident. At this point, I reached a reduced speed construction area. When I drove at about 20 mph, the vehicle wobbled even worse. The driver’s side wheel started going clunk, clunk., so I pulled into a gas station. The left front tire was low, but nowhere near flat. A man put some air in the tire and it held the air. At that point, I recognized that it was too dangerous to drive the vehicle again. Chevy roadside assistance took it to the nearest dealer, Mills Chevrolet. They will look at it on Monday 11/4/2022.

20211108VISIBILITY/WIPER

My 2006 Chevrolet Equinox blows cold air will not defrost windshield. And while driving I push the gas pedal and it’s like surges and jumps. The car manufacturer knows about the issues and they don’t vare

20211108POWER TRAIN

My 2006 Chevrolet Equinox blows cold air will not defrost windshield. And while driving I push the gas pedal and it’s like surges and jumps. The car manufacturer knows about the issues and they don’t vare

20210604ENGINE

Vehicle keeps over heating fixed everything that can cause it to overheat and the problem still consists read many complaints over 700 with the same issue even when the problem get temporarily fixed it starts overheating again in a couple month car will mainly over heat at idle the heat won’t work it’s a bad antifreeze smell it’s a problem that has many complaints but still nothing is being done I have 5 children I didn’t think I would be driving with my children wondering if my car was going to over heat and us having to pull over on a free way or a street being stranded bc of a problem that’s happening with these vehicles and nothing is being done

20210215SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE PEDAL STARTED VIBRATING ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP SO I HAD BRAKE PADS REPLACED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME MY PADS WERE STILL GOOD AND HADN'T NEEDED CHANGING BUT THEY CHANGED ANYWAY. THE NEXT SHOP RESURFACED MY ROTORS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. IT STOPPED ON IT'S OWN BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL DO IT STILL.

Mileage: 90,000

20210118SERVICE BRAKES

CAR WAS IN MOTION TRIED TO STOP AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN REALLY HAD TO PUMP BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON TC / TBS. IF CARS WERE CLOSE BY THEY WOULD HAVE HIT ME OR I HIT THEM.HAVE CLEANED MODULE, CHANGED BRAKES, CHANGED OTHER PARTS IN WHEELS. WORK A LITTLE WHILE THEN GOES BACK TO LIGHTS TURNING ON TC / TBS

Mileage: 54,000

20210118UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR WAS IN MOTION TRIED TO STOP AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN REALLY HAD TO PUMP BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON TC / TBS. IF CARS WERE CLOSE BY THEY WOULD HAVE HIT ME OR I HIT THEM.HAVE CLEANED MODULE, CHANGED BRAKES, CHANGED OTHER PARTS IN WHEELS. WORK A LITTLE WHILE THEN GOES BACK TO LIGHTS TURNING ON TC / TBS

Mileage: 54,000

20201027SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU GET CONSTANT VIBRATION CAUSING YOU TO SKID. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND ALSO DEFROST IS NOT WORKING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ESPECIALLY IN THE COLD AND SNOW.

Mileage: 172,000

20201027VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU GET CONSTANT VIBRATION CAUSING YOU TO SKID. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND ALSO DEFROST IS NOT WORKING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ESPECIALLY IN THE COLD AND SNOW.

Mileage: 172,000

20201027UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU GET CONSTANT VIBRATION CAUSING YOU TO SKID. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AND ALSO DEFROST IS NOT WORKING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES ESPECIALLY IN THE COLD AND SNOW.

Mileage: 172,000

20200812SERVICE BRAKES

FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZED UP. OVER-HEATING DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRICTION FROM BRAKES LOCKING. FRONT END STARTED SHAKING DUE TO FRONT END BRAKES SEIZING WHILE IN MOTION. FRONT CALIPERS SMOKING DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRICTION BUILD UP. I WAS ON US 265 IN NEW ALBANY, IN. SHAKING SEEMED TO SUBSIDE A BIT WHILE TURNING.

Mileage: 171,318

Compare 2006CHEVROLETEQUINOX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX have?
The 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX has 950 NHTSA complaints, 26 crashes, 10 fires, 32 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX?
The most-complained component for the 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX is VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM with 150 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VISIBILITY.
Is the 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.