67 complaints reported

2006 Chevrolet Equinox Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
67
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2021

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2021
Jun 2020

CAR STALLS NO MATTER IF I'M AM NOT MOVING OR GOIN 65 MILE AN HOUR,WITHOUT WARNING, I LIVE IN RURAL AREA LOT OF CURVY ROADS, KEY WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES IN IGNITION, WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL ON 06 EQUINOX IGNITION SWITCH ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE IT , BUT NEED TO WORK,IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE OR HOW FAST YOUR GOING CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING,HAVE HAD CAR SINCE 2013 OR SO AND ALWAYS BEEN KEY PROBLEM BUT NEVER STALLED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2020
Dec 2019

EVER SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD WHAT SOUNDS LIKE WATER IN THE DASH WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I'M CONSTANTLY REFILLING THE ANTIFREEZE DAILY, I'VE BEEN READING THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE ANTIFREEZE WHICH IN SOME CASES LEAKED OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INTO THE VEHICLE. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE SOME WHERE IN THE ENGINE. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HEADS DUE TO THE LEAKAGE. ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE OIL CAUSE WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I'VE ALREADY FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND THEY ALSO DID A REVERSE FLUSH AND THE WATER GUSHING NOICE IS STILL THERE. GM NEEDS TO GET THIS FIXED...

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MIST FROM THE HEATER BLEW INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND CREATED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MIST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING OUT OF THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW WATER PUMP WAS NEEDED. THE MECHANIC FLUSHED OUT THE SYSTEM AND PLACED A NEW HEAT SYSTEM IN THE ENGINE WITH NEW ANTI-FREEZE. THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER THE SAME WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2019
Jul 2018

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON-STAR CODES ARE P0137 AND P0128. I HAVE 81,368 MILES/130948,843750 KM. I WAS DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2018
Nov 2017

NO HEAT COMING FROM THE VENTS AND IT WON'T DEFROST THE FRONT WINDSHIELDS OR THE BACK GLASS, MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS IS NOT HEAT IN THE CAR AT ALL DURING WINTER. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP SAID EITHER BLEND DOOR STOP WORKING OR ITS BROKEN . NEED HELP MISS [XXX] MOTHER OF 2 VERY COLD WITH OUT HEAT. STOP WORKING WHEN I LEFT WORK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2016
Jun 2017

TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT CAUSE IT WON'T DEFROST WINDOWS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
May 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2017
Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2016
Apr 2016

CAR STARTED OVER HEATING DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM VALUE, BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER 93000 MILES RAN HOT WHILE IDLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2016
Jan 2016

MY 2006 CHEVY EQINOX HAS PROBLEM WITH STARTING SINCE IT WAS NEW ,I TOOK IT IN GM SERVICE WHEN IT WAS 1 YEAR OLD AND TOLD THEM THE CAR STARTS HARD SOMETIME SHUTS OFF COUPLE TIMES BEFORE IT TURNS OVER AND GM SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS OK BUT NOW IT IS HARDER AND HARDER TO START IT UP I ALSO KNOW COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVING SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN I GOOGLE THE PROBLEM I FOUND THERE IS THOUSANDS SAME ISSUES WITH PROBLEMS LIKE MY WITH SAME CAR, PLEASE HELP. THANKS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATOR DISPLAYED HOT AS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH A BURNING ODOR. ALL THE INTERIOR WINDOWS BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. IN ADDITION, THE HEATER INTERMITTENTLY EMITTED COLD AIR THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 89,934

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2015
Sep 2015

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING WITH A JUMPED IDLE, I REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE, VALVE SEATS, O RINGS, 3 THERMOSTATS. IT HAS BEEN BLEED FOR TWO DAYS NOW, AT FIRST IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING SO I BLED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND TRIED IT AGAIN. IT DROVE FANTASTIC DIDNT OVERHEAT AT ALL. I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT WHICH THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING THERE FOR OVER AN HOUR NO PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED NOW ITS OVERHEATING PARKED AND ITS JUST INCONSISTENT AND LEAVING MY STRANDED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2015
Sep 2015 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATOR DISPLAYED HOT AS THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH A BURNING ODOR. ALL THE INTERIOR WINDOWS BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. IN ADDITION, THE HEATER INTERMITTENTLY EMITTED COLD AIR THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Aug 2015

WHEN MY EQUINOX HIT 60,400 MILES IT WAS RUNNING FINE AND AFTER PARKING IT FOR 20 MINUTES IT SUDDENLY RAN HOT WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS TO WARP. CHEVROLET PAID $3000 TOWARDS THE REPAIR AND I PAID $1000. THEY CALLED IT A "GRACE WARRANTY" AND GAVE ME A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE REPAIR. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BUT NEVER THE SAME AFTERWARDS. CONSTANT OVERHEATING AND COOLANT LOSS ISSUES. I HAVE FLUSHED THE SYSTEM. CHANGED THERMOSTATS TWICE,AND CHANGED THE CORROSIVE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE TO THE YELLOW NON CORROSIVE UNIVERSAL ANTIFREEZE. IT RAN GREAT FOR 1 MONTH THEN STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. THE COOLANT IS FULL, THERMOSTAT IS NEW. IT IS FINE WHILE DRIVING, HEAT BEGINS TO CLIMB WHEN STOPPED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Aug 2015

FAULTY GASKETS (HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKET) LETS AIR INTO COOLING SYSTEM. THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS DISPLACED TO THE OVERFLOW TANK. I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AS IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT, WAS ABLE TO GET THRU THE INTERSECTION TO A SERVICE STATION. GASKET REPAIRS ESTIMATED COST $2400.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2015
Jul 2015

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX: HEAT CENSOR WENT OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN, AFTER GOING LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE, SAYING THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. WE STOPPED THE CAR AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS SUPER HOT AND SO WAS EVERYTHING INSIDE, INCLUDING THE ROD YOU PROP THE HOOD OPEN WITH. WE LET IT COOL DOWN AND CHECKED THE FLUIDS, WHICH LOOKED FINE. OIL WAS FINE, COOLANT FINE, ETC. WE TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE CENSOR WAS OFF. WE DROVE TO THE MECHANIC WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING RUNNING AND IT NEVER GOT OVER HEATED. A FRIEND SAID TO CHECK THE FANS TO SEE IF THEY WERE WORKING. THEY WERE NOT. THEN, WHEN WE GOT IT TO THE MECHANIC THEY DID A CHEMICAL TEST AND FOUND A HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND IT WAS THE QUICKEST CHEMICAL CHANGE THEY HAVE EVER SEEN. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY WARNING UNTIL THE INCIDENT. THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBURG. WE HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 2.5YEARS BUT WE HAVE HAD THE DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED, ALL THE DOOR AND WINDOW SEALS ARE BAD, BOTH HEAD LIGHTS HAVE CONDENSATION( POOR DESIGN, OH AND THE DEALER SAID $1000 TO REPLACE) WHICH KEEPS BLOWING THE DRIVERS HEAD LIGHT, THE IGNITION STICKS, THE VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL OFF IN THE FIRST MONTH, THE CRANK SEAL WAS REPLACED, THE ERG VALVE WAS REPLACED, AND THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AFTER THE DEALER SUPOOSEDLY FIXED THE CHIP. WE DID RECIEVE A LETTER FROM THE DEALER OFFERING TO BUY BACK OUR VEHICLE AFTER 4 MONTHS OF OWNING IT. WE THOUGHT THEY JUST WANTED US TO COME BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND GO UPSIDEDOWN ON OUR LOAN, SINCE THEY NEVER GIVE YOU WHAT YOU PAID FOR IT. GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE OFFER. NOW WE WONDER, "WHAT IS NEXT!" WE OWE OVER 6K STILL AND ARE FORKING OUT OVER 600 IN CAR RENTAL FEES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2015
Jun 2015

CAR ALWAYS DROVE BEAUTIFUL. PURCHASED USED IN JANUARY, DIED IN JUNE. DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND SUDDENLY RAN HOT. PULLED OVER AND COOLED DOWN. NURSED IT HOME PULLED OVER TWICE IN 15 MILES TO COOL DOWN. DIAGNOSED BY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. DEALER WAS UNAVAILABLE BY CELL. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET AND YOUTUBE.COM ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION. SUDDEN RISE IN TEMP LIKE A STUCK THERMOSTAT, BUT IT'S A HEAD GASKET....

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2015
Apr 2015

I HAVE OWNED A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX SINCE 2008. WE RECENTLY NOTICED A SWOOSHING FLUID NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH. WHEN THE CAR IDLES THE TEMP LIGHT GAUGE COMES ON AND THE NEEDLE GOES TO HOT. TOOK IT TO BILL JACOBS CHEVROLET IN JOLIET ILLINOIS TODAY AND THE ADVISED IT HAS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET WITH A MINIMUM COST TO REPAIR OF $1500. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DIRECTED TO GM AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. MANY MECHANICS HAVE SAID IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND GM SHOULD BE DOING A RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2015
Mar 2015

I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH DOWN A ROAD, AND MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY FINE, THEN MY CAR SLOWED TO 40MPH, THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT WORKED AND RAN FINE AFTERWARDS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2015
Feb 2015

EVER SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD WHAT SOUNDS LIKE WATER IN THE DASH, I'VE BEEN READING THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE ANTIFREEZE WHICH IN SOME CASES LEAKED OUT OF THE AIR VENTS INTO THE VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO HAD MY HEATER BLEND DOOR GO BAD AND GOT THAT REPLACED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP. LEAKING ANTIFREEZE SOME WHERE AND FROM WHAT I READ IT GOES INTO THE ENGINE HEADS AND CAUSES DAMAGE THERE. THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVE AND I DRIVE ABOUT 50 MILES A DAY 6 OR 7 DAYS A WEEK. ALL I DO IS PUT MONEY INTO IT ON PARTS SINCE I GOT IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2012
Jan 2015

CAR WONT START, TURNS OVER BUT HAVE TO PUT FOOT ON GAS TO MAKE IT START. SPUTTERS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND IS THEN OK. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MORE THAN 1 TIME TO START IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Jan 2015

EQUINOX OVERHEATED. WE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE EQUINOX IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP, THE TESTS SHOWED THE EQUINOX HAS TWO CRACKED HEADS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
Dec 2014 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTOR O-RING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,381.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
Nov 2014

WE JUST PURCHASED OUR 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX ON 11-15-2014 AN AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE CAUGHT IN A SNOW STORM AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HEAT TO WARM UP INSIDE. THE HEAT WASN'T HOT AND THE DEFROST WOULD NOT WORK EITHER AND SO NEED LESS TO SAY WE HAD TO USE A/C AN CRACK THE WINDOWS AN CONSTANTLY WIPE WINDSHIELD TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE HOME. THAT BEING SAID I BEGAN TO DO RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AN AS SEARCHING I AM FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE NEUROMAS COMPLAINTS OF THE CHEVY EQUINOX HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE DESCRIBED. READING THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND OUT THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY AND GM HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPTS TO RECALL THE FAULTY PARTS. AN SO I FELT THAT I HAD A DUTY TO STEP UP AN JOIN THE PATRONS WHO ARE ALSO OR HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF FAULTY PARTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox has 67 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.