TroubleCAR
53
Trouble

2006 Chevrolet Equinox

Complaints: 695Avg mileage: 78,799 miSince: Nov 2005
1 deathCrashFire20 injured

Problem Areas

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
Steering
30
Equipment
20

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
73,499 miSep 19, 2014PUEBLO, CO
1 deathCrash2 injured

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T COME OUT AND THE SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE HAD NO GIVE. THIS ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A DEATH AND TWO SERIOUS EMERGENCIES TO THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE REAR PASSENGER LOCATED BEHIND THE PASSENGER...UPDATED 09-25-14 *BF *TR

AIR BAGS
145,000 miDec 7, 2014ATLANTA, GA
Crash3 injured

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM DRIVETIME, IN THE YEAR OF 2012, A 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX [AWD]. ON NOVEMBER 22, 2014, I WAS IN MY CAR AND ENTERING A BLINF CURVE, WHEN ANOTHER CAR CAME HEAD TO HEAD TOWARDS MY SUV. I TURNED TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP FROM GOING HEAD ON WITH THE CAR. THERE WAS A 6 FOOT DROP DITCH ON MY PASSENGER SIDE. I SWIRLED TO KEEP FROM GOING INTO THE DITCH AND HIT A TELEGRAM POLE INSTEAD. I DO NOT REMEMBER MUCH, BECAUSE I BLINK OUT FOR AT LEAST TEN MINUTES, MY NEPHEW SAID. IN THE COURSE OF THIS HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. AFTER I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, I CALLED MY MECHANIC TO CHECK MY CAR TO SEE IF THE DAMAGES CAN BE FIXED WITHOUT USING MY INSURANCE. TO MY SHOCKED, HE EXPRESSED THAT MY AIRBAG WAS NEVER CONNECTED IN MY TRUCK. I CONTACTED DRIVETIME DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WS EXPRESSED IN MY CONTRACT THAT THEY DID NOT WARRANT THE AIRBAG NEITHER DID THEY GUARANTEE THAT THE WORK. I ENTERED A PANIC PHASE, AND THE NIGHTMARES NEVER STOP. I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE THEY SOLD ME A TRUCK WITH DISCONNECTED AIRBAGS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, BECAUSE NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP, AND THEY ARE HARASSING ME TO PAY THE CAR NOT, AND WHEN WILL I GET THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP. I ASKED THEM WILL THEY FIX THE AIRBAG, THEY SAID NO, AND IF I DO NOT PAY THE CAR NOTE THAT THEY WOULD REPOSSES MY CAR, AND IT WOULD EFFECT MY CREDIT. I AM AFRAID OF THIS CAR. II AM DISABLED AND I TRAVEL WITH A SERVICE DOG [GERMAN SHEPPARD]. SHE WAS HURT FOR A FEW DAYS, AFTER THE INCIDENCE. *TR

SEATS
74,500 miSep 16, 2014CAMP HILL, PA
Crash3 injured

THE EQUINOX WAS AT A DEAD STOP WAITING FOR AN ONCOMING CAR TO PASS SO A LEFT TURN COULD BE MADE. A DISTRACTED DRIVER REAR ENDED OUR VEHICLE AT ABOUT 55 MPH CAUSING OUR VEHICLE TO SPIN 180 DEGREES INTO THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT BOTH FRONT RECLINING SEATS BROKE INTO A PERMANENT RECLINE POSITION; THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY AND THE CHILD IN A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS STRUCK ON THE KNEE AND FOREHEAD BY THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE RIGHT LEG. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 16, 2014VANCEBURG, KY
Crash2 injured

HIT A ONE TON LOW BED DUMP TRUCK, THE WHOLE FRONT END OF MY SUV WAS DEMOLISHED, MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I ENDED UP WITH REALLY BAD WHIPLASH FROM THE ACCIDENT, TO WHERE I'M STILL IN MAJOR PAIN! WONDERING IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS? NEVER DEALT WITH A WRECK THIS BAD, I WAS JUST CURIOUS! *TR

SUSPENSION
Mar 21, 2013HOCKESSIN, DE
Crash1 injured

I RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A GUARDRAIL AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS ON TOP OF THE GUARDRAIL INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED AS WELL AS MOST OF THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AS WELL AS GIVING ME A BLACK EYE, CROOKED TEETH, CUTS, BROKEN DENTAL APPLIANCES, AND MY TEETH WENT THROUGH MY LIP. I STRONGLY BELIEVE MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND PREVENTED THE IMPACT OF MY FACE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT AIRBAGS ARE FOR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
104,000 miJul 10, 2010PARIS, TN
Crash1 injured

2006 CHEVY EQUINOX AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN MY DAUGHTER'S FRONT CRASH ACCIDENT. HER CAR WAS TOTALED. SHE HIT A MAILBOX AND IN A SPIN ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT HER BACK. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO SHATTERED AND ALSO HAD A BACK FLAT TIRE. I CALLED OUR LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL GM. SHE CALLED GM BUT THEY GOT HER UPSET AND SHE IN OTHER WORDS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A DEFECT OF THIS MODEL AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
48,000 miAug 10, 2009KENNETT, MO
Crash1 injured

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A ONE-AUTO ACCIDENT - 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX - HYDROPLANED AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT WITH THE FRONT END AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AN IMPACT TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED. EACH TIME THE FRONT BUMPER HAD DAMAGE SUSTAINED WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE IMPACT THE SET THE AIR BAG OFF. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
28,742 miApr 1, 2008COARSEGOLD, CA
Crash4 injured

FOUR CAR PILEUP ON HWY 41 NB. WE WERE VEH.#3 AND HIT FORWARD AND WERE HIT FROM BEHIND. OUR SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN US AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND , ERNST, FLEW INTO THE DASHBOARD AND I SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
25,700 miOct 17, 2008KENMORE, NY
Fire1 injured

VEHICLE FIRE. CELL PHONE CHARGER WAS PLUGGED INTO THE FRONT AUXILIARY POWER OUTLET. 2-3 MINUTES LATER SMOKE WAS NOTICED, AND FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE WHERE THE POWER OUTLET IS LOCATED. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND PHONE CHARGER WAS UNPLUGGED, BURNING THE TIP OF ONE FINGER. VEHICLE WAS EXITED AND 911 WAS CALLED. FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. PHONE CHARGER AND PHONE ARE INTACT AND WERE NOT BURNED OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY, I IN FACT WAS STILL USING THEM IN OUR OTHER VEHICLE UNTIL REQUESTED NOT TO, BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND TO HOLD THEM FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. AFTER THE FIRE, THE FUSE FOR THE POWER OUTLET WAS CHECKED AND HAD BLOWN OUT. DON'T KNOW YET WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THE WIRING SHORTED OUT? VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES
1 miJul 18, 2018MARSHFIELD, MA
Crash

AT A LOW SPEED BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT STOPPING. IT SEEMED AS IF THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED. NO BRAKES AS MY CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS LOW SPEED EVENTUALLY REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR AS MINE NEVER STOPPED. THE BRAKES HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS PRIOR. I HAD THIS CAR CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS SAME INCONSISTENT BRAKE ISSUE BUT NOTHING WAS NEVER FOUND. AT TIMES THERE WOULD BE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND MY FOOT WOULD JUST GO TO THE FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM HAS NEVER ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY OVER THE YEARS TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND NO MECHANIC COULD EVER FIGURE IT OUT. NOW MY CAR IS TOTALED AND I HAVE AN INSURANCE BILL THAT IS NOT ONLY COSTLY BUT NOT FAIR. GM SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND I JUST HOPE NO ONE ENDS UP HURT. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IF I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A CROSSWALK WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. I WAS BORROWING MY GRANDFATHERS CAR AND FEEL TERRIBLE.

AIR BAGS
137,250 miJan 3, 2017BLOOMINGBURG, OH
Crash

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE AS ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND PULLED INTO HER PATH. SHE AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE BOTH AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH. THE FRONT CLIP WAS TORN FROM HER CAR AND NO DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SHE DID HAVE HER SEATBELT ON WHICH DID PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 30 DEC 2016. THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS.

STRUCTURE:BODY
10,000 miNov 10, 2015THOUSAND OAKS, CA
Crash

1. 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASED THIRD TAILLIGHT SHORTED OUT DIDN'T KNOW HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. TOOK TO DEALER 7 TIMES AFTER WIRING HARNESS, THIRD TAILLIGHT REPLACED BECAUSE SPOILER CRACKED, HATCH UNABLE TO OPEN. DEALER MOVED HATCH HINGES AND SPOILER KEPT CRACKING. STILL HAVING THIRD TAILLIGHT NO BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM IS WITH WIRING FAULTY. TAILLIGHTS ALL LEAK CAUSING WIRING SHORT IN FUSES. OTHER ISSUE IS FIRST BREAK SERVICE ABS SENSOR STAYED ON BREAK PEDAL PULSATED FOR 2 YRS 2 DEALERS 1 MECHANIC REPLACED ABS SENSOR 3X DIDN'T FIX ENDED UP PAYING FOR NEW FRONT WHEEL HUB ALSO CAUSED 3 ACCIDENTS COULD NOT STOP BECAUSE OF IT. MILEAGE IS 68700 REC 1 RECALL FOR HEATER. WHERE ARE REST?

AIR BAGS
74,825 miMay 2, 2014NEGAUNEE, MI
Crash

MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR HIT THE TREE. IT HIT SO HARD THE BACK TIRES CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE GROUND. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES
108,300 miJul 8, 2013WHEATON, MD
Crash

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH DOWN A MAIN ROAD, WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, AND THERE WAS RESISTANCE. I SWERVED TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND RAN INTO A MAILBOX ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PRIOR TO THIS, MY CAR EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND SMOKE THAT BLOCKED MY VIEW, AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I AM MENTIONING THIS BECAUSE I SEE THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

VISIBILITY
45,000 miMay 11, 2011MARIETTA, GA
Crash

VEHICLE NO LONGER BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON THEREFORE THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! IF WINDOWS ARE FOGGED OR ICED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER YOU CAN NOT SEE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN FATALITIES. I FOUND OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH A PLASTIC TEMPERATURE DOOR VALVE (TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR) THAT IS BROKEN. ACCORDING TO OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND THE SERVICE DEPT MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL GM DEALER, THE COST TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART IS AROUND $1300 FOR $50-$80 METAL PART. FURTHERMORE, BY REPLACING THE PLASTIC PART PREVIOUSLY USED TO A METAL PART IN THE NEWER VEHICLES CLEARLY SUGGEST GM KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRAPPY PLASTIC PART PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND GM NEED TO STEP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS ITEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. MY WIFE ALREADY DAMAGED THE CAR AND TOOK OUT A MAILBOX DUE TO REDUCE VISIBILITY. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Nov 3, 2010HOUSTON, TX
Crash

DRIVING 2006 EQUINOX AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE BRAKES DID NOT PRESS DOWN AND SEEM TO BE STUCK. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
26,000 miSep 12, 2008AUORA, IL
Crash

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. THE DRIVER NOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
140,000 miJan 9, 2020WICHITA, KS
Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING, SMOKE SUDDENLY WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE AIR VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOORS LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. A WINDOW WAS SHATTERED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR LOCAL DEALER WERE INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
171,045 miApr 8, 2019CARLISLE, PA
Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON APRIL 1, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,045.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
78,000 miJan 17, 2019WAZIOO CITY, MS
Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING ODOR. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING TURNED OFF AND THE RADIO SIGNAL WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAY-DANIELS CHEVROLET (601-863-8466, LOCATED AT 6080 I-55, JACKSON, MS 39211), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE SAME DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

Other Equinox Years

Other Chevrolet Models