Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 280 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 280, in the owner's own words
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
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.
WEAK PLASTIC IN THE BLEND DOOR OF THE HVAC SYSTEM CAUSES DOOR TO BREAK AND GET STUCK IN THE "COLD" POSITION. NO HEAT IN SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN MEANS YOUR WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFROST AND VISIBILITY DROPS BECOMING HAZARDOUS IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.
ONE WIPER BLADE QUIT FUNCTIONING AND CAUSES SEVERE DANGER TO THE DRIVER. HEATER QUIT WORKING CAUSING FOGGING ISSUES AND KEEPING MY KIDS & WIFE IN DANGER. APPARENTLY THESE ISSUES ARE VERY COMMON ACCORDING TO THE 2009 REPORT GM RECALLED 59,000 VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
MY HEATER ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN MY WINDSHIELD HAS A LAYER OF FROST OR SNOW ON IT, I HAVE NO ABILITY TO CLEAR IT BY WAY OF UTILIZING MY DEFROST. I DRIVE WITH ALL OF MY WINDOWS DOWN AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVING CONSTANTLY IN ATTEMPTS TO SEE. CHEVY IS AWARE THAT THEY MADE A PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE. THEY EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON A CHEAP PLASTIC PART THAT TENDS TO BREAK AT 60,000 THAT WAS COVERED UNTIL 2016 OR 120,000 MILES. I HOWEVER DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I DON'T SCAN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE IF I'M NOT EXPERIENCING ISSUES AT THE TIME. MY CHEAP DEFECTIVE PART BROKE WHEN UNDER 58,000 MILES AND UNFORTUNATELY IN 2017. CHEVY HIDES BEHIND THIS AND IS NOT WILLING TO FIX A DEFECTIVE PART AND ULTIMATELY DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT CHEVY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND IS ULTIMATELY A SAFETY ISSUE. CHEVY NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED-PERIOD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK, AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATER BLOWER ONLY BLEW OUT COLD AIR AND WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (JIM BUTLER CHEVROLET IN FENTON, MO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER ARM WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
IN ALL DRIVING MODES, HEATER ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR, NOT HOT AIR
TEMP CONTROL DOOR FAILED CAUSING NO DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING IN CAR. CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE DRIVER INABILITY TO SEE THRU WINDSHIELD AND HAS RECALLED SOME YEAR MODELS, BUT NOT 2006 MODELS. I REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR $1162.49. THE PART IS NOT EXPENSIVE, REQUIRES MANY HOURS OF TAKING APART DASHBOARD.
HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR IN WINTER IN CHICAGO CAN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING , VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND CHANGES THE VEHICLE BREAKING DISTANCE. IT IS ALSO UNKNOWN HOW MUCH IT WILL CHANGE THE DISTANCE. SO IT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT. THIS IS DUE TO NOT KNOWING WHERE TO BREAK FOR PROPER STOPPING DISTANCE. ENGINE PROBLEM WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TURNS OVER THEN STALLS. ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TURNING IT OVER. WIPER ISSUE. MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE HEAVY SNOW FALL HAPPENS. THIS IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IF MY VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD DURING A BLIZZARD OR HEAVY SNOW VISIBILITY IS LOST ON HALF MY WINDSHIELD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOOR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR SPEED AND MODE SELECTION CONTINUED TO FUNCTION; HOWEVER, THE HEATER WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MILEAGE SURPASSED THE ACCEPTED MILEAGE FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10044379-4513(EQUIPMENT/VISIBILITY); THEREFORE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT BE ASSISTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE NO HEAT, YESTERDAY, I DID . THIS MORNING MY HEAT WILL NOT WORK RECIRCULATION WORKS FAN CONTROLS WORK A/C WORKS, AFTER ALL OF MY HOURS OF RESEARCH, I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS . ITS THE VENT DOOR AND ACTUATOR, I NARROWED ALL DOWN AT FIRST COOLANT THERMOSTAT ETC. I FOUND MY RESULT FOR A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC ON THE VENT DOOR THAT BREAKS SO OFTEN SURE ITS A 70$ PART BUT AS A SINGLE FATHER , I CANNOT AFFORD A 1500.00$ SHOP FEE FOR THAT, THIS IS SOMETHING CHEVY KNOWS IS WRONG , AND CAN BE A VERY LIABLE HAZARD TO ACCIDENTS ! I LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA WHERE IT GETS PRETTY DARN COLD , YOU LOSE YOUR HEAT ON A WAY TO A KIDS HOCKEY GAME 100 MILES AWAY ON A FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN SNOWING AND 30 BELOW ZERO YES COULD CAUSE FATALITIES !! ITS WIDELY SPREAD ACROSS THE BOARD THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM , CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS , THEY NEED TO MAKE IT RIGHT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED FROM IT ! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK FOR HEAT OR COLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V489000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE MOTOR BLOWER, RESISTOR, BLOWER AND PIT TAIL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,480.
THE HEATING SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILED AND BLOWS COLD AIR AFFECTING THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING ABILITY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE PROBLEM IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF THE CAR TO DEFROST. AS NOTED IN A LETTER FROM GM'S DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT INVESTIGATIONS AND SAFETY TO THE NHTSA ON DECEMBER 23, 2009, THE 2010 EQUINOX WAS RECALLED SINCE A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT RESULTED IN NON-OPERATIONAL DEFROST SYSTEMS THAT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, AND VIOLATED FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 103. IN OTHER WORDS, GM HAS ADMITTED ON ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MANUFACTURER?S DEFECTS THAT CAUSE IN-OPERABLE DEFROST SYSTEMS ARE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. CHEVROLET EQUINOX DRIVERS ARE AT STAKE. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO DEFROST YOUR WINDSHIELD COULD LEAD TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS VEHICLE DAMAGE, INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND ORDER GM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTED PART / PARTS AND REFUND REPAIR COST TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE OR WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. *TR
THE HEATER IS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR, IT'S IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK WITH A BLANKET ON MY LAP, HEAVY JACKET AND GLOVES. THE BLANKET ON THE LAP IS NOT THE SMARTEST CHOICE BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $800 - $1000 TO GET THIS FIXED. I ALSO HAVE TO HAVE MY CHILDREN BRING BLANKETS SO THEY STAY WARM. WE LIVE IN A SOUTHERN STATE BUT WE STILL GET COLD HERE. I CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING UP NORTH AND DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
THE HEATER BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN. THE COST OF REPLACING THE DOOR IS $1000 +. I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. *TR
HEATER AND DEFROSTER ARE NOT WORKING. BLOWER WORKS GREAT BUT IN THE WINTER COLD AIR DOES NOT DEFROST WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NO WARM AIR AT ALL. THIS MAKES DRIVING CONDITIONS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE COLD WEATHER. MY WIFE DEPENDS ON THIS CAR TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUE IS A PART THAT COSTS ABAUT $65 BUT THE LABOR COST IS ABAUT $1000 WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT. CHEVROLET SHOULD STEP UP AND PUT A RECALL ON FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
THE HEATER IS CURRENTLY BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. I HAVE TRIED EVERY SETTING TO TRY TO SEE IF ANY OF THE SETTINGS HELP BUT ALWAYS BLOWS OUT COOL/COLD AIR. ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR TO ADD TO THIS VEHICLE. AVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE WORST CHEVY MODEL I HAVE EVER OWNED. HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 16 MONTHS HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING. THE FAN WOULD WORK AND BLOW AIR - BUT NO HEAT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE ISSUE. IMMEDIATELY UPON TELLING THEM THE SYMPTOMS, THEY DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THE EQUINOX, THAT ALMOST 4 OUT OF 5 VEHICLES OF THAT MAKE/MODEL/YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT THE PART TO FIX IT WAS ONLY $65, BUT THE BAD NEWS WAS THAT THE LABOR WAS $1000. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HINGE ON THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR" WAS BROKEN AT THE ACTUATOR AND THAT THE ENTIRE DASH ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO THE BROKEN PART. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND HAD ALMOST THE SAME ANSWER - ALTHOUGH, TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY DID ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BEFORE DIAGNOSING IT. BOTH OF THESE GM/CHEVY DEALERSHIPS SHOOK THEIR HEADS AND ALMOST LAUGHED AT ME - SAYING THAT IT WAS A "KNOWN ISSUE". I DECIDED THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $1000 TO FIX A "KNOWN ISSUE", SO I CALLED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE. KEEP IN MIND THAT MY VEHICLE IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP DURING ALL THIS. AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK, CHEVY TELLS ME THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED (I WAS 20K MILES OVER THE WARRANTY) AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY CONVINCE THE DEALERSHIP TO KNOCK 10% OFF MY BILL. GEE... THANKS. *TR
06 CHEVY EQUINOX LT2, HEAT STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR. I DIDN'T KNOW THE PROBLEM BUT FORTUNATELY I WENT INTO MY ONSTAR ACCOUNT TO LOOK FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT SINCE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON IT COULDN'T TELL ME. BUT WHILE IN MY ACCOUNT IT WAS SHOWING ACTIVE WARRANTY. IT SHOWED ME THERE WAS AN ACTIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM GM, COVERING ACTUATOR DOOR DEFAULT. ALL EQUINOX OWNERS ARE COVERED TO 120,000 MILES OR 1/1/2016.....SO IF YOU HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH HEAT BLOWING COLD TAKE IT TO AUTHORIZED CHEVY GM DEALER BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE WHOLE DASH OUT TO FIX A 10.00 PART, THE LABOR CHARGE IS $2600 MY DEALER TOLD ME. ALSO IF YOU PAID FOR THIS ISSUE OUT OF POCKET THEY WILL REIMBURSE YOU. GOOGLE THIS ISSUE , THERE IS A SPECIAL BULLETIN NUMBER FOR THIS. GET THAT NUMBER AND CALL YOUR DEALER!!!!! THEY WON'T TELL YOU IT'S COVERED AND CHARGE YOU BECAUSE MOST OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS DON'T EVEN KNOW IT EXISTS. NOW THAT'S NOT RITE.....THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS BEING COVERED, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
HEATER / DEFROST SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. LIVE IN IDAHO AND TEMPERATURES GET BELOW ZERO. NO WAY TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. CHEVY DEALERSHIP QUOTED REPAIR OF THE HEATER VENT DOOR ACTUATOR AT $1200.00, SINCE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. HISTORY SHOWS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH DOOR ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION. *TR
TRIED TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FROST. ONLY COLD AIR CAME OUT OF VENT. SAME COLD AIR ON ALL HVAC SETTINGS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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