Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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
While driving at 55 MPH the bell started ringing, then the dash lights came on. Tc-ABS-brake, then the steering wheel stiffened up as like standard before power steering. I pulled over it scared the hell out of me, we could have been killed. I went to a GM authorized repair shop the said it was normal for this car to do???? I was talked into putting a new brain in the Equinox several thousand dollars $$$$$ and it still did the same thing. Went back to the dealer (Chevy) they had the car for a few days, called and said they found the problem, yea a bent wire?? Worked fine for a few months and now its doing the same thing again. Oh by the way I was informed that I did not need to put a new brain in the car the old one was very good. GM is a realy bad place to buy any car any more, they do not care about the customer only the $$$ they sold me a car they new full well had problems.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. While exiting a parking lot onto a main road, the gear shifter moved into first gear and failed to shift out of gear. The contact let off the throttle and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact waited for a few seconds and restarted the vehicle. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
While accelerating the vehicle isnt shifting in the proper way it should. There is a chain rattling kind of sound from the engine as it accelerates, closer to the driver side. While braking, the brakes pads are all new, it will sometimes make a grinding sound and have little to no brake resistance if you hit a bump. All in a straight motion.
Bought new 2006 Equinox with three original miles. 1) right rear seat belt locked up, ratchet tighter and would not release until removed and fully retracted. Six occurrences, three times to dealer who could not duplicate. 2) left rear seat belt locked up, ratchet tighter and would not release until removed and fully retracted. Four occurrences, three times to dealer who could not duplicate. 3) engine falters when in reverse. Three occurrences, dealer has not looked at this issue. 4) instrument cluster / gauges not working. Three occurrences, two times to dealer who could not duplicate. 5) engine will not start. Six occurrences, one time to dealer who could not duplicate. 6) engine will hesitate to start / extended crank. Five occurrences, one time to dealer who reprogrammed PCM but issue still exists. 7) ignition switch grinding or will not turn. …
I brought my 2006 Chevy Equinox in for a oil change on 1/4/11 and was told that my carrier bearing on the drive shaft was completely shot. I was informed to bring it to a mechanic right away otherwise I will lose my drive shaft. I brought my car immediately to the shop and was told that the part had to be ordered from GM and the part was around $500-$600. I contacted GM because if I was driving on the highway and the drive shaft went my car could have flipped and put me and others in danger. I was told by GM that they would not help with the costs of the bearing. When the bearing goes, which I'm told should have never gone, the car should vibrate badly or make noises which even the mechanic noted that no signs were given. If I had not brought my car in for a oil change I would have never known about this problem. …
(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 (TCM), (iv) u2105 - lost communication with engine control module (ECM). Between 11/27/06 and 12/21/06, dealer supposedly replaced BCM three times and 3rd new BCM fixed problem. Each new BCM would go to zero (0) and the mileage could not be programmed. During that time the theft deterrent system was deactivated which was unknown to me. …
Vehicle will not pass state required emission, due to readiness error code. For reasons unknown the EVAP and EGR system code will not reset (not ready code). We were told by several mechanics to drive the vehicle for several hundred miles. After 800 miles and several failed test later the system still will not reset. We called GM and was told to take the car to a dealer. Against our better judgment we had no other options available and finally took it to our local GM dealer and was told the service tech downloaded software to address a p0171 code, which cost us over $300 and to drive it 200 more miles, bring it back for a test. The system still did not reset and the car will not pass emissions. We asked the service manager for other options and all he could give us was lip service (useless rambling), possible troubleshooting repairs and more money. …
Have a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox that has been slipping gears (not properly shifting) when accelerating and decelerating. This has been happening for a week. Just yesterday, while sitting at a light, with my foot on the brake for several seconds, the vehicle must have decided to go back down in gear, and it made the vehicle jump. Then yesterday afternoon, while trying to accelerate onto a busy highway, it would not get out of gear and stayed at 15 MPH. I had to let off the gas for a few seconds then resumed accelerating. The issue has been happening for about a week, but yesterday was the scariest, when I couldn't merge into the traffic at the speed that I needed to. My husband has called the lot where it was purchased and made an appointment to take it in for this Thursday. I began reviewing posts on other websites and was amazed at how many complaints there were on this very issue. …
While driving my dad's 2006 Chevrolet Equinox, it suddenly started vibrating rather badly at about 45-50 MPH. I checked the vehicle out, and found that the carrier bearing had rusted apart, and basically was doing nothing. The vehicle only had 23,750 miles on it, but is out of warranty due to age. To repair the vehicle was almost $500. I have read dozens if not hundreds of complaints about this same problem from consumers that feel the same as I do. General motors knows that there is a problem concerning this and they will do nothing to rectify the problem. They put a defective poorly made part on this vehicle and it needs to be covered under a recall. A failure of this bearing at 70 MPH probably would have caused a drive shaft failure {separation}, which could lead to an accident. …
Transmission complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox, 4% of the model year's 695 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Equinox transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Equinox transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 37% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.