YearToAvoid

2006 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

45/100

#12 most-complained of 21 Equinox years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox has 695 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 45 out of 100 — #12 highest of 21 Equinox model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is hvac (158 complaints, 23% of the total). Complaints report 16 crashes, 9 fires, 20 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
695
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
16 / 9
Injuries / deaths
20 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 21.5 hwy

Top 2006 Chevy Equinox problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. HVAC158 (23%)
  2. Electrical System148 (21%)
  3. Engine135 (19%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers126 (18%)
  5. Brakes98 (14%)
  6. Other92 (13%)
  7. Steering34 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain31 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body27 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (4%)
2006 Chevrolet Equinox complaints: complaints filed per quarter762005 Q42008 Q12010 Q22012 Q32014 Q42017 Q12019 Q22021 Q4
918 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q4 to 2025 Q4; peak 2010 Q4 (76).

2006 Chevrolet Equinox recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2006 Chevrolet Equinox fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
21.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Equinox years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution60638119
2006Good45695018.5
2007Caution50685419.5
2008Good20370019

All Chevrolet Equinox years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox ranks #12 of 21 among Equinox model years (Complaint Index 45/100, verdict: Good). It has 695 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most reported problem areas are hvac (158 complaints), electrical system (148 complaints), and engine (135 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 72,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?
EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox at 18.5 MPG combined (16.5 city / 21.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.