2006 Chevy Equinox Problems | Is It Worth Buying?

By Max Anthony •  Updated: 04/19/21 •  5 min read

Chevy equinox 2006 model is a fantastic family car. It’s a well-known and dependable vehicle. Overall is terrific for family road trips and long drives. The user-friendly design with budget-friendly pricing making it the most popular brand.

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Unfortunately, it has many engine damages, starting problems, transmission issues, and many more. We have listed all of its problems. Let’s discuss 2006 chevy equinox problems in detail to determine why you should avoid buying this model.

Most Common 2006 Chevy Equinox Problems

2006 Chevy Equinox problems
Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD 2006 | wikimedia

The Chevrolet equinox 2006 has various issues reported by owners of these models. Some people said the air conditioning blend, various others reported about the gas cap, key not turning, and blown head gasket.

The gasket fails without any warning or becomes overheating as a result of loss of coolant. Here are the most common 2006 Chevy Equinox problems you should know about:

Excessive Oil Consumption

According to Carcomplaints, the 2006 model of chevy received various complaints about oil consumption. Most owners reported the vehicle is out of oil every week, even when driving a little mile.

Different mechanics told them they would have taken the engine apart to see the cause of oil consumption. The procedure is very costly and costs about $4500 to solve the issue. The owner should have to keep extra oil in the car for a safe journey. The engines light ON usually, and it is about to stall often. The leading cause of this issue is vehicle heating.

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2006 Chevy Equinox Transmission Problems

The 2006 model was equipped with Aisin AF33 transmission made in china. It is a full-life transmission, so operating in normal conditions does not need any transmission fluid change.

If it refuses to lock up, gas mileage suffers. But the vehicle can still drive down the way at higher RPM. When you hit the gas, rpm increases, even the transmission is not downshifting. Your truck starts jerking, and the rough movement tends to worsen when you are on the air conditioner.

Multiple owner complaints about the transmission slipping and engine problems. If you ignore the issue and delay repairing it can make the problem worse, and you have to suffer a lot.

Fluid Leak

The most common issue with AF33 is the loss of all forward gears on time. It occurs due to the failure of linear pressure. The cause of this problem is lousy front pumps, bad pressure control, and valve body.

While the liquid leaks into the pan gasket and the torque converter hub. It can be frustrating for a car owner as there is nothing worse than spending money on a car with a lot of problems.

Gas Cap Issue and A/C Blend Doors

The gas cap on this model is prone to failure. So, the service engine light will illuminate, which will make the gas filling procedure more difficult. The other major issue with the 2006 model is the blend door.

When it fails, you can’t adjust your vehicles’ temperature—the air conditioning blend door actuators powering the air conditioners for cooling. So, air conditioners stop working when actuators fail.

Blown Head Gasket

The head gasket on the engines fails without any warning. That’s why you should avoid purchasing the chevy equinox 2006 model.

Traction and Control System
2006 chevy equinox problems
Chevrolet Equinox 3.4 LT AWD | wikimedia

Multiple drivers reported when they are decelerating to stop the vehicle; the contact brake pedal starts vibrating. Perhaps the traction control and ABS warning lights on.

You can still drive when the ABS lights On, but it’s hazardous. Usually, ABS lights come on its due to a faulty AB computer or damaged wheel sensors.

A defective wheel speed sensor and a fault in the wire that connects it will damage the control system. If the issue is not resolved, then you will get an accident after being in such a situation.

Starting Problems

Various car owners reported that “they face problems starting back up when they leave the car off for about an hour. They turn the key, the vehicle struggles to start, sputters a little bit, and stops”.

“When they press the gas pedal while trying to start the car, it seems to solve it. Sometimes the starter stops working without any warning, and it can be an electrical issue”.

Fixing this issue is not complicated but costs more than $850, including all parts and labor.

2006 Chevy Equinox Paint Issues

When you buy a new vehicle, you would expect that paint to remain intact. Sadly, it’s prone to premature peeling. But it’s a cosmetic issue, not driving, but for repainting, you have to spend $2000 more.

That’s why the users tend to prefer to sell the vehicle, and the company ends up losing a customer.

Brakes Problems

The brake boosters fail and can cause a massive collision on the road. Also, the ABS brakes are locked while driving and making it difficult to stop the car.

Sometimes the brakes become unresponsive. It’s a significant safety hazard. The entire repayment cost to fix the problem is $3000.Thus, a massive loss for the buyer.

Is 2006 Chevy Equinox Worth Buying?

2006 Chevy equinox problems are massive, and their solution required a considerable amount. They have issues with the transmission, engine, brakes, oil consumptions, Gas Cap, and A/C Blend doors.

The Vehicles have erratic performance, start jerking and whining noise to be annoying for drivers. If your expensive vehicle is defective and not safe for transport. It is better to leave it or not buy such a vehicle but never compromise your safety.

All of these significant problems lead to massive distraction. We recommend avoiding buying 2006 chevy equinox, and better to bring it back to your dealer if you already purchased it.

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Max Anthony

Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.