This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Chevrolet Equinox steering problems
severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 32 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone calls. Technician will need to determine what type of call the customer is having that is unwanted. The vehicle may receive an incoming call just like any other phone. Typically the customer will hear the phone ringing in the vehicle. This scenario also includes incoming Bluetooth calls. One type of unwanted call can be made if the key pad is faulty the OnStar system will try to make a blue button call for shorted voltage in the circuits. The OnStar module could have an internal fault and produce a ″Phone Unavaila
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides a revision for 12-02-32-002 to add the 2013-2014 model years, add noise as a possible condition and add a Note in the Instructions section.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The steering problems on 2006 Equinoxes span electrical, mechanical, and thermal failures. The most serious involve the power steering motor overheating, causing the steering column to shake and smoke while engine power cuts out simultaneously. Owners have also reported the steering motor failing intermittently—assist cuts out during turns, then resets after turning the ignition off, making the wheel dangerously hard to turn with no warning.
Steering column mechanical failures are common: the column disconnects from the rack, internal components fail with a popping sound at highway speeds, and the steering wheel locks up solid without any recovery. Keys stick in the ignition or fall out while the car is moving in drive—in at least one case, the vehicle continued operating with the key removed.
Electrical issues include steering column wiring smoking and burning at various mileages, with one case involving the dimmer switch. The electronic steering system cuts out randomly, sometimes accompanied by multiple warning lights cycling on and off. Cold starts in freezing weather (25°F) also prevent power steering from engaging until the vehicle warms.
Steering looseness and erratic handling—vehicle wobbling at low speeds and in lane changes—have been reported, sometimes blamed by dealers on front-wheel-drive design characteristics. Dealership responses have been inconsistent: some found no codes despite owners describing severe failures, while others recommend full steering column replacement without guarantees. One owner reported a dealer fraudulently claiming to replace a wheel hub while using silicone instead, later causing transmission damage.
Same Chevrolet Equinox steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Steering column thermal failure & motor overheating
Steering motor overheats, forcing engine into protective mode. Smoke and burning odor emerge from steering column; column vibrates and shakes side-to-side and up-and-down. Power steering and engine power cut out simultaneously while driving, particularly in rain or on hot days.
When: Various speeds; one case at 20 mph with 109,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke and burning odor from steering column; Steering column vibration and shaking; Loss of power steering assist and engine power simultaneously; Engine enters protective mode
Repairs/costs cited: Complete steering column and motor replacement; costs not specified in all cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM warranty covered replacement in at least one case; multiple dealerships initially found no failure codes
Power steering intermittent loss or complete failure
Power steering assist cuts out randomly during driving or while turning. Assist may drop out and kick back in suddenly, making steering wheel very difficult to turn. Failure occurs at various speeds and can recur multiple times per driving session.
When: Various speeds (10-70 mph); failures at 50-65k, 60k, and 80k miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist loss while turning corners; Steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn; Power steering cuts out and resets after ignition off; Steering wheel lock-up or severe resistance to turning
Repairs/costs cited: One case cited electric power steering motor replacement at independent mechanic; full steering column replacement recommended in some cases with no guarantee
Steering column mechanical disconnect & column failure
Steering column disconnects from steering rack or internal components fail catastrophically. Steering wheel becomes loose, difficult to maneuver, or completely immobile. One case involved a popping sound heard at 65 mph over uneven road; another involved steering column internal component failure.
When: At 76,670 miles (one case); 145,000 miles (another case); varies by vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes loose and difficult to maneuver; Steering wheel completely immobile (unable to move vehicle); Popping sound from steering column; Feels like entire steering column will fall apart
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement required; at least one case required new steering rack
Steering wheel lock-up or seizure while driving
Steering wheel locks completely, preventing any turning motion. Occurs without warning during normal driving or turning maneuvers. Multiple owners report this happening repeatedly over time.
When: Various speeds (10-90 mph); at 70k-80k miles in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks completely; Knocking sound with each attempt to turn locked steering; Wheel seized while making turns; Extremely difficult to maneuver vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One repair estimate was $900 with no resolution; no successful repairs documented
Ignition switch malfunction & key sticking
Key gets stuck in ignition or is difficult to turn. Key may fall out of ignition while vehicle is in drive and still operating. Repeated attempts and jerking the steering wheel are required to turn the key. Vehicle can be driven with key removed from ignition.
When: Occurs within first week/month of ownership in some cases; at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck or difficult to turn in ignition; Key falls out while vehicle is operating in drive; Requires jerking steering wheel back and forth to free key; Vehicle operates with key removed from ignition
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership quoted $600 for repair without fixing the issue; some owners have not successfully had this repaired
Steering column wiring & electrical fire hazard
Steering column wiring insulation fails, causing smoke to emerge from steering column and dashboard vents. Burning odor accompanies the failure. Dimmer switch module identified in one case as the culprit.
When: At 107,147 miles (one case); at 180,000 miles (another case); 109,000 miles (third case)
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke from steering column; Burning odor inside vehicle; Smoke emerging from dashboard vents; Smoke from steering column switch area
Repairs/costs cited: Dimmer switch module replacement diagnosed in one case; one case had full steering column replacement; one case not repaired
Cold-weather power steering failure
Power steering assist fails to engage when vehicle is started in freezing temperatures (25°F reported). Assist resumes working after vehicle warms up or is restarted. No codes generated to diagnose the problem.
When: Cold weather conditions (25°F); occurs early in vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist does not engage when engine started in cold weather; Steering wheel very difficult to turn until vehicle warms up
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers found no failure codes or issues
Electronic steering control intermittent failure & warning lights
Electronic steering system cuts out randomly while driving and resets after ignition is turned off. Multiple warning lights (TC, ABS, engine, airbag) illuminate simultaneously. Steering may become disabled, then functional again. Vehicle continues to operate with key removed from ignition while warning lights cycle.
When: Varies; one case at 20 mph with stabilizer light; intermittent throughout vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic steering cuts out randomly while driving; Steering becomes difficult or impossible after cutting out; Multiple warning lights illuminate (TC, ABS, engine, airbag); Vehicle continues operating with key removed from ignition; Warning lights and radio cycle on and off; Stabilizer/traction control light comes on during steering loss
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealers blamed 'electronic steering characteristic' and front-wheel-drive design
Steering looseness and erratic handling
Steering is loose and erratic, causing vehicle to wobble when changing lanes or at speed. Steering requires excessive correction for turns. Vehicle wobbles even at low speeds (20-40 mph). Owners must slow down significantly to navigate curves safely, even on interstate highways.
When: Occurs within first few days/weeks of ownership; at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Very loose and erratic steering; Vehicle wobbles when changing lanes; Vehicle wobbles at 20-40 mph speeds; Steering wheel loses position in traffic lane; Front-end clunking sound from driver's side wheel area; Driver-side wheel wobbling
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved false wheel hub replacement claim (dealer used silicone instead); subsequent damage to transmission and/or suspension resulted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers blamed steering characteristic and front-wheel-drive design
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 60,000 and 145,000 miles, with the median around 80,125. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 145,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chevrolet/Equinox.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.