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2006 GMC Sierra 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 10 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

11 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2026
Air Bags

The front impact sensor, also known as a crash sensor (part # 10370150), is no longer functional. It detects rapid vehicle deceleration during a frontal collision and sends an immediate signal to the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) to deploy airbags. Located behind the front bumper or on the radiator support, these sensors measure imp…

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The front impact sensor, also known as a crash sensor (part # 10370150), is no longer functional. It detects rapid vehicle deceleration during a frontal collision and sends an immediate signal to the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) to deploy airbags. Located behind the front bumper or on the radiator support, these sensors measure impact severity to ensure airbags deploy only when necessary. This part is no longer available from GM or any other aftermarket distributor. It is a critical part for any occupants in a crash. I am just one of many people who cannot make safety corrections.

NHTSA ODI #11714436

161,108 miles · May 11, 2017
Service BrakesSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND ALL OF THE HOSES AFFECTED BY THE BRAKE FLUID WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND ALL OF THE HOSES AFFECTED BY THE BRAKE FLUID WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,108.

NHTSA ODI #10984924

69,000 miles · Oct 7, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE DRIVEN INTO REAR OF PICK-UP AND U-HAUL TRAILER ON HIGHWAY 50 CANYON CITY,CO ,LEFT FRONT SIDE OF GMC 3500 DESTROYED ALONG WITH HOOD AREA AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF GMC3500. GMC TOTALED DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN NECK. PHOTOS OBTAINED BUT NOT ABLE TO UPLOAD.

NHTSA ODI #10780533

79,000 miles · Sep 18, 2014
Service Brakes

I WENT OUT TO MY TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND MY DASH BOARD INDICATOR TOLD ME TO GET MY BRAKES CHECKED; EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MYMECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT MY BRAKE LINE IS CORRODED AND BROKEN. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS A RECURRING AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE GMC SIERRAS. I HAVE MY TRUC…

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I WENT OUT TO MY TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND MY DASH BOARD INDICATOR TOLD ME TO GET MY BRAKES CHECKED; EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MYMECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT MY BRAKE LINE IS CORRODED AND BROKEN. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS A RECURRING AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE GMC SIERRAS. I HAVE MY TRUCK SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THIS HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED TO ME. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM! SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT. CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED 2 DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS PULLING OUR 40 FOOT RV. SHOULDN'T GM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? MY TRUCK IS NOW IN THE SHOP GETTING THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637206

54,000 miles · Oct 26, 2012
Steering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTO PLACE. I HAD TO JERK IT HARD IN ORDER TO GET IT TO RELEASED FROM THE LOCKED POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. CAN EASILY CAUSE A CRASH. NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482385

45,949 miles · Jun 13, 2011
Tires

NO EVENT JUST EVERY DAY DRIVING AND A TIRE A YEAR LEAKS FROM INNER LINING TO FORM A BUBBLE ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE WHICH BLOWS OUT. A TIRE A YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406148

37,000 miles · Aug 15, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349466

86,578 miles · Mar 21, 2010
Steering

ON MARCH 8,2010 I TOOK MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO TO AN OFFICIAL EMISSIONS INSPECTION STATION; THE VEHICLE FAILED. AT THIS TIME I WAS GIVEN A SET OF RECALL PAPERS 09014 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT ENGINE CONTROL MODULE- EMISSION RELATED REPROGRAMMING THAT EXPLAINED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IN THE MEAN TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO …

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ON MARCH 8,2010 I TOOK MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO TO AN OFFICIAL EMISSIONS INSPECTION STATION; THE VEHICLE FAILED. AT THIS TIME I WAS GIVEN A SET OF RECALL PAPERS 09014 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT ENGINE CONTROL MODULE- EMISSION RELATED REPROGRAMMING THAT EXPLAINED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IN THE MEAN TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO GM . THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BY THE TIME THEY WERE DONE I HAD A BILL FOR $280 AND TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER $1000TO FIX THE CAR SO THAT COULD PASS (THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TO RECEIVE COMMUNICATION I SEE THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT) I WANT TO STATE THAT I SHOWED THE WORKERS AT GM THE PAPERS SHOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THEY THEN TOLD ME IF I WANT IT FIXED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.THIS OCCURRED AFTER I SIGNED A PAPER ALLOWING THEM TO "LOOK" AT THE CAR . I NEED SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY TO HELP ME FIND OUT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY GM AND WHETHER OR NOT THE ACTION OF GM WAS FRAUDULENT. THANK YOU TOOK THE VEHICLE INSPECTION TO THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT ON 3/19/2010 AND IT PASS INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321261

44,000 miles · Dec 22, 2009
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44000.

NHTSA ODI #10296732

25,210 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION COOLING PIPES HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWO TIMES IN LAST THAN 20 MONTHS BECAUSE OF FLUID LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219627

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.