2006 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
52,036 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 52 complaints (21.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 32.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 13.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Service Brakes: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 8; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 8; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10178860 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
POWER STEERING & BRAKES FAILED. STARTED TRUCK IN MORNING, PUT IN REVERSE AND COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE NOR STEER. PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CHEV. DEALER, THEY CHECKED AND STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. BRAKES AND STEERING WORKED AFTER CAR WAS WARMED UP FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENED IN YUMA ARIZONA AREA, AND OUTSIDE TEMP AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 40'S. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 15,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214701 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,395. UPDATED 01-30-08. *KB UPDATED 01/30/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256230 · 2009-01-24 (January 24, 2009)
ALL 3 TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON 12/11/2007. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE FREQUENTLY AND IN FACT THEY STATED THEY HAD A 2007 TRUCK IN THEIR SHOP THAT DAY WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 63,730 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299701 · 2010-01-13 (January 13, 2010)
I NOTICED PINK LIQUID LEAKING ON 2006 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 DIESEL, 46,000 MILES. I ONLY REALIZED IT WAS LEAKING (PINK FLUID) BECAUSE OF THE SNOW WE RECENTLY HAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EXPECTING IT TO BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $841.08 BEFORE TAXES TO FIX TRANSMISSION LINES. I INQUIRED ABOUT WARRANTY AND HE SAID IT WASN'T THE ENGINE. I DECIDED TO SEARCH ON LINE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS A PART OF THE POWERTRAIN AND FOUND MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE NO WHERE NEAR THE $…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182127 · 2007-02-09 (February 9, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500'S REAR AXLE WAS CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THIS VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, AND WHEN THE SPEED WAS 60-65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, AND VIBRATION CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL ONLY VIBRATION FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE GM MANUFACTURER AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342402 · 2010-07-10 (July 10, 2010)
2006 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 W/ DUMP BODY PARKED IN DRIVEWAY @ 3:00 PM. 1:00 AM IN THE MORNING TRUCK ENGINE & CAB WAS IN FLAMES COMPLETELY DESTROYING BOTH. CAUSE OF FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT & TO BE ELECTRICAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607014 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AS NORMAL. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE GEAR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556628 · 2013-12-19 (December 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AFTER REFUELING, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE COULD HEAR THE REAR PUMP RUNNING AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSPECT THE FUEL CAB, IT SPEW DIESEL ALL OVER HIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,621.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,621 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556628 at NHTSA ↗