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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

90,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 23 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior521.7%
Electrical and battery issues313.0%
Engine operation28.7%
Transmission and shifting14.3%
Steering behavior14.3%
Fuel system concerns14.3%

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.

Air Bags
3
Electrical System
3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages
3
Service Brakes
3
Steering
3
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
3
Power Train
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags3
Electrical System3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Service Brakes3
Steering3
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate3
Power Train2

Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Steering: 3; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 3; Power Train: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 4 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.

2009
1
2010
1
2011
5
2012
5
2013
2
2015
2
2017
2
2019
2
2021
1
2022
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20101
20115
20125
20132
20152
20172
20192
20211
20222

2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2017: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10308798 · 2010-02-11 (February 11, 2010)

STEERING CLUNKS AND LOOSE, WORSE WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AND DURING BRAKING. THIS IS A KNOW FAULTY DESIGN OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT THAT CAUSED THE MANUFACTURE TO REDESIGN PART. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL???? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10308798 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10557419 · 2013-12-27 (December 27, 2013)

MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS A 2006 SUBURBAN Z71 4-WHEEL DRIVE, 1/2-TON SUV. ON MANY TAHOES, SUBURBANS AND OTHER GENERAL MOTORS SUV-TYPE VEHICLES, THE LIFT GATE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION OR IN THE UNLOCKED (UNSECURED) POSITION ANY TIME THE BATTERY HAS NO VOLTAGE. IN THE CASE OF IT BEING LOCKED, THE LIFT GATE HAS NO MANUAL MEANS OF BEING OPENED - NO KEY INSERTION LOCATION WHATSOEVER. (THIS APPLIES ALSO TO THE LIFT-GATE GLASS.) THIS IS INDEED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED MANY YEARS AGO. THIS COULD …

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557419 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10458071 · 2012-05-10 (May 10, 2012)

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY SUBURBAN Z71 WITH JUST OVER 95,500 MILES. THE REAR HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE LOCKING MECHANISM APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NO OTHER EVENT OCURRED. THE LOCK SIMPLY QUIT WORKING. NEITHER THE DOOR NOR THE GLASS WILL UNLOCK. THERE IS NO MANUAL WAY TO UNLOCK OR OPEN THE REAR DOOR WHEN THE POWER LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. THERE IS NOT AN EMERGENCY RELEASE TO POP THE REAR DOOR OR GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. ALL OTHER DOORS ON THE VEHICLE ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL MANUALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY. NO FUSES HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 95,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458071 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10436855 · 2011-11-23 (November 23, 2011)

MY 2006 SUBURBAN LOSES POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER INITIAL ACCELERATION AND A "TRACTION ACTIVE" WARNING APPEARS ON MY DASHBOARD. THIS HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO BECOME TRAPPED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE LEFT HAND TURNS. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND MY WIFE NOW FEARS FOR HER LIFE AND REFUSES TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. IT HAPPENED TO ME LAST NIGHT AND AN ONCOMING CAR HAD TO SWERVE INTO TRAFFIC TO AVOID RAMMING MY STALLED VEHICLE. THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH SIMILAR STATEMENTS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH GM VEHIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436855 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10456128 · 2012-04-23 (April 23, 2012)

STABILITY SYSTEM INDICATOR/TRACTION ACTIVE/TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR COME ON WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURN SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND "TRACTION ACTIVE" WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DIC. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A "WHEEL HUB SENSOR". REPLACED LEFT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY, STILL HAVE SAME ISSUE. IN WORK ON REPLACING RIGHT HAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF THIS CORRECTS ISSUE, BUT BY THE LOOK OF SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES IT WILL NOT. NEED A RECALL IF THIS IS HAPPENING, POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IF CAR STALLS WHEN …

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456128 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11187432 · 2019-03-18 (March 18, 2019)

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A BROKEN REAR BRAKE LINE. BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AND AT THE NEXT STOP THEY WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. I HAD TO USE DOWN SHIFTING TO SLOW AND THEN A SNOW BANK TO COMPLETELY STOP. THERE WAS NO INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR AND WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET WITH NO TRAFFIC AT 3 AM ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH. AFTER LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES THEY ARE DRAMATICALLY R…

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11187432 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10693999 · 2015-03-12 (March 12, 2015)

I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR. MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND TWO OF MY DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED (T/C (TRACTION CONTROL), AND BRAKE LIGHT, ALSO HAD THE READOUT "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM". LUCKILY, I WAS ROLLING TO A STOP IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY AND AVOIDED HITTING MY OTHER PARKED CARS. I INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING BETWEEN THE ABS UNIT AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE (MORE SPECIFICALLY NEAR THE FUEL TANK) FROM THE METAL BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS HALF FUL…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693999 at NHTSA ↗