2006 Gmc SIERRA 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
49,975 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 36.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 27.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 27.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Steering: 3; Air Bags: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10218161 · 2008-02-15 (February 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING 10-75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART BY ITSELF AFTER DRIFTING FOR 50 YARDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THICK, BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST AND INSTALLED A NEW PROGRAMMER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,439.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321261 · 2010-03-21 (March 21, 2010)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 86,578 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219627 · 2008-02-28 (February 28, 2008)
TRANSMISSION COOLING PIPES HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWO TIMES IN LAST THAN 20 MONTHS BECAUSE OF FLUID LEAKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296732 · 2009-12-22 (December 22, 2009)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637206 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637206 at NHTSA ↗