2006 Gmc SIERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
43,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 53 complaints (37.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 56.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 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 | 20 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Hub | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 2 |
Service Brakes: 20; Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Steering: 3; Air Bags: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Suspension:Front:Hub: 2; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 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 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 5 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 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 6 |
2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 17; 2015: 6
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10142557 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER DEALER INFORMED HIM THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256768 · 2009-01-23 (January 23, 2009)
2006 GMC SIERRA WITH A FRONT WHEEL BEARING BURN OUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEEL BEARING BURN OUT WAS PRIOR TO THE TIRE WEARING OUT. GM DECIDED TO SEAL THE BEARING TO PROLONG THE LIFE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. ONCE HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINE HAD BROKEN AND A FIRE HAD IGNITED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE AXLE AND ALL THE BRAKE COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10256768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445450 · 2012-01-26 (January 26, 2012)
DESCRIBE BELOW IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER GM REPLACEMENT PART IS DEFECTIVE AND ISSUE IS UNDER RECALL IN CANADA???? NOT U.S.??? PART IS BEING REDESIGNED MAY BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS?? BEING TOLD WILL HAVE TO WAIT IN MEAN TIME I HAVE MANUALLY BRING HEAT UP FROM LOW AND MAY HAVE HEAT MAY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE AND START AT LOW. NOT VERY REASSURING WHEN TEMPS ARE -40F BELOW ZERO. UNTIL PART IS RE-DESIGNED OR ENGINEERED??? I AM SUPPOSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS LISTED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL AND ENCOUNTER CONTINUED FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607084 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD SHUT OFF INDEPENDETLY AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS DEACTIVATED, THE BURNING SMELL CEASED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. JCC
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316336 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO TURN STEERING AT IDLE. DURATION OF PROBLEM APPROX. 1 YEAR. JUNE 2009 DEALER REPLACED PART IN STEERING. DEALER COLD NOT FIND A PROBLEM IN STEERING, BUT REPLACED A PART. PROBLEM CONTINUES; VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AT IDLE OR LOW SPEED. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172728 · 2006-11-06 (November 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TOWING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO SKID. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284704 · 2009-09-21 (September 21, 2009)
WE WERE ON VACATION IN ALABAMA AND OUR 2006 GMC SIERRA TRUCK WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP WE PULLED OVER AND CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT WAS FINE. SO WE CONTINUED ON UNTIL WE GOT TO THE NEXT TOWN. TILLSMAN CORNER. WE WENT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNT UP. WE CALLED GMC AND THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS ONLY 36,000 MILES. WHEN WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE THEY WERE TELLING US IT WAS 7 YEARS, 70,000 MILES ON THE DRIVE TRAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401439 · 2011-05-18 (May 18, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE READER INSIDE THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE READER ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE COULD SHUT OFF WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401439 at NHTSA ↗