2006 Hummer H3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
361 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 285 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 91 of 361 complaints (25.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 46 | 12.7% |
| Braking behavior | 36 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 91 |
| Engine | 52 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 29 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 26 |
| Suspension | 25 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
Electrical System: 91; Engine: 52; Visibility/Wiper: 29; Unknown Or Other: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling: 26; Suspension: 25; Structure:Body: 14; Air Bags: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 64 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 54 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 71 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 64; 75,000 to 99,999: 54; 100,000 to 149,999: 71; 150,000 and above: 18
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (71). 76 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 | 22 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2005: 1; 2006: 22; 2007: 16; 2008: 11; 2009: 10; 2010: 33; 2011: 28; 2012: 27; 2013: 22; 2014: 30; 2015: 40; 2016: 47; 2017: 21; 2018: 12; 2019: 13; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 46 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 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 10158104 · 2006-05-23 (May 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE MESSAGE CENTER READ, POWER REDUCED AND ASC FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 35 MPH DURING THE POWER FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TOWED TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE OTHER 2 OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED; HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168586 · 2006-09-18 (September 18, 2006)
VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE MISS FIRE THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD. MISS. RETURNED SHORTLY AFTER REPAIRS. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO MISS. VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH WATER DURING A RAINSTORM. ALL INTERIOR HAD TO BE REMOVED AND DRIED OUT. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED THAT REQUIRED FOUR BATTERIES OVER 12 MONTHS. DEALER STATED IT WAS MY PROBLEM, BECAUSE I HAD A SMALL INVERTER FOR COMPUTER. SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE HUMMER DEALER AT A LOSS OF $15,000. HUMMER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE AFTER FIRST STATING THEY WOULD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149920 · 2006-02-09 (February 9, 2006)
IN A TEST DRIVE I FIND THAT THE HUMMER H3 HAS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TOO CLOSE, THE SHOES LIPS GET STUCK IN THE BACK OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THIS MAY CAUSE FUTURE ACCIDENTS. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY REPLAY THAT THERE IS NO PLAN TO FIX THIS DEFECT. I HAD A WORK BOOT ON AT THE TIME OF THE TEST. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160317 · 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, NO WARNINGS, NO LIGHTS ON DASH. CAR UNDER WARRANTY, ONLY 9000 MILES. CAR DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, DID NO REPAIRS. ADVISED US TO WAIT UNTIL THE PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF. WAS ABLE TO KEEP CAR UNDER CONTROL AND MANAGED TO GET IT STOPPED. HOWEVER, THIS HAPPENED IN A RURAL AREA WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING UNTIL THE PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF!*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321571 · 2010-03-23 (March 23, 2010)
1. DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND IDLEING I STARTED SEEING / HEARING THE ENGINE MISFIRE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) I WOULD EXPERIENCE ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER OR SURGING OR IDLE ROUGHNESS. AFTER RESEARCH AND DEALER DIAGNOSIS WE FOUND THE EARLY HUMMER H3 HAS THE SAME ATLAS L52 I-5 ENGINE AS THE 04-05 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE 04-05 CHEVEROLET COLORADO ATLAS L52 I-5 ENGINE WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR SOFT ENGINE INTAKE VALVE SEATS, EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES UNDER TSB 07123 NHTSA # 10022722. TO FIX …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357171 · 2010-09-23 (September 23, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED UNTIL IT STALLED. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AFTER HE DISENGAGED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN THE WHEEL SENSOR. THE WHEEL SENSOR WAS REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169754 · 2006-10-02 (October 2, 2006)
THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED THIS NEW H-3 MY STEERING WENT OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CLEARLY TILTED. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL VERY CROOKED TO GO DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN 4 TIMES REGARDING THIS SINCE THEY ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BUT THEN A CLUNK IS HEARD AND IT GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN. THEY REPLACED SOME SORT OF PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW A FACTORY REP. HAS DECIDED IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PO…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171623 · 2006-10-23 (October 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING LOCKED WHEN EITHER GOING THROUGH HARD LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. THE WHEELS DID NOT COME BACK TO CENTER, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE STEERING ISSUE WAS A BASIC FEATURE FOR THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161819 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
NUISANCE - KEY STUCK INTERMITTENTLY IN IGNITION UPON TURNING OFF. SAFETY PROBLEM - KEY CAN ALWAYS BE REMOVED WITH TRANSMISSION IN ANY GEAR POSITION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183117 · 2007-02-21 (February 21, 2007)
I HAVE TWO 2006 H3 HUMMERS BOTH WITH THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION IN FIRST GEAR, DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH FOR THE SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR THE ENGINE RPMS REVS TO ABOUT 4000 AND STAYS THERE. SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR & RELEASING THE CLUTCH THE RPMS DROP BACK DOWN. ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 3000-3500 RPMS, DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, AGAIN THE RPMS CLIMB TO AROUND 4000 AND STAYS THERE. THE SAME THING OCCURS DURING UP SHIFTS ... THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 7 TIMES ON ONE H3 AND 5 TIMES ON THE OTHER H3. THE HUMMER…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945230 · 2017-01-14 (January 14, 2017)
I PURCHASED A 2006 HUMMER H3 WITH ONLY 100K, AFTER PERFORMING A COMPLETE SERVICE I WAS MADE AWARE THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE "DEFECTIVE" THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 5 MONTHE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.. A CODE SCANNER INDICTACTED A #2 CYLINDER MISFIRE REPLACED SPARK PLUG, COIL PACACK AND INJECTOR NO LUCK I WAS INFORMED CYLINDER HEAD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT WHAT COST DOES THE NHTSA REALIZE THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, YES GM REPLACED CYLINDER HEADS UNDER WARRANTY BUT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE HEDS AS TO PASS ON THE COST TO TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,231 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208832 · 2019-05-20 (May 20, 2019)
I BOUGHT THIS H3 HUMMER USED AND IT RAN GOOD UNTIL LAST YEAR. IT WOULD NOT START AT DIFFERENT TIMES BUT AFTER YOU WAITED 10 MINUTES, IT WOULD START. WE JUST PAID 1300.00 TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED LAST WEEK. NOW IT WON'T START AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208832 at NHTSA ↗