2006 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 21.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10289931 · 2009-10-27 (October 27, 2009)
2006 CHEVY SUBURBAN REAR HATCH DOES NOT UNLOCK, LOCK HAS FAILED, AND HAS NO MANUAL ABILITY TO UNLOCK , WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289931 at NHTSA ↗
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 10392804 · 2011-03-24 (March 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LIFTGATE AND REAR GLASS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10417179 · 2011-08-05 (August 5, 2011)
HAVE A 2006 Z-71 SUBURBAN , AND THE REAR LIFT GATE AND GLASS WILL NOT OPEN , CAN'T HEAR IT LOCK OR UNLOCK , NO INSIDE HANDLE OR WAY TO UNLOCK MANUALLY, NOT SAFE .....*TT
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10417179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421221 · 2011-08-23 (August 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITHOUT FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE LOCKING MECHANISM AND REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER TO VERIFIED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE WENT TO USE THE REMOTE KEY TO UNLOCK THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, IT WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425999 · 2011-09-19 (September 19, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE KEY WOULD ALSO NOT ALLOW THE LIFTGATE TO BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425999 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 10455582 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)
THE LIFT GATE ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING. WE ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE BY USING THE FOB OR UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER DOOR. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE OR KEY HOLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LIFTGATE. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOAD OUR CARGO IS FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS AND THEN REMOVE THE PANEL AND RELEASE THE DOOR LATCHES TO OPEN. WE WERE ABLE TO "FIX" IT FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT THIS RESULTED IN A JOY BUZZER SOUND COMING FROM THE LIFTGATE ACTUATOR EVERYTIME THE DOOR LOCKED. WE WERE HOPING TO TRY LOCKING THE DOOR LESS TO TRY NOT TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455582 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V552000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2005-12-07 (December 7, 2005)
CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.
Consequence: A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
NHTSA campaign record ↗