CHEVROLET C4500 · model year

2006 CHEVROLET C4500

7 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006CHEVROLETC4500 carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 C4500 is engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and service brakes, hydraulic (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2006 C4500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

7 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SEATS1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recalls (3)

08V34400028/07/2008

TRAILER HITCHES

KNAPHEIDE IS RECALLING 108 MY 2006-2008 PRO SERIES TRUCK BEDS EQUIPPED WITH AN ICC BUMPER WHICH INCLUDED A PROVISION FOR A BALL HITCH. THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT WELD ATTACHING THE HITCH CHANNEL TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.

07E08600016/10/2007

SUSPENSION

CERTAIN LINK ULTRARIDE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, MODEL 8M000070, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT ON GM CHASSIS MODELS 4500 AND 5500, AMBULANCES AND SHUTTLE BUSES. THE AXLE SIDE LATERAL CONTROL BRACKET OF THE SUSPENSION HAS CRACKED IN SOME CASES.

08E00400007/01/2008

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

CERTAIN INTERMOTIVE WHEELCHAIR LIFT INTERLOCK, P/NO. ILIS605-H3 ILIS ACTIVATION KIT (INTERLOCK OPTION FOR GATEWAY 401) SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET FOR 2005 - 2008 CHEVY 560 (C4500 AND C5500 KODIAK) 6.6L DIESEL VEHICLES WHICH A PROTECTION DIODE WAS USED. THE DIODE CAN BE EXPOSED TO VOLTAGE SPIKES GR

Recent Complaints

20130302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER AND SAW COOLANT DRIPPING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. OPENING THE HOOD HE SAW THE FAN SHROUD WAS BROKEN. AFTER BEING TOWED WE REALIZED THAT THE FAN HAD BROKEN AND PIECES HAD HIT THE SHROUD SHREDDING IT AND SENDING A PIECE INTO THE RADIATOR. *TR

Mileage: 15,904

20110804ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT, 5:45 CST, 92 DEGREES/HUMID, 15MPH, 150' INTO INTERSECTION LOUD NOISE. COOLING FAN DISINTEGRATED & TOOK OUT ALL HOSES, RADIATOR & BOTH RADIATOR SHROUDS. CURRENTLY AT DEALER, LOWER RADIATOR HOSE NO LONGER MADE. *TR

Mileage: 60,200

20100916ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

RECENTLY, THE FAN EXPLODED ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET C-4500 AND DESTROYED THE COWLING AROUND THE FAN AND TORE HOLES IN THE RADIATOR AND HOSES INTO THE INTERCOOLER. I WAS PULLING A HEAVY 5TH WHEEL RV. GLAD IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE FUEL FILTER A FEW DAYS BEFORE. UPDATED 09/23/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAN BLADE FAILED. THE OUTER RING CAME APART AND DESTROYED THE COWLING AROUND THE FAN AND MADE HOLES IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK OUT. UPDATED 09/24/10 *TR

Mileage: 62,000

20090610WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET C4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NUTS THAT HOLD THE BEARINGS AND WHEELS TOGETHER, INCLUDING A SPECIAL ONE FOR JUST THE WHEEL. ONE OF THE NUTS IS LOOSE AND MOVES BACK AND FORTH. THE FAILURE CHEWS AWAY AT THE TREAD OF THE SPINDLE THAT HOLDS THE AXLE. IF THE TREAD CONTINUES TO DISINTEGRATE, THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE HUB THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

Mileage: 31,000

20081216SEATS

TRUCK HAS OPTIONAL AIR SUSPENSION SEATS. SEAT RELIES ON COMPRESSOR AND TANK TO BE RAISED OTHERWISE SEAT WILL REMAIN IN LOWEST POSITION. THIS MAY LEAVE DRIVER IN TOO LOW A POSITION TO DRIVE COMFORTABLY AND SEE THE ROAD EFFECTIVELY. TRUCK HAS REPEATEDLY HAD COMPRESSOR, RELAY, PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURES. DEALER HAS REPLACED COMPRESSOR, RELAY, AND PRESSURE SWITCH IN ORDER TO FIX SYSTEM PROBLEMS WHERE COMPRESSOR WHICH RUNS ERRATICALLY, EXCESSIVELY OR NOT AT ALL. LATEST REPAIR INVOLVED REPLACEMENT WITH A SUPPOSEDLY HEAVIER DUTY RELAY. TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF 2 YEAR WARRANTY AND THE COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. THEY WARRANTY REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR 1 YEAR, WHICH IS JUST BEFORE PARTS FAIL THE NEXT TIME. ONCE WARRANTY IS OVER THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE RATHER THAN FIXING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL INSTEAD OF "BAND AIDING IT" TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THIS IS A KNOWN FLAW AND IS LISTED AS A "NOT

20060623ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AFTER DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO READ THE APPROPRIATE MILEAGE AND THE GAS GAUGE WENT UP AND DOWN. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED TO MAKE THE BRAKES FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS EVEN DOWN SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 211

20060623SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AFTER DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO READ THE APPROPRIATE MILEAGE AND THE GAS GAUGE WENT UP AND DOWN. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED TO MAKE THE BRAKES FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS EVEN DOWN SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 211

Compare 2006CHEVROLETC4500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 CHEVROLET C4500 have?
The 2006 CHEVROLET C4500 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 CHEVROLET C4500?
Yes, the 2006 CHEVROLET C4500 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is TRAILER HITCHES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 CHEVROLET C4500?
The most-complained component for the 2006 CHEVROLET C4500 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2006 CHEVROLET C4500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.