Total Complaints
78 filings
GMC SIERRA 2500 · model year
78 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006GMCSIERRA 2500 carries 78 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 4 fires, 2 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 SIERRA 2500 is service brakes with 24 filings, followed by steering (7) and power train:automatic transmission (5). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 2006 SIERRA 2500. 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.
Total Complaints
78 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 24 |
| STEERING | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 4 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| TIRES:VALVE | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
MOBILITYWORKS IS RECALLING 133 MY 2005-2006 FORD E250, MY 2000, 2004-2006 E350, MY 2000, 2005 E450, MY 2005-2006 GMC 2500, GMC 3500, AND MY 2006 DODGE 2500 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STAN
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS. ON THE SUBJECT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE ABS SENSOR CORD DEPARTS FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A FIT ISSUE WITH THE B
STEERING
CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE CONDITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS
MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SEE THEIR IS A RECALL FOR THE PITMAN ARM THAT CAN CAUSE TOTAL LOSS IF STEERING AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME
Mileage: 250,000
BRAKES FAILED "COMPLETELY", WITH NO WARNING. NO "WARNING LIGHT" ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING ON A PUBLIC ROAD IN THE COUNTY. ALL OF A SUDDEN ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. HAD RECENTLY HAULED A CAR ON A TRAILER FROM EMPORIA, KANSAS. WAS PREPARING TO HAUL CALVES TO THE SALE BARN. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL DISASTER. UPON INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LINES ARE SO RUSTED, THAT PINCHING OFF THE LINE RESULTED IN A RUPTURE IN ANOTHER LOCATION. I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME BRAKING ACTION, SO I COULD DRIVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. I'LL HAVE TO HAUL IT. *TR
Mileage: 147,000
BRAKE LINES BUSTED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS HAULING A LOAD AND GOT EXTREMELY EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT IT BUSTED AS I WAS PULLING IN DRIVEWAY. I WAS PULLING A LOADED TRAILER WITH NO BRAKES. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2005 AND 2006 2500 TRUCKS. I CAN NAME 6 VEHICLES I KNOW OF IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S A VERY SERIOUS AND COMMON ISSUE THAT GM SHOULD BE RECALLING. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A STOPLIGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD. CHEAP MATERIALS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKE LINES. 2006 YEAR MODEL IS MINE.
Mileage: 150,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FULLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (2406 N SECTION ST, SULLIVAN, IN 47882, 812-268-4321), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0. *BF *TR
NOT ONLY DOES THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR HAVE THE OBJECTS ARE CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS STYLE MIRROR USED FOR CARS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE FOR TOWING ( ON A TRUCK WITH A TOW PACKAGE ) IT HAS RED LIGHTS THAT FLASH IN THE MIRROR. NOT ONLY DOES THE FLASHING RED LIGHTS MAKE IT HARD TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE MIRROR AT NIGHT, IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IT IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT, AS IT MAKES THE WATER DROPS ON THE WINDOW FLASH RED AS WELL . IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD ALSO BE A PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE WITH PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPSY (PSE) IS A FORM OF EPILEPSY IN WHICH SEIZURES ARE TRIGGERED BY VISUAL STIMULI THAT FORM PATTERNS IN TIME OR SPACE, SUCH AS FLASHING LIGHTS; BOLD, REGULAR PATTERNS; OR REGULAR MOVING PATTERNS.
Mileage: 110,000
IN THE CITY STOPPING FOR A STOPLIGHT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. ALL FLUID WAS LOST BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO RUST. NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER EXCEPT EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY STATE EVEN REQUIRES A SAFETY INSPECTION YEARLY. IF THE CONSUMER IS NOT GOING TO BE NOTIFIED OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AT LEAST LET THE SAFETY INSPECTORS KNOW.
Mileage: 60,000
SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON
Mileage: 114,512
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT KNEE, LEFT ANKLE, LEFT HIP, AND ABDOMEN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Mileage: 103,000
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO STOP ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD BRAKES HAD RUSTED OUT. COST OF REPAIRS WAS AROUND $2000.00
Mileage: 160,000
VEHICLE IN MOTION. BRAKE LINE FAILURE (BURST) WHILE DRIVING ON CROWDED CITY STREET - 30MPH. PEDAL SANK TO FLOOR. TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. USED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND GEAR IN PARK TO STOP. NEAR COLLISION WITH BICYCLIST.
Mileage: 38,500
BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES RUSTED OUT.
Mileage: 72,546
THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. AT TIMES, I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK AND PUT IN PARK BEFORE IT WOULD ENGAGE IN DRIVE. FINALLY IT LOST ALL BUT 1ST GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. GMC MADE ME PAY HALF THE $3200 REPAIR. I DO NOT LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE. A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK SHOULD NOT BE LOSING THE TRANSMISSION AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES!
Mileage: 45,000
BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. *TR
Mileage: 157,126
BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE DURING SAFETY INSPECTIONS. AFTER APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, BRAKE LINE BROKE, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. I HAD TO USE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS COMMENTED THAT THEY ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON SIMILAR MODEL YEARS. WITH NO FAILOVER SYSTEM TO STOP THE TRUCK, THIS SHOULD BE LISTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Mileage: 127,516
YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. TO START ENGINE YOU NEED TO 'WIGGLE' THE KEY OR TAKE IT OUT AND RE-INSERT ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. PLEASE NOTE; BECAUSE OF THE PAST "WE DON'T CARE" ATTITUDE OF GM ON OTHER COMPLAINTS- I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT THEM TO CONTACT ME- I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW OF THIS IN CASE OF OTHERS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A FLUID DRIPPING ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK. THEN THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND COASTED IN NEUTRAL TIL IT STOPPED ON A PARKING CURB. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED, AND THE FLUID WAS SPRAYING INTO A HOLE IN THE FIREWALL AND INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS THE THIRD BRAKE LINE THAT HAS RUPTURED IN SUCH A MANNER. NO WARNING AT ALL, AND THEN SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING. THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A TOW, AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. I'M JUST GLAD THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED AND NOT ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE FREEWAY. THE RUPTURES ARE OCCURRING WHERE THE LINES RUN FLAT ACROSS A SUPPORT. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN. *TR
Mileage: 112,263
I BROUGHT MY 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD IN FOR A BRAKE SERVICE AS NORMAL. TECHNICIAN INSTALLED BRAKES AND ROTORS AND TOOK TRUCK FOR A TEST RIDE. AS TECHNICIAN WAS BRINGING TRUCK BACK FROM THE TEST RIDE, BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND SPLIT! THIS WAS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE LOCATED UNDER A PLATE. TECHNICIAN SAID HE NEARLY CRASHED THE TRUCK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK! WITH ALL THE TRUCKS OUT THERE, GM'S TRUCKS SEEM TO HAVE THE HIGHEST BRAKE LINE FAILURE. I AM WRITING TO YOU TO INFORM YOU OF THE PROBLEM THAT COULD ENDANGER THE LIVES OF ANYONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE AROUND IT! MY HOPE IS THAT GM SEES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CORRECTS IT BEFORE ANY FATALITIES ARISE FROM BRAKE FAILURE! *TR
Mileage: 43,500
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUPTURED HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. NO PRIOR WARNING. TOTAL FAILURE, I THOUGHT DUAL MASTER CYLINDER WOULD PROVIDE SOME BRAKING. *TR
Mileage: 40,000
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM SHOPPING, LIGHTS ON THE DASH STARTED BLINKING. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE TRUCK NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I STOPPED THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. OPENED THE HOOD AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS EMPTY. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I TOOK THE TRUCK HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I HAVE THIS TRUCK SERVICED BY THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT NEW BOB HOOK CHEVROLET AND ALSO MONTGOMERY CHEVROLET, WHO HAD JUST SERVICED THIS TRUCK AND NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT LOW BRAKE FLUID OR RUSTING BRAKE LINES. THE TRUCK IS NOW IN A REPAIR SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS. THE TRUCK IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE AND STILL AT THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR
Mileage: 70,000
WAS READY TO LEAVE WORK,HAD FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL,IT FELT SPONGY STARTED TRUCK,PUMPED IT UP IT STILL FELT SPONGY AS I GOT TO END OF THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON I WENT TO HIT BRAKE FOR STOP SIGN/THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE LIGHT/CHECK IDIOT LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON DASH,OIL REMINDER AS SERVICE BRAKE FAILURE CAME ON UP AS THE MESSAGE. BARELY WAS I ABLE TO STOP HAD TO SHIFT TRUCK TO 3 LOW FOR ADDITIONAL ENGINE BRAKING AS I GOT UP TO THE INTERSECTION AND ALMOST BLEW THROUGH THE STOP SIGN,DROVE IT BOUT A MILE HOME,LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND SAW BRAKE FLUID SHOOTING OUT AND DRIPPING OFF EVERYTHING BY THE GAS TANK. HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE. *TR
Mileage: 58,682
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.