GMC Sierra 3500 · model year

2006 GMC Sierra 3500

14 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
14
Recalls
0

The verdict

The 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 posts top-quartile complaint standing among its own model-year siblings.

Top 20%
fewest complaints, own model years
0
recall campaigns

The 2006GMCSierra 3500 carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2006 Sierra 3500 is steering with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines (2) and service brakes (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2006 Sierra 3500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

14
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2006 GMC Sierra 3500

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES2
SERVICE BRAKES2
AIR BAGS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20260130AIR BAGS

The front impact sensor, also known as a crash sensor (part # 10370150), is no longer functional. It detects rapid vehicle deceleration during a frontal collision and sends an immediate signal to the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) to deploy airbags. Located behind the front bumper or on the radiator support, these sensors measure impact severity to ensure airbags deploy only when necessary. This part is no longer available from GM or any other aftermarket distributor. It is a critical part for any occupants in a crash. I am just one of many people who cannot make safety corrections.

20170511SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND ALL OF THE HOSES AFFECTED BY THE BRAKE FLUID WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,108.

Mileage: 161,108

20170511STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND ALL OF THE HOSES AFFECTED BY THE BRAKE FLUID WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,108.

Mileage: 161,108

20151007CrashAIR BAGS

INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE DRIVEN INTO REAR OF PICK-UP AND U-HAUL TRAILER ON HIGHWAY 50 CANYON CITY,CO ,LEFT FRONT SIDE OF GMC 3500 DESTROYED ALONG WITH HOOD AREA AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF GMC3500. GMC TOTALED DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN NECK. PHOTOS OBTAINED BUT NOT ABLE TO UPLOAD.

Mileage: 69,000

20140918SERVICE BRAKES

I WENT OUT TO MY TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND MY DASH BOARD INDICATOR TOLD ME TO GET MY BRAKES CHECKED; EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MYMECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT MY BRAKE LINE IS CORRODED AND BROKEN. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS A RECURRING AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE GMC SIERRAS. I HAVE MY TRUCK SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THIS HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED TO ME. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM! SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT. CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED 2 DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS PULLING OUR 40 FOOT RV. SHOULDN'T GM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? MY TRUCK IS NOW IN THE SHOP GETTING THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

20121026STEERING

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTO PLACE. I HAD TO JERK IT HARD IN ORDER TO GET IT TO RELEASED FROM THE LOCKED POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. CAN EASILY CAUSE A CRASH. NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

20110613TIRES

NO EVENT JUST EVERY DAY DRIVING AND A TIRE A YEAR LEAKS FROM INNER LINING TO FORM A BUBBLE ON OUTSIDE OF TIRE WHICH BLOWS OUT. A TIRE A YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 45,949

20100815POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES LEAKING. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

20100815POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES LEAKING. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

20100321STEERING

ON MARCH 8,2010 I TOOK MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO TO AN OFFICIAL EMISSIONS INSPECTION STATION; THE VEHICLE FAILED. AT THIS TIME I WAS GIVEN A SET OF RECALL PAPERS 09014 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT ENGINE CONTROL MODULE- EMISSION RELATED REPROGRAMMING THAT EXPLAINED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IN THE MEAN TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO GM . THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BY THE TIME THEY WERE DONE I HAD A BILL FOR $280 AND TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER $1000TO FIX THE CAR SO THAT COULD PASS (THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TO RECEIVE COMMUNICATION I SEE THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT) I WANT TO STATE THAT I SHOWED THE WORKERS AT GM THE PAPERS SHOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THEY THEN TOLD ME IF I WANT IT FIXED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.THIS OCCURRED AFTER I SIGNED A PAPER ALLOWING THEM TO "LOOK" AT THE CAR . I NEED SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY TO HELP ME FIND OUT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY GM AND WHETHER OR NOT THE A

Mileage: 86,578

20091222POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44000.

Mileage: 44,000

20080228POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION COOLING PIPES HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWO TIMES IN LAST THAN 20 MONTHS BECAUSE OF FLUID LEAKING. *TR

Mileage: 25,210

20080215FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING 10-75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART BY ITSELF AFTER DRIFTING FOR 50 YARDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THICK, BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST AND INSTALLED A NEW PROGRAMMER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,439.

Mileage: 300

20080215FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING 10-75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART BY ITSELF AFTER DRIFTING FOR 50 YARDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THICK, BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST AND INSTALLED A NEW PROGRAMMER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,439.

Mileage: 300

Compare 2006GMCSierra 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 have?
The 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 has 14 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?
The most-complained component for the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 is STEERING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 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.

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.