2006 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Complaints

We were driving down Auburn way and the power seat control module failed and keeps the heated seats running out of control. ( fire is likely and could burn your house down If you park in the garage.) I was lucky to be near a dealership I had to pull over quick it was burning my butt and back The problem is complicated by the fact that the seat safety airbag control wiring goes through the same plug, which should be a big no no. There are no replacement control modules available ( not being made). I had the chevy dealership disconnect the plug so the fire hazard is gone but now none of the air bags work now putting my family at further risk. Air bag wiring needs to be separate from all the other wires and plugs for safety. Now the next problem is the dealerships can't fix the problem because no parts are available.You are welcome to come check out my suburban.

NHTSA ID

11478146

Incident

Apr 30, 2022

the electronic brake control computer has malfunctioned. this renders the ABS and traction control systems inoperable. No replacement part or repair is available from the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11454497

Incident

Feb 28, 2022

We had the 2006 Suburban parked with the engine running while our family was just starting to get in. A couple of them noticed a slight smoke smell which we followed and we trailed it to the rear of the vehicle. While I was pulling off a left rear column trim piece to locate where the smoke was coming from, the far rear dome light fixture started dripping melted and burning plastic close by my head. I looked up and saw the rear dome light fixture on fire and flicked it down into the rear cargo area. One of the family was already fetching a fire extinguisher and as they arrived I used it to put out what fire was left in the headliner.

NHTSA ID

11429880

Incident

Aug 15, 2021

YESTERDAY WAS THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF TAKATA'S FAILURE TO REPAIR MY AIRBAG. THAT IS THREE YEARS THAT THEY HAVE WANTONLY PLACED MYSELF AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS IN DANGER. FORCE THESE SCOFFLAWS TO REPLACE THOSE IEDS THEY HAVE SET IN FRONT OF MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID

11210451

Incident

May 27, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A BROKEN REAR BRAKE LINE. BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AND AT THE NEXT STOP THEY WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. I HAD TO USE DOWN SHIFTING TO SLOW AND THEN A SNOW BANK TO COMPLETELY STOP. THERE WAS NO INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR AND WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET WITH NO TRAFFIC AT 3 AM ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH. AFTER LOOKING AT THE BRAKE LINES THEY ARE DRAMATICALLY RUSTED. THE SERVICE SHOP HAS EXPLAINED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ALL LINES NEEDS TO BE DONE (APPOINTMENT TO DO THIS IS 3/20/2019).

NHTSA ID

11187432

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, WOOD CHEVROLET AT (814) 344-8250, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10993754

Incident

May 6, 2015

Mileage

55,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. WHAT IS A TIMELY MANNER EXPECTED FOR A RESOLUTION FOR MY RECALL? I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON MY PASSENGER AIR BAG DATED MAY 2016 AND I NOW SEE THAT GM HAS BEEN GIVEN UNTIL AUGUST 2017 TO RESOLVE THE RECALL (15 MONTHS OF LITIGATION). IN THE MEAN TIME I CANNOT TRADE IN OR SELL THAT VEHICLE. GM SAYS WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 2017 FOR THE RESOLUTION. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAID I PROMISE IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND I SAID IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE TRADE BECAUSE DEALERS WONT TAKE IT WITH AN OUTSTANDING RECALL NOT REPAIRED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MINE AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AND WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THE GM REPRESENTATIVE HAS TELL ME IT IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE AND WE HAVE HAD ZERO ACCIDENTS FROM IT. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS A TIMELY MANNER FOR GM TO RESOLVE A RECALL SENT TO ME BY THEM.

NHTSA ID

10967852

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE INITIALLY ACCELERATED THEN HALTED. THE "TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10790233

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR. MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND TWO OF MY DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED (T/C (TRACTION CONTROL), AND BRAKE LIGHT, ALSO HAD THE READOUT "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM". LUCKILY, I WAS ROLLING TO A STOP IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY AND AVOIDED HITTING MY OTHER PARKED CARS. I INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING BETWEEN THE ABS UNIT AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE (MORE SPECIFICALLY NEAR THE FUEL TANK) FROM THE METAL BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS HALF FULL OF BRAKE FLUID AND COMPLETELY DRAINED WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY . I INSPECTED FROM WHAT I COULD SEE CONCERNING THE UNDERSIDE METAL BRAKE LINES; ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND BRITTLE AND WILL NEED REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693999

Incident

Mar 7, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS A 2006 SUBURBAN Z71 4-WHEEL DRIVE, 1/2-TON SUV. ON MANY TAHOES, SUBURBANS AND OTHER GENERAL MOTORS SUV-TYPE VEHICLES, THE LIFT GATE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION OR IN THE UNLOCKED (UNSECURED) POSITION ANY TIME THE BATTERY HAS NO VOLTAGE. IN THE CASE OF IT BEING LOCKED, THE LIFT GATE HAS NO MANUAL MEANS OF BEING OPENED - NO KEY INSERTION LOCATION WHATSOEVER. (THIS APPLIES ALSO TO THE LIFT-GATE GLASS.) THIS IS INDEED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED MANY YEARS AGO. THIS COULD OCCUR IN A CRASH AS WELL AS ANY TIME THE BATTERY IS OLD OR HAS OTHERWISE LOST ITS CHARGE. ELDERLY FOLKS SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CLIMB OVER THE REAR SEATS TO RETRIEVE THINGS STORED 'IN THE BACK,' BUT EVEN IF THEY COULD GET BACK THERE, THERE IS NO INSIDE MANUAL OPENER MECHANISM TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GLASS OR LIFT GATE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AN INFIRM PERSON MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE PLACED BABIES (OR PETS) IN THAT REAR COMPARTMENT AND IF IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE OPENED, AN EXTREME HAZARD COULD OCCUR. FURTHERMORE, REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LAMPS, PARKING LAMPS, AND SIGNAL LAMPS FOR THE REAR ARE ALL IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT-GATE. SIMPLY PUT, THERE SHOULD BE A MANUAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE LIFT GLASS AND THE LIFT GATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557419

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

LATCH/ LOCK JUST STOP WORKING, HAD TO CRAWL OVER SEAT AND TAP ON THE LATCH TO RELEASE TO OPEN. MAJORITY OF THE TIME I HAD NO SUCCESS IN OPENING LATCH TCH IS OPEN AND I DON'T HAVE A KEY TO UNLOCK OR TO LOCK. THE LATCH APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507010

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

WOULD DRIVE FINE AT TIMES. WHEN RESTARTED, ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER, VERY SLUGGISH, UNABLE TO PICK UP SPEED. ON DASH, MESSAGE WOULD READ 'SERVICE STABILITY'. TOOK TO OUR LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR, THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHY MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR, ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS TO THE PROBLEM. THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, HE STATED HE HAD FOUR OTHER GMC VEHICLES COME IN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE ON DASH. HE STATED IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. THAT'S MORE THAN WHAT THE DEALER SAID. MY MECHANIC STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE PART, BUT ITEM IS ON BACK ORDER FROM MANUFACTURER. DOES THIS INDICATE THAT MANY MANY MORE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM? HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES, WAY UNDER THE AMOUNT OF MILES FOR A VEHICLE 6 YEARS OLD. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10484049

Incident

Nov 2, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY SUBURBAN Z71 WITH JUST OVER 95,500 MILES. THE REAR HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE LOCKING MECHANISM APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NO OTHER EVENT OCURRED. THE LOCK SIMPLY QUIT WORKING. NEITHER THE DOOR NOR THE GLASS WILL UNLOCK. THERE IS NO MANUAL WAY TO UNLOCK OR OPEN THE REAR DOOR WHEN THE POWER LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. THERE IS NOT AN EMERGENCY RELEASE TO POP THE REAR DOOR OR GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. ALL OTHER DOORS ON THE VEHICLE ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL MANUALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY. NO FUSES HAVE FAILED. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL AND HAVE NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP OR A MECHANIC YET. IN 2006/2007 WE ALSO EXPERIENCED AN ODD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE AN OBVIOUS ELECTRICAL ODOR/BURNING SMELL AND VARIOUS LIGHTING FAILURES AFTER BEING IN HEAVY SNOW ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS LOGGED BUT NEVER OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458071

Incident

May 9, 2012

Mileage

95,500 mi

STABILITY SYSTEM INDICATOR/TRACTION ACTIVE/TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR COME ON WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURN SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLS WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND "TRACTION ACTIVE" WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DIC. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A "WHEEL HUB SENSOR". REPLACED LEFT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY, STILL HAVE SAME ISSUE. IN WORK ON REPLACING RIGHT HAND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF THIS CORRECTS ISSUE, BUT BY THE LOOK OF SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES IT WILL NOT. NEED A RECALL IF THIS IS HAPPENING, POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IF CAR STALLS WHEN TURNING THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456128

Incident

Feb 15, 2012

Mileage

73,000 mi

STABILITY SYSTEM WAS DISABLED WITH ENCODER ACTUATOR HAVING NO COMMUNICATION. NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE TWO/FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN MONTHS AND RANDOMLY "FRIED." *JS

NHTSA ID

10455584

Incident

Apr 16, 2012

Mileage

94,000 mi

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 WEAR OUT THE PART, BUT WE HAVE ONLY 2 OPTIONS WITH LOCKING THE DOORS (WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR OR REACHING 15 MPH) WHEN WE WOULD LIKE TO CHOOSE TO NOT HAVE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AT ALL. I'VE FOUND MANY PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE/FRUSTRATION AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455582

Incident

Mar 23, 2012

Mileage

93,000 mi

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 VEHICLES AND IT POSES A THREAT OF FATALITIES SUBSEQUENT TO SUCH A FAILURE. WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS IMPACTING AND THREATENING THE SAFETY OF EVERY GM TRUCK OWNER? *TR

NHTSA ID

10436855

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10425999

Incident

Sep 17, 2011

Mileage

96,000 mi

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 WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DOOR DOES NOT HAVE A KEY LOCK, SO HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR, WHEN THE ELECTRIC LOCK IS NOT WORKING. UPDATED 10/11/11

NHTSA ID

10421221

Incident

Jun 15, 2011

Mileage

89,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10417179

Incident

Jul 28, 2011

Mileage

122,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10392804

Incident

Mar 15, 2011

Mileage

67,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10308798

Incident

Jan 1, 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

NHTSA ID

10289931

Incident

Oct 24, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi