RoadVitals

2006 GMC Sierra 2500 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Apr 3, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 66 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Apr 3, 2010

2006 GMC DIESEL WITH ALLISON TRANSMISSION...LINES TO TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD...FROM WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE TRANSMISSION LINES INSTALLED ON THIS TRUCK

NHTSA ID
10323574
Incident
Mar 28, 2010
Mileage
49,341 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 2, 2009

I HAVE A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500 WITH THE LBZ DURAMAX AND ALLISON TRANSMISSION. TWO OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINES BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT THE CRIMP ENDS IN MARCH OF 2009. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 32,000 MILES, BUT WAS 3 MONTHS BEYOND THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY WAS DENIED. AN ON-LINE SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THAT THE DEALER INSTALLED OEM REPLACEMENT LINES ARE NO BETTER (DEVELOPING LEAKS SOON AFTER REPLACEMENT), YET NO TSB OR CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN ISSUED BY GM. LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID IS A FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. THE LEAKS ARE GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290710
Incident
Mar 4, 2009
Mileage
32,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Apr 24, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE FLY WHEEL, WHICH RUNS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND HELPS CHANGE GEARS HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH DURING THE FIRST FAILURE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND IT BECAME LOUDER OVER TIME. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE NOISE WAS MUCH LOUDER; HOWEVER, A DIFFERENT DEALER 2 HOURS AWAY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FLY WHEEL FAILED. AFTER BEING REPAIRED 24,000 MILES AND A YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FLY WHEEL WAS REPLACED AGAIN AND LASTED 5 MONTHS BEFORE IT FAILED. THE POWER STEERING SHAFT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING WORN OUT AND FAILED AGAIN NINE MONTHS LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF THE POWER STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING DUE TO LEAKING GEAR ASSEMBLY, THE HVAC BLOWER WAS INOPERATIVE, THE FLYWHEEL WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STRIPPED AND BROKEN EXHAUST STUDS. UPDATED 06/18/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10266628
Incident
Nov 30, 2007
Mileage
22,800 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 2009

I AM THE SHOP FOREMAN FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN ALASKA. I DROPPED OFF A 2006 GMC 2500 PICKUP LAST WEEK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A LEAK LOOKED AT. I GOT A CALL BACK FROM THEM SAYING MY TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BLOWN. THEY SAID GMC IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION AT COLD TEMPS (CAMPAIGN # 07293) I HAD THIS TRUCK IN AT 25000 MILES TO BE RE-PROGRAMMED AND AGAIN AT 49000 MILES. NOW, AT 58,000 MILES THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS BLOWN AND AFTER ARGUING WITH GMC, THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE WORK, THEY WANT ME TO PAY HALF OF THE 3200. I DROVE UP IN OUT COMPANY'S BRAND NEW '08 GMC 3500, HAD THE DEALERS MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE SNIFFED THE TRANNY DIPSTICK, GRIMMANCED, AND SAID THAT IT TOO WAS BLOWN. AT 4120 MILES, ANOTHER BLOWN TORQUE CONVERTER. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID 17 TRUCKS SO FAR IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA HAVE SUFFERED SIMILAR FATES, DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURER ERROR. I AM LIVID, TO SAY THE LEAST! GMC NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, AND OWNERS NEED TO BE CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM! THERE IS A SAFETY ANGLE AS WELL, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC--AT A STOP LIGHT, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT, LOCKED UP, AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE LIGHT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10254992
Incident
Jan 11, 2009
Mileage
58,260 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 19, 2008

I OWN A 2006 GMC 2500HD DURAMAX/ALLISON CREW CAB. I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN FEB OF 2007 WITH 32K MILES. TRANSMISSION LINES WERE LEAKING AT THAT TIME. DEALER REPLACED THE LINES UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 100K MILES AND SAME "NEW" LINES ARE LEAKING ONCE AGAIN. THIS IS A FLAMMABLE FLUID AND CONSTITUTES A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246015
Incident
Sep 18, 2008
Mileage
101,380 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WITH THE WRONG HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THIS COULD CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE CLUTCH PEDAL, IT DOES NOT ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CLUTCH AND ALL THE HYDRAULIC PARTS WERE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. HE CALLED GMC AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE VEHICLES WERE MADE WITH THE INCORRECT FLUID. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10242810
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 22, 2008

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT AN ALUMINUM CRIMP THAT CONNECTS A RUBBER HOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER; AN INFERIOR DESIGN. AS SUCH, A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK IS A FIRE HAZARD. I AM AWARE OF TWO CAR FIRES THAT WERE CAUSED BY LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES. THE LAST ONE INVOLVED A FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON WHERE THE OWNER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY HIS LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP (A NATIONAL FRANCHISE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP) AND THEY CROSS-THREADED THE LOWER COOLER LINE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ON TO THE EXHAUST CROSS-OVER PIPE AND THE CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND ON THE SIDE OF ROAD IN THE INTERSTATE. THE OWNER'S INSURANCE COMPANY SUBROGATED AGAINST THE TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR THE DAMAGES. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT THEY CAME CLOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222028
Incident
Jan 15, 2008
Mileage
36,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 6, 2008

I HAVE A 2006 GMC 2500HD THAT HAS 31000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION COOL ER LINES ARE LEAKING AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE NEW PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, MEANWHILE THE TRUCK LEAKS TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE GROUND WHICH COULD BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD ALONE WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. MANY GMC 2500HD OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT YET A RECALL BUT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10217106
Incident
Jan 3, 2008
Mileage
30,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 5, 2008

WENT TO GMC DEALER BECAUSE TRUCK HAS A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT ALL THREE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE ARE LEAKING. ACCORDING TO INTERNET FORUM (HTTP://DIESELPLACE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=202078), THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT ON THE 2006 SILVERADO AND SIERRA TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINE AND ALLISON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE HAD 2 OR MORE INCIDENTS. REPLACEMENT LINES ARE NO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS. I AM AN ENGINEER AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN VEHICLE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE PAST, SOME WERE CAUSED BY LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES DRIPPING ON HOT EXHAUST PIPES AND MANIFOLDS. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD! THIS REQUIRES A NEW DESIGN FOR THESE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10216995
Incident
Jan 30, 2008
Mileage
27,650 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 5, 2008

I HAVE A 2006 GMC SIERRA THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION LINES REPLACED AND THAT KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF HOSE LEAKING EVERY YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10216985
Incident
Jan 18, 2008
Mileage
25,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .