RoadVitals

2006 GMC Sierra

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
53
Latest Dec 26, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest May 11, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6

Overview

Our database contains 53 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 GMC Sierra, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and suspension categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 220 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes2742.9%
  • Electrical711.1%
  • Suspension69.5%
  • Steering46.3%
  • Airbags34.8%
  • Visibility34.8%
  • Interior & seats23.2%
  • Tires & wheels23.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

May 11, 2009
42,540 units potentially affected
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Aug 28, 2007
175 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
The risk: IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
The remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
CEQUENT ELECTRICAL PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov

WHEELS:RIM

Aug 11, 2006
3,227 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INCOMPLETE TIRE RIM DESIGNATION ON THE CERTIFICATION/TIRE LABEL LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR EDGE. IN ADDITION, THE LABEL MAY ALSO BE MISSING THE TIRE LOAD RATING ON THE LABEL. ALTHOUGH THIS INFORMATION IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD, IF A TIRE OF A LESSER LOAD RATING IS INSTALLED, THE TIRE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE LOADS ENCOUNTERED DURING USE.
The risk: IF A CUSTOMER REPLACES A WHEEL AND ONLY RELIES ON THE RIM SIZE DESIGNATION THAT IS INDICATED ON THE LABEL, A WHEEL THAT IS OF A DIFFERENT RIM CONTOUR DESIGNATION MAY BE INSTALLED. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO MOUNT THE TIRE ON A WHEEL WITH THE WRONG CONTOUR. IF THE TIRE IS MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL WITH THE WRONG CONTOUR, THE WHEEL AND TIRE MAY NOT PERFORM AS INTENDED, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: A LABEL THAT WILL CORRECT THE LABEL ORIGINALLY INSTALLED WILL BE MAILED TO CONSUMERS ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL. THE RECALL BEGAON ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2239, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 06079View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Dec 26, 2015

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION. CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL FLUID. HAD THIS HAPPENED 5 MINUTES EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC. AT 70 YEARS OLD I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW CATASTROPHIC AN ACCIDENT MY REFLEXES WOULD HAVE GENERATED. THE FLUID SPRAYED ON THE HOT ENGINE CREATING A CLOUD OF SMOKE. I WAS AFRAID THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FLUID COOKED OFF THE ENGINE AS SMOKE AND AGAIN LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE. NOW AFTER EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, I AM VERY NERVOUS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH CORROSION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET INDICATE THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR QUITE AWHILE. I HAVE ATTACHED THE INVOICE OF THE REPAIRS REQUIRED. I WAS IN THE DRIVE THROUGH OF A MCDONALDS AND HAD PLACED MY ORDER AND WAS PULLING TO THE WINDOW TO PAY WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY MOVING SLOWLY AT THAT TIME, THUS ABLE TO AVOID INJURING ANYONE OR DAMAGING ANY OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
10816251
Incident
Dec 16, 2015
Mileage
81,750 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 20, 2015

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. BEFORE THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE LIGHT DID COME EVENTUALLY AT WHICH TIME WE CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS EXTREMELY LOW SO WE FILLED IT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY WE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING AND AFTER CHECKING REALIZED THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE WERE RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES AND ALL OF THE OTHER LINES ARE TERRIBLY RUSTED AND PROBABLY ON THE VERGE OF LEAKING ALSO. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT WE USUALLY PULL OUR CAMPER WITH. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT PULLING IT AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
10735349
Incident
Jul 18, 2015
Mileage
57,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 12, 2015

TURNED OFF ENGINE, HVAC FAN STILL ON. WILL NOT TURN OFF. THIS IS THE DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. HAD TO REMOVE FUSE SO THE BATTERY WILL NOT DISCHARGE. SERVICE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES, INCLUDING OURS.

NHTSA ID
10716011
Incident
May 11, 2015
Mileage
135,000 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Feb 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 7/23/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR DID NOT WORK. THE RED LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS RELATED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DEALER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. UPDATED 07/28/15*JB

NHTSA ID
10684162
Incident
Aug 6, 2013
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 12, 2015

DROVE FROM BALTIMORE, MD TO CLEVELAND, OH. PARKED, THE NEXT DAY ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE LINE ON DRIVERS SIDE TOWARD THE REAR HAD RUSTED OUT, HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED AND BRAKE LINE REPLACED. IN DEC. 2014, ONE YEAR LATER, TRUCK WAS PARKED FOR 4 DAYS IN DRIVE, WENT TO DRIVE BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR AGAIN, HAD TO HAVE TOWED, 4 LINES REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682951
Incident
Dec 13, 2013
Mileage
110,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2015

WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. HAD TO STEP ON SEVERAL TIMES TO GET STOPPED. THE FACTORY ELECTRICAL WIRE IN FACTORY LOOM IN FACTORY CLAMP HOOKED TO BRAKE LINE WORE A HOLE THROUGH BRAKE LINE TO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. WORE THROUGH DIRECTLY UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT GOING AT HIGH SPEED OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COME FROM FACTORY AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678466
Incident
Jan 23, 2015
Mileage
39,889 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 22, 2014

IN LATE OCTOBER, 2013, I PURCHASED MY 2006 GMC SIERRA C1500 STANDARD CAB, 2WD PICKUP FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. ON OR ABOUT, DECEMBER 01, 2013, I NOTICED THAT THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY. THE "AIRBAG" ILLUMINATED SYMBOL IN THE DASH INSTRUMENTATION AREA WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THIS WOULD RANDOMLY COME ON AND GO OFF DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL GMC/CHEVROLET DEALER FOR SERVICE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED ME TO FIX THE ISSUE AND IT DID NOT APPEAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THEIR REPAIR. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, AS THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR PREVIOUS ISSUES ON OTHER VEHICLES THAT I HAVE HAD SERVICED THERE. THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY SINCE ABOUT FEBRUARY, 2014, AS WELL AS THE ILLUMINATED ICON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH THEIR ABILITY TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND MAY HAVE TO SEEK THIRD PARTY REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE. GENERAL MOTORS SEEMS TO HAVE NO WEB SITE TO ASSIST OWNERS AND I MUST NOW GLEAN KNOWLEDGE FROM THE INTERNET IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. I CAN FIND NO RECALL INFORMATION FOR MY MAKE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ONE DOES NOT EXIST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667824
Incident
Dec 1, 2013
Mileage
114,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10663956
Incident
Jul 16, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

06-03-09-004H

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.

PIT3227M

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.

PIT3665E

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.

PIC5953A

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone. Technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any Emojis loaded to any contact.

03-08-46-004R

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

This informational bulletin provides information on Part Restriction and Ordering Process Information for OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Modules (VCIM) (GMNA Only)

06-06-01-010C

ENGINE

This informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Sierra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017610037.8
2016620
2015536050.3
201410112053.9
2013393051.4
2012292051.1
2011432042.2
2010341045.6
2009371041.7
2008682250.8
2007592050.2
2006Viewing536052.7
200511711048.1
200418810051.8
20032069558.4
20022497865.4
20012647966.2
200044312965.4
199960091065.3
19981900246.8
19972380034.6
19962462358.9
19952616360.6
19941903048.9
1993723051.6
1992304052.6
1991122039.9
1990182051.4
1989162154.7
1988621
1987100
1983200
1982100
1979001
1977200
1976200

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.