2006 Hummer H3 Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. The contact stated that the frame was rusted on the driver's side. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact looked underneath the vehicle and was able to see through the subframe. The contact also noticed cracks in sub frame. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined there was an issue with the temperature sensor. While receiving an oil change, it was determined that the subframe was rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11710957

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

The blower resistor and harness needs replaced it looks like it caught fire or default

NHTSA ID

11698835

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

On the electrical, I refer to my air conditioning and heater. When I have my air selection to coldest and I drop 1 click for it to be less cool, my heater turns on and at times it smells like something burning. I have to turn it off . On the engine, after I hit 90,000 miles, I have to fill up my engine oil every 2-3 weeks because my vehicle is burning it quick or something. It doesn't leak oil at all. The oil just seems like it's burning somewhere and I ha e to be waisting money to buy oil $30 to $60 a month. Please help. Thank you!

NHTSA ID

11633569

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Was heading home from work and the 2006 Hummer H3 shut off while traveling in the middle of traffic was able to cruise in Nuetral until I could stop to start car again started car and yet again I receive a cylinder misfire code which has been repaired on multiple attempts still no success. I am going to end up either crashing or an emergency vehichle will be trying to get by and I can't move because the motor shut down.

NHTSA ID

11611276

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

Engine has very bad rough idle after multiple attempts to repair will get a misfire code often that goes on and comes off engine has rough idle to the point where truck shuts off completely while waiting at traffic light. My safety is at risk as this could happen during driving causing a wreck or during a light change when the emergency vehicles need me to move over and my truck don't run. Vehicle was inspected by multiple mechanic and still has issues. Check engine light comes on at time of motor failure or when rough idle.

NHTSA ID

11610345

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

P0305 CEL CODE CAME ON AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AND DID A COMPRESSION TEST WHICH PRODUCED RESULTS OF CYLINDER 5 HAVING 70 PSI AND THE OTHER CYLINDERS WERE NORMAL. DETERMINE THAT THE VALVES SEATS ARE BAD AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THE HUMMER H3. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WAS PROJECTED TO BE $9,000 FOR ALL PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA ID

11395103

Incident

Jan 21, 2021

Mileage

105,498 mi

P0300 CODE. ENGINE MISFIRE. THE HUMMER FORUMS I'VE RESEARCHED SAY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE CARS, MANUFACTURED BEFORE MARCH 31, 2006. IT SEEMS THE ENGINE HEADS DO NOT HAVE PROPERLY HARDENED VALVE SEATS. AGAIN, I'M FINDING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND GM IS FULLY AWARE OF IT.

NHTSA ID

11182390

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 10 YEARS. ITS ALWAYS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY THE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE. I'VE GOTTEN 3 NOTICES IN THE MAIL FOR RECALLS AND GM HAS IGNORED MY REQUEST. AT THIS TIME I AM HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE MY HUMMER H3 IS ALWAYS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP AND DONT FEEL LIKE IVE GOTTEN THE VALUE I DESERVE ON MY PURCHASE. PLEASE GIVE ME CALL AT [XXX]. IMY NAME IS [XXX]. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO MORE HUMMER DEALERSHIPS AND NO ONE SPECIALIZES IN THE CARE OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE TAKEN COMPLETE CARE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF MY INVESTMENT AND HOPE TO GET SOME TYPE OF LEEWAY IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ID

11171291

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC OF NAPERVILLE (LOCATED AT 1507 OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL 60540, (630) 355-2700) WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS COMPLETED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS MALFUNCTIONING.*JB

NHTSA ID

11162488

Incident

Dec 12, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY TRUCK IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES

NHTSA ID

11149483

Incident

Sep 5, 2017

Mileage

1,112,386 mi

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES ON IT. AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES, I HAD TO HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE HEAD CONTAINED A KNOWN DEFECT. AT 80,000 MILES, THE CYLINDER HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, AS THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A SECOND DEFECTIVE HEAD WHEN THEY PERFORMED THE FIRST REPAIR. AT 127,000 MILES, THE CYLINDER HEAD HAS FAILED AGAIN, AS APPARENTLY THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE HEAD WHEN THEY PERFORMED THE SECOND REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11015997

Incident

Jul 20, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi

TRUCK WILL NOT START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. KEY TURNS, SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL START BUT DOES NOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OTHER HUMMER OWNERS TOO. I JUST HAD IT TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO THE MECHANICS SHOP. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME WITHIN ONE YEAR. UNABLE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE DURING AN EMERGENCY, CHILD RELATED.

NHTSA ID

10995755

Incident

Jun 16, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

1) 1.5 YEARS AGO WE STARTED GETTING "MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 5" CODE AND NOW IT IS MULTIPLE MISFIRES. 2) MY FANCY RIMS ARE PEELING

NHTSA ID

10995675

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, LOCKED UP, AND DID NOT RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED LATER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE FOLLOWING CODES WERE RUN FOR THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING: C0240, P0106, P0601. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10984984

Incident

May 11, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN I START VEHICLE SMOKE BLOWS OUT THE EXHAUST FOR 30-90 SECONDS THEN IT IS GONE. SITTING STILL AND ONLY DOES IT WHEN IT STARTS UP. GOOGLED THIS AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. HEAD GASKET LEAKING INTO VALVES. THIS IS A HEADACHE FOR TONS OF HUMMER OWNERS, SO WHY HAVEN'T THEY ISSUED A RECALL? STARTED LAST YEAR, POSSIBLY IN 2015 AND I'VE JUST KEPT AN EYE ON THE OIL AND KEEP REFILLING AS NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10978699

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AS IT APPROACHED A STOP. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CYLINDER HEAD AND SENSORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 07/12/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10971637

Incident

Mar 30, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. THE STABILITY TRACKING SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE, AND A THIRD INDICATOR ALL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES OVER THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V421000 (VISIBILITY). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10967261

Incident

Mar 17, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

THERE ARE MANY FORUMS ABOUT CYLINDER MISFIRES - ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT. I LOOKED IT UP AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. EVERY HUMMER OWNER I KNOW HAS PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET THEIR PROBLEMS FIXED. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL WHEN SO MANY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM?? THE IDLE IS ROUGH. THE ENGINE SPUTTERS. THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY.

NHTSA ID

10947409

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

95,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2006 HUMMER H3 WITH ONLY 100K, AFTER PERFORMING A COMPLETE SERVICE I WAS MADE AWARE THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE "DEFECTIVE" THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 5 MONTHE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.. A CODE SCANNER INDICTACTED A #2 CYLINDER MISFIRE REPLACED SPARK PLUG, COIL PACACK AND INJECTOR NO LUCK I WAS INFORMED CYLINDER HEAD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT WHAT COST DOES THE NHTSA REALIZE THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, YES GM REPLACED CYLINDER HEADS UNDER WARRANTY BUT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE HEDS AS TO PASS ON THE COST TO THE CONSUMER AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRE TO GET THEIR WARRANTY MONEY BACK., THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND YET NTHSA REFUSES TO INFORM GM OF THE "DEFECT" IT SEAMS ALL THE NTSHA CARES ABOUT IS ELECTRICAL CONCERNS ON VEHICLES, SO WHO MAKE THE DETERMINATION THE A POOR DESIGNED CYLINDER HEAD SHOULD BE THE CONSUMERS PROBLEM. THIS IS WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, IT TOOK A THREAT FROM THE NHTSA FOR GM TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE HVAC CONNECTOR TO GET RESOLVED., IF THE NHTSA CANNOT UNDERSTAND MECHANICAL DEFECTS SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL WHEN MORE THAN 500 COMPLAINTS ARE ACHIEVED. SO NOW I AM OUT OF POCKET $2800.00 THANKS TO A ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS NO CLUE ON MECHANICAL ISSUES. YOU SHOULD HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS MECHANICAL DEGREE TO HOLD CAR COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR MECHANICAL ISSUES SO WILL I RECEIVE A RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE AS WE ALL KNOW GM HAS INFORMED DEALERS TO GIVE CUSTOMERS EXCUSES AS TO WHY THEY ARE NOT LIABLE, MY CONCLUSIONS INDICATE THAT THE NHTSA ONLY ACTS ON AIR BAGS BRAKE SWITCHES AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOTHING MECHANICAL.....

NHTSA ID

10945230

Incident

Nov 10, 2016

Mileage

100,231 mi

I HAVE A 2006 HUMMER H3 AND I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH CUTTING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD . THERE ARE TIMES THAT MY CAR WILL NOT START DO TO THIS. I'VE HAD IT TESTED AND IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT I'M TAKING ABOUT. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING RECALLED!!!!! SOMEONE'S LIFE CAN BE TAKEN AWAY FOR SOMETHING THAT KEEPS HAPPENING TO THESE HUMMER H3!!!!!

NHTSA ID

10929751

Incident

Nov 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECOND CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING AND THE HEAD GASKET AND/OR CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10917745

Incident

Oct 29, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

APPROXIMATELY AT 150,000 MILES, WHILE MAKING A DELIVERY AT THE COUNTY DISPOSAL FACILITY, WHILE MOVING SLOWLY AND PARKING AT EACH STATION, THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OFF AND IDLING VERY POORLY, SLIGHTLY KNOCKING. I MADE IT HOME CHECKED THE OIL' WHICH READ LOW, SO I CHANGED THE OIL, OVER 5 QUARTS REMOVED, IT ONLY REQUIRES 6 QTS MAX, AND I REPLACED IT WITH 5 QUARTS OF FULL SYNTHETIC, WITH BG CLEANERS. INITIALLY IT STARTED, IDLED, AND RAN BETTER BUT AFTER 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE KNOCKS RESUMED. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, HE ASSESSED AND DIAGNOSED IT, CONCLUDING THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. I HAD IT THAT CONFIRMED WITH ANOTHER MECHANIC. WENT ON THE HUMMER FORUM BLOGS AND READ MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENGINE AND PISTONS WARPING OR DYING BETWEEN 75K-150K. MOST BLAMING GM FOR PUTTING IN DEFECTIVE PISTONS OR AND UNDERSIZED ENGINE 3.5L IN A HEAVY ALL 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE? NOT SURE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE, A USED OR REFURBISHED ENGINE IS $2500-$3500, WITH INSTALLATION ANOTHER$3000-$3500? I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S WORTH THE STEEP INVESTMENT?

NHTSA ID

10911210

Incident

Jun 7, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

2006 HUMMER H3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPAIRS TO VEHICLE RADIATOR OVERHEATING PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL NOTICE 15042. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, WERE REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10861806

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 HUMMER H3 FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS AND ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO IT BEGAN NOT WANTING TO START. NOT WANTING TO START NO MATTER WHAT I DO AND THEN STARTING LIKE NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG AFTER 10 MINUTES. I'M TIRED OF THIS HAPPENING! MY H3 JUST TURNED 50K MILES AND I LIVE IN FLORIDA WHERE THE WEATHER IS WARM... THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. AS A RETIRED FLORIDA POLICE OFFICER I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE... THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE AND START IT UP AND LEAVE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE AND NOT WHEN YOUR VEHICLE DECIDES TO... THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH HUMMER H3'S I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE... GO TO CARGURUS.COM AND READ SOME FOR YOURSELVES... HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT MY WIFE BEING STUCK SOMEWHERE ALONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING... I PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO HER... THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. REALLY HOPE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED... THANKS IN ADVANCE...

NHTSA ID

10840092

Incident

Mar 5, 2016

Mileage

49,000 mi

MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO START THE ENGINE, THE SECURITY SYSTEM ACTIVATES AND DISABLES THE ENGINE AND PREVENTS IT FROM STARTING FOR 10 MINUTES. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE OVERRIDE SO REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE (ON THE FREEWAY, ON A RR CROSSING, AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR WHEREVER, THE ENGINE WILL SPIN BUT WILL NOT CRANK. YOU ARE PUT IN THE SITUATION OF HAVING TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF DANGER OR LET IT SIT UNTIL THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS TO ATTEMPT TO START IT. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON MY 2005 CHEVY COLRADO PICKUP WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH AN IDENTICAL DRIVE TRAIN AS MY H3 HUMMER. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, MORE THAN 25.

NHTSA ID

10821918

Incident

Jan 23, 2016

Mileage

84,000 mi