2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has 177 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 65, ranking 8th worst of 21 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, with brakes as the top problem area at 40% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 65/100
- #8 of 21 Silverado 2500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 177
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 7
- Top issue
- Brakes
Top 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes71 (40%)
- Transmission & Powertrain32 (18%)
- Engine20 (11%)
- Steering18 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires18 (10%)
- Electrical System14 (8%)
- Structure & Body13 (7%)
- Airbags7 (4%)
- Other7 (4%)
- Fuel System6 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes can lock up in wet conditions, causing skidding and loss of control at low speeds like 25 mph.
- Owners report burning wire smells under the dashboard and wiring harness fires occurring underneath the vehicle, in some cases while parked.
- The engine compartment has caught fire, in one case hours after the truck was last driven, leading to a total loss.
- Diesel transmission cooler lines reportedly leak oil at the crimp joints, worsening in colder weather.
- Some owners describe the vehicle rolling forward unexpectedly while parked in gear with no keys in the ignition.
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2006 compared with other Silverado 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints, the 2006 model ranks 8th worst out of 21 model years for this truck, with a complaint index of 65 and a Caution verdict. Brakes are the top reported problem area.
- What is the most common problem with the 2006 Silverado 2500?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 40% of the 177 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 56,456 miles. Transmission and powertrain issues follow at 18% of complaints.
- Does the 2006 Silverado 2500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2006 Silverado 2500, unlike several later model years such as 2007 through 2020 which each have multiple recall campaigns.
- How does the 2006 Silverado 2500 compare to other years?
- The 2006 model's complaint index of 65 is lower than 2005 (95, Avoid) and 2007 (90, Avoid), but higher than later years like 2012 through 2014, which earned Best verdicts with complaint indexes of 10 or lower.