YearToAvoid

2006 Chevrolet Suburban Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#21 most-complained of 21 Suburban years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Chevrolet Suburban has 56 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #21 highest of 21 Suburban model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is structure & body (20 complaints, 36% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash, 3 fires, and 1 injury.

Complaints
56
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 3
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
13 city / 17 hwy

Top 2006 Chevy Suburban problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body20 (36%)
  2. Brakes13 (23%)
  3. Electrical System11 (20%)
  4. Airbags4 (7%)
  5. Steering4 (7%)
  6. Engine3 (5%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
  9. Other2 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (4%)
2006 Chevrolet Suburban complaints: complaints filed per month5Nov 2005Aug 2009Mar 2011Apr 2012Nov 2013Mar 2015Mar 2017Aug 2021
66 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2005 to Aug 2022; peak Apr 2012 (5).

2006 Chevrolet Suburban recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 06V289000Aug 3, 2006Engine38,439 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 (rpo l8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.

    Risk: If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak may result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463.

  2. NHTSA 05V552000Dec 7, 2005Other32,068 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.

    Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on march 31, 2006. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, hummer at 1-800-732-5493, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.

2006 Chevrolet Suburban fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
17 MPG
Combined
14 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Suburban years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good45229614.5
2006Best056214
2007Avoid95482416
2008Avoid80321416

All Chevrolet Suburban years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban ranks #21 of 21 among Suburban model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 56 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (20 complaints), brakes (13 complaints), and electrical system (11 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,095 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban, most recently reported 2006, covering engine and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban?
EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban at 14 MPG combined (13 city / 17 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,650. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.