YearToAvoid

2006 GMC Envoy XL Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

No verdict The 2006 GMC Envoy XL has 109 NHTSA complaints, led by fuel system issues (71 complaints, 65% share) and electrical problems (25 complaints, 23% share). It carries 5 recalls, including power steering hose and door module fire-risk fixes. This is the only model year with data, so no comparison is possible.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
—/100
Verdict
No verdict
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
109
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
4
Top issue
Fuel System
Best nearby year
—
no alternative with data
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13.5 city / 18.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2006 GMC Envoy XL problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System71 (65%)
  2. Electrical System25 (23%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers7 (6%)
  4. Brakes6 (6%)
  5. Engine5 (5%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (5%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (3%)
  8. Steering2 (2%)
  9. Airbags1 (1%)
  10. HVAC1 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Fuel tank sensor module fails, causing the fuel gauge to read incorrectly or fluctuate.
  • Fuel gauge drops toward empty shortly after a full fill-up, sometimes triggering the low fuel alarm and check engine light.
  • Driver door master switch burns out, disabling power windows and locks and producing a burning odor.
  • Windshield wipers activate on their own even when the switch is off.
  • Transmission produces a loud whining noise at startup that persists without repair.
  • Brake pedal causes jerking at various speeds, sometimes paired with a stabilitrack warning light.
2006 GMC Envoy XL complaints: complaints filed per quarter192005 Q42009 Q12010 Q22011 Q32012 Q42015 Q22017 Q4
109 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q4 to 2019 Q2; peak 2011 Q2 (19).

2006 GMC Envoy XL recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V599000Sep 24, 2015Visibility & Wipers9,932 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy vehicles, and 2006 GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT vehicles. Fluid may enter into the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board, causing window switches to become inoperative. Previously, the affected vehicles may have had their master power window switch module treated with a protective coating, instead of having it replaced.

    Risk: The protective coating may not eliminate the risk that the circuit board could short and result in a fire, even while the vehicle is unattended.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new driver's door switch module, free of charge. The recall began on November 2, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15700.

  2. NHTSA 15V519000Aug 14, 2015Electrical System429,170 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate.

    Risk: Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14291.

  3. NHTSA 14V404000Jul 2, 2014Visibility & Wipers184,611 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. The short may also cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, or a fire.

    Risk: A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the part number on the door module, and install a new door module if necessary, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. An interim letter was mailed to owners in August 2014. A second owner letter will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-955-9007 (SAAB), and 1-800-255-6727 (Isuzu). GM's number for this recall is 14309. NOTE: This recall provides a new remedy for all vehicles covered by recall 13V-248. Vehicles whose modules were modified but not replaced as part of the previous recall remedy must have their vehicles remedied again under this campaign.

See all 5 recalls for the 2006 GMC Envoy XL →

2006 GMC Envoy XL fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13.5 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
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 Envoy XL years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002006
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006No verdict—109515

All GMC Envoy XL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common problem with the 2006 GMC Envoy XL?
Fuel system complaints are most common, accounting for 71 of 109 complaints (65% share), mostly involving fuel gauge and sensor module failures around a median of 57,500 miles.
Does the 2006 GMC Envoy XL have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls, covering a power steering hose defect, a door module fire risk affecting power windows and locks, and related electrical fixes. None are do-not-drive recalls.
Are electrical problems common in the 2006 GMC Envoy XL?
Yes, electrical system complaints make up 25 of 109 complaints (23% share) and are linked to 2 crashes and 2 fires, with a median failure mileage of 90,000.
How does the 2006 GMC Envoy XL rank compared to other years?
There is only one model year of data available for the Envoy XL, so no ranking against other years is possible.

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.