2006 GMC Sierra 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 35 and ranks 14th out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Sierra 2500 years. NHTSA lists 66 complaints, 1 recall, and brakes as the top problem area with 30 complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 35/100
- #14 of 21 Sierra 2500 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 66
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Brakes
Top 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes30 (45%)
- Transmission & Powertrain12 (18%)
- Steering10 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (14%)
- Engine5 (8%)
- Electrical System4 (6%)
- Airbags3 (5%)
- Fuel System2 (3%)
- Structure & Body2 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear or front tire valve stems leak air and cause blistering or flats, sometimes leading to loss of control.
- Engine coolant loss and rapid temperature gauge rise while driving at highway speed, with burning coolant smell.
- Electrical fires reported behind the dash near the HVAC fuse, producing smoke and flames inside the cabin.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a guardrail crash at highway speed, resulting in injury.
- Steering systems develop clunking or looseness, and tie rods have fractured, causing a front wheel to collapse.
- Brake pedal feels spongy with a humming hydroboost sound, especially while towing.
2006 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 08V519000Oct 6, 2008Other133 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobilityworks is recalling 133 my 2005-2006 ford e250, my 2000, 2004-2006 e350, my 2000, 2005 e450, my 2005-2006 gmc 2500, gmc 3500, and my 2006 dodge 2500 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift systems for motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.
Risk: A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.
Remedy: Mobilityworks is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or mobilityworks at 1-800-769-8267.
2006 compared with other Sierra 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2006 Sierra 2500 a complaint index of 35, the 14th-worst of 21 model years, and a Good verdict compared to other Sierra 2500 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500?
- Brakes account for 45 percent of complaints (30 of 66), followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 18 percent and steering problems at 15 percent.
- Does the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2006 Sierra 2500, covering vehicles equipped with Ricon wheelchair lifts that needed correction.
- What year GMC Sierra 2500 should I avoid?
- Among Sierra 2500 years in this dataset, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes of 75, 90, 80, 85, 100, and 95 respectively, all worse than the 2006 model's 35.
- At what mileage do 2006 Sierra 2500 brake problems occur?
- The median mileage at failure for brake complaints is 60,000 miles, higher than the steering and suspension issues, which show median mileages of 22,800 and 24,651.5 miles.