YearToAvoid

2006 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#16 most-complained of 21 Sierra 3500 years

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

The 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 has 11 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #16 highest of 21 Sierra 3500 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is steering (3 complaints, 27% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury.

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 problems

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

  1. Steering3 (27%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain3 (27%)
  3. Airbags2 (18%)
  4. Brakes2 (18%)
  5. Engine1 (9%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (9%)
2006 GMC Sierra 3500 complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2008Mar 2010Jun 2011Sep 2014May 2017
12 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Jan 2026; peak Feb 2008 (2).

2006 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2006 compared with other Sierra 3500 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
2005Good35240—
2006Good25110—
2007Good40163—
2008Caution55253—

All GMC Sierra 3500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 ranks #16 of 21 among Sierra 3500 model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 11 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?
The most reported problem areas are steering (3 complaints), transmission & powertrain (3 complaints), and airbags (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 49,975 miles.
Does the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.

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.