2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Routine

Owners filed 177 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
52,000 milesMedian miles at failure

165 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes43
600
Service Brakes, Hydraulic18
101
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Electrical System10
040
Tires8
000
Engine and Engine Cooling7
020
Air Bags7
505
Steering6
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines6
000
Power Train6
010

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Steering06E010000
Filed Feb 1, 20061,360 vehiclesFabtech Motorsports

Defect. CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE CONDITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Risk. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH WITH POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 909-597-7800.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Apr 28, 2024CO

265/75R16 9100 miles driven mostly on pavement with loads well within the vehicle capacity and never off road. Tires were rotated several months prior, about 100 miles ago and damage was not noted. Bubble appeared on sidewall which was noticed while parked; Tire shop dismounted the tire to inspect for possible causes and found nothing to explain damage (run flat, left deflated, road hazard damage). Secondary bubble slightly smaller on inside at same location. Smaller bubbles were felt inside tire and a longer, slight bubble follows the bead 1/3-1/2 of the diameter of the tire. Shop manager refused to remount tire due to risk to employees of catastrophic failure, indicating the tire poses significant safety risk if vehicle had been at highway speed and completed its deterioration. Mate to this tire on right rear shows same smaller bubble above the bead about 1/3 of tire diameter.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 1, 2022NC

On 31 Dec 21, I drove the vehicle to the car wash, after the wash was completed, I drove the vehicle approx. 1/2 mile down the road. I pulled in to a fast food lane to order a meal. While I was stopped that speaker ordering the Air bags deployed. I was not moving or struck my another vehicle. If had happen when I was driving on the hi-way it may have caused injury to myself or damage to other vehicles. The vehicle is currently available for inspection. I will be taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection on 3 Jan 22. There was no warning prior to the deployment of the airbags.

Power Train
Filed Dec 3, 2019198,000 milesMD

ANYTIME A TRAILER IS FIRST ATTACHED, THE TRUCK WILL RANDOMLY GO INTO REDUCED POWER MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AS THE TRUCK CAN TO THIS AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN TRAFFIC. IT WILL DO THIS A FEW TIMES UNTIL THE PCM "LEARNS" THERE IS A TRAILER ATTACHED. GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 06-06-04-042B TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BY REPROGRAMMING THE PCM. BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS, THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL. HOWEVER,I HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER FOR THE UPDATE AND WAS EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THEM FIXING A KNOWN SOFTWARE ISSUE. INSTEAD OF DOING THE UPDATE AT NO CHARGE, THEY MANAGED TO DAMAGE THE PCM WHILE PERFORMING THE UPDATE. THE PCM IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE AND THE DEALER IS WANTING TO CHARGE ME FOR A REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DAMAGED DURING A CALLED FOR SERVICE BULLETIN UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH A TRAILER HITCH SO THE PROBLEM DIDN'T ARISE UNTIL THE HITCH WAS INSTALLED AND A TRAILER WAS ATTACHED.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 20, 2019313,000 milesNE

GOING DOWN A SNOWY GRAVEL ROAD AND LOST CONTROL. HIT A DITCH/SNOW BANK HEAD ON AT APPROX. 30MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT DRIVER SUSTAINED HAND INJURY, A BROKEN JAW REQUIRING SURGERY, AND OTHER MINOR BODILY INJURIES. VEHICLE HAD 313,000 MILES

Engine
Filed Jan 8, 201940,000 milesFL

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 6.0 ENGINE, CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN I DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE WORK DONE TO THIS VEHICLE.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 12, 2018110,000 milesMI

THE REAR BRAKES FAILED WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. THE BRAKES WENT FROM GOOD TO MUSHY WITHOUT WARNING LIGHT. I ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO TEST IN DRIVE WAY. PUMPED THE BRAKES AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE REAR LINE FAILED. I HAD THE TRUCK INSPECTED AT A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2018 AND ALSO AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. THE SAID MY VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IF THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ME....ALL GM VEHICLES WITH THESE BRAKE LINES ARE AT RISK. I READ THEIR WAS A SAFETY BULLETIN 13-05-22-001. TODAY IS 4/12/2018...BECAUSE I TOW A BOAT TO FLORIDA I HAD THE TRUCK CHECKED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 12 WEEKS....IF THE DEALERS CAN'T DETECT FAULTY LINES....A RECALL IS NEEDED.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 20, 2018100,000 milesFL

UPON STARTING MY TRUCK, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY GOES TO 80 WITH NO ACCELERATION. AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NO NOISE OR OTHER LIGHTS COMING ON TO WARN OF OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW DAYS AGO. WHEN TRUCK IS IN MOTION THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE CONTINUES TO STAY ON 80. I KNOW THE 2006 CHEVY 2500 HEAVY DUTY 4X4 HAVE HAD RECALLS ON DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT NEED TO SEE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR OTHER CHEVY TRUCKS AS WELL. I HAVE READ SEVERAL RECALLS ABOUT THESE TRUCKS AND A LOT OF THEM WE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO BE CHECKED. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 21, 201799,456 milesWA

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE ON MY TRUCK RUSTED THROUGH. I LOST BRAKING WHEN LOADING MY 10 FT CAMPER IN THE DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND IN DANGER OF FAILURE AT ANY TIME. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK ARE BARE METAL AND PRONE TO RUST. NEW BRAKE LINES ARE PAINTED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. HAD TO BUY COMPLETE BRAKE LINE KIT TO GET RIGHT FRONT LINE FOR REPLACEMENT BY DEALERSHIP FOR $452.85 . THEY RECOMMEND THAT I REPLACE ALL OF THE LINES. I CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMPLAINT # 8-3176545196. I HAVE GOTTEN NO COOPERATION, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO COMPLETE OR PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER - IT GIVES NO WARNING UNTIL FAILURE OCCURS. I TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED TO PUT OUT AN ALERT TO OTHER DRIVERS AND THEY DECLINED STATING THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 99546 MILES ON IT AND IN ALL OF MY YEARS WORKING WITH AUTOMOBILES I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BREAK LINE RUST THROUGH.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 26, 2017399,000 milesOH

APPEARS GM'S FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR HAS CLAIMED MY 2ND TRUCK. FIRE STARTED WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT. FIRE OCCURS ON PASSENGER SIDE AROUND GLOVE BOX AND GROWS. THIS TRUCK GAVE NO INDICATION OF "MELTING WIRES" THERE WAS NO SMELL OR SMOKE WHEN PARKED. THIS PART OF A SPECIAL COVERAGE #10240

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 24, 2017VA

SUDDEN FAILURE OF BRAKES DURING LOW SPEED STOP, BRAKE LINE FAILED NEAR FRAME UNDERSIDE IN DRIVER SEAT AREA. WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY STOP VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE JUST SHORT OF GOING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS TRUCK IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED INCLUDING UNDERSIDE WASHES, NO BODY RUST ANYWHERE AND WAS UNDERCOAT PROTECTED FROM NEW. SHOCKED A LEVEL OF RUST ON WHAT ARE APPARENTLY HIGH CARBON STEEL LINES, THESE SHOULD BE STAINLESS STEEL.

Tires
Filed Mar 21, 2017114,900 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TIRES, DOT NUMBER: UTV6C8E4808, TIRE LINE: COOPER DISCOVERER ATR, TIRE SIZE: 265/75/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 63 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BED OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 114,900.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 201649,952 milesNY

WHEN NORMAL STOPPING ABS ACTIVATES AND KEEPS ACTIVATING UNTIL PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND BRAKES DO NO FUNCTION, THERE ARE NO WARNING LITES AND NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM.I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ANY ABS FAILURE WOULD REVERT SYSTEM TO REGULAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 15, 201697,000 milesOR

BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HVAC STARTED ALL BY ITS SELF AND RAN FULL BLAST. THE CONTROL PANEL HAD NO EFFECT ON THE SYSTEM . I COULD NOT CONTROL OR SHUT OFF THE BLOWER. EVEN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS PARKED, IN PARK AND SHUT DOWN AND THE KEYS REMOVED THE BLOWER CONTINUED TO RUN AT FULL BLAST. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. LATER AFTER HAVING TO DRIVE THE TRUCK TO WORK I FOLLOWED THE FUSE SCHEMATIC AND REMOVED THE GREEN I BELIEVE FUSE BREAKER FROM THE UNDER HOOD FUSE BOX. I HAVE LEFT THIS FUSE REMOVED SO THE BATTERY DOESN'T RUN DOWN.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 201659,500 milesTN

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK ON 3/30/16 ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID A WRECK. AT THE NEXT RED LIGHT I NOTICED MY BRAKES WERE SOFT. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY FLUID. IT WAS DOWN ABOUT AN INCH. I DECIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOME. THEN A SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I DID MAKE IT HOME. I CRAWLED UNDER THE TRUCK AND BRAKE FLUID WAS FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. I NOTICED TWO COMPROMISED METAL BRAKE LINES ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL THAT WERE RUSTED THROUGH. I TOUCHED THE LINES AND THEY WERE FALLING APART AND FLAKING OFF METAL AT THE TOUCH. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY QUOTED ME $1,100 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. MY TRUCK IS A 2006 I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IT HAS 59,500 MILES ON IT AND I PAID RIGHT AT $50,000 FOR MY TRUCK. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE CHEVROLET USED INFERIOR AND CHEAP PRODUCTS IN THEIR TRUCKS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED ALL OF THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND ONE CALIPER NOT 9 MONTHS AGO. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT MY METAL LINES WERE COMPROMISED UNTIL I HAD A FAILURE. I HAVE LOST ALOT OF FAITH IN GM DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I AM STILL WORKING WITH GM AND THE DEALER TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED, BUT IT IS NOT LOOKING GOOD. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES ARE COMPROMISED. I WAS TALKING TO MY UNCLE THE OTHER DAY AND A GENTLE

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 2016OH

BREAK LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND I AM AFRAID THEY WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. TRUCK ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 11, 2016141,000 milesLA

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON, HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS TRUCK.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 27, 2015138,000 milesOH

BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AS THE LINES LAY ON THE FRAME. LUCKILY, THE BREAK WAS AT HOME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, ANOTHER LINE BROKE AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVE.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 201520,000 milesMD

LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINE. HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO DID AN INSPECTION AND SAID ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AT THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE LINES. MY MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE BRAKE LINES. I TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR TRUCK AND BOTH HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED BRAKE LINE FAILURE FROM RUST. TRUCK HAS ONLY 20K MILES AND HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE SALT TWICE AS I HAD AN OLDER VEHICLE I USED WHEN IT SNOWED. GM NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY DEFECT.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 7, 2015215,000 milesOK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE THE TODDLER WAS PLACED IN THE DRIVER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE TURNED THE KEY TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TODDLER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 215,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 17, 2015110,000 milesNJ

ONE BRAKE LINE BURST FROM BEING RUSTED OUT AND THE REMAINING 4 FRONT BRAKE LINES ARE IN BAD SHAPE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE I WAS PULLING MY BOAT TRAILER AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15MPH.AND WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK.

20 of 177 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20266200Routine
202528100Routine
2024139410Routine
202347120Routine
202294320Routine
202184610Routine
20201051030Routine
201974760Routine
201852520Routine
201754550Routine
2016123520Routine
2015176660Routine
201440220Routine
201351310Routine
201253300Routine
2011104420Routine
201021510Routine
200961530Routine
2008191440Routine
2007204390Above average
2006 — this page177180Routine
20052691150Above average
20043682102Fatalities reported
2003449280Above average
2002351361Fatalities reported
2001300130Above average
2000132340Routine
199981221Fatalities reported
199873230Routine
199764213Fatalities reported
19962000Routine
19953000Routine
19943000Routine

Compare every Silverado 2500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 1, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.