2006 GMC Sierra 2500

Routine

Owners filed 66 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
43,500 milesMedian miles at failure

59 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,00050,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes24
100
Tires4
000
Steering4
101
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
000
Air Bags3
111
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Electrical System2
010
Wheels1
100
Visibility/Wiper1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility08V519000
Filed Oct 6, 2008133 vehiclesMobility Works

Defect. 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.

Service Brakes, Air06E050000
Filed Jun 6, 20066,800 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Corporation

Defect. CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS. ON THE SUBJECT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE ABS SENSOR CORD DEPARTS FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A FIT ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR DUST SHIELD INTERFERING WITH THE ABS SENSOR CORD. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED DESPITE THIS INTERFERENCE, THE GAP BETWEEN THE ABS SENSOR AND THE TONE WHEEL MAY BE ALTERED. THIS MAY WEAKEN THE OUTPUT OF THE ABS SENSOR. DIMINISHED OUTPUT COULD RESULT IN AN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND STOPPING DISTANCE COULD BE AFFECTED.

Risk. IF STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND WILL EITHER CREDIT THE CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT OR REPLACE THE UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-563-8507 EXT 3530.

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
SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 28, 2020250,000 milesVA

MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SEE THEIR IS A RECALL FOR THE PITMAN ARM THAT CAN CAUSE TOTAL LOSS IF STEERING AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2020147,000 milesKS

BRAKES FAILED "COMPLETELY", WITH NO WARNING. NO "WARNING LIGHT" ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING ON A PUBLIC ROAD IN THE COUNTY. ALL OF A SUDDEN ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. HAD RECENTLY HAULED A CAR ON A TRAILER FROM EMPORIA, KANSAS. WAS PREPARING TO HAUL CALVES TO THE SALE BARN. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL DISASTER. UPON INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LINES ARE SO RUSTED, THAT PINCHING OFF THE LINE RESULTED IN A RUPTURE IN ANOTHER LOCATION. I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME BRAKING ACTION, SO I COULD DRIVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. I'LL HAVE TO HAUL IT. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 2020150,000 milesVA

BRAKE LINES BUSTED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS HAULING A LOAD AND GOT EXTREMELY EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT IT BUSTED AS I WAS PULLING IN DRIVEWAY. I WAS PULLING A LOADED TRAILER WITH NO BRAKES. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2005 AND 2006 2500 TRUCKS. I CAN NAME 6 VEHICLES I KNOW OF IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S A VERY SERIOUS AND COMMON ISSUE THAT GM SHOULD BE RECALLING. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A STOPLIGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD. CHEAP MATERIALS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKE LINES. 2006 YEAR MODEL IS MINE.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2019IN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FULLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (2406 N SECTION ST, SULLIVAN, IN 47882, 812-268-4321), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0. *BF *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Sep 24, 2018110,000 milesCA

NOT ONLY DOES THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR HAVE THE OBJECTS ARE CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS STYLE MIRROR USED FOR CARS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE FOR TOWING ( ON A TRUCK WITH A TOW PACKAGE ) IT HAS RED LIGHTS THAT FLASH IN THE MIRROR. NOT ONLY DOES THE FLASHING RED LIGHTS MAKE IT HARD TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE MIRROR AT NIGHT, IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IT IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT, AS IT MAKES THE WATER DROPS ON THE WINDOW FLASH RED AS WELL . IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD ALSO BE A PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE WITH PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPSY (PSE) IS A FORM OF EPILEPSY IN WHICH SEIZURES ARE TRIGGERED BY VISUAL STIMULI THAT FORM PATTERNS IN TIME OR SPACE, SUCH AS FLASHING LIGHTS; BOLD, REGULAR PATTERNS; OR REGULAR MOVING PATTERNS.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 201860,000 milesVA

IN THE CITY STOPPING FOR A STOPLIGHT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. ALL FLUID WAS LOST BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO RUST. NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER EXCEPT EMERGENCY BRAKE. MY STATE EVEN REQUIRES A SAFETY INSPECTION YEARLY. IF THE CONSUMER IS NOT GOING TO BE NOTIFIED OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AT LEAST LET THE SAFETY INSPECTORS KNOW.

Air Bags
Filed May 12, 2017114,512 milesCO

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 4, 2017103,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT KNEE, LEFT ANKLE, LEFT HIP, AND ABDOMEN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 2016160,000 milesNJ

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO STOP ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD BRAKES HAD RUSTED OUT. COST OF REPAIRS WAS AROUND $2000.00

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 18, 201538,500 milesNY

VEHICLE IN MOTION. BRAKE LINE FAILURE (BURST) WHILE DRIVING ON CROWDED CITY STREET - 30MPH. PEDAL SANK TO FLOOR. TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. USED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND GEAR IN PARK TO STOP. NEAR COLLISION WITH BICYCLIST.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Aug 16, 201572,546 milesNJ

BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES RUSTED OUT.

Power Train
Filed Jun 5, 201545,000 milesGA

THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. AT TIMES, I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK AND PUT IN PARK BEFORE IT WOULD ENGAGE IN DRIVE. FINALLY IT LOST ALL BUT 1ST GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. GMC MADE ME PAY HALF THE $3200 REPAIR. I DO NOT LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE. A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK SHOULD NOT BE LOSING THE TRANSMISSION AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES!

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 21, 2015157,126 milesNJ

BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2014127,516 milesMD

BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE DURING SAFETY INSPECTIONS. AFTER APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, BRAKE LINE BROKE, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. I HAD TO USE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS COMMENTED THAT THEY ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON SIMILAR MODEL YEARS. WITH NO FAILOVER SYSTEM TO STOP THE TRUCK, THIS SHOULD BE LISTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 13, 2014TN

YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. TO START ENGINE YOU NEED TO 'WIGGLE' THE KEY OR TAKE IT OUT AND RE-INSERT ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. PLEASE NOTE; BECAUSE OF THE PAST "WE DON'T CARE" ATTITUDE OF GM ON OTHER COMPLAINTS- I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT THEM TO CONTACT ME- I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW OF THIS IN CASE OF OTHERS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2014112,263 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A FLUID DRIPPING ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK. THEN THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND COASTED IN NEUTRAL TIL IT STOPPED ON A PARKING CURB. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED, AND THE FLUID WAS SPRAYING INTO A HOLE IN THE FIREWALL AND INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS THE THIRD BRAKE LINE THAT HAS RUPTURED IN SUCH A MANNER. NO WARNING AT ALL, AND THEN SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING. THE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A TOW, AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. I'M JUST GLAD THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED AND NOT ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE FREEWAY. THE RUPTURES ARE OCCURRING WHERE THE LINES RUN FLAT ACROSS A SUPPORT. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 8, 201443,500 milesNY

I BROUGHT MY 2006 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD IN FOR A BRAKE SERVICE AS NORMAL. TECHNICIAN INSTALLED BRAKES AND ROTORS AND TOOK TRUCK FOR A TEST RIDE. AS TECHNICIAN WAS BRINGING TRUCK BACK FROM THE TEST RIDE, BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND SPLIT! THIS WAS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE LOCATED UNDER A PLATE. TECHNICIAN SAID HE NEARLY CRASHED THE TRUCK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK! WITH ALL THE TRUCKS OUT THERE, GM'S TRUCKS SEEM TO HAVE THE HIGHEST BRAKE LINE FAILURE. I AM WRITING TO YOU TO INFORM YOU OF THE PROBLEM THAT COULD ENDANGER THE LIVES OF ANYONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE AROUND IT! MY HOPE IS THAT GM SEES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CORRECTS IT BEFORE ANY FATALITIES ARISE FROM BRAKE FAILURE! *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 201440,000 milesPA

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUPTURED HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. NO PRIOR WARNING. TOTAL FAILURE, I THOUGHT DUAL MASTER CYLINDER WOULD PROVIDE SOME BRAKING. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 201470,000 milesKY

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TRUCK WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM SHOPPING, LIGHTS ON THE DASH STARTED BLINKING. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE TRUCK NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I STOPPED THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. OPENED THE HOOD AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS EMPTY. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I TOOK THE TRUCK HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I HAVE THIS TRUCK SERVICED BY THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT NEW BOB HOOK CHEVROLET AND ALSO MONTGOMERY CHEVROLET, WHO HAD JUST SERVICED THIS TRUCK AND NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT LOW BRAKE FLUID OR RUSTING BRAKE LINES. THE TRUCK IS NOW IN A REPAIR SHOP WAITING FOR PARTS. THE TRUCK IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE AND STILL AT THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 17, 201458,682 milesNJ

WAS READY TO LEAVE WORK,HAD FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL,IT FELT SPONGY STARTED TRUCK,PUMPED IT UP IT STILL FELT SPONGY AS I GOT TO END OF THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON I WENT TO HIT BRAKE FOR STOP SIGN/THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE LIGHT/CHECK IDIOT LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON DASH,OIL REMINDER AS SERVICE BRAKE FAILURE CAME ON UP AS THE MESSAGE. BARELY WAS I ABLE TO STOP HAD TO SHIFT TRUCK TO 3 LOW FOR ADDITIONAL ENGINE BRAKING AS I GOT UP TO THE INTERSECTION AND ALMOST BLEW THROUGH THE STOP SIGN,DROVE IT BOUT A MILE HOME,LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND SAW BRAKE FLUID SHOOTING OUT AND DRIPPING OFF EVERYTHING BY THE GAS TANK. HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE. *TR

20 of 66 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202610110Routine
202526100Routine
2024103400Routine
202332100Routine
202243320Routine
202151610Routine
202074930Routine
201932730Routine
201835520Routine
201737610Routine
201659500Routine
201589650Routine
201430210Routine
201346300Routine
201231301Fatalities reported
201163410Routine
201010500Routine
200931500Routine
200863300Routine
200783310Routine
2006 — this page66330Routine
2005115460Routine
2004143441Fatalities reported
2003160340Routine
2002134411Fatalities reported
2001134520Routine
200048310Routine
199936211Fatalities reported
199815300Routine
199714400Routine
19941000Routine

Compare every Sierra 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: Oct 6, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.