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GMC Envoy XLModel year report

2006 GMC Envoy XL Problems

Complaints
109filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,062miles, 94 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 5.3L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 GMC Envoy XL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owner complaints for this model year center overwhelmingly on the fuel gauge: after refueling the gauge drops to empty, the low-fuel warning sounds, and owners say they cannot tell how much fuel is in the tank. The next most common reports involve the driver's door power window and lock switches and occasional charging or electrical problems. Most of these reports arrive between roughly 30,000 and 95,000 miles.

  1. Fuel system

    Fuel gauge reads empty after refueling

    • 73 complaints (67%)
    • median 54,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (65 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 15 quotes)
    • filed 2006–2019

    Owners describe the gauge dropping to empty right after filling the tank, with the low-fuel chime sounding and readings that swing between empty and full while driving. Several say they ran out of fuel or stalled with the gauge showing fuel remaining. Shops and dealers typically diagnosed a faulty fuel level sensor or sending unit, and owners report quotes often in the several-hundred-dollar range because the tank has to be dropped and the pump or sender replaced. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 95,000 miles, often appearing within a few months of a fill-up.

    What to check: Fill the tank during the test drive and confirm the gauge reads full and holds steady, then check that the low-fuel light turns off. Ask whether the fuel level sensor or sending unit has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I own a 2006 Gmc Envoy Xl. We have 44000 miles on it. When we fill the gas the gauge reads full. By the time I pull off the lot the gauge starts to drop to empty. Never know how much gas is in the tank. Running out of gas in the middle of the night on the highway is a little scary for my wife. Not to mention a huge safety issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10248910, filed 2008-11, 44,000 miles

    “Faulty fuel tank sensor in my 2006 Gmc envoy. Filled my truck up only for the gas gauge to read empty. Then my check engine light came on! Took it to the mechanic who told me the fuel tank sensor failed and he noted it a common problem in the envoy. Its costing me 800.00 to fix this. I have done some web research and it indeed looks to be a common problem, I find this very disturbing.”

    NHTSA complaint #10360365, filed 2010-10, 66,700 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Door window and lock switches stop working

    • 8 complaints (7%)
    • median 130,784 mi at 10.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2018

    Complaints describe the driver's door master switch failing so that windows and door locks work intermittently or not at all. Some owners mention a burning smell from the driver's door before the failure and having the switch module replaced. Several report the problem returning after dealer recall service. Reported from roughly 80,000 to 170,000 miles in this sample.

    Recall 15V599000Recall 14V404000Recall 13V248000

    What to check: Test every window and lock from the driver's master switch, and check whether the power window switch recall campaigns have been completed for the vehicle.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While vehicle was running, a burn smell eminitting from driver side door. Immediately brought vehicle to local repair shop for repair. They diagnosed the smell and window failure to the driver side master switch. The repair shop used original replacement part. This month again, my switch does not work and windows currently are not working. Frustrating because Gmc accepted no responsibility. I still have the old switch and receipt and should be eligible for reimbursement for the labor and replacement part cost. Thank you”

    NHTSA complaint #10471417, filed 2012-08, 82,000 miles

    “Took vehicle in for recall for driver master switch. Window and door lock continue to fail intermittently even after dealer says he corrected recall. The vehicle has had a history of windows, door not working and has been at the dealership multiple times, please push Gmc to fix this issue. The latest letter stating this vehicle may catch fire is very concerning.”

    NHTSA complaint #10732024, filed 2015-07, 100,568 miles

Buying note. The fuel gauge is the item to verify first on a used example: fill the tank and watch the gauge and low-fuel light. Also confirm that the power window switch and headlamp module recall campaigns have been completed, and budget for possible fuel level sensor work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 109 consumer complaints for the 2006 GMC Envoy XL. 94 of the complaints include a mileage, and 31% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,062 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 645 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Brakes (1), Engine (1), Equipment (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Other or unknown (1), Seat belts (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Filled SUV up at gas station. Gas gauge went to full. Proceeded out of gas station when the gas gauge went to empty, gas gauge will now not stay in one place, continues to act up and mostly stays on empty and the bell rings constantly. I am unable to determine how much fuel I have and concerned that the SUV will think its out of gas and shut off.”

NHTSA complaint #10732023, filed 2015-07, 100,548 miles

Electrical system: “2006 Gmc Envoy Xl. Since the car was purchased there have been repeated issues with the service lights. This problem has occurred repeatedly through 2012 where a variety of lights come on. Some stop the car from starting... In 2006, service stabilitrack consistently comes on along with 3-56 other lights at the same time. I've been told the connectors are dirty, that I needed a battery replacement which was untrue. Other times the car has gone for service, noone really has the right fix. There is something wrong with all the sensors.”

NHTSA complaint #10471538, filed 2012-08, 1,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I own a 2006 Gmc envoy and my daughter had gone out to get something out of the back. She closed the hatch and was standing there talking to my brother-in-law and the next thing you know, the whole back exploded out! It was horrifying. It sounded like a bomb going off! My daughter was shattered with glass but fortunately was not injured.”

NHTSA complaint #10319299, filed 2010-03, 93,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “I am so sick of my 06 Gmc Envoy Xl. I truly give up. I had the stabilitrak and reduced engine light come on my car for five months. I have replaced the steering wheel sensor, the throttle body, and had the relearn the idle thing done, to no avail. This makes my fourth time going to the dealer, because I thought they could fix it. I have always bought GM. If god blesses me with another opportunity to buy a car, it will not be a GM. It throws my car off. I've had to pull over and start the car over a thousand times. I've seen many forums online about this problem, but there is no recall? …”

NHTSA complaint #10983824, filed 2017-05, 181,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

31% of the 94 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,000 and 95,000 miles.

3%0–102%10–2526%25–5027%50–7518%75–10015%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (94 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,062 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’06’08’1032’12’15’17’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 GMC Envoy XL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Envoy XL · sedan RWD/4WDnot rated4 / 4——4 · 19.8% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 GMC Envoy XL version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Envoy XL 2WD4.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141915$4,450
Envoy XL 2WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Envoy XL 4WD4.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic131815$4,450
Envoy XL 4WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic131815$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 GMC Envoy XL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 645 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 645 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Envoy XL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200610960,0625—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200418766,3791—16Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200322879,4003—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20027065,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All GMC Envoy XL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 GMC Envoy XL?

Owner complaints for this model year center overwhelmingly on the fuel gauge: after refueling the gauge drops to empty, the low-fuel warning sounds, and owners say they cannot tell how much fuel is in the tank. The issues reported most often: Fuel gauge reads empty after refueling; Door window and lock switches stop working.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 GMC Envoy XL have?

NHTSA recorded 109 consumer complaints for the 2006 GMC Envoy XL as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 GMC Envoy XL is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 71 complaints (65% of the total), followed by electrical system with 23.

Has the 2006 GMC Envoy XL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 GMC Envoy XL get?

The EPA rates the 2006 GMC Envoy XL (Envoy XL 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 GMC Envoy XL reported?

Among the 94 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,062 miles and the middle half falls between 45,000 and 95,000 miles; 31% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.