2006 GMC Envoy Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe fuel gauge and fuel level sensor trouble: after a fill-up the gauge drops to empty, swings between readings, and the low-fuel light and check engine light come on. The next most common themes are driver's door electrical and window switch problems, headlamps that go dark while driving, and occasional stalling or no-start conditions. Complaints span a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 miles for the fuel gauge issue to well past 100,000 for lighting and door electrical trouble.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads wrong or drops to empty

   • 172 complaints (49%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (146 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Complaints describe the fuel gauge jumping or reading empty right after a fill-up, sometimes coming back after a restart and sometimes staying wrong. Owners report the low-fuel warning and check engine light coming on with a full tank, and several say they began tracking fill-ups by the trip meter instead of the gauge. According to complaints, technicians attributed it to the fuel level sending unit, which on this vehicle is part of the fuel pump assembly, and quoted several hundred dollars for replacement. Mostly reported between roughly 36,000 and 90,000 miles, often shortly after refueling.

   What to check: After a fill-up, note whether the gauge settles at full and stays there; ask whether the fuel pump/sending unit has been replaced and keep a trip-meter check for the first few tanks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I read in the newspaper that the NHTSA had opened an investigation concerning 2006 Gmc Envoy gas gauge problems. I have the same problem as many others with the gauge fluctuating. This should be considered a safety issue since it could cause someone to be stranded. I have 53000 miles on my Envoy and this problem started about a month ago.”

   NHTSA complaint #10399371, filed 2011-05, 51,500 miles

   “Filled fuel tank until pump clicked off. As soon as I started vehicle, fuel gauge dropped to below e and light, buzzer sounded alerting me low fuel. Check engine light came on. Preparing to leave on vacation so I drove to local mechanic who advised me of the problems with several GM suvs. He thought as long as I set my trip (so as not to run out of gas), I would be fine on trip. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10415708, filed 2011-07, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights quit while driving

   • 45 complaints (13%)
   • median 100,450 mi at 9.1 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2024

   Complaints describe low beam headlamps going out while driving, sometimes coming back after a restart or after switching to high beams, and sometimes not coming on at all. Owners report dealers being unable to reproduce the problem during diagnosis, and several mention a headlamp driver module as the suspected part. Some owners say they were told their vehicle was not covered by a related headlamp recall, or that parts were not available. Reported from about 36,000 miles up to 200,000, with many between 85,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 15V5190001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check whether the headlamp recall applies to the VIN, and if buying, drive at night and watch whether low beams stay on steadily rather than dimming or cutting out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “One evening while driving my vehicle on the highway, my headlights cut off. At first I didn't realize it until everything just appeared darker than usual. I had to switch to my high beams to finish the travel to my destination. This has happened continuously since then. Lights will come on at the start of the vehicle but shut down in no specific amount of time. I have taken it to three mechanics including a GM dealer and the vehicle lights stayed on during diagnosis. As of last night the lights did not come on at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10679515, filed 2015-01, 155,500 miles

   “Both headlights stop working simultaneously. Replaced relay which fixed problem. Both headlights again stopped working september 2014. Brights work but not low beam. Very dangerous situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10631432, filed 2014-09, 40,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Driver's door window switch and lock failure

   • 41 complaints (12%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe driver's side power windows, door locks, and mirror controls stopping work, sometimes with windows moving on their own or grinding. Several complaints mention smoke, a burning electrical smell, or melted switch housings at the driver's door panel, in a few cases followed by work at a dealer. Some owners report being told their vehicle fell outside the VIN range of a related recall, or that the recall remedy had not been performed. Described from very low mileage up to about 170,000 miles, with many reports between 70,000 and 125,000 miles.

   Recall 15V599000Recall 14V404000Recall 13V248000Recall 12V406000

   What to check: Ask whether the driver's door switch recall was performed on this specific VIN, and test every window, lock, and mirror control on the driver's door, watching for unusual noises or smells.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving my Envoy home from work the window starting going down by itself and then it made a horrible noise like a grinding noise. Then the window started going back and smoke started poring out of the door locks and by the vent on the drivers side of the door. Smoke was pouring out I had to pull over and when I got out it smelled liked burnt rubber. It continued to smoke for about 5 mins. And then it stopped. The smell is still in my car but I have no electric functions on the drivers side door. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10449135, filed 2012-02, 40 miles

   “I have 2006 Gmc Envoy, whole door panel went out before recall, so we paid $2000 and had fixed, when recall came out, they reimbursed us. But because recall wasn't out yet I am thinking they put old part in, this was around 2008. You cannot drive a car safely with nothing working on driver door, I have kids in back I need window lock, can't open my door or window if emergency happened. Very frustrating. I got a letter in august 2015 stating that recall #12180 driver door switch short circuit recall had not been done on my car yet. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10778906, filed 2015-09, 155,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalling, no-start, and stability control light

   • 57 complaints (16%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2022

   Complaints describe intermittent stalling while driving, extended cranking or no-start, and a check engine light or traction/stability control warning. Owners report repairs ranging from battery and electrical checks to computer resets and ignition switch replacement, with the problem sometimes returning. A few complaints mention the stability control or ABS engaging on dry pavement when the driver did not expect it. Scattered from about 14,000 miles through 200,000 miles, with a concentration in the 100,000 to 150,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, battery, or computer has been serviced and whether any stored codes remain; test a cold start and a short drive watching for the stability control light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 12/23/13, while parked the vehicle died. When restarting, it was a little slow but did end up starting. On 12/24/13, I had the battery tested and it showed that the cca's just needed a good charge so I let the vehicle run for 45 minutes. A few hours later, the vehicle would not even turn over. On 12/25/13, removed the battery and reinstalled it. The vehicle started fine and ran well for a few days. On 1/1/14, vehicle stalled while driving. Ended up restarting but I had to give it gas to do so. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10558270, filed 2014-01, 122,000 miles

   “Stabilitrac and/or ABS system engages when not necessary such as driving on dry, straight pavement at highway speeds. Causes vehicle to decelerate suddenly and almost lose control when brakes activate and motor retards. Electrical system also fluxuates (altimeter bounces from low to hi) causing a loss of power with associated loss of steering, lights, braking controls, at any speed. Problem has been increasing (frequency & severity) from july, 2009 to present (jan, 2010). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10298669, filed 2010-01, 50,000 miles

Buying note. Ask about the fuel level sensor and pump assembly, the driver's door switch recall status for the exact VIN, and the headlamp recall, since these are the areas owners describe most. A scan for stored codes and a night test drive can reveal most of what shows up in complaints.

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.