2006 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems
- Complaints
- 66filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 43,500miles, 59 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often report problems with the brakes, especially hydraulic brake lines that rust through and rupture, and with transmission cooler lines that seep fluid at the crimp fittings. Many of the brake reports describe a pedal that goes to the floor without warning, while the transmission line reports typically involve repeated leaks noticed at relatively low mileage.
- Brakes
Brake lines rust through and rupture
- 25 complaints (38%)
- median 65,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (22 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2006–2020
Complaints describe brake lines corroding from the outside until they split, usually with no warning light beforehand. Owners report the pedal sinking to the floor and having to use the parking brake, downshifting or coasting to stop; several say this happened while towing. Dealers and shops quoted line replacement, and some owners noted that the corrosion was not caught during routine safety inspections. Reported from roughly 22,000 to 150,000 miles, often on trucks driven in winter-salt regions.
What to check: Have a shop inspect the steel brake lines above the frame and along the ABS unit for rust and pitting, and ask whether any lines have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10565111, filed 2014-02, 70,000 miles“I have a 2006 Gmc SIERRA 2500 hd on 7/24/2013 the truck was having tires installed at a local store. They truck was brought in for a wheel alignment service by a mechanic . The mechanic showed the leak and the corrosion on the brake lines above the I beam. They said to call the dealership in town. I called my insurance company to tow the 2006 Gmc to the dealership. After the dealership discovered the problem with the rusted lines they asked for $ 1400.00 for replacing the rusted lines.”
NHTSA complaint #10532041, filed 2013-07, 52,050 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission cooler lines leaking fluid
- 8 complaints (12%)
- median 31,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- filed 2008–2011
Owners describe transmission fluid weeping from the cooler line crimps, sometimes on trucks that already had the lines replaced once. Complaints mention fluid on the ground, low fluid and repeat replacement; some owners say warranty coverage was denied and that replacement lines leaked again. A few reports tie similar hard-shifting or torque converter trouble to cold weather. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 60,000 miles, with a few repeat leaks around 100,000.
What to check: Look under the front of the truck for red fluid at the cooler line crimps and check the transmission fluid level and color; ask whether the lines have been replaced and when.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I own a 2006 Gmc 2500hd duramax/allison crew cab. I took ownership in feb of 2007 with 32k miles. Transmission lines were leaking at that time. Dealer replaced the lines under warranty. Now at 100k miles and same new lines are leaking once again. This is a flammable fluid and constitutes a potential fire hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #10246015, filed 2008-10, 101,380 miles“I have a 2006 Gmc 2500hd that has 31000 miles on it. The transmission cool er lines are leaking and the dealer has been notified about this problem. The new parts are on backorder, meanwhile the truck leaks transmission oil on the ground which could be a potential fire hazard alone with an environmental hazard. Many Gmc 2500hd owners are having this problem. This is not yet a recall but needs to be addressed.”
NHTSA complaint #10217106, filed 2008-02, 30,000 miles - Steering
Power steering and brake assist loss
- 11 complaints (17%)
- median 31,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- filed 2006–2012
Complaints describe sudden loss of power steering, sometimes together with a hard or unassisted brake pedal, usually at low speed while parking, backing out or turning. Owners report the steering wheel becoming stiff or limited in travel, and some were told by the dealer that nothing could be found. In several cases the power steering pump or hydro-boost unit was identified as the source. Reported from very low mileage (under 5,000) up to around 75,000 miles, typically during low-speed maneuvers.
What to check: Test steering and braking at parking-lot speed with the engine idling, listen for pump noise, and check the power steering fluid level and for leaks around the pump and lines.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was backing out of my driveway (down hill slope) and lost power steering and braking in my 2006 Gmc 2500hd diesel truck. I put the transmission in neutral and deployed the emergency brake to stop. The mechanic determined the power steering pump had failed and this resulted in the hydro boost failure with subsequent brake loss. After replacing the power steering pump the power steering lines split two weeks later.”
NHTSA complaint #10470033, filed 2012-08, 42,000 miles“Truck was parked in garage on a friday night, with no problems. Started truck saturday am to back out of the garage to hook up a trailer. I put the truck in reverse, then discovered it wouldn't steer and it wouldn't stop. Nearly took out the side of the garage door with the mirror, not to mention, nearly running over one of my kids! I had to engage the emergency brake in order to get the vehicle to stop - half in and half out of the garage. I shut the truck off and restarted it, but nothing changed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10310884, filed 2010-02, 74,950 miles - Tires
Tire and wheel air loss or tread separation
- 10 complaints (15%)
- median 26,150 mi at 3.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2006–2014
Complaints describe valve stems splitting or blistering and leaking air, sometimes repeatedly on the same wheel. Other owners report tread separation or sidewall blowouts while driving at highway speed, with body damage in some cases. Several reports note significant tread remaining at the time of failure. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 130,000, often on highway trips or while towing.
What to check: Check tire date codes, look for cracking or bulging sidewalls, and confirm the valve stems and wheel hardware are in good condition for the load the truck will carry.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While towing my camping trailer on the interstate I pulled into a rest stop. Then I noticed the right rear tire was flat. Later at a garage the serviceman found the valve stem had split. This was a snap-in rubber stem. I believe the tires on a truck of this size (Gmc 2500hd) and with this air pressure (80 PSI rear, 55 front) should have steel clamp-in type stems.”
NHTSA complaint #10314088, filed 2010-02, 29,500 miles“According to the district distributor representative for firestone he said the term stone chipping is what's happening to some of their tires. When I look at my tire, I see chips of rubber coming out of the tire even in the tread.”
NHTSA complaint #10176578, filed 2006-12, 10,000 miles - Brakes
Brake pedal spongy or self-applying, rotor corrosion
- 5 complaints (8%)
- median 60,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- filed 2006–2014
Owners report a spongy or long brake pedal, and some describe the pedal moving or the truck lurching when braking at low speed or turning the wheel at a stop. Others mention premature rotor and caliper corrosion, and one report describes front caliper bolts shearing. Dealers sometimes said the system worked normally when no codes were stored. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 140,000 miles, often noted during towing or low-speed turning.
What to check: Ask whether the hydro-boost unit has been replaced, check pedal feel at a stop while turning the wheel, and inspect rotors and calipers for heavy corrosion.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 2006 Gmc SIERRA 2500 hd with 32000 miles. I have had to replace the brakes and rotors twice because they have rusted and rotted away. I have had to replace my exhaust because of rust and the entire under carriage and frame are heavily rusted. I have just recently noticed that there is even rust inside the cab, interior doors, chrome is bubbling.”
NHTSA complaint #10452866, filed 2012-03“Brakes fade near the end of a braking cycle. No warning lights displayed even though brake pedal felt like it had increased travel or mushiness. Cause; excessive and premature corrosion and pitting of all four original equipment brake rotors. Also, excessive corrosion of brake sensors and brake calipers necessitates an extensive repair. Original brake pads are in good condition repairs needed; replacement of rotors, sensor, calipers and brake pads. …”
NHTSA complaint #10480055, filed 2012-10, 60,000 miles
Buying note. On this model year, the condition of the brake and transmission cooler lines matters more than the odometer reading, so have them inspected on a lift before buying. Also check steering and brake assist at low speed and review tire age and sidewall condition.
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 66 consumer complaints for the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500. 59 of the complaints include a mileage, and 54% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 43,500 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 385 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.
- Brakes30 45%
- Steering10 15%
- Tires6 9.1%
- Engine cooling5 7.6%
- Electrical system4 6.1%
- Air bags3 4.5%
- Fuel system2 3.0%
- Suspension2 3.0%
Also reported: Body and structure (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #11327479, filed 2020-06, 147,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “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!”
NHTSA complaint #10723692, filed 2015-06, 45,000 milesSteering: “While braking at low speeds and coming to a full stop, truck lurches forward and brake pedal goes down 1/8 of an inch. Driver must use more brake to stop truck ( this is with no load in truck at all, only passenger ). Also while stopped and turning the wheel left or right to park, steering wheel looses power steering until brake is released and truck starts rolling. Had truck looked at twice before at dealer for same problem ( once at 32,000 and again at 35,000 ) and was told, as long as no hard codes or failures are found, they were unable to address the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10463105, filed 2012-06, 40,100 milesTires: “Firestone destination a/t lt285/75r16 tires - catastrophic failure of tire while traveling at 60 MPH in middle lane of three lane hwy. No puncture. Side wall blew out . Tires had only 15,000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #10475011, filed 2012-09, 128,500 milesMileage when problems were reported
54% of the 59 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 29,000 and 95,376 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 08V519000Oct 6, 2008Equipment adaptive/mobilityCovers: GMC Sierra 2500 2005–2006, Ford E-350 2000, 2004–2006, E-450 2000, 2005 +4 more
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…
Recall details for the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 → · 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. 385 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11020816Jul 18, 2025Other or unknown. This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- 11019074May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
- 11019073May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
- 11019072May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
- 11017252Mar 28, 2025Other or unknown, Electrical system. This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
- 11012907Dec 18, 2024Engine. This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- 11010544Oct 7, 2024Engine. This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- 11008956Sep 9, 2024Other or unknown. This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only).
- 11007208Sep 6, 2024Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires…
- 11006621Aug 26, 2024Electrical system. Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need…
Other model years of the GMC Sierra 2500
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 9,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 28 | 1,300 | 1 | — | — | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 107 | 9,904 | 4 | — | — | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 33 | 34,000 | 1 | — | — | 40 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 45 | 15,167 | 3 | — | — | 65 · More | Rising |
| 2021 | 52 | 53,000 | 6 | — | — | 69 · More | Rising |
| 2020 | 79 | 31,800 | 9 | — | — | 98 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 32 | 28,729 | 7 | 4 | — | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 35 | 10,000 | 5 | 4 | — | 52 · Typical | Falling |
| 2017 | 37 | 22,060 | 6 | 4 | — | 53 · Typical | Falling |
| 2016 | 59 | 29,500 | 6 | 4 | — | 64 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 89 | 37,023 | 6 | 3–4 | — | 93 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 30 | 39,000 | 2 | 2–4 | — | 10 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 46 | 60,000 | 3 | 2–4 | — | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2012 | 31 | 68,500 | 3 | 3–4 | — | 2 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2011 | 63 | 55,400 | 4 | — | — | 34 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 10 | 77,000 | 5 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 31 | 39,600 | 5 | — | — | 39 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 63 | 67,500 | 3 | — | — | 17 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 83 | 70,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 66 | 43,500 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 115 | 60,000 | 1 | — | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 143 | 60,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 160 | 73,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 134 | 85,500 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 134 | 65,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 48 | 91,000 | 1 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 36 | 100,000 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 15 | 47,000 | 1 | — | 15 | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 14 | 100,000 | 2 | — | 15 | — | Not enough data |
All GMC Sierra 2500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500?
Owners of this model year most often report problems with the brakes, especially hydraulic brake lines that rust through and rupture, and with transmission cooler lines that seep fluid at the crimp fittings. The issues reported most often: Brake lines rust through and rupture; Transmission cooler lines leaking fluid; Power steering and brake assist loss.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
NHTSA recorded 66 consumer complaints for the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 30 complaints (45% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 12.
Has the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 reported?
Among the 59 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 43,500 miles and the middle half falls between 29,000 and 95,376 miles; 54% 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.
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.