10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,907 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #24

Jun 032020

Sierra 2500 8-cyl

  • 147,000 miles
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.

- Eudora, KS, USA

problem #23

Mar 112020

Sierra 2500

  • 150,000 miles
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.

- Amherst, VA, USA

problem #22

Sep 012005

Sierra 2500 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
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.

- Linton, IN, USA

problem #21

Aug 212018

Sierra 2500

  • 60,000 miles
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.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #20

Sep 072016

Sierra 2500

  • 160,000 miles
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

- River Edge, NJ, USA

problem #19

Nov 162015

Sierra 2500

  • 38,500 miles
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.

- Fairport, NY, USA

problem #18

Aug 162015

Sierra 2500

  • 72,546 miles
Brake line to rear brakes rusted out.

- Wanaque, NJ, USA

problem #17

Mar 212015

Sierra 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 157,126 miles
Brake failure caused by corroded brake lines.

- Wayne, NJ, USA

problem #16

Oct 232014

Sierra 2500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 127,516 miles
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.

- Mechanicsville, MD, USA

problem #15

Aug 152014

Sierra 2500 8-cyl

  • 112,263 miles
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.

- Lakewood, OH, USA

problem #14

Aug 042014

Sierra 2500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 43,500 miles
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!

- East Patchouge , NY, USA

problem #13

Mar 142014

Sierra 2500 8-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Total brake failure due to ruptured hydraulic brake line. No prior warning. Total failure, I thought dual master cylinder would provide some braking.

- Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA

problem #12

Feb 142014

Sierra 2500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 70,000 miles
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.

- Shepardsville, KY, USA

problem #11

Jan 242014

Sierra 2500 8-cyl

  • 58,682 miles
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.

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #10

Feb 042014

Sierra 2500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 95,376 miles
Arriving at my rv site in Alabama from upper Michigan a neighbor saw something leaking from near the left front tire of my pickup. Upon determining it was diesel I immediately drove to the local Chevy dealer. They said due to the condition of the lines they all be replaced. Next day I was asked to come to the garage to look at the brake lines as they could not move any to get proper routing of the fuel lines.the lines attaching to the ABS modulator, total of 6, looked like you could crumble them with your hand so all were replaced as well. I pull a 33 foot fifth wheel and consider we were extremely fortunate nothing happened on the road.

- Saint Ignace, MI, USA

problem #9

Jul 242013

Sierra 2500 8-cyl

  • 52,050 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 for replacing the rusted lines.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #8

Jul 012013

Sierra 2500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 260,707 miles
While towing my trailer I lost most of my braking capacity. I had to use the trailer breaking mechanism to stop the truck. There was no crash or injuries.

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

problem #7

Oct 292012

Sierra 2500 8-cyl Diesel

  • 35,396 miles
We took our 28 ft camper to be repaired which consisted of driving on interstate an at a high rate of speed but doing the speed limit. On our way home we were no longer hauling the camper because it had been left behind for repair. I thank god for this because I would hate to think what would have happened if we were hauling the camper on the interstate and the brake line would have broken then. When we were almost home I felt something was wrong with the brakes. I had to press them all the way to the floor to get my vehicle to stop. I was close to a advanced auto so I drove very slowly and stayed far from vehicles so that I could make it there for them look to see if I was low on fluid. But when I turned into their parking lot immediately after I put on the brakes to park it the brake line broke. I had to have my vehicle towed to a local dealership where I had to have repairs done. Not only the brake lines were changed but the calipers also. The bill was just under 5 thousand dollars. I called GMC all they did was call the dealership to make sure everything was done. Which was no help to me. I could have taken care of that myself. I believe this is a great injustice to GMC owners that they know of a situation and would let us use these vehicles to haul our children on camping trips putting their safety in danger. I will not purchase another GMC vehicle. Also my extended warranty ended a few weeks before. Although I was told they would not have covered it. I also bring my vehicle for oil changes as required to the dealership which they do check other things as a routine. I cannot understand why these auto repairmen didn't catch this. There is no reason this should have happened to this vehicle... when your brakes go out you looking at a major danger to yourself and others.

- Cut Off, LA, USA

problem #6

Dec 062012

Sierra 2500 4WD 8-cyl Diesel

  • 138,000 miles
I purchased the 2006 2500hd diesel pickup new. The truck has had poor braking since new and the dealer has always said it functions normally. I have had the dealer do all the maintenance on the truck other than oil and filter changes. The undercarriage of the truck including all lines, brakes rotors, hubs has been rusting since new. The underside of the truck looks like a 20 year old plow truck. On 12-6-2012 I was driving on the highway in traffic and the experienced a complete brake failure. Some how I did not hit anything and was able to get to the shoulder and coast to a stop (very lucky in N.J. traffic). The brake lines blew the truck was towed back to the dealer and they find the lines are gone as well as the rotors that they replaced about 2 years ago. The pads are still in great shape but the rotors are rusted beyond usability. Looking into this I find I am not alone and would like to know if I can get info on the issue including, is the problem fixed in the new trucks and is compensation available as the truck is on its way to the rust grave yard with the sheet metal rusting from the underside also. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Wantage, NJ, USA

problem #5

May 052006

Sierra 2500 8-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
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. Bolts seized by corrosion broke on removal of brake components and this resulted in replacement of sensor and all calipers. The cost of the repair was $2100. My opinion; poor quality metals in original factory rotors caused a significant brake failure on this vehicle which caused braking safety issues and an expensive repair. This is a safety issue because; poor braking occurs and the high cost of repair will mean some owners of this vehicle will put off repairs and continue operating this vehicle with damaged brake systems. I think this vehicle should be recalled because this is a safety issue and the manufacturer should take at least some responsibility to repair this model. The 2500 (3/4 ton) series that I own is mostly used by contractors and others who pull or haul heavy loads. So, the brakes really do need to work.

- Mosinee, WI, USA

Read the next 4 complaints »