WHILE RUNNING AIR CONDITIONER , I SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE COME FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. I TURNED OFF THE BLOWER AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. COULD COST SOMEBODY THEIR VEHICLE AND LIFE. *TR
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
311 reports with mileage · 48 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
359 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED WITH EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEARES…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED WITH EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE SPECIFICS ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WARRANTY ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
STEERING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEATS SWITCH WOULD MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE HEATER TO TURN ON WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SWITCH WAS DEACTIVATED UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED; HOWEVER, THE HEATER WAS STILL TURNING ON B…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEATS SWITCH WOULD MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE HEATER TO TURN ON WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SWITCH WAS DEACTIVATED UNTIL THE PART ARRIVED; HOWEVER, THE HEATER WAS STILL TURNING ON BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,148.
WIRES TO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR BURNT AND RESISTOR WENT OUT 38,000 MILES. I REPLACED WIRE AND CONNECTOR ALSO REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. AT 48,000 MILES BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR BURNT OUT AGAIN THIS TIME THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD AND LET SMOKE CLEAR OUT JULY 5 2010 BOTH TIMES I HAD BLOWER MOTOR ON …
Read full complaint
WIRES TO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR BURNT AND RESISTOR WENT OUT 38,000 MILES. I REPLACED WIRE AND CONNECTOR ALSO REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. AT 48,000 MILES BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR BURNT OUT AGAIN THIS TIME THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND I HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD AND LET SMOKE CLEAR OUT JULY 5 2010 BOTH TIMES I HAD BLOWER MOTOR ON HIGH. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND THERE IS NO RELIABLE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IF YOU REPLACE THE PART THE PROBLEM RETURNS IN A SHORT TIME. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE AND TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING 2006 SILVERADO TO WRECK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO I-95 WHEN SUDDENLY TRUCK TURNED TOWARD CONCRETE GUARD RAIL. AFTER HITTING RAIL HEAD ON AND SKIDDING ACROSS ENTRANCE RAMP HITTING RAIL ( SEVERAL TIMES) VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. T…
Read full complaint
DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE AND TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING 2006 SILVERADO TO WRECK. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO I-95 WHEN SUDDENLY TRUCK TURNED TOWARD CONCRETE GUARD RAIL. AFTER HITTING RAIL HEAD ON AND SKIDDING ACROSS ENTRANCE RAMP HITTING RAIL ( SEVERAL TIMES) VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TIRE AND AXEL WERE (LEFT REAR-DRIVER SIDE) GONE. TRUCK IS TOTALED. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
TERRIBLE SMELL AND SMOKE NOTICED FROM UNDER DASH WHILE USING THE AC ON HIGH. THE AIR WAS STILL BLOWING BUT SMOKE STOPPED AFTER I TURNED IT OFF. I HAD TO ROLE DOWN THE WINDOWS QUICKLY AND PULL OVER. I WAS NERVOUS THAT THE DASH WAS ON FIRE, BUT IT SEEMED OK TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT IT WAS THE BLOWER MOTOR…
Read full complaint
TERRIBLE SMELL AND SMOKE NOTICED FROM UNDER DASH WHILE USING THE AC ON HIGH. THE AIR WAS STILL BLOWING BUT SMOKE STOPPED AFTER I TURNED IT OFF. I HAD TO ROLE DOWN THE WINDOWS QUICKLY AND PULL OVER. I WAS NERVOUS THAT THE DASH WAS ON FIRE, BUT IT SEEMED OK TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT IT WAS THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, AND ON HERE, SHOWS THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. OPINION OF SEVERAL, INCLUDING ME, IS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE. THE INHALED SMOKE DEFINITELY WAS NOT HEALTHY EITHER. *TR
2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Z71, 30000 MILES, ABS "ENGAGING" AT LOW SPEEDS, UNEXPLAINABLE TIRE TREAD WEAR, VEHICLE PULLS , ROTATIONAL GRINDING NOISE. BROUGHT THE GM CERTIFIED DEALER/SERVICE. FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL BEARING BAD. I ASKED FOR "OLD" PART AFTER $750 REPAIR FOR BEARING ( AND I NEEDED ALL NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS! MOST LIKELY D…
Read full complaint
2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Z71, 30000 MILES, ABS "ENGAGING" AT LOW SPEEDS, UNEXPLAINABLE TIRE TREAD WEAR, VEHICLE PULLS , ROTATIONAL GRINDING NOISE. BROUGHT THE GM CERTIFIED DEALER/SERVICE. FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL BEARING BAD. I ASKED FOR "OLD" PART AFTER $750 REPAIR FOR BEARING ( AND I NEEDED ALL NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS! MOST LIKELY DUE TO POOR FRONT END!!!)...DEALER EXPLAINED "CONDENSATION" AS THE CAUSE! ! ! ! ......REPLACED ONE , DEALER "KEPT " THE PART AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME THE $500 FOR IT, AND I PAID $250 FOR THE LABOR......HOWEVER,BOTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BOTH SHOULD BE GREASABLE, AND NOT SEALED, BOTH FOR FREE AND WARRANTEED! ! !....AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE AS RAMPANT AS IT IS!!!!---ITS DANGEROUS! THIS TRUCK SUCKS! *TR
WHENEVER USING THE HEATER IN MY 2006 CHEVY PICK UP TRUCK YOU CAN SMELL STRONG BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH ON PASS SIDE OF TRUCK . ONE NIGHT TURNED ON HEATER WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD SEE FLOOR BOARD ON PASS SIDE GLOWING ORANGE AND STARTING TO SMOKE, HAD TO PULL OVER DO TO THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC AND B…
Read full complaint
WHENEVER USING THE HEATER IN MY 2006 CHEVY PICK UP TRUCK YOU CAN SMELL STRONG BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH ON PASS SIDE OF TRUCK . ONE NIGHT TURNED ON HEATER WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD SEE FLOOR BOARD ON PASS SIDE GLOWING ORANGE AND STARTING TO SMOKE, HAD TO PULL OVER DO TO THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC AND BURNING ELECTRICAL TAPE . HEATER AND A/C NO LONGER WORK SO NOW HAVE NO DEFROST IN THE WINTER , CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE A/C BUT COULD NOT MELT THE ICE IN THE WINTER. BOUGHT AC/DELCO PIGTAIL CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AND REWIRED THEM TO SPEC AND TURNED ON A/C AND IT WORKS, ONLY PROBLEM IS THE WIRES GET SO HOT IT BURNS YOUR HAND AT THE TOUCH AND YOU CAN SMELL THE WIRE COVERING STARTING TO MELT AGAIN. IT IS MY OPINION THAT IF LEFT UNCORRECTED MY TRUCK COULD CATCH FIRE IF A HEAVER GAGE WIRE IS NOT INSTALLED TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT OF THE BLOWER MOTOR. MY TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ! ! ! *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration