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2006 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

25 reports with mileage · 6 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

31 reports
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2014
Structure

JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE A MONTH AGO WENT TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE AND IT WON'T OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593369

97,000 miles · Nov 11, 2013
Service Brakes

DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES HARD TO AVOID HITTING DEER THAT CAME ON TO ROAD. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW THEN SUDDENLY LOST NEARLY ALL BRAKING POWER AS PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR . WENT WELL PAST AN UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION THAT WAS THANKFULLY EMPTY OF TRAFFIC. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED TWO BURST BRAKE LINES WHERE 4 LINES ARE…

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DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES HARD TO AVOID HITTING DEER THAT CAME ON TO ROAD. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW THEN SUDDENLY LOST NEARLY ALL BRAKING POWER AS PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR . WENT WELL PAST AN UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION THAT WAS THANKFULLY EMPTY OF TRAFFIC. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED TWO BURST BRAKE LINES WHERE 4 LINES ARE GROUPED ON FRAME NEAR BACK OF FRONT DRIVER DOOR. SEVERE RUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551845

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2013
Structure

MY BACK HATCH WON'T OPEN WITH POD AND THERE ARE NO OTHER WAYS TO GET IN. I CAN'T OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, AND THE WINDOW WON'T OPEN EITHER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND I AM FINDING MANY OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS I AM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549607

103,156 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

GM DESIGNED THIS CAR WITH A NO KEY ENTRY FOR THE REAR HATCH. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN INTERNAL MANUAL UNLOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE HATCH. IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. ON TOP OF THIS, THE REAR HATCH LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS FOR THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. THIS EITHER LOCKS THE HATCH IN PLACE,…

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GM DESIGNED THIS CAR WITH A NO KEY ENTRY FOR THE REAR HATCH. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN INTERNAL MANUAL UNLOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE HATCH. IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. ON TOP OF THIS, THE REAR HATCH LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS FOR THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. THIS EITHER LOCKS THE HATCH IN PLACE, OR LEAVES IT UNABLE TO BE LOCKED. GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT IS UNSAFE, AND COSTING THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS UPWARDS OF A $400 REPAIR JUST TO CORRECT IT AT THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548062

75,189 miles · Feb 17, 2013
Structure

THE REAR LIFTGATE WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB OR INTERIOR DOOR LOCKS FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK OR OPEN THE LIFTGATE FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498414

88,855 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE LEFT THE HOTEL IN DAYTONA BEACH AND STOPPED FOR BREAKFAST. WE THEN WERE GOING TO SEE THE RACETRACK ,AFTER GOING ABOUT 3 MILES THE "ENGINE COOLANT OVERHEATING" LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NAPA STORE AND CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL WHICH WAS NORMAL. I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT WHICH DIDN'T HELP SO I CHANGED THE WATE…

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WE LEFT THE HOTEL IN DAYTONA BEACH AND STOPPED FOR BREAKFAST. WE THEN WERE GOING TO SEE THE RACETRACK ,AFTER GOING ABOUT 3 MILES THE "ENGINE COOLANT OVERHEATING" LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NAPA STORE AND CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL WHICH WAS NORMAL. I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT WHICH DIDN'T HELP SO I CHANGED THE WATERPUMP WHICH DIDN'T HELP.I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. ON MONDAY THE MECHANIC HAD PULLED ONE HEAD AND THE VALVES WERE WARPED. AFTER DISCUSSING MY OPTIONS I HAD A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED ALONG WITH A RADIATOR. THE OVERHEATING HAPPENED SO FAST (3 MILES ),THERE WAS NO WARNING OTHER THAN ENGINE COOLANT OVERHEATING.THERE WAS NO STEAM FROM THE OVERFLOW SO THERE MUST HAVE BEEN BLOCKAGE IN THE MOTOR.(MY OPINION). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415238

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2011
Electrical System

THE A/C WORKS INTERMITTENT AND THEN NOT AT ALL. BURNING SMELL COMING FROM VENTS. THE RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED. FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALERSHIP. SECOND TIME BY ME A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. VERY UNSAFE. THE WIRES GET VERY HOT AND MELT. IT IS A FIRE HAZZARD. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10414741

20,000 miles · Apr 14, 2011
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTANTLY ILLUMINATES. SOMETIMES FOR MINUTES, SOMETIMES FOR MONTHS. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. TOOK VEHICLE INTO LASH CHEVROLET, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING AND RESET THE SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE NEXT DAY. I TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY, AND AM CONSTANTLY COMING IN CONTACT WITH GM 1500/2500 SER…

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AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTANTLY ILLUMINATES. SOMETIMES FOR MINUTES, SOMETIMES FOR MONTHS. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. TOOK VEHICLE INTO LASH CHEVROLET, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING AND RESET THE SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE NEXT DAY. I TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY, AND AM CONSTANTLY COMING IN CONTACT WITH GM 1500/2500 SERIES TRUCKS, VANS AND SUV'S WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE STORIES THAT MIRRIOR MY EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395859

32,000 miles · Jun 25, 2010
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRING WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT P…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRING WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE CONTACT'S PROPERTY WHERE HE WAS AWAITING AN INVESTIGATION BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AS OF YET. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #10339968

74,000 miles · May 27, 2010
Power Train

DRIVING IN A 55MPH ZONE, VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT APPEARED THAT THE AUTO 4X4 SWITCH WAS CHANGING. PLACED VEHICLE BACK IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, DRIVING 55MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. WHEN SWITCH WAS SET IN AUTO 4X4, THE VEHICLE RAN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUT NO OTHER SETTINGS WORKED PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIAGNOSIS ATTEMPTS. …

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DRIVING IN A 55MPH ZONE, VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT APPEARED THAT THE AUTO 4X4 SWITCH WAS CHANGING. PLACED VEHICLE BACK IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, DRIVING 55MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. WHEN SWITCH WAS SET IN AUTO 4X4, THE VEHICLE RAN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUT NO OTHER SETTINGS WORKED PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIAGNOSIS ATTEMPTS. THERE ARE BULLETINS ON THE AUTO 4X4 ACTUATOR AND ON A TRANSFER CASE MOTOR SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332556

Official recalls

1

06V289000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Aug 3, 2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.