FaultScore

2006 GMC Sierra brake problems

27 of the 65 complaints about the 2006 GMC Sierra are about the braking system — 42% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 44,827 miles.

F

27

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 20 74.1%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 5 18.5%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 1 3.7%
Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring 1 3.7%

Brakes across every GMC Sierra year

1990 12 0.8%
1993 13 0.9%
1994 18 1.2%
1995 54 3.7%
1996 57 3.9%
1997 76 5.2%
1998 68 4.6%
1999 355 24.2%
2000 243 16.6%
2001 155 10.6%
2002 152 10.4%
2003 86 5.9%
2004 77 5.3%
2005 37 2.5%
2006 27 1.8%
2007 14 1.0%
2017 20 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 81,750 miles Columbus, OH

SERVICE BRAKES

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION. CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL FLUID. HAD THIS HAPPENED 5 MINUTES EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC. AT 70 YEARS OLD I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW CATASTROPHIC AN ACCIDENT MY REFLEXES WOULD HAVE GENERATED. THE FLUID SPRAYED ON THE HOT ENGINE CREATING A CLOUD OF SMOKE. I WAS AFRAID THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FLUID COOKED OFF THE ENGINE AS SMOKE AND AGAIN LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE. NOW AFTER EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, I AM VERY NERVOUS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH CORROSION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET INDICATE THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR QUITE AWHILE. I HAVE ATTACHED THE INVOICE OF THE REPAIRS REQUIRED. I WAS IN THE DRIVE THROUGH OF A MCDONALDS AND HAD PLACED MY ORDER AND WAS PULLING TO THE WINDOW TO PAY WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY MOVING SLOWLY AT THAT TIME, THUS ABLE TO AVOID INJURING ANYONE OR DAMAGING ANY OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10816251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Louisville, KY

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. BEFORE THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE LIGHT DID COME EVENTUALLY AT WHICH TIME WE CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS EXTREMELY LOW SO WE FILLED IT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY WE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING AND AFTER CHECKING REALIZED THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE WERE RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES AND ALL OF THE OTHER LINES ARE TERRIBLY RUSTED AND PROBABLY ON THE VERGE OF LEAKING ALSO. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT WE USUALLY PULL OUR CAMPER WITH. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT PULLING IT AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10735349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,400 miles Joppa, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

DROVE FROM BALTIMORE, MD TO CLEVELAND, OH. PARKED, THE NEXT DAY ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE LINE ON DRIVERS SIDE TOWARD THE REAR HAD RUSTED OUT, HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED AND BRAKE LINE REPLACED. IN DEC. 2014, ONE YEAR LATER, TRUCK WAS PARKED FOR 4 DAYS IN DRIVE, WENT TO DRIVE BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR AGAIN, HAD TO HAVE TOWED, 4 LINES REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10682951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,889 miles Faith, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. HAD TO STEP ON SEVERAL TIMES TO GET STOPPED. THE FACTORY ELECTRICAL WIRE IN FACTORY LOOM IN FACTORY CLAMP HOOKED TO BRAKE LINE WORE A HOLE THROUGH BRAKE LINE TO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. WORE THROUGH DIRECTLY UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT GOING AT HIGH SPEED OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT!!!!!!!!! THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COME FROM FACTORY AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10678466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Hawarden, IA

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING. ON INVESTIGATION, BRAKE OIL WOULD SPRAY FROM THE BRAKE LINE UNDER THE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10654861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Newnan, GA

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FAILED WHILE COMING TO A STOP IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. BRAKING ACTION REDUCED TO APPROX 10 TO 20 PERCENT OF NORMAL. DRIVER FELT A "POP" AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, FOLLOWED BY A 'SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM' WARNING MESSAGE. A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID FORMED UNDER THE TRUCK WHEN PARKED AND A QUICK LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK SHOWED LOTS OF FLUID FROM THE FRONT OF THE BED TO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED HEAVY CORROSION ON ALL RIGID BRAKE LINES. ALL BRAKES LINES WILL BE REPLACED. THE FAILED LINE POWERED THE REAR BRAKES. THIS TRUCK IS ONLY EIGHT (8) YEARS OLD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN LOTS WORSE IF THE BRAKES FAILED ONE WEEK EARLIER WHEN I WAS PULLING A CAMPER THROUGH THE TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS.

NHTSA complaint #10631594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,400 miles Pittsburgh, PA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

I WENT TO PUT ON MY BRAKES, I FIRST STARTED TO STOP THEN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE COLLISION SHOP THAT I HAD IT REPAIRED AT SAID THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME DEFECT IN CHEVY AND GMC TRUCKS.

NHTSA complaint #10628635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Warrenton, VA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS APPROACHING THE STOPLIGHT FLETCHER DRIVE AND LEE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH HEADING EAST ON LEE HIGHWAY AROUND 1600 EDT IN WARRENTON, VA. THERE WERE FOUR (4) CARS WAITING TO TURN LEFT ONTO FLETCHER DRIVE IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES STARTED TO GRAB BUT THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL AND THEN HIT MR. [XXX] VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MPH. I WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL MAKING CONTACT WITH [XXX] CAR. I ASKED IF HE WAS OK OR HURT AND HE REPLIED YES, I AM OK. WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP?? I EXPLAINED THAT I TRIED. I THEN SUGGESTED THAT BOTH OF US PULL INTO THE FAUQUIER BANK PARKING LOT AND EXCHANGE INSURANCE INFORMATION. AT THIS TIME, I NOTICED MY BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE PARKING LOT (COFFEE CAN OR MORE IN 10 MINS). I STATED THAT SINCE IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE, I WOULD FEEL BETTER SUBMITTING IT THROUGH INSURANCE. I ALSO SHOWED HIM THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. [XXX]. ASKED WHY I WAS DRIVING WITH FAILED BRAKES AND I EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES HAD FAILED AT THE INTERSECTION, THAT MY BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THAT MY TRUCK HAD JUST BEEN PICKED-UP FROM SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP (COUNTRY CHEVROLET) ON MONDAY WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP JUST INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THEY HAVE CORRODED THROUGH AND BASICALLY "EXPLODED". A SIMILAR ISSUE OCCURRED WITH MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IN 2009, BUT WITH NO ACCIDENT. ALL BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10619212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Creston, OH

SERVICE BRAKES

GRINDING NOISE AND BRAKING DIMINISHED ALONG WITH SMOKING WHEEL. FRONT WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY IS COMING APART INSIDE WITH ONLY 36000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10616684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,300 miles Pembroke, MA

SERVICE BRAKES

WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A QUICK STOP BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO BRAKING POWER. AVOIDED CRASH BY DRIVING ONTO A LAWN. I HAVE FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME IN A PLASTIC SUPPORT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR HAVE ROTTED THROUGH. CONTACTED GMC WITH NO SUCCESS JUST INFORMING THEY ARE AWARE BUT NO RE-CALLS.

NHTSA complaint #10610032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,600 miles Hummelstown, PA

SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING THE TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH A LANDSCAPE TRAILER ATTACHED, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. HAD TO HAVE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10608943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,459 miles Chadds Ford, PA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

THERE IS NO WARNING THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND YOU DON'T STOP. I HAD A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER HOOKED TO MY 2006 GMC 2500 EXT. CAB LONG BED SIERRA P/U WITH 62,459 MILES ON IT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WITH THE TRAILER BRAKES AND A SCRATCH ON MY FRONT BUMPER FROM A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE OWNED OVER 200 CARS + TRUCKS SINCE I STARTED DRIVING. I DO ALL MY ONE WORK ON THEM AND I NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE FAIL, I WILL BE 70 THIS YEAR. IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD TRUCK TO HAVE RUSTED BRAKE LINES TO FAIL. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS THAT NOBODY NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THEY GMC KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND A GARAGE THAT FIXED THE TWO FRONT LINES. SO WE COULD GET HOME. THEN I INSPECTED THE OTHER LINES AND ORDERED THE COMPLETE SET OF STAINLESS STEEL LINES FROM EBAY, WHEN I REMOVED THE OLD LINES THEY ALL WERE RUSTED AT HIDDEN SPOTS TWO WERE CLOSE TO FAILING. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOME ONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS IS GMC AND OUR GOVERNMENT (NHTSA) FAILING THE PEOPLE.

NHTSA complaint #10607177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,655 miles Monroeville, PA

SERVICE BRAKES

APPLIED BRAKES WHEN ON A DOWNHILL ON RAMP TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT SLOWING VEHICLE. HAD TO SWERVE OFF ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION .HAD TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER TO REPAIR RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES $1750.00 EST. WAS TOLD FUEL LINES ALSO LOOKED RUSTED $700.00 EST.

NHTSA complaint #10592769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,685 miles Boynton Bch., FL

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10565693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Rineyville, KY

SERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE A 2006 GMC SIERRA WITH THE SAME ABS ISSUES THAT ARE RECALLED FOR OLDER VEHICLES. ABS ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES. TRUCK HAS ONLY 41000 MILES ON IT, I WOULDN'T THINK THE REAR DRUM BRAKES WOULD BE WORN OUT. I DROVE IT HOME LAST NIGHT AND TO WORK TODAY. SAME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WILL RECALL BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE SOMEDAY?

NHTSA complaint #10564774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Columbia, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN I WENT TO START THE TRUCK IN THE MORNING, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. GOT OUT AND SAW THE BRAKE FLUID ON MY DRIVEWAY. EXAMINED THE TRUCK AND FOUND A STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND OTHERS HAD SIGNIFICANT RUST.

NHTSA complaint #10544605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,425 miles Fredericksburg, PA

SERVICE BRAKES

TRUCK HAS HAD AN UNDERCARRIAGE RUST ISSUE AT LEAST SINCE 2007. THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES MUST BE REPLACED AND THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION ARE DETERIORATING.

NHTSA complaint #10525483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,311 miles Chesterton, IN

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN SLOWING TO COMPLETE STOP, THE ABS MOTOR ENGAGES UNDER 10 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO TAKE A FEW MORE FEET TO STOP. ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHILE MOVING AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10502625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Columbia, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATES CONSISTENTLY AS VEHICLE NEARS FULL STOP. IT'S AUDIBLE AND YOU FEEL THE PULSATION IN THE BRAKES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE ABS TO ACTIVATE.

NHTSA complaint #10465045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Moline, IL

SERVICE BRAKES

ABS MOTOR ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ABOUT 10 MPH OR LESS.

NHTSA complaint #10465096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2006 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL CONCERNING HUB BEARING *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THERE WERE TIMES, WHEN IT FELT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES DIDN'T GRAB.

NHTSA complaint #10426091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,053 miles Potomac, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN NO BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10424166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Watertown, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION AND AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA complaint #10408648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,000 miles Phoenix, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN STOPPING AT LOW SPEEDS, ABS KICKS IN. THEN BRAKES LOCK UP AND ABS DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10354033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,000 miles Phoenix, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS. NO DTSC CODES SET.

NHTSA complaint #10345014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,320 miles Litchfield, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND MOMENTARILY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A MOANING SOUND IN THE VEHICLE WHICH AND INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE OR RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 40,320.

NHTSA complaint #10308929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Michigan City, IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY AN ACTIVATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10

NHTSA complaint #10310045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 2006 GMC Sierra report