2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
218 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 42/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 54,908 miles.
Below average
Where 2006 sits among all Silverado 2500 years
What owners report
“Break lines are completely rusted and i am afraid they will go out without warning. Truck only has 67,000 miles on it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Silverado 2500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 201 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,600 and 80,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING…
Fix: FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 909-597-7800.
Technical service bulletins
688 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2006 Silverado 2500 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 drew 218 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 42/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 are brakes & stability (71 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (34), and steering (19).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems around 52,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,600 and 80,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.