2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Recalls & Complaints

Incident: March 25, 2026 · Filed: July 14, 2026

Since repair work was performed on this vehicle in late 2025, it has intermittently experienced sudden, complete brake lockup on all four wheels without any pedal input. This has occurred during sharp turns and during straight, steady highway driving, both suddenly and after gradual buildup; regardless of the pattern leading up to it, the lockup itself is abrupt and unexpected. On March 25, 2026, driving approximately 70 mph on the Glendale Freeway (SR-2) between Mountain Ave and Foothill Blvd, at approximately 39,900 miles, all four brakes suddenly applied with no pedal input, causing the truck to skid toward a stop while traffic continued to pass at highway speed. Smoke was visible from the front wheels and in my mirrors. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred, but the vehicle poses an ongoing risk of sudden, uncommanded loss of control, especially hazardous at highway speed with surrounding traffic. The dealership's inspection found blue thermal discoloration on all four brake rotors, consistent with extreme, sustained overheating, and recommended full brake system replacement estimated at $23,875.25. I am retired, on a fixed income, and cannot readily absorb a repair of this magnitude for an intermittent but serious safety defect. This vehicle uses a Hydro-Boost brake system. GM has published service information (Bulletin PIT3665J) describing a known condition on this platform where the brake pedal can move or self-apply, caused by the internal dump valve failing to seat due to steering system contamination. This bulletin covers Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks across model years 1998-2020, among other GM platforms. Given the severity of this failure and the number of vehicles affected across more than two decades, I believe this warrants review as a potential safety defect.

Incident: September 7, 2025 · Filed: September 7, 2025

on 7SEP 2025 @ 1100 While backing out of my driveway in my 2007 Chevy 3500, the vehicle’s airbag suddenly and unexpectedly deployed without any collision. The airbag struck me in the chest and left forearm, causing immediate injury. Since the incident, I have been experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath. Prior to this incident, I had taken my truck in for service due to concerns about the airbag recall affecting certain GM vehicles. At that time, I was informed by the dealership that my truck was not included in the recall year range. Despite this, the airbag has now malfunctioned in a way that has caused me injury. I attempted to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the GM/Chevy Safety Office to report the matter, but both offices were closed at the time.

Incident: May 22, 2025 · Filed: July 24, 2025

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed, the contact heard an abnormal, thud-like noise emitted from the vehicle. The contact pulled into an independent tire shop and inspected the tires. The contact found no defect with the tires and chose to proceed with driving the vehicle. While driving at approximately 40 mph, the front passenger-side tire detached from the vehicle without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle crashed into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the contact sought medical attention for pain in her back. The contact was diagnosed with a sprain to the right side of her neck and right side of her back. The vehicle was then towed to a different independent mechanic, where they determined that the wheel assembly hub had detached from the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 07E106000(Wheels) and linked the failure to the recall. The manufacturer was informed about the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but remained in the possession of the independent mechanic. The failure mileage was unknown.

Incident: July 24, 2020 · Filed: August 17, 2020

DURING A TRIP WITH 6 MONTH OLD TIRES, TWO OUT OF 6 TIRES FAILED. ONE WAS A DEEMED A ROAD HAZARD BY THE MANUFACTURER. GIVEN THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON A TOW VEHICLE WITH RATINGS FOR THE VEHICLE AND FAILED ON A 75 DEGREE DAY WITH A LIGHT MIST. I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF MEETING THE RATED SPECS. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED JANUARY FROM TREADWRIGHT CORP.

Incident: November 3, 2019 · Filed: November 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TURNING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

Incident: May 22, 2019 · Filed: May 23, 2019

TAKATA INFLATORS: MY 2006 CHEVY 3500 DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS LOCKED, NOT RUNNING, AND HAD NO KEYS IN IT IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! THE TRUCK WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT DEPLOYED, OR I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. 2006 SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED 5/2006 AND THE RECALL INCLUDES TRUCKS MADE 12/2006 AND NEWER. WHAT CAN BE DONE BY CHEVY TO PAY FOR MY REPAIR? ADDITIONALLY, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR. AGAIN IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY LOCKED NOT RUNNING, KEYS NOT IN IT!

Incident: March 16, 2012 · Filed: March 9, 2017

RAILROAD HYRAIL VEHICLE EQUIPPED, AFTER MARKET, WITH HYRAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLIES WHICH ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE ON RAILROAD TRACKS. ONCE HYRAIL (FLANGED) WHEELS ARE RETRACTED, THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED OVER THE HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC ROADS LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE. ON 3/16/12 A BNSF EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE HYRAIL VEHICLE ON HWY 34 NEAR TRENTON, NE. A SEMI PULLED OUT IN FROM OF HIM, CAUSING HIM TO REAR END THE SEMI AT ABOUT 65 MPH. DELAYED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LED TO HIM HAVING EXTENSIVE INJURIES, INCLUDING LACERATIONS TO HIS FOREHEAD, COLLAPSED LUNGS, SPINE FRACTURES AND RIB FRACTURES. CONCERN IS THAT THE INSTALLATION OF HYRAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLIES MIGHT BE IMPACTING THE AIRBAG SENSOR. THE HYRAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLIES EXTEND APPROX. ONE FOOT OF STEEL FRAMEWORK AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. THE PLACEMENT OF THESE ASSEMBLIES MIGHT INADVERTENTLY BE AFFECTING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CRASHES ON THE RAILROAD TRACK AND ON PUBLIC ROADS.

Incident: August 15, 2016 · Filed: August 20, 2016

PLUGGED IN MINI VAC TO CIG LIGHTER AND CIG LIGHTER SHORTED TO GROUND CAUSING WIRES TO MELT AND SMOKE INCLUDING POWER OUTLET WIRES.

Incident: August 14, 2016 · Filed: August 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,110.

Incident: July 21, 2015 · Filed: May 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.