Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Brake lines busted. This is a very serious problem because I was hauling a load and got extremely extremely lucky that it busted as I was pulling in driveway. I was pulling a loaded trailer with no brakes. This is a very common issue with the 2005 and 2006 2500 trucks. I can name 6 vehicles I know of in the past 6 months that this has happened too. Mechanic says it's a very serious and common issue that GM should be recalling. If I would have been at a stoplight it would have been bad. Cheap materials is the problem with these brake lines. 2006 year model is mine.
Brakes failed "completely", with no warning. No "warning light" on the instrument panel while driving on a public road in the county. All of a sudden absolutely no brakes. Had recently hauled a car on a trailer from emporia, kansas. Was preparing to haul calves to the sale barn. Now that would have been a total disaster. Upon inspection, the brake lines are so rusted, that pinching off the line resulted in a rupture in another location. I was trying to get some braking action, so I could drive it to a repair shop. I'll have to haul it.
In the city stopping for a stoplight the brakes failed. The vehicle luckily was able to turn into a parking lot. All fluid was lost because the brake lines failed due to rust. No brakes whatsoever except emergency brake. My state even requires a safety inspection yearly. If the consumer is not going to be notified of this serious problem at least let the safety inspectors know.
Vehicle in motion. Brake line failure (burst) while driving on crowded city street - 30mph. Pedal sank to floor. Total loss of brakes. Used emergency brake and gear in park to stop. Near collision with bicyclist.
Brakes fade near the end of a braking cycle. No warning lights displayed even though brake pedal felt like it had increased travel or mushiness. Cause; excessive and premature corrosion and pitting of all four original equipment brake rotors. Also, excessive corrosion of brake sensors and brake calipers necessitates an extensive repair. Original brake pads are in good condition repairs needed; replacement of rotors, sensor, calipers and brake pads. Bolts seized by corrosion broke on removal of brake components and this resulted in replacement of sensor and all calipers. The cost of the repair was $2100.00. My opinion; poor quality metals in original factory rotors caused a significant brake failure on this vehicle which caused braking safety issues and an expensive repair. …
I purchased the 2006 2500hd diesel pickup new. The truck has had poor braking since new and the dealer has always said it functions normally. I have had the dealer do all the maintenance on the truck other than oil and filter changes. The undercarriage of the truck including all lines, brakes rotors, hubs has been rusting since new. The underside of the truck looks like a 20 year old plow truck. On 12-6-2012 I was driving on the highway in traffic and the experienced a complete brake failure. Some how I did not hit anything and was able to get to the shoulder and coast to a stop (very lucky in n.j. Traffic). The brake lines blew the truck was towed back to the dealer and they find the lines are gone as well as the rotors that they replaced about 2 years ago. The pads are still in great shape but the rotors are rusted beyond usability. …
While driving I noticed smoke coming from under the hood and a fluid dripping onto the floor of the truck. Then there was absolutely no brakes. Pedal to the floor. I was able to get it into a parking lot and coasted in neutral til it stopped on a parking curb. The brake line had rusted through and ruptured, and the fluid was spraying into a hole in the firewall and into the cab of the truck. This is the third brake line that has ruptured in such a manner. No warning at all, and then sudden loss of braking. The warning light did not come on until the truck had been sitting for over an hour while I was waiting for a tow, and a large amount of fluid had leaked out. I'm just glad this had happened at a low speed and not on an exit ramp from the freeway. The ruptures are occurring where the lines run flat across a support. This is a poor design.
I brought my 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 hd in for a brake service as normal. Technician installed brakes and rotors and took truck for a test ride. As technician was bringing truck back from the test ride, brake line ruptured and split! This was the rear drivers side brake line located under a plate. Technician said he nearly crashed the truck into another vehicle and had to use the emergency brake and curb to stop the truck! With all the trucks out there, GM's trucks seem to have the highest brake line failure. I am writing to you to inform you of the problem that could endanger the lives of anyone driving the vehicle as well as the people around it! My hope is that GM sees there is a problem and corrects it before any fatalities arise from brake failure!
I am the original owner of this truck was on my way home from shopping, lights on the dash started blinking. I attempted to stop the truck not knowing what was wrong, the brake pedal went to the floor. I stopped the truck with the emergency brake. Opened the hood and the master cylinder was empty. I was close to home so I took the truck home using the emergency brake. I have this truck serviced by the dealer where we bought it new bob hook Chevrolet and also montgomery Chevrolet, who had just serviced this truck and nothing was said about low brake fluid or rusting brake lines. The truck is now in a repair shop waiting for parts. The truck is now not drivable and still at the repair shop.
Was ready to leave work,had foot on brake pedal,it felt spongy started truck,pumped it up it still felt spongy as I got to end of the road I was driving on I went to hit brake for stop sign/the brake pedal went right down to the floor and brake light/check idiot light and message came on dash,oil reminder as service brake failure came on up as the message. Barely was I able to stop had to shift truck to 3 low for additional engine braking as I got up to the intersection and almost blew through the stop sign,drove it bout a mile home,looked under truck and saw brake fluid shooting out and dripping off everything by the gas tank. Haven't driven it since.
Brake complaints in other Sierra 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500, 45% of the model year's 66 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2006 GMC Sierra 2500, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 GMC Sierra 2500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.