Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Hummer H3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On the electrical, I refer to my air conditioning and heater. When I have my air selection to coldest and I drop 1 click for it to be less cool, my heater turns on and at times it smells like something burning. I have to turn it off . On the engine, after I hit 90,000 miles, I have to fill up my engine oil every 2-3 weeks because my vehicle is burning it quick or something. It doesn't leak oil at all. The oil just seems like it's burning somewhere and I ha e to be waisting money to buy oil $30 to $60 a month. Please help. Thank you!
Theses templates dosent recognize the key and kicks on the security system which stops the motor from turning on. So you are stuck for 10 minutes then you can try again all so sometimes the motor tries to turn on by just sticking the key in the ignition before you even turn it. By looking at youtube alot of the H3s and the Colorados do this
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. While driving 15 MPH, the passenger side (underneath the glove box) caught on fire without warning. The person from the parking lot extinguished the fire. The fire department arrived, but the fire was already extinguished. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (lakeside Chevrolet Buick, 10215 w main rd, north east, pa 16428; [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the dashboard, windshield, wire harness, and carpets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V421000 and 10V179000 (visibility, structure). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. When the ignition was turned to the on position, the heat was activated, but failed to engage. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the dashboard. The failure recurred continuously. The contact also observed that the resister and the wire harness were melted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V421000 (visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor under the dashboard by the heater. In addition, the vehicle stalled and had trouble restarting. This was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the plug to the heater was burned and the battery needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. The contact stated that a fire started under the front driver's seat and the wiring harness melted. The contact stated that the positive wire was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V421000 (visibility). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the air conditioner was activated and began to power on and off independently. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal burning odor. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Was traveling through a parking lot, noticed a glow from the corner of my eye, and something drip from under the passenger glovebox. There was a funny smell. I immediately stopped, and told my passenger to get out, and noticed a fire under the passenger glovebox. I tried pouring milk and juice on the fire to put it out under the dash but it didn't put the fire completely out. Bystanders helped with fire extinguishers but it didn't help much either, the fire moved through the firewall and was under the hood. The car quickly went up in flames and the fire department was called to put out the fire. Once the fire started, the doors didn't automatically unlock when I shut off the car. I was not able to get the back doors open since there is no key entry and it's all electronic. …
GM has a security system called passlock that over time seems to fail and trips a "failure" and flashes a key symbol on the dash and disables starting your vehicle until it resets 10 minutes later. This occurs to my wife almsot 50% of the time she tries to start her vehicle. So far GM has come forward with a fix yet I've seen posts on Hummer forumns from hundreds of owners. This has many safety concerns as well as just being a general annoyance: 1) in las vegas we routinely see tempatures over 110f. If the system trips and you have to wait 10 minutes in that heat it can be deadly 2) missing appontments or being late to work because you vehicle intentionally is disabling itself it unacceptable 3) groceries cold/frozen stuck in the heat for 10 minutes waiting for a reset get ruined 4) my wife when alone is stuck waiting outside the vehicle in the heat or locking herself inside waiting for …
The H3 will not start. Dash screen keeps showing the passlock activated and won't turn off. Computer thinks the H3 is being stolen. I have tried to reset and no luck. I had this problem about 4 weeks ago and changed the fuel pump. Then it happened again last week and now on 28 March 2020. Engine is turning over and electrical systems light up, but sounds like fuel is not getting into the fuel pump again. After doing some research, finding others having the same problem. Recommended procedure is to wait 10 min, still no luck. Waiting 15 min seemed to work before, but now it doesn't. How am I supposed to be safely in the vehicle, drive somewhere and then it stalls again? I am the original owner and haven't had this issue until it started 4 weeks ago. What if this happens while I am driving on the highway and fuel stops going to the pump? This could cause a multi-vehicle accident.
Electrical complaints in other H3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2006 Hummer H3?
NHTSA has 96 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Hummer H3, 27% of the model year's 362 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Hummer H3 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2006 Hummer H3, though it has 4 recalls 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 Hummer H3 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 19 fires and 1 injury to electrical system 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.