This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 GMC Sierra suspension problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1fire
What stands out
Among the 17 model years of GMC Sierra in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have grease leaking from front hub bearings. Technician should not replace the bearing for grease purge. Technician should be advised to not clean the purged grease from the area immediately on or adjacent to the seals because this grease provides additional protection. Technician should only replace the bearing if the seals show visible damage, bearing endplay is greater than 0.005" or 0.13mm, bearing exhibits rough rotation, or bearing exhibits abnormal noise.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUSPENSION VIBRATION OR FRAME BEAMING AT 40 - 60 MPH. UPDATED 8/25/08.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗EATON LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL CHATTER SHUDDER NOISE ON TURNS, EQUIPPED WITH A LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL RPO G80. UPDATED 7/17/2008.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗INSPECTION OF TIRE AND WHEEL SIZE PRIOR TO DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL CONCERNS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Front wheel hub assembly failures dominate this cluster. Owners report sealed hub assemblies—which contain non-serviceable wheel bearings and are bolted as one complete unit—failing and causing wheel wobble, ABS warnings, and steering pull. In the worst case, both bearings were completely destroyed with only the brake caliper keeping the wheel on. Replacement is expensive since the entire assembly must be swapped out; one owner had to do this three times. One catastrophic failure involved a brake line rupture and underhood fire at 70 mph after bearing burnout, requiring axle and brake system replacement.
Front wheel bearing looseness is a separate issue—bearings either wear or come loose prematurely, signaled by grinding noise, steering wobble at highway speed, and ABS light activation. One bearing failure caused steering to become unresponsive before impact.
Rear leaf springs wear or fail, producing thunking over bumps. The truck sits lower than factory spec in at least one case despite no towing or heavy loads, suggesting a durability problem.
General suspension noise—grinding, banging, rattling—plagues several owners. One took the truck to the dealer five times for violent shaking over minor bumps; the service manager admitted the ride was unacceptable but provided no fix. Another had front torsion bar mount issues; a third had insufficient shocks. Undercarriage rust is accelerating brake line and frame deterioration.
Same GMC Sierra suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Front wheel hub assembly failure
Sealed front hub assemblies containing wheel bearings fail prematurely, with one documented case showing both bearings completely destroyed and the wheel held only by the brake caliper. Hub assembly is non-serviceable and requires complete replacement.
When: 40,000 to 322,566 miles; one case at 77,465 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illumination; Vehicle pulling to the right; Front wheel tilted inboard; Rattling noise on gravel or rough surfaces; Excessive brake vibration; Wheel wobbling side to side; One case involved brake line rupture and underhood fire after bearing failure
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light
Repairs/costs cited: New hub assembly installation required; one owner reports hub assembly replaced three times; brake disc also replaced in one case; brake line and brake components required replacement in fire incident case; aftermarket hub assemblies denied coverage in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer sealed wheel bearings in hub assembly design (non-field-serviceable per complaints); NHTSA Campaign 06E050000 referenced for service brakes; no recall mentioned for hub bearing itself; GM did not provide assistance in one warranty-expired case
Front wheel bearing looseness or wear
Front wheel bearings become loose or worn, causing steering instability and noise. One case documented bearings that were simply loose rather than failed, suggesting potential assembly or retention issues.
When: Early mileage ranges documented
Symptoms owners cite: Left front wheel wobbled side to side at highway speeds; Popping sound while turning steering wheel; Grinding noise while in motion; Loud grinding noise followed by ABS light and reduced steering responsiveness; Steering less responsive
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light activation
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel bearing replacement; in one case, bearings were simply re-tightened or replaced
Leaf spring failure (rear)
Right rear tensioner leaf spring wears or fails, causing suspension noise. Owner reports truck appears lower than factory height and leans to one side, suggesting potential design or durability issue unrelated to owner use.
When: Specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Thunking noise while driving over bumps; Vehicle appears lower than factory height; Vehicle leans to one side
Repairs/costs cited: Right rear tensioner leaf spring replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer fixed under warranty without clear explanation of root cause
Torsion bar mount failure (front)
Left front torsion bar mount develops play or fails, causing suspension noise and excessive sway.
When: Specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Banging underneath driver's feet over slight bumps; Loose front end sway
Repairs/costs cited: Left front torsion bar mount replaced
Shock absorber inadequacy
Factory shocks are insufficient for road conditions, allowing excessive bouncing on uneven surfaces.
When: Specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bounces uncontrollably when hitting ruts in road
Repairs/costs cited: Larger shocks installed at dealership
General suspension noise and vibration (undiagnosed)
Chronic suspension shaking and rattling across multiple systems that dealers struggled to diagnose or repair. One dealer stated no fix was available; another claimed it was a vehicle characteristic. Owner reports violent shaking on small bumps and expansion joints, with fifth visit to dealer yielding no resolution.
When: Specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking over smallest bumps or expansion joints; Rattling noise in front end on gravel or rough roads; Excessive shaking while braking at 55 mph; Vehicle uncontrollable on wet pavement; Motion sickness induced; Rattling and shaking going downhill while braking
Repairs/costs cited: Front passenger side wheel hub replaced in one case; dealer unable to duplicate problem in another; dealer claimed no fix available after 5 return visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed as 'characteristic of the vehicle' in one case
Undercarriage corrosion and brake line deterioration
Rust issues on undercarriage components including fuel and brake lines deteriorate, with suspension and frame also showing corrosion damage. One case linked to brake line rupture and fire after wheel bearing failure.
When: At least since 2007 per one narrative; fire incident at 70 mph with brake line failure
Symptoms owners cite: Undercarriage rust; Brake line deterioration requiring replacement; Frame and suspension deterioration; Brake line rupture and underhood fire
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel and brake lines required replacement; axle and all brake components replaced after fire incident
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2006 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2006 GMC Sierra?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 15,000 and 77,465 miles, with the median around 28,427. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 77,465. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/GMC/Sierra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.