2006 Hummer H3 Problems and Recalls (360 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2006 Hummer H3 is Engine (21% of 360 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 360 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2006 Hummer H3?

77 of 360 filings named Engine (21% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (63 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Body / frame, and Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2006 Hummer H3

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 77 complaints · 21.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 10
  • Fires 26
  • Injuries 8
  • Deaths 1
All Hummer H3 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 77 of 360 owner complaints (21.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 77 complaints, 21.4% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 77 · 21.4% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 63 complaints, 17.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 15 fire reports 63 · 17.5% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 48 complaints, 13.3% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 8 fire reports 48 · 13.3% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 26 complaints, 7.2% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 26 · 7.2% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 24 complaints, 6.7% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 24 · 6.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 19 complaints, 5.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 crash reports 19 · 5.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 17 complaints, 4.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 crash reports 17 · 4.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 11 complaints, 3.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 11 · 3.1% Steering (STEERING): 10 complaints, 2.8% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 crash reports 10 · 2.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 128 complaints, 35.6% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 5 crash reports 3 fire reports 128 · 35.6% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 77 21.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 63 17.5% 0 crashes · 15 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 48 13.3% 0 crashes · 8 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 26 7.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 24 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 19 5.3% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 17 4.7% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 11 3.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 10 2.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 128 35.6% 5 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2005; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2005. 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2006-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2006-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2007-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2007-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2009-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2010-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2011-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2011-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2011-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2012-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2012-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2015-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2016-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2016-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2005 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 05V552000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V552000 Recall campaign 06V417000 ◆ Recall campaign 06V417000 Recall campaign 10V179000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V179000 Recall campaign 15V421000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V421000
  • Campaign 05V552000 was reported 71 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06V417000 was reported 8 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V179000 was reported 1,438 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V421000 was reported 3,564 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 5
2006-Q3 Owner reports 6
2006-Q4 Owner reports 9
2007-Q1 Owner reports 5
2007-Q2 Owner reports 6
2007-Q3 Owner reports 2
2007-Q4 Owner reports 3
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 3
2008-Q4 Owner reports 5
2009-Q1 Owner reports 3
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 2
2010-Q1 Owner reports 5
2010-Q2 Owner reports 9
2010-Q3 Owner reports 10
2010-Q4 Owner reports 7
2011-Q1 Owner reports 8
2011-Q2 Owner reports 8
2011-Q3 Owner reports 8
2011-Q4 Owner reports 4
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 10
2012-Q3 Owner reports 11
2012-Q4 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 7
2013-Q2 Owner reports 4
2013-Q3 Owner reports 7
2013-Q4 Owner reports 4
2014-Q1 Owner reports 10
2014-Q2 Owner reports 8
2014-Q3 Owner reports 9
2014-Q4 Owner reports 3
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 3
2015-Q3 Owner reports 15
2015-Q4 Owner reports 21
2016-Q1 Owner reports 27
2016-Q2 Owner reports 5
2016-Q3 Owner reports 10
2016-Q4 Owner reports 5
2017-Q1 Owner reports 8
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 6
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 4
2018-Q2 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 4
2019-Q1 Owner reports 7
2019-Q2 Owner reports 3
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 3
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q3 Owner reports 1
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 05V552000
Recall campaign 1 06V417000
Recall campaign 1 10V179000
Recall campaign 1 15V421000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Body / frame, and Glass / wipers / cameras.

  1. Recall campaign 05V552000

    Safety recall 05V552000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06V417000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.
    Remedy:
    BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 10V179000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    IF THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT COULD STRIKE A FOLLOWING VEHICLE AND CAUSE INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL APPLY AN ADHESIVE TO THE HOOD LOUVER TO SECURE IT TO THE HOOD. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HUMMER AT 800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 15V421000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    If the blower motor connector module overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace part of the blower motor connector and harness, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Hummer customer service at 1-800-732-5493. GM's number for this recall is 15042.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 360 complaints · page 1 of 15
2026-07-21Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11751883
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2026-01-14Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11710957
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2006 Hummer H3. The contact stated that the frame was rusted on the driver's side. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact looked underneath the vehicle and was able to see through the subframe. The contact also noticed cracks in sub frame. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined there was an issue with the temperature sensor. While receiving an oil change, it was determined that the subframe was rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
2025-11-11Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11698835
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The blower resistor and harness needs replaced it looks like it caught fire or default
2025-08-09Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11679484
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was trying to get away from a stranger that was following me that was threatening and scary and when I got in the my Hummer h3 it wouldn't start its the ANTI THEFT that's thinking the car is being stolen this is happened several times of the car not starting i went to Google and YouTube and there's hundreds of videos complaining and giving instructions on waiting 10 min before trying to start the car , this is very dangerous especially for woman and it needs to be recalled and fixed before someone really gets hurt or killed , I was on scared
2025-01-02Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11633569
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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!
2024-12-28Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11632836
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Was driving this vehicle about 45 mph and began to shake violently. Was able to get it slowed down and back under control. Happened two more times on my drive home and took it to an auto repair shop today and found the frame is broken on both sides in front of rear leaf springs.
2024-08-27Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11611276
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Was heading home from work and the 2006 Hummer H3 shut off while traveling in the middle of traffic was able to cruise in Nuetral until I could stop to start car again started car and yet again I receive a cylinder misfire code which has been repaired on multiple attempts still no success. I am going to end up either crashing or an emergency vehichle will be trying to get by and I can't move because the motor shut down.
2024-08-23Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11610460
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Sunroof leaking creating water to leak into the driver seat, passenger seat, speakers on the door. Water trickling down from the Onstar system while parked and in motion this is a safety hazard. The only resolution that is given from GM is to blow out the hose to the sunroof, that’s not helping this issue is creating mole into the vehicle and once again it’s hazardous when driving As the water raining inside as well as outside of the vehicle. please help not seeing any recalls for this Manufacturing defect.
2024-08-22Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11610345
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine has very bad rough idle after multiple attempts to repair will get a misfire code often that goes on and comes off engine has rough idle to the point where truck shuts off completely while waiting at traffic light. My safety is at risk as this could happen during driving causing a wreck or during a light change when the emergency vehicles need me to move over and my truck don't run. Vehicle was inspected by multiple mechanic and still has issues. Check engine light comes on at time of motor failure or when rough idle.
2023-11-22WHEELS
NHTSA ODI 11556476
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Frame Rust Entire frame needs replaced

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2006 Hummer H3?

Owners named Engine most often — 77 of 360 reports (21%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Hummer H3?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Body / frame, and Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2006 Hummer H3?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources