The 2006 HUMMER H2 has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Suspension noise over bumps and braking.” Know which Hummer you have, because they share a name and nothing else. The H2 and H3 are GM trucks underneath: oil by the Oil Life Monitor with a 12-month cap, plugs at 100,000 miles, Dex-Cool on a 5-year clock, and driveline fluids around 50,000 under hard use. The H1 is a demilitarized truck with a schedule to match: fluids and inspections on a repeating 12,000-mile cycle, fuel filter elements every 6,000 miles on the diesel, grease fittings every 3,000, plus two systems no other truck on this site has, geared hubs at each wheel and the central tire inflation system, both of which need a specialist who knows them. If you off-road any of these, run the severe schedule without debate.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2006 HUMMER H2.
SUSPENSION
2 NHTSA complaints · 2006-09 → 2006-10
“2006 HUMMER H2 FIXED 3 TIMES FROM DEALER THERE IS A SQUEAK COMING FROM THE REAR PART OF THE VEHICLE THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS SUCH AS A SPEED BUMP ALSO WHEN STOPPING AND GOING...AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY”
“BRAKES ARE VERY NOISY (SQUEAKING) DEALER GRINDED DOWN BRAKE PADS AND REMOVED AND SANDED THE ROTORS. STILL HAVE SQUEAK NOT AS BAD”
SERVICE BRAKES
2 NHTSA complaints · 2015-10 → 2015-11
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO RUPTURE AND LEAK”
“WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5 NHTSA complaints · 2009-08 → 2018-03
“FAILURE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE & PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS; CAUSES EXHAUST GASES TO FILL ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BYPASSES THE CATALYTIC EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT”
“EXHAUST BOLTS BROKEN , LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INTO VEHICLE , ENGINE FIRE ???? CITY DRIVING”
“2006 HUMMER H2 SUT 6.0 LITER ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF. *KB”
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
4 NHTSA complaints · 2007-07 → 2019-07
“AFTER CALLING A TOW TRUCK AND HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THE CONTROL ARM BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF THEREFORE LOSING TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CARS STEERING CAPABILITY”
“WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO A CANAL. THE TOW MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE”
“STEERING IS VERY SLOPPY AND VAGUE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THERE IS TOO MUCH NON ACTIVE MOVEMENT TO CORRECT DIRECTION”
AIR BAGS
2 NHTSA complaints · 2010-04 → 2014-04
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
“WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE ON-STAR SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-05 → 2025-06
“The contact stated that an abnormal electrical burning odor was coming from the vehicle”
“The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds with the A/C activated, the contact became aware of an abnormal burning electrical odor”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
2 NHTSA complaints · 2012-10 → 2016-08
“VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT FIRE AT THE BASE OF THE TOP SITTING AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, FLAMES FROM FIRE MELTED THE OVER HEAD INTERIOR LIGHT AND IGNITED A FIRE ON THE HEAD LINER”
“ALSO THE HEATING UNIT ON MY DRIVER SEAT RANDOMLY COMES ON BY ITSELF AND WON'T SHUT OFF”
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2 NHTSA complaints · 2012-02 → 2013-10
“THEY DID A SMOKE TEST AND FOUND OUT THE FUEL PUMP UNIT WAS ALL RUSTED OUT AND ALSO THE STRAPS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN WAS ALL RUSTED OUT”
“HEAVY FUMES ARE PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED AND PERSISTS UNTIL THE FUEL GAUGE READS 7/8 OF A TANK”
Note: NHTSA also opened 2 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 1, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
H2/H3: per the Oil Life Monitor, at least annually. H1 diesels: every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on use, and the 6.5 turbodiesel earns the short end. Chassis grease with every change on H1s.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate with oil services; these are heavy trucks that eat front tires. H1: verify CTIS inflate and deflate function at every service.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
At every service. H2 brakes work hard against 6,600 pounds; budget accordingly.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
GM published no interval in this era; every 2 to 3 years is sound practice, sooner with water crossings.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
The H1's tune-up item: drain and check at every service, replace the element every 6,000 miles. Diesel injection systems die from dirty fuel, not age.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$250
Shop
~$135–$175
DIY
~$20–$60
On many modern cars the filter lives inside the fuel tank and is lifetime — verify before paying for a 'service'.
100,000 miles with the factory iridium plugs on both the H3's five-cylinder and the V8s. The H1 diesel has none.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
H2/H3: inspect at oil changes, replace around 50,000 miles, far sooner in dust. H1: clean or replace every 6,000 miles; it lives in dust.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
50,000 miles severe, 100,000 normal on H2/H3, and almost every Hummer qualifies as severe. H1: transmission serviced on the 12,000-mile cycle.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Every 50,000 miles under severe or off-road use on H2/H3 (Dexron VI per GM's updated spec); on the H1's 12,000-mile cycle.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Front and rear diffs around 50,000 miles with off-road or towing use. H1s add geared hubs at each corner, checked at every service; hub fluid is an H1 specialist item that must not be skipped.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$150–$195
Shop
~$105–$135
DIY
~$20–$50
Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
H2/H3: Dex-Cool, 5 years or 150,000 miles. H1: the AM General schedule flushes far more often; follow it.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Inspected at services, replaced on condition; every 6,000-mile check on the H1 schedule.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2006 HUMMER H2 reflects Hummer's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life Monitor (H2/H3) system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.