Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Chevrolet Uplander problems
Owners filed 196 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander with NHTSA between Apr 2005 and Feb 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (57).
Complaints
196
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
31
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system57
- Structure45
- Latches/locks/linkages45
- Exterior lighting13
- Suspension13
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Steering9
- Power train9
- Seat belts8
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Equipment7
- Seats6
- Wheels5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
19
25
38
24
17
12
14
3
12
12
3
3
4
6
3
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 25 |
| 2007 | 38 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
57 reports2 crashes1 fire
“DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AT NIGHT, THE IGNITION SWITCH RUN POSITION ROTATED TO OFF AND THE ENGINE AND ALL HEADLIGHTS, DASH, ETC, SHUTDOWN ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE INCIDENT HAS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND 340,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY WAY TO GET ROLLING IS TO PUT THE AUTO TRANS LEVER TO NEUTRAL AND TWIST THE IGNITION KEY TO CRANK POSITION AND LET KEY SETTLE TO RUN POSITION. THE IGNITION SWITCH ITSELF HAS A SPRING DETENT AND IT SETS IN A POCKET AT RUN. SO THIS SWITCH HAS A SPRING THAT OVER TIME WEAKENS AND ALLOWS THE WHOLE KEY CYLINDER ANS SWITCH TO DROP OUT OF RUN AND SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICAL. SOLUTION WAS TO PUT IN A NEW SWITCH OR JUST USE A SINGLE KEY INSTEAD OF A FULL SET OF KEYS HANGING FROM THE KEY SLOT.. THE FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH RUNS 350$, PRTS AND LABOR.”
Structure
45 reports
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN I-75 IN MICHIGAN DOING ~75MPH, I FEEL A SHARP TUG THEN A SWAY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND INSPECTED IT. THE WELDS ON THE BODY TO THE ATTACHING POINT OF THE REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WAS TRACKING SIDEWAYS. THANK GOD NOTHING BAD HAPPENED, WE HAD ALL SIX OF OUR KIDS WITH US WHEN IT WENT OUT AT 75MPH.”
Latches/locks/linkages
45 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE DOOR HAD OPENED INDEPENDENTLY ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RELAY PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155,000. RETURNED BY USPS. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 3/15/2013 AND 4/9/2013 FAILED. *KB”
Exterior lighting
13 reports1 fire
“MY VAN HESITATES BETWEEN 2 AND 3 RPM'S. ESPECIALLY GOING UP A HILL, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL BLINK FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON..THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS MALFUNCTIONING.. WHEEL BEARING IN THE REAR NEED REPLACEMENT.. AND THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.. RADIO SKIPS, INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK AT ALL.. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT DOESN'T HEAT. THERES BARELY ANY HEAT EVEN WHEN GAUGE READS THE ENGINE IS NORMALLY WARM..”
Suspension
13 reports1 crash1 related recall
“2005 CHEVY UPLANDER LT. UNDERCARRIAGE RUSTED ON BACK PASSENGER SIDE WITHIN 9 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL FROM THE BODY OF VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING, YOU CAN HEAR/FEEL CLUNKING/SQUEAKING NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE TIRE IS GOING TO COME COMPLETELY OFF THE CAR. AREA AFFECTED CANNOT BE REPLACED NOR WELDED AS THIS CAN BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE IMAGES THAT CAN BE SENT VIA EMAIL.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
13 reports
“ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER BRAKES WERE REPLACED BY CHEVROLET MECHANIC. TOOK BACK AND WAS TOLD NEEDED NEW FRONT WHEEL HUB. HUB WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE, AND ABS LIGHT WAS RESET BY CHEVROLET CERTIFIED MECHANIC. ABS LIGHT CAME BACK ON BEFORE LEFT THE PARKING LOT, BUT MECHANIC SAID IT WAS OKAY AND HE WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT. LEFT ON VACATION THE NEXT DAY. NEWLY REPLACED BRAKES MADE HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISES ALL THROUGHOUT TRIP. ALSO BEGAN GETTING INTERMITTENT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" AND "SERVICE ABS SYSTEM" WARNINGS. CRAWLED UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND WIRES TO THE NEW WHEEL HUB WERE BROKEN AT WHEEL HUB. WIRES WERE FOR THE WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR, AS IT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. REPLACED WHEEL HUB AGAIN AT OUR EXPENSE, BECAUSE CHEVROLET CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID FIRST HUB WASN'T INSTALLED IMPROPERLY, BUT ALSO SAID THE ONLY WAY THE WIRES COULD HAVE BECOME TORN WOULD BE IF IT HAD BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WERE OUT FOR ABOUT ONE (1) WEEK. SECOND REPLACEMENT HUB AND WIRING ARE STILL INTACT, BUT STILL HAVE CONTINUOUS ABS LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHT AS WELL AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WARNINGS. DIFFERENT CHEVROLET CERTIFIED…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.