Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Chevrolet Uplander problems

Owners filed 158 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Uplander with NHTSA between Feb 2006 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (42).

Complaints
158
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system42
  2. Structure34
  3. Steering27
  4. Suspension20
  5. Latches/locks/linkages15
  6. Fuel system, gasoline14
  7. Tires13
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic13
  9. Exterior lighting12
  10. Power train10
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)8
  12. Service brakes8
  13. Air bags7
  14. Fuel/propulsion system4

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200622
200718
200825
200911
201012
201116
201210
201310
201411
20154
20163
20172
20185
20192
20202
20213
20221
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

42 reports
“THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ME AND MY GRAND DAUGHTER ARE HEADED OUT SHOPPING ON HIGHWAY 26 IN OREGON SUMMIT HIWAY THE RIG JUST SHUTS DOWN CKICKING THE DOORS WINDOWS MADE FUNNY NOISE AND GAS DOESN'T READ FULL WHEN FULL ,LIGHTS DIME AT NIGHT DASH LIGHTS GO OUT YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE LITTLE DASH BOARD THING TO MAKE THEM GO BACK ON SIDE MIRRORS WON'T ADJUST WITH PANEL IN DOOR ,AND JUST THIS PAST WEEK STARTED DOING SAME THING SHUT DOWN COME BACK ON OFF BY ITSELF SO HAD PULLED STARTER,BRAND NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ALL GOOD THIS HAS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SEEINGS HOW I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS ON A VERY CURVY ROADS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11387796

Structure

34 reports
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise and noticed that the rear driver’s side door had intermittently became inoperable. The check fuel cap warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 200,050. The VIN was not provided.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2023StructureODI 11554899

Steering

27 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“I LOOKED UP EVERY PROBLEM AN RECALL FOR THE 2006 CHEVY UPLANDER CAUSE WE BOUGHT THE VAN WHEN IT HAD 40,000 MILES SINCE WE GOT IT IT WAS IN AN OUT GETTING FIXED THE SIDING DOORS WOULD JUST OPEN THE ELECTRICAL WAS AN IS ALL MESSED UP THE BACK SUSPENSION MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WE HAD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION THE STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE ARE VAN HAS EVERY PROBLEM AN RECALL THAT IS LISTED ABOUT THIS VAN BUT WHEN I BUT THE VIN IT SAID THAT IT HAS NONE THAT'S BULL IT'S HAS MORE THEN THEN EVEN HAVE LISTED THIS VAN WAS AN IS A LEMON SINCE WE GOT IT AN EVERYONE FROM THE BEGINNING DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT NOW IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN THE LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF AN ON, THE TEMP SHOOT TO HOT AN IT SHUT OFF PLEASE HELP ME AN MY WIFE WE HAVE THREE KIDS AN THIS VAN IS ALL WE HAVE WE PAID FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING OUT OF POCKET AN NOW WE CAN'T TO ME GM SHOULD FIX EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH IT AN ADD THE RECALLS THAT IT HAS OR IS THIS THE TYPE OF VAN THEY SELL I JUST DON'T NO HOW THIS MUCH CAN GO WRONG WITH ONE VAN THAT HAS NO RECALLS WE WHERE DRIVING IT WHEN THE STEERING WENT I DON'T NO HOW WE ARE STILL LIVING AN DID NOT WRECK SAME WITH TONIGHT WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE AN OUT JUST WENT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2018Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11154657

Suspension

20 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V110000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RYDELL CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1325 E SAN MARNAN DR, WATERLOO, IA 50702, (319) 433-4871) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2019SuspensionODI 11220969

Latches/locks/linkages

15 reports1 fire
“ELECTRONIC FAILURES: ELECTRIC DOOR OPENER ON PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED REPLACEMENT HARNESS DUE TO LACK OF PROPER PENNING AND FAILURE TO CLOSE; OCCURRED JAN 2012 IN 2006 CHEVY UPLANDER;. SIMILAR PROBLEM ON PASSENGER SIDE 2 WEEKS LATER AND DOOR OPENED WHILE BACKING UP.. ALTERNATOR FAILURE NEEDED REPLACEMENT JULY 2011; FAILURE OF GAS GAUGE TO FUNCTION AFTER FILL UP ON 6 OCCASIONS. SELF CORRECTED EACH TIME AFTER10 TO 20 MILES OF DRIVING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2011Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10413204

Fuel system, gasoline

14 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO BE RESTARTED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, EngineODI 10576036
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.