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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system42
- Structure34
- Steering27
- Suspension20
- Latches/locks/linkages15
- Fuel system, gasoline14
- Tires13
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Exterior lighting12
- Power train10
- Electronic stability control (esc)8
- Service brakes8
- Air bags7
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
22
18
25
11
12
16
10
10
11
4
3
2
5
2
2
3
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 25 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 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
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”
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.”
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…”
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.”
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”
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”
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.