Chevrolet UPLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
583 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 486 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 117 of 583 complaints (20.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 128 | 22.0% |
| Steering behavior | 65 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 11.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 36 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 117 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 79 |
| Steering | 51 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 41 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 39 |
| Structure:Body | 37 |
| Suspension | 35 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 33 |
Electrical System: 117; Structure:Body:Door: 79; Steering: 51; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 41; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 39; Structure:Body: 37; Suspension: 35; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 33
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 153 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 89 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 86 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 54 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 65 |
| 150,000 and above | 39 |
Under 25,000: 153; 25,000 to 49,999: 89; 50,000 to 74,999: 86; 75,000 to 99,999: 54; 100,000 to 149,999: 65; 150,000 and above: 39
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (153). 97 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 47 |
| 2007 | 61 |
| 2008 | 66 |
| 2009 | 44 |
| 2010 | 53 |
| 2011 | 56 |
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2013 | 41 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 19; 2006: 47; 2007: 61; 2008: 66; 2009: 44; 2010: 53; 2011: 56; 2012: 31; 2013: 41; 2014: 65; 2015: 28; 2016: 12; 2017: 14; 2018: 17; 2019: 8; 2020: 8; 2021: 8; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 128 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 64 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10126663 · 2005-06-27 (June 27, 2005)
MAY 1, SERVICE STABILITRAK SYSTEM MESSAGE CAME ON, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STOPPED ON OWN. ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE IT STOPPED AGAIN. THIS REPEATED ABOUT 20 TIMES. THE BRAKES ENGAGED ALL 4 WHEELS WITHOUT PRESSING THE PEDAL EACH TIME. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE IT WORKS FINE. MAY 2 GOING 65 MPH ON I-275, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT NOTICE. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD (LUCKY). IT WAS LIKE SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ON A SLICK ROAD (WITHOUT USING THE PEDAL). DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE REASON,…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,926 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137504 · 2005-09-24 (September 24, 2005)
MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN FROM OUR HOME 7 MILES AWAY TO THE MAGGIE MOO'S ICE CREAM SHOP. SHE WENT IN TO THE STORE TO PURCHASE SOME ICE CREAM FOR MY KIDS AND HER MOM WHO STAYED IN THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS LEFT RUNNING BECAUSE OF THE HEAT. WHEN SHE RETURNED SHE BACKED THE VEHICLE UP WITH NO PROBLEM BUT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL FORWARD SHE HEARD THE WRONGEST NOISE EMANATE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHE HAS EVER HEARD AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND BUMPED AND CAME TO A GRINDING HALT. I DID NOT THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO BAD AS SHE EXPLAINED TO ME WHEN I…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122339 · 2005-05-27 (May 27, 2005)
I AM ENTERING THIS CONCERN ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WERE INJURED WITH ONE FATALITY IN A SINGLE VEHICLE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE INCIDENT OCURRED ON I65 SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA AND MOBILE, ALABAMA ON MAY 17, 2005. MY AUNT [XXX] DIED AS A RESULT OF INJURIES. MY MOTHER [XXX] REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE UNIV. OF SOUTH ALABAMA MEDICAL CENTER IN MOBILE, AL. MY COUSIN [XXX] HAS NECK INJURIES AND HAS BEEN RELEASED. MY FATHER [XXX] AND NEPHEWS ([XXX] AND [XXX]) SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. MY FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147093 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. VEHICLE SPEED DOES NOT AFFECT THE SOUND OR VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE LOCAL DEALER NEVER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THEM ON A SERVICE INVOICE "RUB MARKS ON THE LEFT DRIVE AXLE, THE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125600 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
ACTUATING BAR FOR WINDSHIELD WIPERS CUTTING INTO WIRING HARNESS CAUSING FAILURES TO WIRES CUT, PRIMARILY HEADLIGHTS. A TOTAL OF SEVEN WIRES WERE CUT. DEALERSHIP FIXED WIRES AND HAD TO FASTEN WIRING HARNESS TO WINSHIELD WIPER FLUID TANK NECK WITH ELECTRICAL TIES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149970 · 2006-02-10 (February 10, 2006)
AFTER 30 DAYS OF OWNING 2005 CHEVY UPLANDER, DEALERSHIP HAD TO SEND A TOW TRUCK TO COME PICK MY VAN UP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS IT HAS STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. TO THE POINT THEY HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE JERKING SENSATION WHEN PUTTING THE VAN INTO REVERSE IS STILL THERE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,997 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182026 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 11,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED IT INSTEAD OF REPLACING, IT AND IT CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE NEW ONE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 16 DAYS, AND THE NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE RESEALED. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION WAS STICKING IN THE START MODE FOR 2 MINUTES AFTER RELEASING THE KEY. THE PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR DID NOT LATCH SHUT, NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT AP…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131568 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IF THE GASOLINE TANK IS BELOW A HALF A TANK AND ON A HILL. CONTACT'S WIFE HIT A GARAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE WAS PREGNANT, AND ALSO HAD A TWO MONTH OLD SON THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, AND THEIR ANSWER WAS NOT TO LET THE VEHICLE GO BELOW A HALF TANK. THERE WAS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND TOLD HIM TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10131568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167125 · 2006-08-31 (August 31, 2006)
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE GAS TANK FILLER NECK, THE FLAP AT THE NECK IS MISSING AND MAY HAVE FALLEN IN THE GAS TANK. UPLANDER VAN HAS 7,800 MILES ON VEHICLE. I WILL REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER CASA CHEV. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216498 · 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)
CHEVY UPLANDER BROKE DOWN IN DRIVEWAY. DEALER TOWED SAID IT STARTED FINE FOR THEM BUT THAT THE BATTERY CELLS WERE LOW SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. THEY SAID IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. ON MY WAY HOME FROM DEALERSHIP THE VAN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO TURN SLIGHTLY BUT WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED. DEALER NOW THINKS IT IS FUEL PUMP HOWEVER SOMETHING IS STILL DRAINING BATTERY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE I GOT IT BRAND NEW AND ALREADY REPLACED STEERIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216498 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 0