2006 Chevrolet Express 3500

Routine

Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › rear/other. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering2
000
Seat Belts › Rear/Other2
000
Tires › Valve1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Seats1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility14V706000
Filed Nov 5, 201434 vehiclesCummings Mobility Conversion & Supply

Defect. Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Risk. If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Remedy. Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seats
Filed Apr 3, 2017VA

DRIVERS SEAT WAS LOOSE AND ON INSPECTION DEALER FOUND THAT THE RAIL WAS BROKEN, THE VAN ONLY HAS 72785 MILES. IF THE SEAT HAD COME LOSE WHILE VAN WAS IN MOTION, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AND ACCIDENT. I NOTICED IT WHEN I TOOK THE VAN FOR INSPECTION.

Tires › Valve
Filed Feb 12, 201530,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE ROTTED. THE VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Mar 6, 20146,000 milesTX

WE PURCHASED AN EXPRESS VAN IN THE SPRING OF 2006. TRUCK ENGINE BLEW UP AT 6000 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IN JANUARY 2014, WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT STALLED 3 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER, ON FRIDAY THE 24TH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WE THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT THIS POINT THEY TOLD US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD JUST OVER 32,000 MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION BLEW UP IN JANUARY OF 2014. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL AND WAS TAKEN BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAD A BUSHING BROKEN IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THIS VAN CONTINUES TO STALL AND AT TIMES FAILS TO START. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE STALLING PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS THE SAME AS THE CARS THAT ARE PART OF THE RECALL AND EXPRESS VANS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT AS OF MARCH 2014. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 10, 201382,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE WEAR OF THE STEERING DUE TO THE PITMAN ARM ROLLING AGAINST THE OUTER AND INNER TIE ROD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 25, 201385,000 milesAZ

PAINT (WHITE) IS FALLING OFF VAN AT HOOD, SIDES AND MOSTLY ON AREAS WHERE THESES WELDED AREAS...DEALER SAID THEY NEVER SEEN THIS ISSUE?? I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME ISSUE ON OTHER VANS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 26, 201112,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CUTAWAY G3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. HE QUICKLY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WAS ABLE TO IDLE THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE WARRANTY COMPANY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Fuel System, DieselCrash1 injured
Filed May 25, 201036,000 milesMD

PERSON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE 2006 GM CHEVROLET TRUCK EXPRESS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOTHING WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. *TR

Steering
Filed May 8, 2008ND

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING CENTER LINK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CONNECTS THE TIE RODS TO THE WHEEL, MOVES ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE TIRE TREAD TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN SLIPPERY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 9, 2008100 milesMI

2006 CHEVY EXPRESS 3500 CARGO VAN WITH DURAMAX ENGINE AND 4L80 TRANSMISSION MADE A 'WHINING' NOISE AT SLOW SPEEDS SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES I FINALLY CONVINCED THE DEALERSHIP SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT HAD SOME KIND OF BAD BEARING AT THE REAR OF TRANSMISSION. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. 7,000 MILES LATER THE VAN SUDDENLY LOST REVERSE GEAR AND I HAD TO GET IT PUSHED IN ORDER TO BACK UP. GM IS REPLACING SOME PARTS, BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. FROM OTHER POSTS ON YOUR WEBSITE THIS TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN UNSAFE PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Feb 12, 200810,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 45-60 MINUTES, IT WAS FOUND SMOKING AND ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (NUMBER PE08010) FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 3/19/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED INSURANCE ADJUSTER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO BE DEEMED AS TOTALED. UPDATED 03/19/08 *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Sep 11, 2007500 milesTX

WE PURCHASED A CHEVY EXPRESS 15-PASSENGER VAN IN APRIL 2006. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT THREE FAILURES OF THE FRONT, SIDE "BARN DOOR." A MODERATE AMOUNT OF WIND CAN CATCH THE DOOR AND STRETCH IT TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT CAN AND HAS COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR EDGE CAUSING A DENT IN THE BARN DOOR. IT APPEARS THAT A STRAP OR ANCHOR WITHIN THE BARN DOOR IS STRETCHED OUT OF SHAPE. A SAFETY HAZARD OCCURS WHEN A PERSON WALKS BETWEEN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE FRONT BARN DOOR. THIS IS THE POINT OF IMPACT. THIS BEGAN SOON AFTER THE PURCHASE OF OUR VAN AND HAS RECURRED AT LEAST TWICE. OUR CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT ONCE BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN IN JULY 2007. IT REMAINS UN-REPAIRED. *JB UPDATED 10/11/07. *JB

Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment
Filed Jun 27, 2007MI

2006 EXPRESS 3500 CHEVY VAN WITH SLIGHT KNOCK IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING TURNS CUSTOMER WANTS THE MATTER LOOKED INTO**CC THE CONSUMER WANTS THE REPAIR TO THE IDLER ARM REPAIRED, HOWEVER HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND NO REPAIRS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 4, 2006100 milesTX

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT APPROACHING A RED LIGHT A, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH TO INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AFTER KICKING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE PEDAL RELEASED ENOUGH TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT DETERMINED THE PROBLEM.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Dec 15, 20052,013 milesFL

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE REAR PASSENGER MIDDLE SEAT BELT WAS INSERTED BACKWARDS INTO THE BUCKLE. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE SEAT BELT WAS CUT TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER, WHO ORDERED THE APPROPRIATE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Dec 15, 20052,013 milesFL

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT SEAT BELTS FAILED. THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WERE INSERTED BACKWARDS INTO THE BUCKLE. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE SEAT BELT WAS CUT TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALER, WHO ORDERED THE APPROPRIATE PARTS FOR REPAIRS. THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

15 of 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20242000Routine
20211000Routine
20192000Routine
20141100Routine
20131000Routine
20125000Routine
20104100Routine
20099200Routine
200811100Routine
200711110Routine
2006 — this page15110Routine
200517120Routine
200416010Routine
200312030Routine
20023100Routine
200111100Routine
20004100Routine
19994100Routine
19983000Routine
19972000Routine

Compare every Express 3500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 5, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.