2005 Chevrolet Uplander

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 196 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

160 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 40,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System34
011
Structure › Body › Door24
004
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch23
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages12
000
Structure › Body10
003
Steering6
100
Fuel System, Gasoline6
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor4
000
Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly4
108
Exterior Lighting › Headlights4
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Rear10V110000
Filed Mar 19, 20105,375 vehiclesBraun Corporation

Defect. THE BRAUN CORPORATION HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 GENERAL MOTORS MOBILITY CONVERSION, HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE LOW FLOOR MINIVANS. DURING CONVERSION, THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARM MODIFICATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Risk. A SQUEAKING OR CLUNKING NOISE MAY DEVELOP. THE TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS MAY PREMATURELY WEAR AND THE TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE, ALLOWING THE REAR AXLE TO BECOME PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND WILL HAVE A SUPPLY OF RETROFIT PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN AT 1-800-488-0359.

Steering09E005000
Filed Feb 17, 2009979 vehiclesDorman Products, Inc.

Defect. DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

Risk. A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.

Parking Brake05V287000
Filed Jun 20, 200514,600 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, 'PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.' TO MEET THE STANDARD, THE VEHICLE MUST NOT MOVE FOR FIVE MINUTES WHEN STOPPED ON A STEEP HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL (N). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAILED THIS TEST.

Risk. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNINTENDED BRAKING WHEN ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR COASTING, AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PARKING BRAKE LEVER SLIPPAGE AT EACH REAR BRAKE CALIPER AND REPLACE THE CALIPER IF LEVER SLIPPAGE IS IDENTIFIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly05V061000
Filed Feb 18, 200518,850 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE OUTBOARD RELEASE HANDLE ON THE IMPACT-SIDE SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEAT MAY BE ACTUATED AND THE REAR LATCHES MAY UNLATCH EARLY IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN A SIDE IMPACT TEST RUN BY GM, UNDER CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) SIDE IMPACT TEST.

Risk. IF THE REAR LATCHES OF THE SEAT RELEASE EARLY IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, THE FRONT OUTBOARD LATCH MAY DISENGAGE AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SEAT LATCH RELEASE HANDLE AND INSTALL A BLACK PLASTIC CAP OVER THE EXPOSED METAL STUD TO ELIMINATE THE SIDE IMPACT SAFETY CONCERN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Wheels › Rim
Filed Feb 10, 202380,000 milesNC

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Uplander. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was drifting and would not drive in a straight line. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed a wheel alignment and changed the tires, but the failure persisted. The mechanic later diagnosed that the surface of all four alloy wheels had begun to deteriorate and was out of round. The contact was advised not to drive the vehicle until the wheels were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2019136,000 milesNY

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..

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 4, 2019TX

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT BUCKLE INTO THE LATCH. THERE'S A METAL PIECE INSIDE THE LATCH BLOCKING IT FROM SLIDING IN AND SNAPPING IN. THIS STARTED HAPPENING A FEW DAYS AGO, PREVENTING ME FROM DRIVING THE VAN SINCE I CAN'T USE MY SEAT BELT.

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 5, 2019250,000 milesMI

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.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 17, 2018341,000 milesIL

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.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Nov 7, 2018200,000 milesTX

I WAS HEARING ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL ACTIONS ABOUT CHEVY SUVS WITH WIPER BLADES. BUT, I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE MY WIPER WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL, BUT, JUST MADE ME THINK, AND I WANTED TO SHARE. I PURCHASED A NEW ARM FROM GM AT MY LOCAL DEALER IN AUGUST OF 2018. SO, I THINK THAT I AM OK.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 6, 2018175,000 milesMI

THE BACK REAR HATCH WHEN I LIFTED DROPPED! I GOT MY HANDS UP FAST ENOUGH TO STOP IT AND WAS NOT INJURED THOUGH

Structure › Body2 injured
Filed May 11, 20185 milesPA

THE CHASSIS HAS A SERIOUS RUST ISSUE AS I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. THE RUST ISSUE IS ONE THAT YOU WOULD NOT EVEN SEE ON A 60 YEAR OLD CAR. IT CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL AND ALL OF ITS COMPONENTS TO BREAK FREE. I DO HAVE PICTURES (IT'S DARK OUT RIGHT AT THE MOMENT BUT I CAN BY MORNING) I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THIS FOR QUIET A WHILE NOW.

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 20, 2018198,000 milesIN

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.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 3, 2018180,000 milesMI

MY ELECTRICAL WILL GO OUT AS I AM DRIVING. THE CAR HAS STOPPED COMPLETELY AND THE ELECTRICAL AS I WAS DRIVING. MY CAR WILL TURN ON AND THEN OFF, AND I HAVE TO DO IT ABOUT 5 TIMES BEFORE I CAN EVEN GET IT TO STAY ON AND DRIVE. SOMETIMES THE ELECTRICAL WILL STOP AFTER THAT BUT I CAN STILL DRIVE. THIS IS NOT SAFE. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 9, 2017183,000 milesMN

THE IGNITION SLIPS INTO THE OFF MODE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, THUS DISABLING EVERYTHING, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE MOVING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS ON A PUBLIC STREET, AND MANY TIMES AFTER START UP WHEN I'M NOT MOVING. I HAVE QUIT DRIVING IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT REPAIRED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERN.

Suspension
Filed Jun 22, 2017113,000 milesMI

TAMARA RECALL AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN OUR VAN, THE LEFT TRAILING ARE BROKE OFF. THEREFORE, MY AXLE STARTED TO FALL OFF. I COULD NOT STOP US. MY BREAKS DIDN'T WORK, SINCE IT SNAPPED MY BREAK LINE TOO. I WAS ONLY GOING 25MPH. ONCE WE CAME TO A STOP, WE GOT OUT, AND MY LEFT BACK TIRE WAS UNDER MY BUMPER.

Electrical System1 injured
Filed Apr 23, 2017167,000 milesMN

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR WITH THE HEATED SEATS ON. SHE FELT IT GET EXTREMELY HOT. SHE TURNED OFF SEAT WARMERS. WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF CAR, THE SEAT HAD MELT/BURN MARKS AND HER LEGGINGS AND SKIN HAD BURN/RED MARKS. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO THIS AND HE SAID DO NOT USE SEAT WARMERS-IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE. NEW SEAT IS AT LEAST $500 WITHOUT LABOR. MAKES ME QUESTION ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, YOU HAVE CONNECTED SO MANY THINGS TOGETHER, THAT REPLACING ONE THING MEANS REPLACING A WHOLE CONSOLE. I AM A TRUE CHEVY PERSON- USED TO OWN? BE ASSOCIATED WITH A CHEVY BERETTA, 1964 CORVAIR, CITATION, MALIBU... LOOKING TO BUY AGAIN, BUT THIS BURNING WAS SCARY!

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 9, 201770,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 4, 2016181,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE RADIO BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 17, 2016150,000 milesIN

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE MY UPLANDER SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON OR WARNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. I HAD ONSTAR RUN A TEST AND NOTHING IS FOUND.

Suspension
Filed Apr 7, 2016100,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARM OR THE TRAILING ARM BUSHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V110000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 05/26/16*LJ

Electrical System
Filed Sep 17, 201583,000 milesIN

SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASING MY 2005 CHEVY UPLANDER, THE IGNITION HAS JUST SHUT OFF. NORMALLY THIS WAS WHEN IDOLING SO I WASN'T TOO SURE. HOWEVER, IT JUST TURNED OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THIS IGNITION SWITCH IS THE SAME ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE GM RECALL, YET IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. PLEASE RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS IGNITION SWITCH AS MOST VEHICLES HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. WHY WAIT ON THE RECALL UNTIL MORE PEOPLE ARE IN ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY DIE? IT ISN'T WORTH THE RISK.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 24, 201594,100 milesSC

AS I AM DRIVING THE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTS TO BUZZ LIKE IT DOES WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENING AND I CAN HEAR IT CLICKING AS IF IT IS GOING TO OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM AFRAID I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE DOOR WILL OPEN. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 10, 2015104,430 milesMI

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AND WITHOUT ANY SORT OF ISSUE TO PROVOKE IT, THE IGNITION CAME OUT OF THE RUN OR ON POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE SAME IGNITION AS ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED, YET THIS ONE WAS NOT ON THE LIST. LUCKILY SHE HAD HER WITS ABOUT HER AND PULLED INTO THE CENTER TURN LANE. BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTED, GENERALLY ONLY WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE OR WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DIFFERENT GEARS (PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE, ETC.). IT COST ME $312 TO FIX THIS ISSUE BETWEEN PARTS AND LABOR *TR

20 of 196 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20092000Routine
2008119110Routine
2007109220Routine
2006158420Routine
2005 — this page196411Fatalities reported

Compare every Uplander year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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: Mar 19, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.