AI Damage2005 Chevrolet Uplander: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander filed 196 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and latches, locks, linkages. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 196
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Latches, locks, linkages 23% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 23% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 57 complaints (29% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Latches, locks, linkages: 45 complaints (23% of all).
- Structure: 45 complaints (23% of all).
- Service brakes: 15 complaints (8% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 13 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 196 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 57 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
Without warning, the wheel jerked out of the driver's hand and the vehicle struck a parked vehicle and came to a stop. No one was injured. A forensic engineering investigation revealed that the failure of the right steering knuckle was the sole cause of this incident.
My wife rearended another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. There's an estimate damage of 768 dollars in just parts alone.
The air bags failed to deploy and the middle row seats reclined backwards. The driver and six passengers were injured. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealer several times for the electrical system, the dashboard, and other equipment.
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.
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.
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.
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..
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,080 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Uplander has 117 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 196, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, latches, locks, linkages, structure. Total complaints: 196. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (9%), warning lights, check engine (8%), won't start (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2005 Chevrolet Uplander from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2005 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.