2005 Chevrolet Uplander: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 196 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (20% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 196 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Wheels · Feb 2022
“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..”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2019
“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.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jun 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2019
“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.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jun 2018
“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.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2018
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2017
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2017
“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.”Owner report · Wheels · Jul 2017
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 31 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Uplander by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander reliable?
NHTSA has 196 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander. The most complained-about area is electrical system (20% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Uplander problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 42,825 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning suspension:rear. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.