2005 Chevrolet Uplander problems
NHTSA has received 293 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander, and 22% of them involve electrical system. Next are body & structure (16%) and latches & locks (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 293 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 49 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 40,000 miles 244 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 85 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 36 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 38 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 21 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 244 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 40,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 38,000 miles (51 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 49 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Chevrolet Uplander with enough data (211 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet uplander. The contact stated that a vehicle merged into traffic from a side road and crashed into his vehicle's passenger side door. The contact was driving 35 MPH at the time of the crash. 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.
I own a 2005 chevy uplander minivan and experienced several instances of the outside rear door latch pinching the inside of your finger when you squeeze the latch to open the rear hatch. So far it happened to myself, my son, my neighbor, and my grandson. It has caused anywhere from small skin lacerations to blood blisters. Once you engage the latch to open the hatch and start to squeeze it you have no choice but to cycle the latch as it pinches your finger skin until the latch opens and sets you free.
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.
While idling the engine in park with a hot engine, the RPM drops and the vehicle shakes. It is very uncomfortable. We brought the vehicle to the dealer and they said that there was nothing wrong with it. It continued to happen and we brought the vehicle to another dealer who stated that a computer controls the rpm/idling of the engine and that there was nothing that they can do to adjust it. Spoke with the service manager and he said that the uplander is a terrible car and that is why chevrolet stopped making them.