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2008 Chevrolet Uplander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Uplander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 119.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

103 reports with mileage · 16 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Power Train complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2026
EnginePower TrainSuspension

Bought on 8/1/26 Within a week I noticed bad vibrations when slowing down, power steering issues, began to over heat with no warning changed thermostat, still had issues now I find my water pump, power steering pump are bad, brakes rotors front and back, old spark plug wires still present just cut off half way, misfire and lose…

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Bought on 8/1/26 Within a week I noticed bad vibrations when slowing down, power steering issues, began to over heat with no warning changed thermostat, still had issues now I find my water pump, power steering pump are bad, brakes rotors front and back, old spark plug wires still present just cut off half way, misfire and lose of speed uphill, gear shift cable broke, and oil cap cylinder leaking spraying oil leaking on everything,

NHTSA ODI #11763984

1 miles · Oct 9, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

ON 05/31/2016 CALLED CHEVROLET TO ASK WHY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IN ROAD. 06-02-2016 CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT STABILITY LIGHT PROBLEM, WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION MOST LIKELY. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, WE IGNORED THE LIGHT. ON AUGUST 28, 2017 WE BROUGHT THE UPLANDER INTO ANOTHER DEALE…

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ON 05/31/2016 CALLED CHEVROLET TO ASK WHY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IN ROAD. 06-02-2016 CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT STABILITY LIGHT PROBLEM, WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION MOST LIKELY. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, WE IGNORED THE LIGHT. ON AUGUST 28, 2017 WE BROUGHT THE UPLANDER INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR AN ESTIMATE ON THE FUEL SERVICE. THAT EVENING WHEN WE WENT TO PICK THE VAN UP, THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "GONE". HE GAVE AN ESTIMATE ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VAN WITHOUT PROBLEMS BUT FOR LOSING POWER GOING UP HILLS, THAT'S WHY WE WANTED THE FUEL SERVICE, PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE SERVICED THIS VEHICLE ALL THE TIME FROM WHEN WE PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2008. WHEN WE PICKED THE VAN UP WE DIDN'T MAKE IT MORE THAN 4 BLOCKS WHEN IT STOPPED MOVING. NOW THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVERHEATED AND NEEDS A COMPLETE REBUILD FOR $2,600.00. ONLINE THE CHEVY FORUM SAYS THAT THE MODULE GOES AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO STATES A LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON IF ITS NOT THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11032321

94,988 miles · May 7, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSuspension

CLICKING, SQUEAKY, CLUNKY NOISES IN REAR SUSPENSION. THERE IS A JERK AT 20MPH, AS YOU DRIVE IT KEEPS JERKING AS YOU PICK UP SPEED. STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER I CHANGED THE WHEEL BEARING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715179

35,000 miles · Oct 4, 2014
EnginePower TrainSteering

ENGINE CUT OFF WITH RESULT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT HAPPENED AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN WET ROAD CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH THE SMALLEST OF PUDDLES. RESULTING LOSS OF ANY CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. ENGINE HAS KICKED BACK ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF UNCONTROLLABLE COASTING. SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT…

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ENGINE CUT OFF WITH RESULT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT HAPPENED AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN WET ROAD CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH THE SMALLEST OF PUDDLES. RESULTING LOSS OF ANY CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. ENGINE HAS KICKED BACK ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF UNCONTROLLABLE COASTING. SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. BUT NOW I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN RAIN OR THREAT OF RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641364

53,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Power Train

THIS VAN HAS FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AS WE DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A BUSY HIGHWAY AND WE JUST BARELY MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE SO LUCKY WE WERE NOT HIT BY OTHER CARS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE INSIDE SHEERED OFF INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. HE SHOWED US THE PARTS (WHICH…

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THIS VAN HAS FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AS WE DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A BUSY HIGHWAY AND WE JUST BARELY MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE SO LUCKY WE WERE NOT HIT BY OTHER CARS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE INSIDE SHEERED OFF INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. HE SHOWED US THE PARTS (WHICH I STILL HAVE AS PROOF OF THE ISSUE THAT IS A PROBLEM OF GM.). THE PARTS WERE WEAK AND JUST RIPPED APART. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT HURT, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. IT COST $3800 TO REPAIR, AND THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. CHEVY WAS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN GETTING HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592739

33,000 miles · May 14, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT . DASH LIGHT GO OUT, SEAT BELTS ALL OF THEM UNLATCH BY THEM SELF, I REPLACED THE BRAKES 6 TIMES ALREADY, EMISSION VAPOR CANISTER WENT OUT , THE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON . IT ALL WAYS SAY CHECK GAS CAP,KNOW MY VAN NOT WORKING. I CAN'T CLEAN ANY HARD CODES, PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE DOOR UNLATCH WHEN I WAS AND THE …

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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT . DASH LIGHT GO OUT, SEAT BELTS ALL OF THEM UNLATCH BY THEM SELF, I REPLACED THE BRAKES 6 TIMES ALREADY, EMISSION VAPOR CANISTER WENT OUT , THE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON . IT ALL WAYS SAY CHECK GAS CAP,KNOW MY VAN NOT WORKING. I CAN'T CLEAN ANY HARD CODES, PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE DOOR UNLATCH WHEN I WAS AND THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DOOR HIT THE GROUND ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY 5 KIDS IN THE CAR , MY 20 YR SON WAS SITTING BY HIS EIGHT YR OLD BROTHER . MY EIGHT YR OLD WAS ON THE SIDE THAT CAME UNLATCH THANK GOD HE UN DID HIS BROTHER SEAT BELT AND GRAB HIM AND HELD ON TO HIM TIGHT UNTIL I STOP THE VEHICLE . THE STARTED WENT OUT,THE BACK AIR CONDITION WON'T WORK, THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE JOINT BROKE, THE VAN OVER HEATS ALL THE TIME WHICH CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND THE STARTER WENT I REPLACE TRANSMISSION STARTER AND THERMOSTAT .THE VAN A PIECE OF [XXX] AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK I PAID FOR IN CASH. I BROUGHT THE VAN IN 2008 AND PAID CASH FOR IT .I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BROUGHT IT IN 11/1/2008. THE PROBLEMS STARTED 2 DAYS AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I WISH NEVER HAD GOTTEN IT. THE [XXX] THING A LEMON THEY NEED FORCE CHEVY TO RECALL THE GOD [XXX] LEMON 2008 CHEVY UPLANDER AND GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK SO I CAN GO SOME WERE ELSE AND BY MY FAMILY A REAL VAN , I'M A SINGLE MOM OF 5 CHILDREN AND I NEED A RELIABLE VAN ,NOT A PIECE OF [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588439

82,000 miles · Mar 27, 2014
Power Train

THE VAN WAS PARK FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. I RETURN AND START THE ENGINE I MOVE TO "D" FOR DRIVE AND THE VAN NOT GO. ONLY 2,1 SPEED GOES FORWARD. BUT NO DRIVE "D". RESEARCH SHOW THE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION DO TO OVERHEATING. THIS ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESS BY CHEVY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575246

55,260 miles · Oct 4, 2013
Power Train

I AM AT A STOP LIGHT AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND IT WOULDN'T GO. THE CAR WAS SPUTTERING , SHAKING REALLY HARD ...I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET HOME. NOW I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR MY UPLANDER AT ALL BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT COMPLETELY. THE DEALER VERIFIED IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE TAK…

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I AM AT A STOP LIGHT AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND IT WOULDN'T GO. THE CAR WAS SPUTTERING , SHAKING REALLY HARD ...I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET HOME. NOW I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR MY UPLANDER AT ALL BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT COMPLETELY. THE DEALER VERIFIED IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE TAKING IT APART TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WENT WRONG INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED JULY 31ST OF THIS YEAR. I FEEL THAT AT 55K MILES , THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS ISSUE. THEY MUST HAVE PUT A BAD TRANSMISSION IN THE UPLANDER FROM THE BEGINNING. I FEEL THEY SHOULD TAKE OWNERSHIP AND MAKE IT RIGHT. I HAVE 4 KIDS AND NEED MY VAN TO PICK THEM UP AND SO I CAN GET TO WORK. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY FOR A HUGE REPAIR WHEN I TRUSTED THAT CHEVROLET WAS A GOOD RELIABLE CAR MAKER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546708

100,000 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO STUTTER AT HIGH SPEEDS I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT IT AND SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL! I OWE WAY TOO MUCH ON THE VAN TO PUT 3000 DOLLARS INTO A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM THAT T…

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MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO STUTTER AT HIGH SPEEDS I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT IT AND SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL! I OWE WAY TOO MUCH ON THE VAN TO PUT 3000 DOLLARS INTO A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT A WHILE AGO BUT DID NOT RECALL IT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536238

55,900 miles · May 13, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH A DOWN HILL SLOP AND AT AN ANGLE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD FIRST AND THEN THE RIGHT. AS THE BACK WHEELS MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THE STABILIZER CONTROL CAME ON AND AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE EITHER THE TRANS OR THE BRAKES LOCKED UP THROWING EVERY ONE FORWARD INTO THE…

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DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH A DOWN HILL SLOP AND AT AN ANGLE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD FIRST AND THEN THE RIGHT. AS THE BACK WHEELS MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THE STABILIZER CONTROL CAME ON AND AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE EITHER THE TRANS OR THE BRAKES LOCKED UP THROWING EVERY ONE FORWARD INTO THEIR SEAT BELTS THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE WHAT EVER WAS LOCKED UP WAS TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTART THE CAR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED IN MAY OF 2008. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330352

Official recalls

1

10V110000 · Suspension:rear

Mar 19, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.