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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

6 reports
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82,000 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. MA 10/2 THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/06/15*JB

NHTSA ODI #10749047

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

70,000 miles · Jun 20, 2012
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, FALLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A MANUFA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, FALLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. THE CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE SHORT, WHICH PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM LOCKING, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF ON THE DASH, AND A DINGING SOUND, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS SUPPOSE TO MAKE A SOUND WHEN THE DOOR OPENED, BUT THERE WAS NO SOUND. EVERY 10-11 MONTHS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. UPDATED 07/09/12

NHTSA ODI #10462416

44,700 miles · Feb 21, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR EARLIER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE DUST SH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR EARLIER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE DUST SHIELD WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,700.

NHTSA ODI #10448824

4,000 miles · Mar 12, 2009
Electronic Stability ControlService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATED, AND SHOOK. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STABILITY CONTROL TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES AND THE DIAGNOSTIC LOCATED THE FAILURE CODE AT TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATED, AND SHOOK. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STABILITY CONTROL TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES AND THE DIAGNOSTIC LOCATED THE FAILURE CODE AT THE STABILITY CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10261625

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2008
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE WENT DOWN A SLIGHT DOWN HILL GRADE, HE WENT DOWN THE GRADE ON AN ANGLE. THE RIGHT WHEEL CONTACTED THE ROAD BEFORE THE LEFT WHEEL. *KB AS THE CONSUMER STARTED TO ACCELERATE, HE HEARD THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY PITCHED FORWAR…

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2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE WENT DOWN A SLIGHT DOWN HILL GRADE, HE WENT DOWN THE GRADE ON AN ANGLE. THE RIGHT WHEEL CONTACTED THE ROAD BEFORE THE LEFT WHEEL. *KB AS THE CONSUMER STARTED TO ACCELERATE, HE HEARD THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY PITCHED FORWARD 3 OR 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED EITHER THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKING UP OR THE FRONT BRAKES WERE LOCKING ON. THE CONSUMER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO GO FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10228515

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.