2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander Engine Problems & Reliability

583 NHTSA Complaints

6 Recalls

6 Fire Reports

24 Crash Reports

Engine Reliability Comparison

LM4 Alum

5.3L 8-cyl

✅ Recommended (4.1)

1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline

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Complaint Breakdown

body

Known Issues

Body/Trim Issues (1 complaints)

Also found in

GMC L Series (2003-2003)ISUZU Ascender (2003-2008)ISUZU Ascender Ext (2004-2004)CHEVROLET Trailblazer (2002-2009)CHEVROLET Uplander (2005-2009)CHEVROLET SSR (2003-2006)CHEVROLET Chevrolet Truck (2003-2003)GMC Envoy (2002-2009) +1 more

J30A1

3.0L 6-cyl / 200 hp

✅ Recommended (4.1)

1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline

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Complaint Breakdown

electrical

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

Also found in

KIA Optima (2001-2006)NISSAN 350Z (2003-2008)HONDA CR-V (2002-2006)TOYOTA Corolla (2014-2018)ACURA CL (2001-2003)HONDA S2000 (2000-2009)CHEVROLET Uplander (2005-2009)HONDA Civic (2000-2000) +16 more

LL8

4.2L 6-cyl

✅ Recommended (4.1)

1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline

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Complaint Breakdown

electrical

exterior

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

Exterior Issues (1 complaints)

Also found in

CHEVROLET T-Series (2007-2007)GMC Suburban (2003-2003)GMC L Series (2003-2003)CHEVROLET Trailblazer (2000-2000)FORD Explorer (2011-2019)CHEVROLET HHR (2006-2011)GMC Savana (2002-2002)CHEVROLET S/T Blazer (2003-2003) +74 more

LN2

2.2L 4-cyl

✅ Recommended (4.1)

1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline

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Complaint Breakdown

fuel system

Known Issues

Fuel System Issues (1 complaints)

Also found in

GMC L Series (2003-2003)CHEVROLET C Series (2001-2001)PONTIAC Firebird (2000-2000)PONTIAC G6 (2005-2010)GMC S Series (2002-2002)PONTIAC Bonneville (2000-2005)CHEVROLET Cobalt (2005-2010)CHEVROLET Malibu (2000-2003) +34 more

L36

3.8L 6-cyl

✅ Recommended (3.7)

2 complaints 2.0 per year

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Complaint Breakdown

electrical

exterior

wheels tires

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

Exterior Issues (1 complaints)

Wheels/Tires Issues (1 complaints)

Also found in

HYUNDAI Elantra (2011-2016)GMC L Series (2003-2003)FORD Crown Victoria (2000-2011)PONTIAC Firebird (2000-2000)CHEVROLET S-10 (2001-2001)GMC S Series (2002-2002)PONTIAC Bonneville (2000-2005)CHEVROLET Malibu (2004-2007) +63 more

LZ9

3.9L 6-cyl

⚠️ Caution (3.2)

20 complaints 5.0 per year Gasoline

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Complaint Breakdown

electrical

suspension

transmission

engine

steering

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (7 complaints)

Suspension Issues (4 complaints)

Transmission Issues (4 complaints)

Also found in

PONTIAC G6 (2005-2010)CHEVROLET Tahoe (2007-2014)BUICK Terraza (2005-2007)CHEVROLET Malibu (2004-2007)CHEVROLET Suburban (2007-2014)SATURN Astra (2009-2009)MERCEDES-BENZ Slk-Class (2006-2006)CHEVROLET Impala (2006-2016) +16 more

LGD

3.9L 6-cyl

⚠️ Caution (2.4)

49 complaints 24.5 per year Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)

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Complaint Breakdown

electrical

body

engine

brakes

suspension

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (14 complaints)

Body/Trim Issues (13 complaints)

Engine Issues (8 complaints)

Also found in

BUICK Terraza (2005-2007)CHEVROLET Impala (2006-2016)BUICK Lucerne (2006-2011)CHEVROLET Uplander (2005-2009)BUICK LaCrosse (2005-2009)CHEVROLET Impala (2000-2005)BUICK LaCrosse (2010-2019)CHEVROLET Silverado 1500 (2000-2006)

LB7

6.6L 8-cyl Turbo

❌ Avoid (1.6)

129 complaints 25.8 per year Diesel

2 fire reports

View details

Complaint Breakdown

body

electrical

fuel system

brakes

steering

Known Issues

Body/Trim Issues (39 complaints)

Electrical System Issues (38 complaints)

Fuel System Issues (18 complaints)

Also found in

CHEVROLET C/K Pickups (2002-2002)CHEVROLET Silverado HD (2001-2006)CHEVROLET Pickup (2002-2002)BUICK Terraza (2005-2007)CHEVROLET Denali (2003-2003)FIAT 500 Abarth (2014-2014)CHEVROLET Pickup (2001-2001)CHEVROLET W3500 (2003-2003) +28 more

LX9

3.5L 6-cyl

❌ Avoid (1.0)

275 complaints 91.7 per year Gasoline

2 fire reports 1 fatality

View details

Complaint Breakdown

body

106

electrical

brakes

steering

suspension

Known Issues

Body/Trim Issues (106 complaints)

Electrical System Issues (78 complaints)

Brakes Issues (36 complaints)

Also found in

HYUNDAI Elantra (2011-2016)GMC L Series (2003-2003)SATURN Sl (2001-2001)PONTIAC G6 (2005-2010)BUICK Terraza (2005-2007)CHEVROLET Malibu (2004-2007)CHEVROLET Malibu (2000-2003)SATURN Sl (2002-2002) +18 more

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Chevrolet Uplander regardless of engine variant.

Body/Trim Issues (159 complaints)

body critical

Electrical System Issues (140 complaints)

electrical critical

Brakes Issues (51 complaints)

brakes critical

Steering Issues (43 complaints)

steering critical

Suspension Issues (31 complaints)

suspension serious

Recalls (6)

10V110000Mar 18, 2010serious

Suspension

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.

09E005000Feb 16, 2009serious

Steering

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.

06V051000Feb 14, 2006cosmetic

Equipment

CERTAIN CARGO VANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS" AND NO. 120. "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THESE CARGO VANS WERE SHIPPED WITHOUT A TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS BECAUSE THEY WERE INCORRECTLY DESIGNATED AS INCOMPLETE VEHICLES.

05V287000Jun 19, 2005serious

Parking Brake

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.

05V061000Feb 17, 2005serious

Seats

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.

05V552000Jul 11, 2005serious

Equipment

CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.

Alternatives in Van

9 engines / 6,325 complaints

4 engines / 2,532 complaints

1 engine / 2,497 complaints

17 engines / 479 complaints

1 engine / 183 complaints

2 engines / 156 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander problems?

The 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander has accumulated 583 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Body/Trim, Electrical System, Brakes. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Chevrolet Uplander engine is most reliable?

The 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander was offered with 9 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.5L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander a good used car?

The 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 583 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander have?

The 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander has 583 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander?

There are 6 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2005-2009 Chevrolet Uplander vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Uplander?

Before buying a used Chevrolet Uplander, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Body/Trim, Electrical System, Brakes, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 583 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-06.