This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Chevrolet Uplander body problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 body complaints filed for the 2006 Chevrolet Uplander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN THE STEPS ON DIAGNOSING THE CONCERN. VEHICLE'S SUNROOF OPERATION INTERMITTENT, BIND, NOISE, AUTO-REVERSE, AND/OR WATER LEAKS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vibration complaints that are one of the most challenging complaints to accurately diagnose and repair. Technician will need to use Pico Oscilloscope Diagnostic Kit to effectively diagnosis vehicles. Technician should drive the vehicle will using the Pico Oscilloscope to record data. After the data is recorded it should be reviewed to determine the root cause of the concern. If a repair attempt made the concern better but not eliminated or had no affect at all, and are requesting assistance from General Motors Technical Assistance Center record another Pico file and save it to the computer. After the new
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more of their vehicle's underbody components are showing some form of corrosion. This corrosion may be red in appearance (rust) if the component is steel, forged iron or cast iron. This corrosion may also be grey or white in color if the component is constructed of an aluminum alloy.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across these 20 narratives is the power sliding door system. Owners consistently report the rear sliding doors—usually driver's side, sometimes both—failing to latch securely. The door appears closed but will pop open under minimal pressure or while the vehicle is in motion, sometimes repeatedly. Multiple owners report needing to forcefully push or use a "hip check" to get the door to stay latched. Once closed, doors spontaneously reopen during driving at speeds ranging from 20 to 50 mph, as well as while parked. Several owners had children injured when doors closed on them or opened unexpectedly while traveling.
The latch motor appears too weak to engage the hasp fully. Dealers have replaced door motors and latches without fixing the problem permanently, and often cannot reproduce the issue during service visits. The sliding door sensor also malfunctions, showing the door open on the dash gauge even when physically closed, causing nuisance alarms. One owner disabled the system by pulling the fuse.
Two complaints describe frame rust and unibody separation at 106,000 and 142,000 miles, with dealers declaring those vehicles unsafe and unrepairable. One report mentions a cracked dashboard with alleged use of cheap materials. Manufacturer investigations and multiple dealer visits have yielded no recalls or lasting fixes for the door failures despite numerous owner complaints spanning years.
Same Chevrolet Uplander body reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Power Sliding Door Fails to Latch or Lock Securely
The motor in the rear latch mechanism is too weak to pull and lock the door hasp completely. Owners report the door appears closed but will not latch without multiple attempts or a forceful push. The door then reopens during driving or while parked, sometimes repeatedly.
When: Early in ownership through higher mileage (13,450 to 200,050 miles); one owner reported first issue within first year of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Door requires forceful push or 'hip check' to latch fully; Door repeatedly reopens after apparent closure; Door opens spontaneously while driving at various speeds (20-50 mph); Door opens while vehicle is parked; Multiple attempts (10-30+) needed to achieve a firm latch; Warning alarm sounds when door opens or if door sensor detects open status
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have installed replacement sliding door motors; some replaced door latch assemblies and catches. Owners report repairs often ineffective—dealers unable to reproduce problem or fix it permanently. One owner removed the fuse to prevent door from opening.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer sent engineer to inspect at least one vehicle. Multiple owner complaints submitted to manufacturer over years with no recall issued or solution offered. Dealers cannot duplicate the problem in most cases.
Sliding Door Sensor/Control Module Malfunction
The door sensor fails to detect when the door is actually closed, showing an open warning on the gauge even after the door is shut. The sliding door module may need replacement. The sensor inconsistently triggers the door-ajar alarm.
When: 57,000 to 87,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Warning gauge indicates door is open when it is actually closed; Door-ajar alarm sounds unexpectedly; Alarm dings even when door is firmly latched; Sensor fails to detect that door has properly closed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers diagnosed need for sliding door module replacement in at least one vehicle. No repair records indicate successful module replacement resolving the issue.
Automatic Door Opens During Driving Without Operator Input
The rear sliding door—typically driver's side, sometimes passenger's side—opens by itself while the vehicle is in motion at highway and city speeds. This occurs unprompted and creates a safety hazard, particularly when children are in the vehicle.
When: Across the mileage range (13,450 to 200,050 miles); occurs after initial closure and during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Door swings open at 20-50 mph on turns, straightaways, and inclines; Door opens most frequently when driving uphill; Door opens without warning or prior difficulty signs; Door opens even when locked; Child's hand was caught and pinned in one incident
Repairs/costs cited: No systematic repair documented; vehicle not diagnosed or repaired in most cases. One owner disabled the automatic system by removing the fuse.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated no recall applies. One engineer was sent to inspect; no solution offered.
Sliding Door Difficult to Open or Close; Sticks or Becomes Inoperable
Both front and rear sliding doors become progressively harder to operate. Some owners report doors fail to open or close smoothly. In advanced cases, the doors become entirely inoperable.
When: Across the mileage range; can develop within first few weeks to higher mileage (57,000+)
Symptoms owners cite: Doors difficult to close, requiring multiple attempts; Doors difficult to open; Rear door becomes intermittently inoperable; Sliding door cannot move back and forth smoothly or lock in position; Abnormal noise accompanies the failure
Repairs/costs cited: Sliding door motor replaced in one case; problem persisted. Owners report multiple repair attempts with no permanent fix.
Frame Rust and Structural Failure—Unibody Construction Compromise
The vehicle's unibody frame becomes extensively rusted and separates, compromising the structural integrity of the entire frame. Dealers have deemed affected vehicles unsafe to drive and not repairable.
When: 106,000 to 142,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unusual noise from vehicle body; Doors fail to open and close easily due to frame deformation; Frame corrosion visible and extensive; Frame has separated at joints
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers determined the vehicle was unsafe to drive and not repairable. No repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated there was no recall for this issue.
Cracked Dashboard
Dashboard develops cracks. Owner alleges manufacturer used cheap materials.
When: Unknown; single complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks in dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Parts need to be replaced.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal noise and noticed that the rear driver’s side door had intermittently became inoperable. The check fuel cap warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
Had body trouble with your 2006 Chevrolet Uplander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2006 Chevrolet Uplander?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 14,500 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,500; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chevrolet/Uplander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.