Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
17–19 mpgcombined; city 15–16, highway 21–23; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$17,100–$19,110U.S. average; Ohio $15,280–$17,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2006 Uplander. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Uplander. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
42
0
0
0
Structure
34
0
0
2
Steering
27
3
0
1
Suspension
20
1
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
15
0
1
0
Fuel system, gasoline
14
1
0
1
Service brakes, hydraulic
13
0
0
0
Tires
13
1
0
0
Exterior lighting
12
0
0
0
Power train
10
1
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
8
1
0
0
Service brakes
8
0
0
0
18 more parts
Unknown or other
8
0
0
0
Air bags
7
4
0
11
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
4
0
0
0
Seat belts
4
0
0
0
Service brakes, electric
4
0
0
0
Visibility
4
0
1
0
Engine
3
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
3
0
0
0
Equipment
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
2
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
1
0
3
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
1
0
3
Parking brake
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2006 Uplander over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE PROPER LABELS, OWNERS MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE AND MAY OVERLOAD THESE VEHICLES.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS AND CERTIFICATION LABELS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN PERFORM THE INSTALLATION FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
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.
Risk: A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 703 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Uplander, the latest on Jan 30, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (336), electrical system (143), engine and engine cooling (79), equipment adaptive/mobility (50), power train (46).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA07019 POWER SLIDING DOOR · covers 4 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Uplander.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data