Showing the 2008 Uplander LS. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
19 mpgcombined; city 16, highway 23; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$17,100U.S. average; Ohio $15,280 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 2008 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 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 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
28
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
20
0
0
0
Structure
19
1
0
2
Service brakes
13
0
0
0
Power train
12
0
0
0
Suspension
11
0
0
0
Air bags
8
6
0
6
Fuel/propulsion system
8
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
8
0
0
1
Steering
8
0
0
0
Unknown or other
8
2
0
4
Engine
6
0
0
0
16 more parts
Service brakes, hydraulic
6
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
5
1
0
0
Seat belts
5
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
5
1
0
0
Traction control system
4
0
0
0
Visibility
4
0
0
0
Wheels
4
1
0
2
Engine and engine cooling
3
0
0
0
Tires
3
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control
1
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
1
0
0
0
Interior lighting
1
0
1
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, air
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, electric
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 1 recall campaign for the 2008 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 863 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 Uplander, the latest on Sep 9, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (420), electrical system (171), engine and engine cooling (90), equipment adaptive/mobility (65), power train (60).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
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 2008 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