← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

119 reports
225,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE SUSPENSION FRACTURED AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MAN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE SUSPENSION FRACTURED AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ UPDATED 01/20/15

NHTSA ODI #10640555

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2014
Air BagsInjury

CUSTOMER GOT INTO DRIVER'S SEAT TO CLEAN THE DASH AND BEFORE TOUCHING ANYTHING, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AND KEYS WERE NOT IN IGNITION. CUSTOMER TAKEN TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR EVALUATION; MINOR INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639827

97,474 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE LEANED TO LEFT WHEN DRIVEN AT 40 MPH OR ABOVE. CONTACTED GM HOTLINE AND ADVISED TO TAKE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER ON 9/8/2014 (WILSON, NC) AND WAS ADVISED THAT RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT REAR SHOCKS AND BRAKE PADS BE REPLACED. TOTAL COSTS WE…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE LEANED TO LEFT WHEN DRIVEN AT 40 MPH OR ABOVE. CONTACTED GM HOTLINE AND ADVISED TO TAKE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER ON 9/8/2014 (WILSON, NC) AND WAS ADVISED THAT RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT REAR SHOCKS AND BRAKE PADS BE REPLACED. TOTAL COSTS WERE $1035.09. I PICKED UP VEHICLE ON 9/11/2014 AND NOTICED THAT LEANING HAD DIMINISHED BUT STILL PERSISTED WHEN ROAD SLOPES OR CURVES TOWARDS THE LEFT. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS NORMAL ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN. ON MOST RECENT VISIT, SERVICE MANAGER TOOK VAN INTO SHOP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED WITH VAN FEELING LIKE A JALOPY RIDE ON UNEVEN SURFACES. THE STEERING WHEEL NOW VIBRATES AND MAKES A WEIRD GRINDING NOISE IF TURNED TO MORE THAN HALF WAY IN EITHER DIRECTION. I NOW PRAY EACH TIME I MUST DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE THAT IT WILL NOT TIP OVER. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR GM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE MADE ME TO FEEL AS THOUGH I AM OVERREACTING TO THE SITUATION. I HOPE THIS REPORT WILL HELP TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER FOR MYSELF AND OTHER UPLANDER OWNERS. ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ARE WELCOMED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639781

138,000 miles · Sep 6, 2014
Electrical System

SAFETY ISSUE: THE FIRST OCCURRENCE DATE IS AN ESTIMATE, AS I DO NOT REMEMBER, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN THIS NIGHT: FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE ALARM BEGAN GOING OFF (OF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT). I WAS AWAKE. I LIVE IN A PRETTY SAFE PARK. AT APPROXIMATELY 1230A THE ALARM WENT OFF. I RAN OUT TO CHECK AND THERE WA…

Read full complaint

SAFETY ISSUE: THE FIRST OCCURRENCE DATE IS AN ESTIMATE, AS I DO NOT REMEMBER, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN THIS NIGHT: FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE ALARM BEGAN GOING OFF (OF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT). I WAS AWAKE. I LIVE IN A PRETTY SAFE PARK. AT APPROXIMATELY 1230A THE ALARM WENT OFF. I RAN OUT TO CHECK AND THERE WAS NO ONE AND NOTHING AROUND THAT COULD HAVE TRIPPED IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE I DIDN'T SET IT. THE VAN WAS UNLOCKED, THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND HANGING BY THE LANYARD. I GRABBED THE FOB AND SHUT IF OFF. 20 MINUTES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN, THEN AGAIN, THEN AGAIN,T HEN AGAIN, EACH TIME ABOUT 20 MINUTES APART. I WAS STARTING TO PANIC BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO ANGER THE NEIGHBORS AND END UP EVICTED. MY SPOUSE AND I HAD TO PULL THE HORN FUSE TO SILENCE THE CAR. THE LIGHTS WENT OFF ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THEN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY...I THOUGHT. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND AN ISSUE WITH THE LOCKING SYSTEM (DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH EITHER THE FOB OR THE INSIDE SWITCH). THEY APOLOGIZED AND OFFERED TO AUTHORIZE REPAIRS, BUT INFORMED ME THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS MY PROBLEM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TWO ISSUES ARE LINKED. THE LOCK PROBLEM CAME FIRST. BUT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF REPAIRS (I AM LOW INCOME), I HAVE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE USE OF MY HORN, WHICH IS A NO-NO AND A SAFETY PROBLEM. TONIGHT, THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THEIR OWN. THEY FLASHED TWICE, THEN STOPPED FOR ALMOST A MINUTE, THEN DID IT AGAIN A FEW TIMES MORE, THEN IT STOPPED ALTOGETHER. LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN...AND AGAIN...THE LOCK ISSUE IS A HEALTH HAZARD FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A PLETHORA OF ILLNESSES THAT CAUSE ME DISABILITY. I MUST PULL HEAVY OBJECTS OVER THE RUMBLE SEAT TO THE SINGLE SEAT IN FRONT OF IT, GET OUT OF THE CAR (PAINFUL TO MY KNEES AND LOWER BACK), THEN GET THE ITEM OUT. WHEN I AM FINISHED, I AM LITERALLY FINISHED. I AM CAUSED PHYS. & MENTAL PAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631203

84,795 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Equipment Adaptive/mobilityService Brakes

THIS VEHICLE IS SUFFERING AN INTERMITTENT DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER NOTIFICATION... STATING,.... CHECK ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, CHECK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM.... ALL THE CORRESPONDING SYSTEM DASH LIGHTS ARE THEN ON. I ALSO BELIEVE I HAVE SMELLED AN ODOR IN MY CAR ... A FAINT SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNT... …

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE IS SUFFERING AN INTERMITTENT DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER NOTIFICATION... STATING,.... CHECK ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, CHECK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM.... ALL THE CORRESPONDING SYSTEM DASH LIGHTS ARE THEN ON. I ALSO BELIEVE I HAVE SMELLED AN ODOR IN MY CAR ... A FAINT SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNT... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629105

140,000 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10626172

120,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineCrash

CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619320

110,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. AFTER THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES A…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. AFTER THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10619035

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS WITHIN THREE YEARS, AND EACH TIME, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRST ACCIDENT, LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH A SHOULDER INJURY, THAT REQUIRED SURGERY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10617513

121,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEAKING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA ODI #10610478

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.