RoadVitals

2006 Chevrolet Express 3500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Apr 3, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 5, 2014
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500, most frequently naming the steering, seat belts and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 139 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering317.6%
  • Seat belts211.8%
  • Brakes211.8%
  • Interior & seats211.8%
  • Other / unspecified15.9%
  • Powertrain (other)15.9%
  • Tires & wheels15.9%
  • Body & structure15.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
14V706000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Nov 5, 2014
34 units potentially affected
The defect: Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
The risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
The remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
Cummings Mobility Conversion & SupplyManufacturer number 14E-041View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 15
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 3, 2017

DRIVERS SEAT WAS LOOSE AND ON INSPECTION DEALER FOUND THAT THE RAIL WAS BROKEN, THE VAN ONLY HAS 72785 MILES. IF THE SEAT HAD COME LOSE WHILE VAN WAS IN MOTION, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AND ACCIDENT. I NOTICED IT WHEN I TOOK THE VAN FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
10970323
Incident
Apr 1, 2017
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE ROTTED. THE VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10682974
Incident
Feb 12, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 6, 2014

WE PURCHASED AN EXPRESS VAN IN THE SPRING OF 2006. TRUCK ENGINE BLEW UP AT 6000 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IN JANUARY 2014, WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT STALLED 3 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER, ON FRIDAY THE 24TH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WE THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT THIS POINT THEY TOLD US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD JUST OVER 32,000 MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION BLEW UP IN JANUARY OF 2014. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL AND WAS TAKEN BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAD A BUSHING BROKEN IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THIS VAN CONTINUES TO STALL AND AT TIMES FAILS TO START. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE STALLING PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS THE SAME AS THE CARS THAT ARE PART OF THE RECALL AND EXPRESS VANS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT AS OF MARCH 2014. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567711
Incident
Aug 5, 2008
Mileage
6,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 10, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE WEAR OF THE STEERING DUE TO THE PITMAN ARM ROLLING AGAINST THE OUTER AND INNER TIE ROD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524218
Incident
Jul 10, 2013
Mileage
82,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 25, 2013

PAINT (WHITE) IS FALLING OFF VAN AT HOOD, SIDES AND MOSTLY ON AREAS WHERE THESES WELDED AREAS...DEALER SAID THEY NEVER SEEN THIS ISSUE?? I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME ISSUE ON OTHER VANS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504434
Incident
Mar 19, 2008
Mileage
85,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CUTAWAY G3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. HE QUICKLY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WAS ABLE TO IDLE THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE WARRANTY COMPANY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ID
10397528
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
12,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 25, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

PERSON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE 2006 GM CHEVROLET TRUCK EXPRESS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOTHING WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10332174
Incident
May 20, 2010
Mileage
36,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING CENTER LINK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CONNECTS THE TIE RODS TO THE WHEEL, MOVES ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE TIRE TREAD TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN SLIPPERY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10227086
Incident
May 3, 2006

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Express 3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2024200—
2023000—
2022000—
2021100—
2020000—
2019200—
2018000—
2017000—
2016000—
2015000—
2014110—
2013100—
2012500—
2011000—
2010410—
2009920—
2008111037.9
2007111042.1
2006Viewing151040.5
2005171044.5
2004160032.0
2003120148.0
2002310—
2001111043.4
2000410—
1999410—
1998300—
1997200—
1996000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.