EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2006 Chevrolet Express
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Express, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and engine categories. 16 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 809 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2006 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 2 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 3 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 4 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 6 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 7 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 8 |
| Jul 2016 | 1 | 9 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | 11 |
| Jul 2026 | 1 | 12 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags213.3%
- Electrical213.3%
- Engine213.3%
- Powertrain (other)213.3%
- Seat belts16.7%
- Steering16.7%
- Interior & seats16.7%
- Suspension16.7%
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
16 campaigns 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.govEQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I was driving approximately 70 mph on the highway when I came up behind a vehicle whose three brake lights were completely inoperative. The vehicle suddenly stopped, but there was no brake light illumination to warn following traffic. The only reason I realized the vehicle was stopping was because I was traveling on a slope and could see the vehicles ahead of it also slowing down. If the roadway had been level, I likely would not have known the vehicle was braking and could have rear-ended it at highway speed. This created a serious safety hazard and put me and other drivers at significant risk of a high-speed collision.
- NHTSA ID
- 11747878
- Incident
- Jun 30, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Express. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 178,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 394,745.
- NHTSA ID
- 11723693
- Incident
- Mar 11, 2026
- Mileage
- 394,745 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY AND STOPPED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10894065
- Incident
- Dec 15, 2007
- Mileage
- 40,000 mi
I BOUGHT A CHEVROLET VAN EXPRESS WITH A 6.0 V8 ENGINE A YEAR AGO WITH ONLY 37000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE AND STABILITRAK SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILURE DETAILED BELOW SAME ACROSS THE ENTIRE V8 6.0 ENGINES PRODUCED BY CHEVROLET. THE VAN VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY STRESSING ALL THE OCCUPANTS. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. I WAS ALSO ALERTED THAT "ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED" AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN TWO TIMES IN A 30 MINUTE SPAN OF TIME. NOW WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES I HAVE PARKED THE VAN UNTIL A RECALL CORRECTS THE DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEMS. AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY MY AIR BAG SENSOR WENT OFF WITH THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHT AGAIN ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VAN VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY STRESSING ALL THE OCCUPANTS. I WAS ALERTED THAT "ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED" AND MY VEHICLE STOPPED COLD. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT THEY ARE FRAUGHT WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES BEING IN A COMPROMISING POSITION 3 TIMES WITH 9 PEOPLE AND 2 ARE INFANTS IN THE VAN. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. SOMETHING AS DRAMATIC AS A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE IN A CAR THAT IS AS POPULAR AS THE V8 6.0 ENGINE IS A FRIGHTENING ISSUE THAT EVERYONE ACROSS THE INDUSTRY IS GOING TO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT. F THE ENGINE WON'T RESTART . TTHE STEERING WILL FEEL INCREASINGLY HEAVIER, MAKING IT HARDER TO STEER. ALSO THE POWER BOOST FOR THE BRAKES DISAPPEARS AFTER ONE OR TWO APPLICATIONS, MAKING THE VAN HARDER TO STOP. IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE UNDERHOOD BUSSED ELECTRICAL CENTER (UBEC) HOUSING CAN EXPAND AND CAUSE THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM RELAY CONTROL CIRCUIT WIRE TO BEND. IF THE WIRE IS REPEATEDLY BENT, IT MAY FRACTURE CAUSING A LOSS OF LOW BEAM HEADLAMP ILLUMINATION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10887623
- Incident
- May 18, 2016
- Mileage
- 41,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE IGNITION WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED AT 54,322 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10632737
- Incident
- Dec 1, 2012
- Mileage
- 70,000 mi
MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT SIZES ARE IN THE SEAT. IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10592953
- Incident
- May 31, 2010
- Mileage
- 95,000 mi
ON APRIL 29, 2011, A PASSENGER AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A VERY SERIOUS NEAR-FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A 2006 CHEVY EXPRESS CARGO VAN. WE WERE DRIVING FROM MEDFORD, OREGON TO KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON ON HWY 140 EAST. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR MILE MARKER 59 AT APPROXIMATELY 8 A.M. THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY RUNS PARALLEL TO KLAMATH LAKE. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL WHEN WE DROVE OVER A PATCH OF UNSEEN BLACK ICE. AS THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL WE WENT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND INTO THE LAKE WHERE WE COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO A HUGE BOLDER (NOT A ROCK) THAT WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE WATER. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER LENGTH WISE AND THEN CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN THE WATER. THE VAN SANK INTO THE WATER AND STOPPED SINKING WHEN THE WATER LEVEL HAD RISEN TO OUR CHINS. HIGHWAY PATROL AND AN AMBULANCE TEAM WERE DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DUAL AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT I SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES INCLUDING A FRACTURED STERNUM AND A VERY SERIOUS SHOULDER INJURY WHICH REQUIRED RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY AND A LENGTHY RECOVERY PERIOD. MY PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. I BELIEVE, AS WELL AS OTHERS, THAT HAD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, THE INJURIES I RECEIVED WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED OR WOULD HAVE BEEN GREATLY MINIMIZED. *KB
- NHTSA ID
- 10441629
- Incident
- Apr 29, 2011
- Mileage
- 64,500 mi
THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON AND GREATLY EXTENDS THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS HAS PUT OUR DRIVERS IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. WE HAVE SEVERAL GM LIGHT DUTY VANS AND TRUCKS AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL OF THEM. THE WHEEL SENSOR MECHANISM IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVERS. GM SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE ALL OF THESE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED UNIT THAT WORK SAFELY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10434425
- Incident
- Nov 25, 2010
- Mileage
- 25,620 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
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.
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
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.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 55.4 |
| 2020 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2019 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 48.4 |
| 2017 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 47.6 |
| 2016 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 52.0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2014 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 48.6 |
| 2013 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 46.1 |
| 2012 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 64.6 |
| 2011 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 54.4 |
| 2010 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 53.7 |
| 2009 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 49.4 |
| 2008 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 40.9 |
| 2007 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 57.5 |
| 2006Viewing | 12 | 16 | 0 | 67.9 |
| 2005 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 63.5 |
| 2004 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 56.6 |
| 2003 | 58 | 11 | 2 | 64.3 |
| 2002 | 55 | 0 | 1 | 37.1 |
| 2001 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 52.7 |
| 2000 | 84 | 1 | 1 | 44.5 |
| 1999 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 44.7 |
| 1998 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 46.4 |
| 1997 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 49.8 |
| 1996 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 55.0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.