RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Uplander Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Oct 9, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 118 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Uplander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 9, 2017

ON 05/31/2016 CALLED CHEVROLET TO ASK WHY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IN ROAD. 06-02-2016 CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT STABILITY LIGHT PROBLEM, WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION MOST LIKELY. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, WE IGNORED THE LIGHT. ON AUGUST 28, 2017 WE BROUGHT THE UPLANDER INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR AN ESTIMATE ON THE FUEL SERVICE. THAT EVENING WHEN WE WENT TO PICK THE VAN UP, THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "GONE". HE GAVE AN ESTIMATE ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VAN WITHOUT PROBLEMS BUT FOR LOSING POWER GOING UP HILLS, THAT'S WHY WE WANTED THE FUEL SERVICE, PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE SERVICED THIS VEHICLE ALL THE TIME FROM WHEN WE PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2008. WHEN WE PICKED THE VAN UP WE DIDN'T MAKE IT MORE THAN 4 BLOCKS WHEN IT STOPPED MOVING. NOW THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVERHEATED AND NEEDS A COMPLETE REBUILD FOR $2,600.00. ONLINE THE CHEVY FORUM SAYS THAT THE MODULE GOES AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO STATES A LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON IF ITS NOT THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11032321
Incident
Aug 29, 2017
Mileage
1 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed May 7, 2015

CLICKING, SQUEAKY, CLUNKY NOISES IN REAR SUSPENSION. THERE IS A JERK AT 20MPH, AS YOU DRIVE IT KEEPS JERKING AS YOU PICK UP SPEED. STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER I CHANGED THE WHEEL BEARING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10715179
Incident
Jan 2, 2015
Mileage
94,988 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 4, 2014

ENGINE CUT OFF WITH RESULT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT HAPPENED AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN WET ROAD CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING THROUGH THE SMALLEST OF PUDDLES. RESULTING LOSS OF ANY CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. ENGINE HAS KICKED BACK ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF UNCONTROLLABLE COASTING. SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. BUT NOW I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN RAIN OR THREAT OF RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641364
Incident
Sep 15, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2014

THIS VAN HAS FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AS WE DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A BUSY HIGHWAY AND WE JUST BARELY MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE SO LUCKY WE WERE NOT HIT BY OTHER CARS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE INSIDE SHEERED OFF INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. HE SHOWED US THE PARTS (WHICH I STILL HAVE AS PROOF OF THE ISSUE THAT IS A PROBLEM OF GM.). THE PARTS WERE WEAK AND JUST RIPPED APART. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT HURT, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. IT COST $3800 TO REPAIR, AND THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. CHEVY WAS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN GETTING HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592739
Incident
Oct 21, 2013
Mileage
53,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed May 14, 2014

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT . DASH LIGHT GO OUT, SEAT BELTS ALL OF THEM UNLATCH BY THEM SELF, I REPLACED THE BRAKES 6 TIMES ALREADY, EMISSION VAPOR CANISTER WENT OUT , THE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON . IT ALL WAYS SAY CHECK GAS CAP,KNOW MY VAN NOT WORKING. I CAN'T CLEAN ANY HARD CODES, PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE DOOR UNLATCH WHEN I WAS AND THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DOOR HIT THE GROUND ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY 5 KIDS IN THE CAR , MY 20 YR SON WAS SITTING BY HIS EIGHT YR OLD BROTHER . MY EIGHT YR OLD WAS ON THE SIDE THAT CAME UNLATCH THANK GOD HE UN DID HIS BROTHER SEAT BELT AND GRAB HIM AND HELD ON TO HIM TIGHT UNTIL I STOP THE VEHICLE . THE STARTED WENT OUT,THE BACK AIR CONDITION WON'T WORK, THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE JOINT BROKE, THE VAN OVER HEATS ALL THE TIME WHICH CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND THE STARTER WENT I REPLACE TRANSMISSION STARTER AND THERMOSTAT .THE VAN A PIECE OF [XXX] AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK I PAID FOR IN CASH. I BROUGHT THE VAN IN 2008 AND PAID CASH FOR IT .I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BROUGHT IT IN 11/1/2008. THE PROBLEMS STARTED 2 DAYS AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN HOME. I WISH NEVER HAD GOTTEN IT. THE [XXX] THING A LEMON THEY NEED FORCE CHEVY TO RECALL THE GOD [XXX] LEMON 2008 CHEVY UPLANDER AND GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK SO I CAN GO SOME WERE ELSE AND BY MY FAMILY A REAL VAN , I'M A SINGLE MOM OF 5 CHILDREN AND I NEED A RELIABLE VAN ,NOT A PIECE OF [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10588439
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
33,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2014

THE VAN WAS PARK FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. I RETURN AND START THE ENGINE I MOVE TO "D" FOR DRIVE AND THE VAN NOT GO. ONLY 2,1 SPEED GOES FORWARD. BUT NO DRIVE "D". RESEARCH SHOW THE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION DO TO OVERHEATING. THIS ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESS BY CHEVY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575246
Incident
Mar 27, 2014
Mileage
82,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 4, 2013

I AM AT A STOP LIGHT AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND IT WOULDN'T GO. THE CAR WAS SPUTTERING , SHAKING REALLY HARD ...I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET HOME. NOW I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR MY UPLANDER AT ALL BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT COMPLETELY. THE DEALER VERIFIED IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ARE TAKING IT APART TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WENT WRONG INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED JULY 31ST OF THIS YEAR. I FEEL THAT AT 55K MILES , THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS ISSUE. THEY MUST HAVE PUT A BAD TRANSMISSION IN THE UPLANDER FROM THE BEGINNING. I FEEL THEY SHOULD TAKE OWNERSHIP AND MAKE IT RIGHT. I HAVE 4 KIDS AND NEED MY VAN TO PICK THEM UP AND SO I CAN GET TO WORK. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY FOR A HUGE REPAIR WHEN I TRUSTED THAT CHEVROLET WAS A GOOD RELIABLE CAR MAKER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10546708
Incident
Sep 28, 2013
Mileage
55,260 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 20, 2013

MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO STUTTER AT HIGH SPEEDS I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT IT AND SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL! I OWE WAY TOO MUCH ON THE VAN TO PUT 3000 DOLLARS INTO A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT A WHILE AGO BUT DID NOT RECALL IT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10536238
Incident
Apr 17, 2013
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 13, 2010

DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WITH A DOWN HILL SLOP AND AT AN ANGLE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD FIRST AND THEN THE RIGHT. AS THE BACK WHEELS MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THE STABILIZER CONTROL CAME ON AND AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE EITHER THE TRANS OR THE BRAKES LOCKED UP THROWING EVERY ONE FORWARD INTO THEIR SEAT BELTS THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE WHAT EVER WAS LOCKED UP WAS TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTART THE CAR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED IN MAY OF 2008. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330352
Incident
May 8, 2010
Mileage
55,900 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 2, 2010

I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER WHICH DISPLAYS A "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR SNOW, ON TRIPS MORE THAN AN HOUR IN LENGTH. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON MORE THAN TWELVE OCCASIONS, AND HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THREE DEALERS UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPAIR. DIAGNOSES INCLUDE WRONG GAS CAP, WIRING HARNESS SHORT CIRCUIT, MAF FAILURE, FUEL INJECTOR FOULING, AIR FILTER BLOCKAGE, ETC. NONE OF THESE DIAGNOSES HAVE PROVEN CORRECT, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE LAST DEALER I TOOK IT TO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM ISN'T SERIOUS, "THE ENGINE LIGHT JUST MEANS THAT IT DOESN'T MEET SMOG REQUIREMENTS." MY STATE REQUIRES ECHECK BEFORE I CAN REGISTER THE VEHICLE, WHICH MEANS THAT I CAN'T GET TAGS FOR THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY EXPIRE THIS YEAR. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO CONSIDER ANY OTHER OPTIONS FOR RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER 50, 100 TIMES, AS MANY AS NECESSARY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CANNOT CONTINUE TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND LOSE USE OF THE CAR IF THEY CANNOT FIX IT. I HAVE MADE AT LEAST TWELVE TRIPS FOR THESE TWO PROBLEMS AND DESPITE GENERAL MOTORS OPINION, I THINK THAT IS MORE THAN REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE CAR. I ALSO HAVE A NOISE IN THE SUSPENSION WHICH POSES A SAFETY RISK BUT DOES NOT PREVENT ME FROM REGISTERING THE CAR. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE SOURCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10297839
Incident
Dec 15, 2008
Mileage
27,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed May 22, 2008

2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE WENT DOWN A SLIGHT DOWN HILL GRADE, HE WENT DOWN THE GRADE ON AN ANGLE. THE RIGHT WHEEL CONTACTED THE ROAD BEFORE THE LEFT WHEEL. *KB AS THE CONSUMER STARTED TO ACCELERATE, HE HEARD THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY PITCHED FORWARD 3 OR 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED EITHER THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKING UP OR THE FRONT BRAKES WERE LOCKING ON. THE CONSUMER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO GO FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10228515
Incident
Jan 1, 1901

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .