Total Complaints
17 filings
CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 · model year
17 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006CHEVROLETEXPRESS 3500 carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 EXPRESS 3500 is seat belts:rear/other with 2 filings, followed by steering (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2006 EXPRESS 3500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
17 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| TIRES:VALVE | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
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 wi
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.
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.
Mileage: 30,000
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 33,00
Mileage: 6,000
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 33,00
Mileage: 6,000
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
Mileage: 82,000
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
Mileage: 85,000
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
Mileage: 85,000
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.
Mileage: 12,000
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
Mileage: 36,000
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.
2006 CHEVY EXPRESS 3500 CARGO VAN WITH DURAMAX ENGINE AND 4L80 TRANSMISSION MADE A 'WHINING' NOISE AT SLOW SPEEDS SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. AT ABOUT 31,000 MILES I FINALLY CONVINCED THE DEALERSHIP SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT HAD SOME KIND OF BAD BEARING AT THE REAR OF TRANSMISSION. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. 7,000 MILES LATER THE VAN SUDDENLY LOST REVERSE GEAR AND I HAD TO GET IT PUSHED IN ORDER TO BACK UP. GM IS REPLACING SOME PARTS, BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. FROM OTHER POSTS ON YOUR WEBSITE THIS TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN UNSAFE PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 100
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 45-60 MINUTES, IT WAS FOUND SMOKING AND ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (NUMBER PE08010) FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 3/19/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED INSURANCE ADJUSTER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO BE DEEMED AS TOTALED. UPDATED 03/19/08 *TR
Mileage: 10,000
WE PURCHASED A CHEVY EXPRESS 15-PASSENGER VAN IN APRIL 2006. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT THREE FAILURES OF THE FRONT, SIDE "BARN DOOR." A MODERATE AMOUNT OF WIND CAN CATCH THE DOOR AND STRETCH IT TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT CAN AND HAS COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR EDGE CAUSING A DENT IN THE BARN DOOR. IT APPEARS THAT A STRAP OR ANCHOR WITHIN THE BARN DOOR IS STRETCHED OUT OF SHAPE. A SAFETY HAZARD OCCURS WHEN A PERSON WALKS BETWEEN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE FRONT BARN DOOR. THIS IS THE POINT OF IMPACT. THIS BEGAN SOON AFTER THE PURCHASE OF OUR VAN AND HAS RECURRED AT LEAST TWICE. OUR CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT ONCE BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN IN JULY 2007. IT REMAINS UN-REPAIRED. *JB UPDATED 10/11/07. *JB
Mileage: 500
2006 EXPRESS 3500 CHEVY VAN WITH SLIGHT KNOCK IN THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING TURNS CUSTOMER WANTS THE MATTER LOOKED INTO**CC THE CONSUMER WANTS THE REPAIR TO THE IDLER ARM REPAIRED, HOWEVER HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND NO REPAIRS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT APPROACHING A RED LIGHT A, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH TO INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AFTER KICKING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE PEDAL RELEASED ENOUGH TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT DETERMINED THE PROBLEM.
Mileage: 100
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE REAR PASSENGER MIDDLE SEAT BELT WAS INSERTED BACKWARDS INTO THE BUCKLE. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE SEAT BELT WAS CUT TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER, WHO ORDERED THE APPROPRIATE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Mileage: 2,013
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT SEAT BELTS FAILED. THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WERE INSERTED BACKWARDS INTO THE BUCKLE. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE SEAT BELT WAS CUT TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALER, WHO ORDERED THE APPROPRIATE PARTS FOR REPAIRS. THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
Mileage: 2,013
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.