Skip to content
Chevrolet Express 3500Model year report

2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
8,000miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500. The part named most often is steering, with 3 complaints (20% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and seat belts (2). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 83% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 8,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 138 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10524218, filed 2013-07, 82,000 miles

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10164538, filed 2006-08, 100 miles

Seat belts: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10145265, filed 2005-12, 2,013 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10567711, filed 2014-03, 6,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

83% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,013 and 30,000 miles.

50%0–1017%10–2517%25–500%50–7517%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 8,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

200620083201120142017
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 138 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 138 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Express 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20125150,0000—12—Not enough data
2009959,7472———Not enough data
20081181,0001———Not enough data
20071188,4111———Not enough data
2006158,0001———Stable
20051776,0000———Stable
20041663,2220———Stable
20031272,5150———Not enough data
20011145,3860———Not enough data

All Chevrolet Express 3500 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 3 complaints (20% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 8,000 miles and the middle half falls between 2,013 and 30,000 miles; 83% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.