2006 Chevrolet Express 3500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (2) · Seat Belts:rear/Other (2) · Wheels (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Express 3500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2014-11-05 · campaign 14V706000 · 34 vehicles
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 cr
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (140)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Engine 2024-12-18 · 03-06-01-023I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
Engine 2024-10-07 · 03-06-01-023H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
Showing the 6 most recent of 140 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2017-04-03 · Seats“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.…”
2015-02-12 · Tires:valve · 30,000 mi“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. …”
2014-03-06 · Power Train · 6,000 mi“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 …”
2013-07-10 · Steering · 82,000 mi“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…”
2013-03-25 · Wheels · 85,000 mi“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…”
2011-04-26 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 12,000 mi“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 flui…”
2010-05-25 · Fuel System, Diesel · 36,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2008-05-08 · Steering“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 veh…”
2008-04-09 · Power Train:automatic Transmission · 100 mi“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 transmis…”
2008-02-12 · Electrical System · 10,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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. up…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.