YearToAvoid

2006 Chevrolet Express Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

42/100

#12 most-complained of 20 Express years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Chevrolet Express has 12 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 42 out of 100 — #12 highest of 20 Express model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is airbags (2 complaints, 17% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes and 2 injuries.

Complaints
12
Recalls
16
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14.5
13 city / 17.5 hwy

Top 2006 Chevy Express problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags2 (17%)
  2. Brakes2 (17%)
  3. Electrical System2 (17%)
  4. Engine2 (17%)
  5. Structure & Body2 (17%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain2 (17%)
  7. Other1 (8%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (8%)
  9. Steering1 (8%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
2006 Chevrolet Express complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2006Feb 2010Nov 2011May 2014Jul 2016Mar 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2006 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2016 (3).

2006 Chevrolet Express recalls

16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 09V303000Jul 29, 2009Other8 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Van products is recalling 8 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. The lift fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations on motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

    Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

    Remedy: Van products is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lift free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

  2. NHTSA 09V304000Jul 29, 2009Other8 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Van products is recalling 8 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift system accessible for motor vehicles," the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.

    Risk: A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.

    Remedy: Van products is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

  3. NHTSA 09V306000Jul 29, 2009Other6 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Customizers is recalling 6 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations on motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

    Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

    Remedy: Customizers is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lift free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

See all 16 recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Express →

2006 Chevrolet Express fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
17.5 MPG
Combined
14.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,475
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Express years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good4723814.5
2006Good42121614.5
2007Caution5317414.5
2008Good26141014

All Chevrolet Express years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Express a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Chevrolet Express ranks #12 of 20 among Express model years (Complaint Index 42/100, verdict: Good). It has 12 complaints and 16 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Express?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (2 complaints), brakes (2 complaints), and electrical system (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 62,529 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Express have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the 2006 Chevrolet Express, most recently reported 2009, covering other, seat belts, and steering.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Chevrolet Express?
EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Express at 14.5 MPG combined (13 city / 17.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,475. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.