2006 Chevrolet Uplander

Rating applies to 2005-08 models

Tested vehicle: 2005 Chevrolet Uplander van

The Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Buick Terraza, and Saturn RELAY were introduced in the 2005 model year as replacements for the Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Montana and Trans Sport, and Oldsmobile Silhouette. (A limited number of Chevrolet Ventures and Pontiac Montanas were produced for the 2005 model year.) The Pontiac Montana SV6 was discontinued after the 2006 model year, and the Buick Terraza and Saturn RELAY were discontinued after the 2007 model year. The Uplander was discontinued after the 2008 model year.

Rating applies to 2006-07 models built after February 2006 and before January 2007

Tested vehicle: 2006 Chevrolet Uplander LT van with optional front and second row seat-mounted combination head and torso airbags

The Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Buick Terraza, and Saturn RELAY were introduced in the 2005 model year as replacements for the Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Montana, and Oldsmobile Silhouette. Side airbags were optional for front seat occupants. The Pontiac Montana SV6 was discontinued after the 2006 model year.

Beginning with 2006 models, side airbags became optional for both the front and second row seating positions. Also beginning with 2006 models manufactured after November 2005, the vehicle floor was reinforced to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). Further changes were made for models manufactured after February 2006 to strengthen the standard second row bucket seats for side impact crashes.

Two tests of the Uplander were conducted, the first with optional side airbags for the driver and rear passenger, and the second without. Both vehicles were manufactured after all design changes for 2006 had been made. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.

In both tests, there were problems with the seats occupied by the rear passenger dummies. During the first test, all four of the attachment points for the optional captain's chair (with side airbag) released, allowing the seat to become completely dislodged. In the second test with the standard bucket seat (and no side airbag), one attachment point released and a second one broke, allowing partial separation of the seat from the floor. While these seat separations did not appear to exacerbate any injury measures recorded by the rear dummies, such separations should not occur. For this reason, the overall rating for the Uplander and similar models with side airbags was downgraded to Marginal (it would have been Acceptable otherwise).

Rating applies to 2006-08 models built after February 2006

Tested vehicle: 2006 Chevrolet Uplander LS van without optional side airbags

The Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Buick Terraza, and Saturn RELAY were introduced in the 2005 model year as replacements for the Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Montana, and Oldsmobile Silhouette. Side airbags were optional for front seat occupants. The Pontiac Montana SV6 was discontinued after the 2006 model year, and the Buick Terraza and Saturn RELAY were discontinued after the 2007 model year.

Beginning with 2006 models, side airbags became optional for both the front and second row seating positions. Also beginning with 2006 models manufactured after November 2005, the vehicle floor was reinforced to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). Further changes were made for models manufactured after February 2006 to strengthen the standard second row bucket seats for side impact crashes.

Two tests of a 2006 Uplander were conducted, the first with optional side airbags for the driver and rear passenger, and the second without. Both vehicles were manufactured after all design changes for 2006 had been made. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests. In the test with optional side airbags, there was a problem with the seat occupied by the rear passenger dummy. All four of the attachment points for the optional captain's chair (with side airbag) released, allowing the seat to become completely dislodged. While this seat separation did not appear to exacerbate any injury measures recorded by the rear dummy, such separations should not occur. For this reason, the overall rating for the Uplander and similar models with side airbags was downgraded to Marginal (it would have been Acceptable otherwise).

Beginning with 2007 models manufactured after December 2006, General Motors added retention hooks to the left and right rear seat attachment points for the second row captain’s chairs. In two side impact tests conducted by GM with the new design, the second row seats were retained. On the basis of this performance, models built after December 2006 and equipped with optional second row side airbags are rated separately from earlier models. All Uplanders, Terrazas, and RELAYs built after this date and equipped with optional side airbags are rated Acceptable. The Uplander was discontined after the 2008 model year.

Seat type: All seats