Which Chevrolet Express 1500 years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2005, 2007, and 2014 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 75, 100, and 88 respectively, well above the other model years.

What is the best year for the Chevrolet Express 1500?

2006 and 2009 are rated Good, with complaint indexes of 25 and 38, the lowest among the 9 model years with data.

What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Express 1500?

Across all years, airbags and brakes each account for 25% of complaints, followed by suspension/wheels/tires at 11%, engine at 9%, structure and body at 9%, and electrical system at 8%.

Are there recalls on the Chevrolet Express 1500?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns across all model years, including one on the 2007 Express 1500 tied to a stop-lamp and ABS module issue.

Why is the 2007 Express 1500 rated Avoid?

The 2007 model has the highest complaint index of any year (100), with airbag non-deployment in crashes, brake failures, and a reported fire, plus one recall for its electrical system.

Chevrolet Express 1500 Best and Worst Years (2005–2014)

Chevrolet Express 1500 years to avoid are 2005, 2007, and 2014, based on high complaint indexes (75, 100, and 88) and brake, airbag, and tire problems. 2006 and 2009 are the best-rated years with complaint indexes of 25 and 38.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2005 Avoid 2007 Avoid 2014

Model years: 9; 2005–2014
NHTSA complaints: 53
Recall campaigns: 3
Crashes reported: 8
Fires reported: 2
Top problem area: Airbags

Express 1500 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Chevrolet Express 1500 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2005	Avoid	75	10	2	0	0	Brakes	14	—
2006	Good	25	5	0	0	0	Fuel System	14	—
2007	Avoid	100	5	2	1	1	Airbags	14	—
2008	Caution	63	9	0	0	0	Brakes	14	—
2009	Good	38	5	0	0	0	Airbags	14	—
2010	No verdict	50	4	1	0	0	Airbags	14	—
2011	No verdict	13	3	0	0	2	Airbags	14	—
2012	No verdict	0	2	0	0	0	Brakes	14	—
2014	Avoid	88	10	3	1	0	Airbags	14	—

Express 1500 years to avoid: what went wrong

2007 Chevrolet Express 1500 Index 100 · 5 complaints · 1 recalls

The 2007 Express 1500 has the worst complaint index of any year at 100, driven largely by airbags, which made up 40% of complaints, including deployment failures in crashes. Owners also reported brake pedals sinking to the floor and a transmission-area fire while driving at highway speed. NHTSA recorded one crash with a death and 10 injuries for this year. One recall (07V342000) addressed a stop-lamp/ABS module issue tied to the electrical system.

2014 Chevrolet Express 1500 Index 88 · 10 complaints · 0 recalls

The 2014 Express 1500 has a complaint index of 88, the second-worst year. Airbags were the top issue at 40% of complaints, with owners reporting non-deployment in crashes near 40,000-50,000 miles. Suspension and tire problems followed, including a tire blowout at 65,000 miles that led to a crash. A separate electrical complaint described a window switch causing a fire near the driver door at 69,000 miles. No recalls have been issued for this model year.

2005 Chevrolet Express 1500 Index 75 · 10 complaints · 0 recalls

The 2005 Express 1500 carries a complaint index of 75, the third-worst of any year. Brakes account for 40% of complaints, with owners describing total brake failure and ruptured brake lines, one at a median 53,800 miles. Electrical and airbag issues followed, including a case of airbags failing to deploy in a crash at 235,000 miles. No recalls were issued for this model year, so these were reported as ongoing owner complaints rather than manufacturer-acknowledged defects.

Most common Chevy Express 1500 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Airbags13 (25%)
Brakes13 (25%)
Other6 (11%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (11%)
Engine5 (9%)
Structure & Body5 (9%)
Electrical System4 (8%)
Fuel System2 (4%)
Seat Belts2 (4%)
Steering2 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

Which Chevrolet Express 1500 years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2005, 2007, and 2014 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 75, 100, and 88 respectively, well above the other model years.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Express 1500?: 2006 and 2009 are rated Good, with complaint indexes of 25 and 38, the lowest among the 9 model years with data.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Express 1500?: Across all years, airbags and brakes each account for 25% of complaints, followed by suspension/wheels/tires at 11%, engine at 9%, structure and body at 9%, and electrical system at 8%.
Are there recalls on the Chevrolet Express 1500?: NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns across all model years, including one on the 2007 Express 1500 tied to a stop-lamp and ABS module issue.
Why is the 2007 Express 1500 rated Avoid?: The 2007 model has the highest complaint index of any year (100), with airbag non-deployment in crashes, brake failures, and a reported fire, plus one recall for its electrical system.