2008 Chevrolet Express 3500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Chevrolet Express 3500 has a complaint index of 64, ranking 5th-worst among 12 model years, with a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 11 complaints, 1 recall, and top issues in brakes, electrical, suspension, and transmission.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 64/100
- #5 of 12 Express 3500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 11
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Brakes
Top 2008 Chevy Express 3500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes2 (18%)
- Electrical System2 (18%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (18%)
- Airbags1 (9%)
- Engine1 (9%)
- Fuel System1 (9%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front brakes shake and vibrate at various speeds even after rotors and pads were replaced.
- Anti-lock brakes engage randomly on dry pavement during normal stops, pulling the steering left and right.
- Transmission intermittently fails to accelerate or shift, sometimes requiring a restart or a full replacement.
- Vehicle hesitates and stalls without warning while driving at moderate speed.
- Tire pressure sensor valve stems corrode and leak, and a rear tire developed tread separation at highway speed.
- Driver and passenger airbags failed to deploy in a roadside ditch crash.
2008 Chevrolet Express 3500 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 14V706000Nov 5, 2014Other34 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
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 crack.
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.
Remedy: 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.
2008 compared with other Express 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Chevrolet Express 3500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 model has a complaint index of 64 and ranks 5th-worst out of 12 model years, earning a Caution verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Express 3500?
- NHTSA complaints most often cite brakes, electrical system, suspension/wheels/tires, and transmission/powertrain, each accounting for 18% of complaints filed for this year.
- Does the 2008 Chevrolet Express 3500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2008 Express 3500, a wheelchair lift platform support issue affecting certain conversion vans, with no do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2008 model compare to other Express 3500 years?
- The 2008 model's complaint index of 64 is lower than 2005 (100), 2006 (82), and 2007 (91), all rated Avoid, but higher than 2009 (73, Caution) and later years like 2012 (45, Good).
- At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2008 Express 3500?
- Median mileage at failure across complaints is 81,000, though brake issues appeared at a median of 69,000 miles and transmission issues at 164,500 miles.