Chevrolet Express Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Avoid the 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2021 Chevrolet Express, which post the highest complaint indexes (100, 93, 79, and 86). The 2015 model year is the best choice with a complaint index of just 21 and only 8 complaints logged.
- Model years
- 15
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 172
- Recall campaigns
- 30
- Crashes reported
- 8
- Fires reported
- 5
- Top problem area
- Brakes
Express 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.
Chevrolet Express problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Avoid | 100 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 5 | Engine | 14 | — |
| 2011 | Good | 29 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Engine | 14 | — |
| 2012 | Avoid | 93 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 6 | Brakes | 13.5 | — |
| 2013 | Avoid | 79 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 8 | Brakes | 14 | — |
| 2014 | Good | 36 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | Airbags | 14 | — |
| 2015 | Best | 21 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Brakes | 12.5 | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 50 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 6 | Brakes | 12.5 | — |
| 2017 | Caution | 57 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 6 | Brakes | 12.5 | — |
| 2018 | Good | 43 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 6 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 64 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2020 | Caution | 71 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Avoid | 86 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2023 | No verdict | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2024 | No verdict | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Engine | — | — |
| 2025 | No verdict | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — |
Express years to avoid: what went wrong
2010 Chevrolet Express Index 100 · 15 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2010 Express carries the highest complaint index of any year at 100, with 15 complaints, 1 crash, 1 fire, and 7 injuries. Engine problems dominate, making up 33 percent of complaints with a median failure mileage of 41,750. Owners also reported brake and electrical issues, including burned wiring near the fuel tank and stalling tied to a defective wiring harness. Five recall campaigns apply to this year, including one covering airbag instrument panel modifications and one for defective fire extinguishers shared across multiple GM van and truck lines.
2012 Chevrolet Express Index 93 · 13 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2012 Express has a complaint index of 93, with 13 complaints, 2 crashes, 2 injuries, and 2 deaths reported. Brakes are the top problem area at 31 percent of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 14,500. Owners described parking brake cables rubbing against hydraulic brake lines and steering that felt unresponsive during a fatal crash. Six recall campaigns cover this year, including a fuel system recall for CNG models and an airbag instrument panel recall.
2021 Chevrolet Express Index 86 · 13 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2021 Express has a complaint index of 86, with 13 complaints, 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury reported. Brakes and fuel system issues each make up 31 percent of complaints, with median failure mileages of 18,000 and 5,000. Owners reported vehicle fires, a tire blowout shortly after a low-pressure warning, and a power steering malfunction that made the wheel difficult to turn. Two recall campaigns apply, including a park-outside recall for battery cable terminals near a fuse block.
2013 Chevrolet Express Index 79 · 22 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2013 Express posts a complaint index of 79, with 22 complaints and 1 crash reported. Brakes and engine problems each account for 32 percent of complaints, with median failure mileages of 24,831 and 47,500 respectively. Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in a 43 mph crash, fuel venting problems, and recurring exhaust fluid quality warnings that dealers repeatedly tried to fix. Eight recall campaigns apply to this year, including CNG fuel system and label-replacement recalls.
Most common Chevrolet Express problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Brakes49 (28%)
- Electrical System30 (17%)
- Engine29 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain28 (16%)
- Fuel System22 (13%)
- Airbags17 (10%)
- Structure & Body14 (8%)
- Other11 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras8 (5%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Chevrolet Express should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2021 Chevrolet Express model years rank worst, with complaint indexes of 100, 93, 79, and 86 respectively.
- What is the best year for the Chevrolet Express?
- The 2015 Chevrolet Express is the best-rated year based on NHTSA data, with a complaint index of just 21 and only 8 total complaints, the lowest of any year covered.
- Is the 2010 Chevrolet Express reliable?
- The 2010 Express has the highest complaint index (100) of any Express year in this dataset, with 15 complaints, 5 recall campaigns, and engine problems as the top issue at a median of 41,750 miles.
- What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Express?
- Across all years, brakes account for 28 percent of complaints (49 of 172), followed by electrical system issues at 17 percent and engine problems also at 17 percent.
- Does the 2021 Chevrolet Express have any recalls?
- Yes, the 2021 Chevrolet Express has 2 recall campaigns, including one advising owners to park outside due to a risk of battery cable terminals contacting a fuse block.