YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Express Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

71/100

#5 most-complained of 15 Express years

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

The 2020 Chevrolet Express has a Complaint Index of 71, ranking 5th worst out of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA logs 17 complaints, 1 recall, and 1 crash, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 53% of complaints.

Complaints
17
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2020 Chevy Express problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain9 (53%)
  2. Electrical System3 (18%)
  3. Engine3 (18%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (18%)
  5. Brakes2 (12%)
  6. Other2 (12%)
  7. Fuel System1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Transmission shudders and loses power at highway speeds around 60 MPH before decelerating suddenly.
  • Hard jerking or improper downshifts occur repeatedly during normal gear shifts.
  • Engine stalls suddenly while driving and can be difficult or slow to restart, sometimes with the check engine light on.
  • Rear door latches on cargo models fail repeatedly and need frequent replacement.
  • Electrical faults include a main ground cable failing and causing unexpected stalling.
  • Brake system fails to release from a hill-assist mode, keeping the van in a slowed state on level ground.
2020 Chevrolet Express complaints: complaints filed per month8Sep 2021Apr 2022Feb 2024Sep 2025Mar 2026
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2025 (8).

2020 Chevrolet Express recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V115000Feb 25, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires33,838 vehicles

    Tires

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

    Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

2020 compared with other Express years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Good43116—
2019Caution6484—
2020Caution71171—
2021Avoid86132—
2023No verdict1421—

All Chevrolet Express years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Express reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2020 Express a Complaint Index of 71 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among 15 model years of the Express. Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 53% of all reported issues.
What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Chevrolet Express?
Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, making up 53% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 62,376.5 miles (98,753 to 100,000 miles in some sample reports).
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Express have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Express, covering suspension, wheels, and tires, reported in February 2021. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2020 Express compare to other model years?
The 2020 model's Complaint Index of 71 is worse than 2015 (21, Best verdict) and 2018 (43, Good verdict), but better than 2010 (100, Avoid) and 2012 (93, Avoid).

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.