YearToAvoid

2021 Chevrolet Express Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#3 most-complained of 15 Express years

The 2021 Chevrolet Express has 13 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 86, and ranks 3rd worst of 15 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Brakes and Fuel System each account for 31% of complaints, with 2 recalls issued.

Complaints
13
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2021 Chevrolet Express problems

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

  1. Brakes4 (31%)
  2. Fuel System4 (31%)
  3. Airbags3 (23%)
  4. Structure & Body2 (15%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain2 (15%)
  6. Steering1 (8%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine stalling and losing power steering and braking after the fuel pump control module fails, sometimes with no warning light.
  • Some vehicles reportedly caught fire while driving on the highway, with owners citing repeated incidents across nearby months.
  • Drivers describe the power steering suddenly becoming difficult to turn at low speed, requiring the vehicle to slow down before control was regained.
  • Owners report the brakes emitting a burning smell after stop-and-go traffic, followed by wobbling and the ABS light turning on.
  • A tire reportedly blew out at the sidewall shortly after a low-pressure warning appeared, at low mileage.
  • Some owners describe a sudden forward jolt from the drivetrain when coming to a stop, requiring the vehicle be shifted to neutral or braked hard.
2021 Chevrolet Express complaints: complaints filed per month6May 2022Apr 2023Dec 2023Oct 2024Mar 2025
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2022 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2026 (6).

2021 Chevrolet Express recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V189000Mar 18, 2021Electrical System10,154 vehiclesPark Outside

    Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with 6.6L gasoline engines. The positive battery cable terminals may contact a fuse block assembly attachment post and cause an electrical short circuit.

    Risk: A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove a portion of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable terminals near the fuse block assembly attachments, free of charge. If too much of the tab had been removed during prior servicing, the battery cable will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202325160.

  2. 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.

2021 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
2019Caution6484—
2020Caution71171—
2021Avoid86132—
2023No verdict1421—
2024No verdict710—

All Chevrolet Express years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Express reliable?
NHTSA data shows 13 complaints for the 2021 Express with a complaint index of 86, ranking 3rd worst among 15 model years covered, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Express years.
What are the main problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Express?
Brakes and Fuel System issues each make up 31% of complaints, followed by Airbags at 23%. Brake-related median mileage at failure is 18,000 miles and fuel system issues showed a median of 5,000 miles.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Express have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Express: one for an electrical system issue involving battery cable terminals (owners advised to park outside) and one covering suspension, wheels & tires.
How does the 2021 Express compare to other model years?
The 2021 Express's complaint index of 86 is higher than most other years listed, such as 2015 (21, Best verdict) and 2018 (43, Good verdict), placing 2021 among the worse years for reported problems.
Were there any fires or crashes reported for the 2021 Express?
NHTSA complaint data for the 2021 Express lists 1 crash, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the 13 complaints filed.

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.