MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chevrolet Express years to avoid

Across 8 scored model years, the 2013 and 2010 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Chevrolet Express Full report
D
Grade 2010–2021
2013 vs model median 1.6×
Model median3× median
Engine 5
Fuel System 3
Brakes 3
Avoid

2010 · 2013

Best

2012 · 2015

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.47× 14 D
2012
0.65× 10 C
2013
1.58× 19 D
2014
0.87× 11 C
2015
0.70× 11 B
2016
1.04× 11 C
2017
0.96× 14 C
2021
1.18× 12 C

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 D 14 reports · median 44,500 mi

  1. Engine 4

    I have been dealing with gm head office and their call ctr for over 1 + years. I have been telling them that there is hesitation at the pedal at acceleration, constant noise from the engine - sounds like a machine gun. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 3

    This vehicle has had multiple incidents of cutting out and stalling causing loss of steering and brakes, and just before it completely shuts down it will power back up. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 3

    An operator reported in august of 2012 that "the engine dies after driving about 1 mile, then restarts." in september 2012 we had one operator document his finding over a two week period, his reports include: "9/14/12… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 crash · 1 fire · 5 injuries

2013 D 19 reports · median 30,000 mi

  1. Engine 5

    The first and second (of three incidents) both appeared minor, lasting only a fraction of a second. About half way through a 150-mile drive, the engine went dead but as quickly fired up again so as not to be taken… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Fuel System 3

    This is a c class rv by thor motor coach. The coach serial number is [xxx]. The vehicle would not take fuel. I bought it to two chevrolet dealers who would not look at it because it had a motorhome body. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Brakes 3

    The contact owns a 2013 chevrolet express. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the front passenger side brake engaged and the electronic stability control light illuminated. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

2 crash · 2 injuries

The best year for the Express

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2015 is the best-scoring Express model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 71.6 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2012 at 0.65× this model’s median, against 0.70× for 2015.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2015 0.70× 11 B
2012 0.65× 10 C
2014 0.87× 11 C

Recalls

22 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
14V117000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2010–2014 303,013
18V295000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS 2014–2017 207,483
14V614000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2014 106,307
13V001000 STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE 2013 54,686
21V115000 TIRES 2021 33,838
18V655000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2016, 2017 30,448
21V189000 Park it ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES 2021 10,154
10V096000 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM 2010 9,137
12V112000 STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN 2012 6,159
18V267000 EQUIPMENT 2010–2017 6,154
10V138000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR 2010 4,485
14V500000 FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 2012–2014 3,345

+ 10 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2013 were reported at a median of 30,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chevrolet Express years should you avoid?
2013, 2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Chevrolet Express model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Express?
2015 is the best-scoring Chevrolet Express model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 71.6 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Express have?
22 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chevrolet Express model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 Express
Complaints in window
19
Severity-weighted
28
Model median (weighted)
18
vs model median
1.58×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
8
Open investigations
0
Score 45.6 D