2012 Chevrolet Express: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 13 owner complaints on record; most reports concern service brakes.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Apr 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“ABS Valve Body / Pump Harness chafed through brake hydraulic line near transmission crossmember. This resulted in a hydraulic leak and loss of brake pedal feel / partial loss of brakes. Fortunately failure occurred in the driveway--I had 4500 Lbs of sailboat trailer hitched to the van and was about to go on a long trip. Design issue. Wiring harness should not be located so as to chafe on hydraulic lines. This is not the first chafe related failure on this vehicle.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Aug 2026
“About 6:45 in the morning on November 10th, the vehicle was in a high-speed. Front end collision with adult cow elk at 70 miles an hour on the freeway, and the airbags failed to deploy in the Van on both front seats and the vehicle was severely damaged. Injuries were sustained.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2025
“Vehicle is upfitted as a school bus. Forward fuel tank strap failed in operation. Our company operates more than 100 of these vehicles and we experience a failure of fuel tank straps at a rate of about one vehicle per month. If the 2nd strap would also fail the gasoline tank would become dislodged and present a re hazard. This is even more critical as these vehicles are carrying students as a school bus. We perform visual inspections of the straps at 6 month intervals (per Pennsylvania these vehicles are subject to Semi-Annual State Inspection). There were no symptoms of the problem before this failure. There are never symptoms of the problem.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2025
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“UNKNOWN...THE VEHICLE VEARED OFF ROAD AN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. Did not seam like steering was working properly. The final out come there were 2 deceased operators. In 2 different vehicles. I'm not sure if the recalls were ever repaired.”Owner report · Steering · Apr 2023
“I manage a fleet of 53 school buses, model years ranging from 2008 to 2015. I have noticed a trend with the hydro boosters and master cylinders, they tend to leak internally on these gm vehicles some have begun to leak as early as 30,000 miles. I expect to have to replace all of these components, on every bus in the near future. As the fleet ages the trend is getting increasingly worse. I believe this is a dangerous situation because I am vigilant with keeping up on this issue, however I am not sure that the general public will have the same understanding about the danger of this design flaw. I have had buses come in bleeding brake fluid or hydraulic fluid.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2017
“Engine was at idle had pulled into gas station . Alarms went off check engine light came on, stable track error, multiple tones. After 20 seconds engine stalled. Would not crank. After talking to people and couple tries fix took to dealership as it was diagnosed to be the engine control module shorted. I had gone thru rain earlier and a couple storms passed thru while at station and eating. Dealer replaced engine control module and programmed it. This could of happened while driving and would of lost engine power and power steering. Since just module replaced and ben told it is know to short out when wet it could happen again.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet express. When the brakes were depressed and released, the vehicle began to shake violently. The contact mentioned that the stabilitrak activated independently after being turned off without warning. The vehicle was taken to dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.”Owner report · Steering · Aug 2014
“Driver's seat belt reel seized while the vehicle was parked so the belt could not be extended and buckled. The operator was not able to wear the seat belt as required by law. Vehicle was brought to the chevrolet dealer and repaired under tsb 05-09-40-002g today, a second vehicle of the same make/model 2014 model year experienced the same problem.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Sep 2013
“Parking brake cable found rubbing on the hydraulic service brake line, forward of the rear axle on drivers side of chassis. Wear is evident on hydraulic service brake line and parking cable, along with component parking brake assembly was stuck under. *tr”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2013
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 17, 2011. THE SECOND STAGE OF THE DUAL-STAGE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE IN A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT. ACCORDINGLY, THE AIR BAGS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-800-462-8782 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020.
General Motors LLC (GM) and IMPCO Automotive Division of IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (IMPCO) are recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Cargo vans that have a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system installed as original equipment by IMPCO. The fuel systems, manufactured February 14, 2011, through February 20, 2013, have a fuel shut-off solenoid connector to the CNG tank that may corrode and form a short.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and GM dealers/fleets will perform the remedy which will include replacing the solenoid assemblies and fuel pump fuses and adjusting the wiring routing. The recall began on August 5, 2013. GM's number for this recall is 13139. Impco's number for this recall is FA13GM001. Owner's may contact GM Fleet Action Center at 1-800-353-3867.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans manufactured January 27, 2009, through March 7, 2014 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds and less and equipped with front passenger air bags. In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger's head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel may not sufficiently absorb the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Notices to the owners of the heavy duty vans were mailed on April 28, 2014. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14082.
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND SUBURBAN VEHICLES, AND GMC SAVANA AND YUKON XL HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES. THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY HARDENED AND COULD FRACTURE.
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING GEAR AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 4, 2012.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chevrolet Express compressed natural gas (CNG)vehicles manufactured September 10, 2010, to April 28, 2014, and GMC Savana CNG vehicles manufactured May 23, 2011, to April 21, 2014. The affected vehicles may leak natural gas from the CNG high pressure regulator.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure regulator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14321.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
How other years compare
Check your exact Express by VIN
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Is the 2012 Chevrolet Express reliable?
NHTSA has 13 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Express. The most complained-about area is service brakes.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Express have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.