2016 Chevrolet Express: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 15 owner complaints on record; most reports concern electrical system; the 2015 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the "Service Engine" warning light flashed on and off. The contact stated that after arriving to the residence and shifting into reverse(R), the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the contact was able to park the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the Progressive Snapshot device had caused the failure. The vehicle was repaired, and the Snapshot device was removed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2024
“ABS Module Broken. Needs repair. No part available. Part Number 84055065 needed. Vehicle was on highway slowed on to onramp when ABS went off for no reason. Van Pulled to right drastically.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Feb 2024
“Problem: power window wouldn't work, rear defroster would not work, vehicle would not start, vehicle would crank but not start. Car had to be towed. The relays were defective and were replaced. Upon taking the relays apart , I found that they were rusted inside and the rust was flaking off. I contacted chevrolet and I was told the vehicle was out of warranty and it would not cover rusted parts.the representative also said that he had other complaints about the relays failing.there are ten of these relays in this vehicle and four have failed due to rust. There is no way to test the remaining units for rust until they fail. This is a real electrical safety issue.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2020
Show 6 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. While traveling up a hill at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle started misfiring and hesitating. After depressing the accelerator pedal several times, the vehicle responded normally. The contact stated that the failures occurred since may of 2019. The vehicle was taken to george kell motors inc (3808s van dyke rd, newport, ar 72112) four times and they replaced the timing belt, torque converter, fuel injectors, catalytic converter, and muffler; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2019
“Front a/c switch to turn a/c off and on and also to go from dash vent to floor vents and defrost will not go to anything but front vents...”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. The contact stated that water was leaking from the driver's side visor connection. Water also leaked onto the contact and the floor. The instrument panel was also leaking. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to sawyer chevrolet (351 w bridge st, catskill, ny 12414, (518) 291-4586) where it was diagnosed that a new wi-fi antenna gasket needed to be installed. The vehicle was repaired, but failed again days later. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 36,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. While the vehicle was being operated at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and there was an abnormal fuel odor. The failure occurred without warning. Upon inspection, it was noticed that there was a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to a tow truck lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. Updated 10/21/16*lj the consumer stated the fuel line separated, due to a missing retaining clip. Also, two brackets that were suppose to attach to the fuel line were missing. Updated 10/25/16. *jb”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked on an incline and the sliding door was opened, there was no locking mechanism to prohibit the sliding door from closing independently. The contact stated that on several occasions the door closed independently while an employee was making deliveries with the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed by the general motors fleet coordinator that the vehicle was operating as intended. The approximate failure mileage was 300.”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. While the vehicle was parked, the door closed without warning even when the vehicle was on an incline. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised by the technician that the door was performing as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2016
Recalls - 6 campaigns
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a single, manual, rear climate control module (CCM). If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components within the CCM may overheat.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM to remove the fire risk, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. 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 18299.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Express manufactured September 25, 2015, to August 22, 2016, and 2016 GMC Savana cargo and cutaway vans manufactured January 28, 2016, to May 18, 2016. The affected vehicles were manufactured without an inside rearview mirror and with a right-hand convex exterior review mirror. These vehicles are required to have either an inside rearview mirror or both left and right-hand flat exterior rearview mirrors. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will instal a right-hand flat rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. 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 16036.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tempered glass windows with laminated glass windows, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192218960.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with power windows. Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side window switch, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2018. 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 18155.
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana incomplete vehicles equipped with a 159 inch wheel base manufactured August 2, 2013, to January 30, 2016. The affected vehicles were shipped to final stage manufacturers without a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install the hardware and software necessary to equip the vehicles with a TPMS, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2016. 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 15819.
How other years compare
Check your exact Express by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
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Is the 2016 Chevrolet Express reliable?
NHTSA has 15 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2016 Chevrolet Express. The most complained-about area is electrical system.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Express have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. 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.