2011 Chevrolet EXPRESS: complaints, problems and recalls

ABOUT 10 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING OUR 2011 EXPRESS VAN MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN I 81 BETWEEN SHIPPENSBURG AND NEWVILLE, PA AND THE VAN STARTED PULLING TO AN ABRUPT HALT FOR NO REASON. I CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS RESTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. NOTHING THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE. I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND IT WAS OK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES. I TOOK IT BACK TO H AND H CHEVY AND OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ON ONE OCCASION GOING DOWN PA 996 JUST PAST LETTERKENNY DEPOT, ABOUT 54-55 MPH, IT DID …

Owner-reported narrative. 640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525882 at NHTSA ↗

THIS AMBULANCE OVER THE PAST THIRTY DAYS HAS BEEN DISPLAYING FALSE MILEAGES WITH MESSAGES THAT THE DEF TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. MILEAGES VARIED FROM LOWS IN THE 150'S TO HIGHS OF 2430 DURING THE SAME AMBULANCE TRANSPORT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WATSON CHEVROLET IN TUCSON. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE DEF TANK FOR $3600. THE SERVICE WRITER DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A TBS ON THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD BY ROSE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS EMISSION RELATED A…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535617 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRANSPORTING A PATIENT IN THIS AMBULANCE THE DASH WARNING NOTICE CAME ON WARNING THE DEF TANK LEVEL WAS LOW AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SOON GO INTO LIMP MODE. THE DEF TANK HAD JUST BEEN FILLED TO FULL. STRANGE READINGS CONTINUED TO APPEAR WARNING OF EITHER JUST A FEW MILES OR OVER 2000 MILES.I WAS AFRAID OF HAVING A PATIENT DIE IN OUR AMBULANCE IF THE AMBULANCE WENT INTO LIMP MODE ON A LONG TRANSPORT TO PHOENIX SO I TOOK THE AMBULANCE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEF TANK FOR $1547.33. I WAS TOLD BY ROSE AT THE GM CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE THA…

Owner-reported narrative. 74,955 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535618 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS NOTED TO BE LEAKING FLUID WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL NOTED TO BE VERY LOW (JUST ABOVE THE MINIMUM LINE). NOTED THAT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED BRAKE FLUID LEAKS AT A STEADY AND SIGNIFICANT PACE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 55,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652494 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS PULLING BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY MY VAN STARTED IDLING VERY ROUGH AND ERRATIC. THE VEHICLE DISPLAY READ "ENGINE POWER REDUCED. SERVICE TRACTION. ESC OFF." I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK SO I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF. I STARTED MY CAR UP AGAIN AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND IT RAN FINE AGAIN BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS STILL ON. THE NEXT DAY I WAS HEADED TO WORK AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE SAME MESSAGE POPPED UP ON THE DISPLAY AND THE VAN LOST POWER. I HAD TO PULL OVER SO NOT TO BE A NUISANC…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683380 at NHTSA ↗

2011 CHEVY EXPRESS CUTAWAY WITH THOMAS BUS BODY HAD EXCESSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO STRUCTURAL FLOOR SUPPORT BEAM IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS. ENTIRE BEAM HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 94,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818988 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STABILITRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH A BEEPING SOUND. IN ADDITION, THE POWER REDUCE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE VEHICLE IDLED VERY ERRATICALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949157 at NHTSA ↗

UPON INSPECTION OF THE COIL SPRING CRADLES ,IT WAS FOUND THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS CRACKED WHERE THE TOP OF THE COIL SPRING SEATS. THIS IS THE SECOND CRACK IN THE COIL SPRING AREA THAT WAS FOUND ON AN AMBULANCE PACKAGE VEHICLE.THIS UNIT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AS WELL DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11088965 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-03-08 (March 8, 2013)

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Express vehicles converted by Impco Automotive to run compressed natural gas (CNG), manufactured between November 23, 2010 and December 23, 2010 and equipped with a four tank configuration using a pressure relief device (PRD) and pressure relief vent pipe assembly. In the affected vehicles, the pressure relief vent pipe assembly may have been built incorrectly.

Consequence: If a pressure relief device activates with an improperly assembled vent pipe, compressed natural gas may be vented into the passenger compartment. If an ignition source is present, an explosion or fire may result.

Remedy: Impco Automotive, in cooperation with General Motors will inspect and make any necessary repairs on the pressure relief device and vent pipe assembly. The safety recall began on March 28, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Reported: 2013-05-15 (May 15, 2013)

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.

Consequence: A short at the connector may cause overheating, resulting in an increased risk of fire.

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.

Reported: 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

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."

Consequence: In the event of a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

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.

Reported: 2014-08-13 (August 13, 2014)

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.

Consequence: A natural gas leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire or explosion.

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.

Reported: 2018-04-26 (April 26, 2018)

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

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

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.