← New search

2001 Chevrolet Express

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Express years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 45 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
84,715 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ON FRIDAY JANUARY 29TH 2010 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED A SUV. MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN WOULD NOT STOP DUE TO ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM TOOK OVER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD NEVER SLOWING DOWN UNTIL I STRUCK THE VEHICLE AHE…

Read full complaint

ON FRIDAY JANUARY 29TH 2010 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED A SUV. MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN WOULD NOT STOP DUE TO ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM TOOK OVER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD NEVER SLOWING DOWN UNTIL I STRUCK THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAD NOT TAKEN OVER MY VEHICLE. I HAD A MORE THAN A FIVE SECOND SPACE BETWEEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303571

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GRIEF SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKES WE HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE DAY ONE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN HE FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN. I…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GRIEF SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKES WE HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE DAY ONE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN HE FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN. IT SEEMS WHEN YOU DUE CONVERSIONS ON THESE VANS YOU ARE ADDING ALMOST 2000 POUNDS TO THE ORIGINAL WEIGHT BUT THEY NEVER UPGRADE THE BRAKES TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT AND THE BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER AND THE VAN IS HARDER TO STOP. MADE COMPLAINTS TO GM THEY SAID GO TO THE DEALER THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG OR STATED THE CONVERSION COMPANY WAS AT FAULT VICIOUS RUN AROUND AND NOTHING GOT ACCOMPLISHED WE ARE WAITING TO GET INTO COURT BECAUSE WE REFUSED TO PAY FOR NEW BRAKES AFTER WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THEY CHARGED US $600 FOR BRAKES . THE GEAR BOX FELL OUT OF THE VAN THE FIRST DAY WE BOUGHT IT. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS TOO GM DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS NOR DO THEY UPGRADE PARTS TO ACCOMMODATE ANY ADDED WEIGHT OR CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL BODY OR ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10095581

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE AND BRAKES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED, AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE REQUIRED HYDRAULIC ASSIST; THEREFORE, IF VEHICLE LOOSES HYDRAULIC FLUID, VEHICLE WILL LOOSE…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE AND BRAKES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED, AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE REQUIRED HYDRAULIC ASSIST; THEREFORE, IF VEHICLE LOOSES HYDRAULIC FLUID, VEHICLE WILL LOOSE BOTH POWER STEERING AND BRAKE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10057757

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10019811

16,429 miles · Dec 14, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BRAKES WAERING OUT TOO SOON AND GRINDING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049704

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NO FIX. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008362

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT OR TO RIGHT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886146

Official recalls

2

08V650000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility

Dec 10, 2008

RIFLED AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) IS RECALLING 6 MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS PRIVATE TRANSPORT, MY 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS65, MY 2006-2007 MONITOUR BUS, AND MY 2007 C-2 SCHOOL BUS VEHICLES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER, AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: RAC IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR RAC AT 1-800-627-1707.

08V649000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility

Dec 9, 2008

RIFLED AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) IS RECALLING 6 MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS PRIVATE TRANSPORT, MY 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS65, MY 2006-2007 MONITOUR BUS, AND MY 2007 C-2 SCHOOL BUS VEHICLES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER, AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403,"PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: RAC IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR RAC AT 1-800-627-1707.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA04012 · Hydraulic Pump Failres

Opened Apr 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 28, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.