IllustrationTHIS VAN WAS 4 MONTHS OLD, PARKED FOR 2 DAYS AND CAUGHT FIRE AND COMPLETELY BURNED, FIRE INVESTIGATOR BELEIVES CAUSE TO BE ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE.*AK
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
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
What owners actually said
45 reportsVEHICLE 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
A CHEVROLET EXPRESS/EXPLORER LIMITED SE CAUSED SERIOUS ISSUES ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ME AND 4 OTHER DRIVERS (THAT I WITNESSED).. BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SO HIGH OFF THE GROUND, THEY ARE NOT DETECTABLE! I ALMOST SLAMED INTO THE BACK OF THIS VAN 5 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET AROUND IT. I COULD NOT TELL WHEN THE VAN WAS SLOWING OR STOPPING. …
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A CHEVROLET EXPRESS/EXPLORER LIMITED SE CAUSED SERIOUS ISSUES ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ME AND 4 OTHER DRIVERS (THAT I WITNESSED).. BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SO HIGH OFF THE GROUND, THEY ARE NOT DETECTABLE! I ALMOST SLAMED INTO THE BACK OF THIS VAN 5 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET AROUND IT. I COULD NOT TELL WHEN THE VAN WAS SLOWING OR STOPPING. THIS IS A SERIOUS MISJUDGMENT IN ENGINEERING. THOSE LIGHTS ARE EASILY 4 FOOT ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF AN 18 WHEELERS. NO ONE IS ACCUSTOM TO LOOKING THAT HIGH UP FOR BRAKE LIGHTS.*AK
THE COMPANY I WORK FOR RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW WORK VAN FOR ME TO USE. UPON MY FIRST DAY OF DRIVING I REALIZED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TINTED STRIP IN THE WINDSHIELD. I AM A TALL PERSON AND WHEN SITTING IN THE SEAT MY LINE OF VISION IS THRU THIS TINTED STRIP. AT NIGHT I NOTICED THAT MY DISTANCE OF VISION IS VERY LIMITIED,…
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THE COMPANY I WORK FOR RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW WORK VAN FOR ME TO USE. UPON MY FIRST DAY OF DRIVING I REALIZED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TINTED STRIP IN THE WINDSHIELD. I AM A TALL PERSON AND WHEN SITTING IN THE SEAT MY LINE OF VISION IS THRU THIS TINTED STRIP. AT NIGHT I NOTICED THAT MY DISTANCE OF VISION IS VERY LIMITIED, EVEN IN DAYLIGHT HOURS. I HAVE CHECKED WITH SEVERAL AUTO GLASS DEALERS AND THEY ALL SAY I CAN'T GET THIS WINDSHIELD WITHOUT THE TINTED STRIP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND TO GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY TELL ME THE SAME THING. THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME IN FINDING IF I COULD GET A SPECIAL ORDER ON A CLEAR WINDSHIELD. I AM LOOKING FOR A WINDSHIELD MANUFACTURER THAT COULD MAKE ME ONE SPECIAL ORDER. ANY HELP OR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK
THE VALVE STEMS ON THREE OF MY TIRES WERE MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO IMPROPER DESIGN OF THE STEMS. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT 70 MPH I WAS LOOSING AS MUCH AS 15 PSI OF AIR IN ONLY 10 MILES. THE AIR WAS LEAKING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VALVE STEMS BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPROPER DESIGN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS…
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THE VALVE STEMS ON THREE OF MY TIRES WERE MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO IMPROPER DESIGN OF THE STEMS. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT 70 MPH I WAS LOOSING AS MUCH AS 15 PSI OF AIR IN ONLY 10 MILES. THE AIR WAS LEAKING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VALVE STEMS BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPROPER DESIGN. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT IT IS OCCURING UNTIL THE TIRE(S) GOES FLAT, WHICH, IF IT OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY AND SAW THAT MY TIRES WERE ALMOST FLAT WHEN I STOPPED FOR GAS. THE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED VALVE STEM HAS THE FOLLOWING LETTERING ON IT: SCHRADER USA TR 600 HP 150.*AK
Official recalls
208V650000 · 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
1EA04012 · 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.