The 2011 Chevrolet Express 1500 has 2 safety recalls and 3 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (1 complaint).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints3filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
NHTSA recall 11V275000 · May 6, 2011 · 7,593 vehicles
Problem: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A CLEARANCE CONDITION IN WHICH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE TIRE OR WHEEL RIM. IF THE BRAKE HOSE REPEATEDLY CONTACTS THE TIRE OR WHEEL RIM, A HOLE COULD BE WORN IN THE BRAKE HOSE.
Risk: A DAMAGED BRAKE HOSE MAY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKES AND INCREASE THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL SECURE THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle
NHTSA recall 11V007000 · Jan 6, 2011 · 30,566 vehicles
Problem: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Express 1500 2WD Cargo
17mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 20 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel
Express 1500 2WD Cargo FFV
15mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
Express 1500 2WD Conversion Cargo FFV
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Express 1500 AWD Conversion Cargo FFV
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Express 1500 AWD Cargo FFV
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Express 1500 2WD Passenger FFV
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Express 1500 AWD Passenger FFV
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes
1
0
0
0
—
Air bags
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 30, 2019 · 80,000 milesAir bags MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I INVESTIGATED I FOUND IT WAS PROBABLY RELATED TO THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSORS. WHEN I EXAMINED THE SENSORS I FOUND THAT THE ALUMINUM ALLOY BODY AND THE PLASTIC SHIELD SURROUNDING IT HAD SPLIT WIDE APART WHERE THE STEEL MOUNTING SCREW PASSED THROUGH THE SENSOR HOUSING. BOTH SENSORS HAVE FAILED IN EXACTLY THE SAME MANOR. THE VEHICLE HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER OF ADVANCED CORROSION ANYWHERE ELSE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE.
Jan 22, 2020 · 87,000 milesService brakes WE DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT LEAK IN A REAR BRAKE LINE OF OUR VAN. THE LEAK DID NOT LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL, BUT THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS NEARLY EMPTY WHEN I DISCOVERED THE ISSUE. THE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED BASED ON A LARGE SPOT LEFT ON OUR DRIVEWAY UNDER THE VAN. THE VEHICLE WAS PROBABLY DRIVEN ABOUT 50-100 MILES (ONE TO TWO DAYS) AFTER THE LEAK DEVELOPED BUT BEFORE THE ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED AND ADDRESSED. WHILE FIXING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO AN ASSEMBLY ERROR. THE VAN'S FUEL FILLER DOWN-PIPE HAS A WORM-GEAR CLAMP THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY CLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE CLAMP TO RUB ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT. I SENT TWO PICTURES SHOWING THE CLAMP AND BRAKE…
May 1, 2012 · 12,000 milesExterior lighting TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500 CARGO VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS HAD FAILED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE HEAD LAMPS EACH TIME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED SEALED BEAM LAMPS ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED MULITPLE TIMES. VIN IS INVALID. *JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.