1997 Chevrolet Express recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Fuel/propulsion system

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR CAME FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ UPDATED 05/31/18*JB

  Dec 1, 2015
• Structure1 injury

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A HOOK ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE HOOK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS AND HERNIATING TWO DISCS. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED.

  Mar 28, 2006 · 200,000 miles
• Tires › Tread/belt

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. TWO HUNDRED MILES LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHICH DETERMINED THE BLOWOUTS WERE A RESULT OF ROAD HAZARDS. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. *NM

  Feb 13, 2006 · 67,000 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmission

  THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH TO "SAFE" MODE. SAFE MODE COMPENSATED THE TRANSMISSION HEAT PROBLEM BY HARD SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE REPAIR SHOP THAT GM KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THE ISSUE WAS NOT LIFE THREATENING. COST OF MODIFICATION WAS $1,600.*JB

  Jun 15, 2005
• Power train › Automatic transmission

  DT: WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER NOTED THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IT WAS DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO OTHER INDEPENDENT SHOPS, AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER SAID. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET AGAIN, AND THEY ESCALATED…

  Sep 15, 2005 · 78,900 miles
• Exterior lighting › Tail lights

  TAIL LIGHT SOCKET FAILURE, NEW SOCKETS ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLED. *JB

  Sep 13, 2005 · 82,000 miles
• Seat belts

  DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT WAS MOUNTED ON MIDDLE CAPTIAN CHAIR, STARCRAFT CONVERSION VAN. CABLE BROKE FROM NORMAL USAGE?

  Mar 2, 2005 · 185,000 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmission

  WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

  Oct 4, 2004

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.