2008 Chevrolet Express problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (2) · Power Train (2) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Express model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2012-04-17 · campaign 12V169000 · 34 vehicles
Defect: MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN CONVERSION VANS BUILT ON MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 CHEVROLET EXPRESS, 2009 GMC SAVANA, AND 2010 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT CHASSIS, AND FITTED WITH CERTAIN BRAUN WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS OUTER BARRIER MAY BECOME BENT OR MISALIGNED.
Risk: A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT MAY DEFEAT OR RIDE OVER THE INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED ROLL STOP. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN THE LIFT PLATFORM IS IN AN ELEVATED POSITION, THE WHEELCHAIRS OCCUPANT COULD FALL AND SUSTAIN INJURY.
Fix: MAIN MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH BRAUN TO NOTIFY OWNERS, AND BRAUN DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES, FREE OF CHARGE. MAIN MOBILITY HAS NOT PROVIDED A NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAIN MOBILITY AT 1-716-759-6811.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2010-05-13 · campaign 10V205000 · 133 vehicles
Defect: MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 CONVERSION VANS BUILT ON CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA CHASSIS FROM OCTOBER 2007 THROUGH MAY 2010 AND FITTED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFT'S "UP" FUNCTION, SHOULD THE "UP" BUTTON BE RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL AND MAY OVERRUN THE FLOOR LEVEL CUT OFF POINT.
Risk: WHEN THE PLATFORM OVERRUNS THE VEHICLE FLOOR LEVEL AND STOPS AT AN ANGLE FROM 15-20 DEGREES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR TO TIP OVER AND FOR SOMEONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM TO FALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
Fix: MAIN MOBILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. A SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. UNTIL THE SOFTWARE SOLUTION IS AVAILABLE, RICON WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A BULLETIN OUTLINING PROPER WHEELCHAIR LIFT OPERATION AND WILL SHIP OWNERS A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID TO PROMOTE PROPER LIFT OPERATION AT NO COST. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MAIN MOBILITY
Service bulletins (1,070)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-04 · PIT6448 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information states to reuse a fastener during a front sensor replacement due to a supply issue.
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-30 · PIT6448 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information states to reuse a fastener during a front sensor replacement due to a supply issue.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,070 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-05-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System“2008 chevrolet express van stalled while driving. i was able to coast over to the highway's shoulder. van restarted after a few attempts and i resumed driving towards a small town ahead. van re-stalled in the town. attendant at small garage said the van had diagnostic codes for the fuel system. i was able to idle the van to a chevrolet dealers…”
2019-09-09 · Service Brakes · 60,000 mi“total brake failure. brake line completely rusted through went through a intersection at 50 mph no brakes…”
2017-03-28 · Air Bags“passenger seat air bag sensor has failed.…”
2016-09-07 · Power Train · 55,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet express. while driving, the transmission disengaged. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine control module and transmission control module needed to be reprogrammed. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 08v313000 (power train). the manufacturer was …”
2015-04-23 · Service Brakes · 103,880 mi“ when i was driving in my local area,my brakes started to give out.in order to stop i needed to press very hard on the brakes to stop. not easy to do.the warning brake indicator light came on.i took it to a local auto repair shop.they said they could not fix it.the brake line was the issue.they filled it with brake fluid then i was able too drive …”
2014-11-04 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 123,000 mi“mechanic tested from canister to fuel tank has small leak, which may result to engine light on. i went to local auto mechanic shop san jose ca and there are two chevy express of the same failure before me. *tr…”
2014-04-09 · Structure:body · 199 mi“the side doors on both sides very hard to open because you cannot grease them, the sunroof leaks ,back rear doors handles stop working, took these problems several times to be address and paid for some of the work to be done to no avail still have the problems, i have a son that's disable and its very dangerous if something happens and we cannot ge…”
2014-04-03 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 73,000 mi“while driving down the road at approximately 50 mph all warning lights on the dash lit up, the speedometer ceased to function, the radio cut out, the airbags were reporting as nonfunctional, the abs system was reporting nonfunctional. took vehicle to local mechanic who said the problem appeared to be caused by corrosion on the abs sensor as well as…”
2012-07-25 · Electrical System · 12,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet express. the contact was driving 45 mph when the exterior and interior lights failed to illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer seven times. the dealer stated that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 12,000 a…”
2012-05-27 · Power Train · 35,000 mi“while merging on the expressway the transmission failed to shift out of first or second gear causing high engine rpm's . i had to shift into neutral and back into drive several times but it still failed to shift into any gear. i had to put on flashers ( heavy traffic ) and make my way to the emergency lane. when i came to a complete stop and shifte…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.