2009 Chevrolet Express problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (3) · Wheels (1) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 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 (5)
Equipment 2018-04-26 · campaign 18V267000 · 6,154 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally,
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
Air Bags:frontal 2014-03-17 · campaign 14V117000 · 303,013 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans manufactured January 27, 2009, through March 7, 2014 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds and less and equipped with front passenger air bags. In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger's head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel may not sufficiently absorb
Risk: In the event of a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Notices to the owners of the heavy duty vans were mailed on April 28, 2014. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14082.
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
Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 2010-03-12 · campaign 10V096000 · 9,137 vehicles
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) CONTROL KNOBS THAT MAY FRACTURE AND SPIN ON THE CONTROL SHAFT. THE DRIVER MAY NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATION FOR THE VEHICLE.
Risk: IF THIS CONDITION AFFECTS THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHEN IT IS REQUIRED, IT MAY DECREASE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL HVAC CONTROL KNOBS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Service bulletins (1,149)
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 1,149 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-24 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft · 30,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet express. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the check engine warning light was illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. the transmission …”
2020-10-13 · Vehicle Speed Control · 61,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet express. the contact stated the vehicle accelerated independently without warning while stopped at a traffic light. the contact turned the vehicle off for several seconds and then restarted the vehicle and drove to his residence. the vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to a…”
2019-06-25 · Electrical System · 160,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet express. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled several times and the check engine indicator illuminated. the vehicle was excluded from nhtsa campaign number: 14v614000 (electrical system); however, the vehicle exhibited the same failure as the recall campaign. hawthorne chevrolet (1180 goffle rd, hawthorn…”
2016-02-20 · Structure:body“white 2009 chevrolet equinox paint is peeling off of car. it started on the driver's side above the windows first and within a few days, the passenger side is doing the exact same thing. we noticed some "dimpling" in the paint on the lift gate as well. we have contacted gm (chevrolet) and have been told to take it to a local dealer for a "diagno…”
2014-11-13 · Air Bags · 229,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2009 chevrolet express. while driving approximately 62 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into the driver side door of another vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed. the contact sustained a few cuts on the knee that did not require medical attention. the passenger from the other vehicle sustained …”
2014-08-11 · Air Bags · 51,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet express. while driving approximately 35 mph, the air bags deployed without warning. the dealer could not diagnose the cause of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. the approximate failure mileage was 51,000. …”
2013-03-19 · Wheels · 126,116 mi“while driving on the highway the tire side wall failed, causing blow-out. new tires were purchased on07/6/2012. blow out happened with less than 13,000 miles. *tr…”
2012-12-15 · Tires:valve · 51,000 mi“driving 55 mph or so tire light came stopped to check and valve stem blew out of tire,this is the second time this has happened and poses a great danger to me and my passengers and others. *tr…”
2012-02-10 · Air Bags · 44,790 mi“both front air bags deployed in parking lot!van was locked! *tr…”
2011-07-23 · Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems · 30,400 mi“while checking tire pressure tpms broke - filed by jiffy lube. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.