2011 Chevrolet Express 1500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (1) · Exterior Lighting (1) · Air Bags (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Express 1500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2011-05-06 · campaign 11V275000 · 7,593 vehicles
Defect: 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 2011-01-06 · campaign 11V007000 · 30,566 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (323)
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 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 323 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-03-20 · Air Bags · 80,000 mi“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…”
2020-01-31 · Service Brakes · 87,000 mi“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 devel…”
2019-05-09 · Exterior Lighting · 12,000 mi“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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.