2013 Chevrolet Express problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (6) · Engine (4) · Fuel/Propulsion System (3)
🧭 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 (8)
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.
Equipment:other:labels 2015-10-30 · campaign 13V544000 · 1,808 vehicles
Defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Express, and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, and model year 2013 GMC Savana compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 303 "Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles." In the affected vehicles, the text of the CNG fuel-only label is smaller than the required size, and as a result, may be less noticeable.
Risk: Text that does not conform to the required labeling size could inhibit fuel tank inspection practices and safe refueling, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners and will send them a replacement label, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13365.
Fuel System, Other 2014-08-13 · campaign 14V500000 · 3,345 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chevrolet Express compressed natural gas (CNG)vehicles manufactured September 10, 2010, to April 28, 2014, and GMC Savana CNG vehicles manufactured May 23, 2011, to April 21, 2014. The affected vehicles may leak natural gas from the CNG high pressure regulator.
Risk: A natural gas leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire or explosion.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure regulator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14321.
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.
Fuel System, Other 2013-05-15 · campaign 13V225000 · 1,791 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) and IMPCO Automotive Division of IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (IMPCO) are recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Cargo vans that have a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system installed as original equipment by IMPCO. The fuel systems, manufactured February 14, 2011, through February 20, 2013, have a fuel shut-off solenoid connector to the CNG tank that may corrode and form a short.
Risk: A short at the connector may cause overheating, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners and GM dealers/fleets will perform the remedy which will include replacing the solenoid assemblies and fuel pump fuses and adjusting the wiring routing. The recall began on August 5, 2013. GM's number for this recall is 13139. Impco's number for this recall is FA13GM001. Owner's may contact GM Fleet Action Center at 1-800-353-3867.
Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler 2013-04-17 · campaign 13V147000 · 885 vehicles
Defect: Explorer Van Company, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer and Explorer Limited SE vehicles built on GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express chassis, manufactured August 1, 2012, through April 9, 2013. The wiring harness that powers the seat adjuster and the seat heating circuit may not be properly secured. As a result, the harness may become lodged in the seat riser mechanism.
Risk: If the wires become lodged in the seat riser mechanism, they may become severed and potentially short circuit. A short circuit may result in a fire.
Fix: Explorer Van Company will notify owners, and dealers will secure the seat wiring harness. Any damaged seat wiring harnesses will be replaced. These services will be completed free of charge. The recall began on May 10, 2013. Customers may contact Explorer Van Company at 1-800-926-7878. Explorer's number for this campaign is 2013-1.
Electrical System:ignition 2013-01-14 · campaign 13V010000 · 980 vehicles
Defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Express vehicles manufactured November 1, 2012, through December 21, 2012; and model year 2013 GMC Savana vehicles, manufactured November 14, 2012, through November 20, 2012. It may be possible to remove the key from the ignition when the vehicle is running or the transmission is not in the Park position. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection.
Risk: If the ignition key is removed while the vehicle is still on and/or the vehicle is not in Park, the vehicle may rollaway and the unintended movement of the vehicle may result in a possible crash or injury to pedestrians.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition lock cylinder and the two associated keys. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2013. For more information, GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463 and Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2013-01-02 · campaign 13V001000 · 54,686 vehicles
Defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braki
Risk: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.
Service bulletins (1,841)
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 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
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 2026-05-04 · PIT6247B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates direction to find information at www.gmupfitter.com for police and special service vehicles.
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,841 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-10-25 · Service Brakes“the brakes will lock up while driving due to an issue with the power brake hydro boost system. the hydro boost control valve will allow pressure to apply the brake master cyl. with engine speed increasing while the vehicle is traveling in a normal fashion. overheating the brake calipers to the point of protective boots burning up. rotors and pads a…”
2020-04-09 · Service Brakes · 200,000 mi“brakes do not release after sudden stop, three times, on highway 95. steering wheel started trembling slowly for 10 miles and then violently, then brake pedal gets hard. passenger side started smoking, on 8 south in ct 4/9/2020. managed to stop van on soft shoulder. this brake system is very dangerous for me.…”
2018-07-25 · Electrical System · 9,100 mi“previous complaints 11102768 , 11111685 vehicle is a forest river sunseeker rv/ 2013 chevy express cutaway 4500 model g33803 159" 6.0 gvw 14,200. the fuse/relay block has been replaced. part 22767373. the tech has made a comment on the invoice. the original fuse block had a lack of voltage to various components and may cause future electrical fail…”
2018-07-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 9,500 mi“complaint 11102768 filed previously for crankshaft sensor and camshaft sensors. new complaint : vehicle would not start 7/11/2018. called chevy dealer. was told to remove and replace relay in fuse block. vehicle started. dealer informed us that they have had to replace faulty fuse block in many similar vehicles. our vehicle is a 2013 chevy expres…”
2018-07-01 · Tires · 30,806 mi“driving along interstate 10 our motor home began to shake like tires being out of balance. i stopped at express tire in fredericksburg, tx. they found that the tread was separating on three of the six tires. because we were traveling i only replaced the three problem tires. continuing our trip we traveled another 1,000 miles and a fourth tire s…”
2018-06-20 · Electrical System · 9,000 mi“vehicle would turn over but not start. code for crankshaft postion sensor. replaced. started. 3 days later vehicle would not start. code for camshaft postion sensor. on order. vehicle was stationary both times.please note this vehicle is in pristine condition and only has 9000 miles on it.…”
2018-05-11 · Service Brakes · 19,662 mi“2013 coachmen freelander -chevrolet express 4500 cutaway. mileage -19,662; brake line rusted out and brake fluid leaked out. brakes failed while on the road, warning message "service brakes'". made it to a chevrolet dealership and brake line replaced. *dt updated 10/5/18*jb *tr…”
2017-12-28 · Power Train“the transmission is slipping and i only have 77,000 miles. is this normal? the van is only a 2013 model.…”
2017-09-25 · Engine · 238,000 mi“this vehicle will not turn off when the ignition key is removed. this poses a great risk to any passengers in the vehicle as it can be moved without the key in the ignition. the vehicle remains fully powered with the key removed.…”
2017-08-29 · Air Bags · 63,000 mi“air bag front crash sensor failure. air bag light came on on start up.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.