2016 Chevrolet Express problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (2) · Service Brakes (2) · Electrical 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 (6)
Visibility:glass, Side/Rear 2019-05-23 · campaign 19V387000 · 1,159 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk: Tempered glass increases the risk of injury in the event of a side impact or rollover crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tempered glass windows with laminated glass windows, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192218960.
Electrical System 2018-09-21 · campaign 18V655000 · 30,448 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a single, manual, rear climate control module (CCM). If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components within the CCM may overheat.
Risk: If the CCM overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire in the vehicle's headliner.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM to remove the fire risk, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. 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 18299.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2018-05-03 · campaign 18V295000 · 207,483 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with power windows. Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.
Risk: High electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side window switch, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2018. 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 18155.
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.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices 2016-09-29 · campaign 16V700000 · 40 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Express manufactured September 25, 2015, to August 22, 2016, and 2016 GMC Savana cargo and cutaway vans manufactured January 28, 2016, to May 18, 2016. The affected vehicles were manufactured without an inside rearview mirror and with a right-hand convex exterior review mirror. These vehicles are required to have either an inside rearview mirror or both left and right-hand flat exterior rearview mirrors. Thus, these v
Risk: If the driver does not have a clear unobstructed view to the back of the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will instal a right-hand flat rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. 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 16036.
Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 2016-04-01 · campaign 16V184000 · 321 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana incomplete vehicles equipped with a 159 inch wheel base manufactured August 2, 2013, to January 30, 2016. The affected vehicles were shipped to final stage manufacturers without a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: Without a TPMS, the driver would not be alerted if one or more tires became under inflated. Driving with under inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install the hardware and software necessary to equip the vehicles with a TPMS, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2016. 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 15819.
Service bulletins (1,286)
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 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,286 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-07 · Power Train · 88,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the “service engine” warning light flashed on and off. the contact stated that after arriving to the residence and shifting into reverse(r), the vehicle failed to respond as needed. the vehicle was turned off and restarted and the contact was able to park the vehicl…”
2024-04-01 · Service Brakes“abs module broken. needs repair. no part available. part number 84055065 needed. vehicle was on highway slowed on to onramp when abs went off for no reason. van pulled to right drastically.…”
2023-08-01 · Tires“lt245/75r16 the fist tire failure was rear driver's side which caused a code service stable trac- this caused the vehicle to lose power and engine to die. i made home at 20mph in yraffic.i spent $500 for diagnostic check and new tire. the tire is misshapen and alerts sensor that caused engine to lose power and ultimately die. with new tire the pro…”
2022-03-02 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“i'd be driving down the street when my brakes would apply by them selves slowing my car down . after that my dash would bong and the abs light would come on . i took it to my chevy dealer and they replaced the brakes and said it was fixed . i pulled out of the dealers lot and was driving at 35mph when the brakes locked and a skidded to a stop . if …”
2022-02-18 · Service Brakes · 🔥 fire“i'd be driving down the street and the brakes would start applying themselves by themselves . i took the van to ganly chevrolet the first time and they did a brake job and said it was fixed . i drove it about a half mile and was doing about 35mph when the brakes locked , if i wasn't buckled in i probably would have gone through the window . i immed…”
2020-02-27 · Electrical System · 21,253 mi“problem: power window wouldn't work, rear defroster would not work, vehicle would not start, vehicle would crank but not start. car had to be towed. the relays were defective and were replaced. upon taking the relays apart , i found that they were rusted inside and the rust was flaking off. i contacted chevrolet and i was told the vehicle was o…”
2019-11-25 · Engine · 35,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. while traveling up a hill at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle started misfiring and hesitating. after depressing the accelerator pedal several times, the vehicle responded normally. the contact stated that the failures occurred since may of 2019. the vehicle was taken to george kell motors inc (3808s …”
2019-10-08 · Unknown Or Other · 40,000 mi“front a/c switch to turn a/c off and on and also to go from dash vent to floor vents and defrost will not go to anything but front vents...…”
2019-03-07 · Structure:body · 36,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. the contact stated that water was leaking from the driver's side visor connection. water also leaked onto the contact and the floor. the instrument panel was also leaking. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to sawyer chevrolet (351 w bridge st, catskill, ny 12414, (518)…”
2018-08-15 · Electrical System“tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. upon starting the vehicle, the service theft deterrent system warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to hayward mitsubishi (25601 mission blvd, hayward, ca 94544, (510) 999-5999) and the contact was informed that the ignition key could be the cause of the failure. the vehicle was repaired…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.