Chevrolet Express Complaints (1997)
31 consumer complaints on file.
- #10837621February 22, 2016FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR CAME FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ UPDATED 05/31/18*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10660384November 23, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I SEEM TO BE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT KIND OF IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTION THAT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE MASSIVE GM RECALL THIS YEAR. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE RECALL DOESN'T SEEM TO GO BACK TO 1997. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN A WEEK OR SO AGO. THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL JUST SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON. IT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, DRIVING AROUND TOWN, AND EVEN PARKED AT IDLE. IT JUST UP AND DIES FOR A SECOND OR TWO, FOLLOWED BY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON LIKE YOU HAD JUST TURNED THE KEY BACK ON. SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OLDER VEHICLES THAT WERE APPARENTLY AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE ONES ALREADY ON THE LIST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10442430January 4, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
I WAS PICKING UP ITEMS IN A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT, WHEN THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES TO THE REAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND EMPTIED OUT ALL THE BRAKE FLUID. WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT AND BEING REPAIRED, I FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ARE NEARLY CORRODED AWAY. THIS IS NOT A PART DESIGNED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10153907March 28, 2006STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A HOOK ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE HOOK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS AND HERNIATING TWO DISCS. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10153221March 20, 2006TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. TWO HUNDRED MILES LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHICH DETERMINED THE BLOWOUTS WERE A RESULT OF ROAD HAZARDS. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10150952February 22, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH TO "SAFE" MODE. SAFE MODE COMPENSATED THE TRANSMISSION HEAT PROBLEM BY HARD SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE REPAIR SHOP THAT GM KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THE ISSUE WAS NOT LIFE THREATENING. COST OF MODIFICATION WAS $1,600.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10137203September 21, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
DT: WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER NOTED THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IT WAS DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO OTHER INDEPENDENT SHOPS, AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER SAID. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET AGAIN, AND THEY ESCALATED HIS CONCERNS BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *AK UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. UPDATED 05/06/08
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10136757September 16, 2005EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TAIL LIGHT SOCKET FAILURE, NEW SOCKETS ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121014May 16, 2005SEAT BELTS
DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT WAS MOUNTED ON MIDDLE CAPTIAN CHAIR, STARCRAFT CONVERSION VAN. CABLE BROKE FROM NORMAL USAGE?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10095028October 4, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10067766April 25, 2004FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GUAGE FAILURE ON MY 1997 EXPRESS VAN. GUAGE SHOWED FUEL TANK EMPTY. ESTIMATED REPAIRS= $600.00. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO FRIENDS WITH SAME YEAR CHEVROLETS. INTERNET FULL OF COMPLAINTS FOR 1997 AND 2000 YEARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT MANY CANNOT AFFORD. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP. I AM SUBMITTING THE SAME FUEL GUAGE FAILURE COMPLAINT FOR A 2000 CHEVROLET BLAZER REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT PUT MY TEENAGER IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY!*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10070875January 15, 2004EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS 1996-2002 G-SERIES VANS (CHEVY EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA). THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE (PCM/VCM) CORRODES OVER TIME AND THE CASE ENCLOSING THE COMPUTER SPLITS OPEN ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 02-06-04-020, ATTRIBUTING IT TO LOCATION OF THE PCM/VCM AND DESIGN OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFLECTOR. THIS DEFLECTOR ACTS MUCH LIKE A "RAIN GUTTER" TO ROUTE WATER AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER. IT WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND INSTEAD DUMPS WATER DIRECTLY ON TO THE COMPUTER TRIGGERING CORROSION. THE CORROSION MAY ALSO BE THE RESULT OF GALVANIC ACTION (TWO DISSIMILAR METALS GENERATING AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE) AS THE COMPUTER CASE IS ALUMIONUM AND SCREWS HOLDING IT TOGETHER ARE STEEL. A SMALL CLAIMS COURT ACTION FILED AGAINST GM AND THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY RESULTED IN AN OFFER FROM GM TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS (PRIOR TO ANY HEARINGS). THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND MAY IN EFFECT HAVE A "SECRET WARRANTY" IN PLACE. TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,400 BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SINCE WE CHOSE TO "DRY OUT" THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RATHER THAN REPLACE THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS (MORE THAN $2,000 PARTS AND LABOR).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10054196January 15, 2004WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WITH THE LUG NUTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND RAN INTO A WALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10054197January 15, 2004WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WITH THE LUG NUTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND RAN INTO A WALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #756199December 30, 2001POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON 12-02-01 WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 5 A.M. ON MY WAY TO WORK THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE VAN, TRANSMISSION GONE . VEHICLE TOWED TO MARK BASS CHEVROLET DEALER IN COAL CITY,IL. MILEAGE AT 107060. NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $1863.34 TO CONSUMER PLUS TOW BILL AND RENTAL CAR FOR 1 WEEK. ON 12-29-01 DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE AGAIN SET AT 68 MPH I AGAIN LOST THE TRANSMISSION. MILEAGE NOW AT 108219 AND VEHICLE AGAIN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TRANS COOLER WHICH WAS INSTALLED UPON PURCHASE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS TOWED A BOAT FOR A TOTAL OF 30 MILES. 99% OF THE MILES ARE INTERSTATE MILES DUE TO WORK DISTANCE OF 100 MILES PER DAY AND TRAVELING TO VISIT MY CHILDREN AND FATHER WHO LIVE IN TEXAS AND COLORADO. VEHICLE ALSO SEEMS TO GO THROUGH AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF BRAKES WHICH SEEM TO BE CONTINUELY GOING OUT AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 6 TIMES ALL THE WAY AROUND. I PURCHAED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR COMFORT AND DEPENDABILITY IN MAKING LONG DISTANCE TRIPS WHERE I AM MOSTLY ALONE. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN BY ONE OTHER PERSON AND HAS NOT BEEN MIS-USED IN ANY WAY.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #899820December 4, 2001VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE. BECAUSE OF VIBRATION DRIVER CANNOT SEE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED ITWAS A NON REPAIRABLE ITEM. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #899050November 13, 2001TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE, 245 75 R16, DOT # AN11B1A517, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 30000 MILES MOUNTED ON A 1996, CHEVROLET, EXPRESS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE WAS SOME TREAD SEPARATION ON BACK LEFT TIRE.*AK *SLC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #562622August 22, 2001SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT MAKE A SHORT PANIC STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE HAS LITTLE EFFECT AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHES 15 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWER, CONSUMER STATED THE ABS CONTROL IS SUPPOSE TO DROP OFF AND PERMIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER HE SHOULD ALLOW FOR GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE WITH ABS AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO CONSUMER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAP SEAL DUE TO IT NOT SEALING PROPERLY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #889955June 7, 2001FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON MAY 07,2001 IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 00V110000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00031. DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE ,AND NO FUTURE DATE WAS GIVEN ON WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #888369May 16, 2001SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. MIDDLE LAP BELT FAILS TO STAY BUCKLED. ALSO, SHOULDER BELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IN REAR FAILS TO PULL OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0