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2001 Chevrolet Express 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 10 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

11 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2017
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 EQUIPPED WITH DEXTERO DHT2 TIRES, SIZE: LT245/75R/16 (NA). WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AMERICAN CUSTOM TIRE INC (1300 W MAIN ST, QUARTZSITE, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERNAL SIDEWALL FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 EQUIPPED WITH DEXTERO DHT2 TIRES, SIZE: LT245/75R/16 (NA). WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AMERICAN CUSTOM TIRE INC (1300 W MAIN ST, QUARTZSITE, AZ) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERNAL SIDEWALL FAILED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

NHTSA ODI #11050993

70,000 miles · Jun 1, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE "PCM"-PUMP CONTROL MODULE LOCATED ON THE INJECTION PUMP THAT IS IN CHARGE OF OPERATING AND COORDINATING PUMP OPERATIONS FAILS AFTER 30,000 TO 40,000 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING--NO BRAKES OR STEERING SIMILAR TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM IN OTHER VEHICLES. GM LIKES TO GET 1,400 TO FIX, AFTER THE TOW. THANK…

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THE "PCM"-PUMP CONTROL MODULE LOCATED ON THE INJECTION PUMP THAT IS IN CHARGE OF OPERATING AND COORDINATING PUMP OPERATIONS FAILS AFTER 30,000 TO 40,000 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING--NO BRAKES OR STEERING SIMILAR TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM IN OTHER VEHICLES. GM LIKES TO GET 1,400 TO FIX, AFTER THE TOW. THANKS [XXX] A BETTER FIX NEEDS TO BE MADE HERE RATHER THAN INSTALLING ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN ALL THE 6.5 DIESEL MOTORS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10871926

98,000 miles · May 17, 2016
EngineSteering

THE REAR MAIN SEAL, FRONT HARMONIC SEAL AND POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT SEAL ARE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP LAST WEEK TO HAVE PROBLEM FIXED. NEED HELP VERY EXPENSIVE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). …

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THE REAR MAIN SEAL, FRONT HARMONIC SEAL AND POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT SEAL ARE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP LAST WEEK TO HAVE PROBLEM FIXED. NEED HELP VERY EXPENSIVE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10865402

68,570 miles · Jan 29, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINES SEVERELY CORRODED AND RUSTED AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED TO RENEW SAFETY INSPECTION CERTIFICATION.

NHTSA ODI #10446431

12,419 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 VAN. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ENGAGED MOMENTARILY AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE DEALER WAS UNABL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 VAN. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ENGAGED MOMENTARILY AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE CYLINDER SENSOR MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WERE KEEPING THE BRAKE LINES CLOSED WITHOUT ALLOWING PRESSURE TO RELEASE AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,419. UPDATED 10/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/10

NHTSA ODI #10346137

90,000 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT WAS COASTING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT WAS COASTING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10345862

43,272 miles · Apr 28, 2008
Tires

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CARCASS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225892

47,500 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 12/14/06 AT 7:30 PM ON A CLEAR EVENING A SECOND VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE AT 55 MPH WITH THE 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A DITCH HEAD ON AT 50 MPH. THE PO…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 12/14/06 AT 7:30 PM ON A CLEAR EVENING A SECOND VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE AT 55 MPH WITH THE 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A DITCH HEAD ON AT 50 MPH. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, HE DIDN'T SPEAK WITH AN OFFICER BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS FLOWN BY HELICOPTER TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A BROKEN PELVIS, AND OTHER INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HARNESS DID RESTRAIN HIM, BUT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179463

3,566 miles · Sep 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF 15 MINUTES, THE ENGINE EASILY RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER I…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF 15 MINUTES, THE ENGINE EASILY RESTARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT ALTHOUGH AFTER RESTARTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ACCELERATOR MODULE OF THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE STALLING AND REDUCED POWER PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. NUMEROUS PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE SUCH AS A SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT, THROTTLE BODY UNIT, AND A WIRING CONNECTOR. UPDATED 11/03/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168631

38,991 miles · Aug 18, 2006
Tires

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE DURING DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT HEARD A VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE STEEL TX RADIAL R4S. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10165923

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.