IllustrationWHILE 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
1997 Chevrolet Express
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Express years →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: 7 of 29 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.
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reportsWHILE 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
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.…
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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
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
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
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 F…
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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
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
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
THE REACTION SHELL BROKE IN THE TRANSMISSION, DISABLING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSED MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING IT TO ESSENTIALLY STALL OUT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE TOTALED OVER $2200.00. MIGHTY POOR QUALITY. THANKFULLY THE FAILURE DID NOT TAKE PLA…
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THE REACTION SHELL BROKE IN THE TRANSMISSION, DISABLING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSED MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING IT TO ESSENTIALLY STALL OUT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE TOTALED OVER $2200.00. MIGHTY POOR QUALITY. THANKFULLY THE FAILURE DID NOT TAKE PLACE WHILE SHE WAS PASSING SOMEONE, OR GOING UPHILL.*AK
VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR PLUG ON EMISSION FUEL LEAKING INTO VCM WIRING, ALLOWING FUEL TO COME BACK UP. A RECALL ID # 00V110000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #00031 HASN'T BEEN ANNOUCED TO SEE IF OTHER COMPANY VEHICLE ARE AFFECTED.*AK
Official recalls
100V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 17, 2000
PASSENGER VANS. THESE VANS EXPERIENCE FUEL ODORS OR LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED EVAPORATIVE EMISSION PIPE ASSEMBLY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.