IllustrationLOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKEN
2001 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: 17 of 45 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 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 reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
45 reportsWHILE PARKED A FIRE ERUPTED AND FLAMES CAME FROM BETWEEN THE DASHDOARD AND WINDSHIELD. *NM THE COMPLAINANT HAS A FLEET OF 50 DELIVERY VANS, INCLUDING THIRTY-NINE CHEVROLET VANS, SEVEN OF WHICH ARE THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS THE ONE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE.
THE CONSUMER HAD COME TO A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT AND DID SO WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EACH TURN HAD BECOME MORE DIFFICULT AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY GRINDING NOISES. *SC THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAD SEIZED INTERNALLY. *JB
INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BE STIFF/HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO DEPRESS. *AK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING POSITION OR A VERY SLOW SPEED THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN GRADUALLY WHEN PUSHED HARDER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE CABLE WAS FOUND FRAYED INSIDE THE CABLE SHREATH AND WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING REAR DRIVER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER PULLED AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. FIRESTONE, LT24575R16. *AK
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *SC
I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GRIEF SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKES WE HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE DAY ONE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN HE FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN. I…
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I HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GRIEF SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKES WE HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE DAY ONE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN HE FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN. IT SEEMS WHEN YOU DUE CONVERSIONS ON THESE VANS YOU ARE ADDING ALMOST 2000 POUNDS TO THE ORIGINAL WEIGHT BUT THEY NEVER UPGRADE THE BRAKES TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT AND THE BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER AND THE VAN IS HARDER TO STOP. MADE COMPLAINTS TO GM THEY SAID GO TO THE DEALER THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG OR STATED THE CONVERSION COMPANY WAS AT FAULT VICIOUS RUN AROUND AND NOTHING GOT ACCOMPLISHED WE ARE WAITING TO GET INTO COURT BECAUSE WE REFUSED TO PAY FOR NEW BRAKES AFTER WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THEY CHARGED US $600 FOR BRAKES . THE GEAR BOX FELL OUT OF THE VAN THE FIRST DAY WE BOUGHT IT. THERE WERE OTHER PROBLEMS TOO GM DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS NOR DO THEY UPGRADE PARTS TO ACCOMMODATE ANY ADDED WEIGHT OR CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL BODY OR ENGINE. *NM
2ND OF 2 SEPARATE FIRESTONE STEELTEX BLOWOUTS A FEW WEEKS APART ON CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN. *AK
2 FIRESTONE STEEL TEX TIRE BLOWOUTS A FEW MONTHS APART ON CHEVY EXPRESS VAN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE AND BRAKES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED, AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE REQUIRED HYDRAULIC ASSIST; THEREFORE, IF VEHICLE LOOSES HYDRAULIC FLUID, VEHICLE WILL LOOSE…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE AND BRAKES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED, AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE REQUIRED HYDRAULIC ASSIST; THEREFORE, IF VEHICLE LOOSES HYDRAULIC FLUID, VEHICLE WILL LOOSE BOTH POWER STEERING AND BRAKE. *LA
Official recalls
208V650000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility
Dec 10, 2008
RIFLED AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) IS RECALLING 6 MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS PRIVATE TRANSPORT, MY 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS65, MY 2006-2007 MONITOUR BUS, AND MY 2007 C-2 SCHOOL BUS VEHICLES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER, AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy: RAC IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR RAC AT 1-800-627-1707.
08V649000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility
Dec 9, 2008
RIFLED AIR CONDITIONING (RAC) IS RECALLING 6 MY 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS PRIVATE TRANSPORT, MY 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS65, MY 2006-2007 MONITOUR BUS, AND MY 2007 C-2 SCHOOL BUS VEHICLES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER, AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403,"PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy: RAC IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR RAC AT 1-800-627-1707.
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
1EA04012 · Hydraulic Pump Failres
Opened Apr 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 28, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.