RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Express 1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Aug 19, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Express 1500, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, interior & seats and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 68 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels220.0%
  • Interior & seats220.0%
  • Engine220.0%
  • Visibility110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Seat belts
Filed Aug 19, 2015

REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO LOCK MY VEHICLE IS A CONVERSION VAN BUILT BY DEBUT IN SAGINAW MICHIGAN. RECENTLY MY GRANDCHILDREN NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK. THOSE BELTS ARE ON THE SEAT/BED UNIT. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE THE NAME ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS ON THEM. I INSPECTED THE SEAT BELTS AND DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE MALE END OF THE BELT PREVENTED THE MECHANISM FROM PROPERLY LOCKING IN PLACE. I CUT ENOUGH OF THE PLASTIC COATING OFF TO ALLOW THE ENDS TO PROPERLY LOCK IN PLACE. THEY WORK FINE NOW. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY BE MANY MORE VANS WITH SEAT BELTS THAT DO NOT PROPERLY LOCK IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID
10749683
Incident
Aug 19, 2015
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 24, 2014

TIRES HAD MORE THAN 50% TREAD LEFT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY STARTED SHAKING THE VEHICLE. DETERMINED BELT HAD BROKE. TIRE DEALER ALSO SAID OTHER FRONT TIRE WAS GOING BAD. A FEW MILES LATER ON A BUSY HIGHWAY READ TIRE SPLIT OPEN . PERFORMANCE TIRE OF TOPEKA AND COOPER TIRE COMPANY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENT FOR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. (3 OUT OF 4 TIRES BREAKING WITHIN A WEEK). *TR

NHTSA ID
10605649
Incident
Jun 22, 2014
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 18, 2013

BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO RUSTING.

NHTSA ID
10544234
Incident
Sep 18, 2013
Mileage
105,235 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 8, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY BOTH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A PLASTIC INTAKE GASKET LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10324469
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER COBRA RADIAL TIRES, SIZE P255\70R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT TIRE COMPANY REPLACED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS CONTINUOUSLY LOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10244090
Incident
May 7, 2008
Interior & seats
Filed May 13, 2008

SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE WELL UNLESS DOOR IS SLAMMED. THIS IS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR HAS MADE THE DOOR LEAN DOWNWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227625
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Mileage
37,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 13, 2008

DRIVERS SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT BUT I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE LATE 2002, WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227623
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Mileage
10,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE SEAT BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE TRACK CONSTANTLY BREAK, WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT TO BECOME OFF TRACK. THE SEAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,474. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10215614
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
26,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

24-NA-141

POWER TRAIN

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

16-NA-383

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Express 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014100046.9
2013000—
2012200—
2011320—
2010400—
2009500—
2008900—
2007510—
2006500—
2005101043.9
2004121041.2
2003181147.7
2002Viewing101030.1
2001510—
2000610—
1999410—
1998000—
1997000—
1996400—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.