RoadVitals

2008 Chevrolet Express 1500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
9
Latest Jan 4, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Express 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes440.0%
  • Body & structure220.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Other / unspecified110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Tires & wheels110.0%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The brake system completely failed. the peddle goes to the floor. there is still fluid in the reservoir to proper level but all brakes failed at the same time no stopping ability. had to use parking break to slow and down shift to first gear. This flaw could have killed or injured every passenger/occupant (s) as well as harmed other drivers on roadway/motorway. There should be some type of safety measure to aid in stopping even if a partial failure. But this is a whole system failure. Please advise

NHTSA ID 11500208 · filed Jan 4, 2023

WE'VE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES. AFTER HAVING A COMPLETE BRAKE REHAB ON JULY 7TH, 2017, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON FEB. 2ND, 2018 LOSING ALL BRAKES INSTANTLY AS I APPROACHED A 6 LANE INTERSECTION. I CONTACTED THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BOTH BY PHONE AND EMAIL AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE. I WAS TOLD THAT A HOSE OR TUBING WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE LINES CAUSING AN ABRUPT LOSS OF FLUID? WHY THIS WAS NOT NOTICED DURING THE EARLIER BRAKE WORK SEEMS QUESTIONABLE. MOREOVER, I AM OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOLLOWING THE EARLIER BRAKE WORK THAT TOTALED ABOUT ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST 7 MONTHS PREVIOUS. TO THIS DAY THE BRAKES FEEL "MUSHY" AND I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK DONE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID 11153606 · filed Nov 25, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE WHITE FACTORY PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF ON SEVERAL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE, EXPOSING THE PRIMED SHEET METAL. THERE WAS NO REPAINT DONE ON THIS VEHICLE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND TAKEN CARE OF REGULARLY AS RECOMMENDED BY GM. THE DEFECT IS A 100% FACTORY PROBLEM IN THE PAINT SHOP. IT APPEARS THAT THE PAINT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE PRIMER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10714575 · filed May 5, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE MANUFACTURED TO OPERATE AS THEY WERE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID 10567413 · filed Mar 5, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRONICALLY FAILED FRONTAL CRASH SENSOR.I PURCHASED A NEW PART FROM GM.THE PART WAS INSTALLED AND THE CONNECTOR WOULD NOT FIT IN.I CHECKED THE ALIGHNMENT OF SLOTS AND THE CONFIGURATION MATCHED THE OLD ONE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE MOLD OF THE PLASTIC WAS DISTORTED.CHECKING THE ORIGIN OF THIS PART (MADE IN SINGAPORE).MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT IF THERE NOT TESTING THE FIT,HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IT WOULD EVEN SEND THE SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.EVEN THOUGH THE SDM UNIT CHECKS THE RESISTANCE VALUE AND OK'S THE PART AS BEING GOOD.ALSO I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH WITH 34 YEARS EXPERIENCE.I JUST AM UPSET THAT THE PROFIT MARGIN SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN VEHICLE PASSENGER SAFETY.

NHTSA ID 10850343 · filed Mar 18, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PURCHASED A NEW 2008 CHEVY EXPRESS 1500 WITHIN 9 MOS HAD ABS AND STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT ON. TECH REPLACED WHEEL SENSOR. HAPPENED AGAIN 6 MOS LATER, 4/7/09 AND 5/15/10. ON MY LAST VISIT THEY SAID THEY FOUND A SHORT, BUT THE LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN THE ABS AND STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT IS ON (AND ONLY WHEN TRAVELING BELOW 30 MPH) WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE ABS AUTOMATICALLY WILL ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THIS IN TURN ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ADDITIONAL DISTANCE WHEN TRYING TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS ON PERFECTLY LEVEL, SMOOTH AND DRY CIRCUMSTANCES. ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN MANY CHEVY VANS UP TO AND INCLUDING 2010. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS MALFUNCTION. SOME OTHER MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY FEEL IT MIGHT BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. IT IS ONLY OF MATTER OF TIME, AND PROBABLY HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, WHEN TRYING TO STOP - REAR ENDING A VEHICLE OR STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN WHO HAS STEPPED OUT IN FRONT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT COURSE OF ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH GM. *TR

NHTSA ID 10332281 · filed May 26, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN ORDER TO TRAVEL WITH PASSENGERS BUT ON MY FIRST ATTEMPT THIS HOLIDAY DISCOVERED THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE MOST PASSENGERS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM NOR DO I WANT TO BE LEGALLY CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL EQUIPMENT (OR RESPONSIBLE FOR HARM TO ANYONE IN MY VEHICLE). THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DEALING WITH SUCH A DILEMMA AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INPUT THAT THE COMPANY MAY ADVISE. IS THIS AN OVERSITE ON THE MANUFACTURER TO BUILD A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT MEET REGULATIONS?

NHTSA ID 11003312 · filed Jul 6, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM ON TPMS BROKE FILED BY JIFFY LUBE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10414826 · filed Jul 23, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .