2008 Chevrolet Express 1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM ON TPMS BROKE FILED BY JIFFY LUBE. *TR
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .