RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Express 3500

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.
2
Latest Nov 23, 2014
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.
0
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Express 3500, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and engine categories. 3 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

  • Brakes125.0%
  • Electrical125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Suspension125.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 23, 2014

I SEEM TO BE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT KIND OF IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTION THAT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE MASSIVE GM RECALL THIS YEAR. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE RECALL DOESN'T SEEM TO GO BACK TO 1997. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN A WEEK OR SO AGO. THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL JUST SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON. IT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, DRIVING AROUND TOWN, AND EVEN PARKED AT IDLE. IT JUST UP AND DIES FOR A SECOND OR TWO, FOLLOWED BY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON LIKE YOU HAD JUST TURNED THE KEY BACK ON. SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OLDER VEHICLES THAT WERE APPARENTLY AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE ONES ALREADY ON THE LIST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660384
Incident
Nov 15, 2014
Mileage
101,500 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jan 4, 2012

I WAS PICKING UP ITEMS IN A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT, WHEN THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES TO THE REAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND EMPTIED OUT ALL THE BRAKE FLUID. WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT AND BEING REPAIRED, I FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ARE NEARLY CORRODED AWAY. THIS IS NOT A PART DESIGNED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442430
Incident
Jul 6, 2011
Mileage
77,540 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

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 3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2024200—
2023000—
2022000—
2021100—
2020000—
2019200—
2018000—
2017000—
2016000—
2015000—
2014110—
2013100—
2012500—
2011000—
2010410—
2009920—
2008111037.9
2007111042.1
2006151040.5
2005171044.5
2004160032.0
2003120148.0
2002310—
2001111043.4
2000410—
1999410—
1998300—
1997Viewing200—
1996000—

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.