RoadVitals

2009 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.
9
Latest Feb 14, 2017
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.
2
Latest Nov 5, 2014
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Express 3500, most frequently naming the fuel system, tires & wheels and airbags categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 199 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

  • Fuel system225.0%
  • Tires & wheels225.0%
  • Airbags112.5%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Driver assistance112.5%
  • Electrical112.5%

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

2 campaigns 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
14V706000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Nov 5, 2014
34 units potentially affected
The defect: Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
The risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
The remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
Cummings Mobility Conversion & SupplyManufacturer number 14E-041View on NHTSA.gov
09V456000

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

Nov 19, 2009
269 units potentially affected
The defect: CUES, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 SERVICE VEHICLES BUILT ON VARIOUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER AIRV CEILING UNITS, MODEL NOS. 68RV0010BA, 68RV0012CA, AND 68RV0010EA. THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THESE ASSEMBLIES MAY BE DEFECTIVE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE UNIT TO CREATE SMOKE OR SPARKS.
The risk: THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: CUES IS WORKING WITH CARRIER TO REMEDY THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE BY CARRIER FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE CARRIER'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-053. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CARRIER AT 1-877-584-7059 OR CUES AT 1-407-849-0190.
CUES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 9
Body & structure
Filed Feb 14, 2017

EXTERIOR PAINT PEELS & FLAKES OFF IN SHEETS AS OF NOT ADHERING TO THE METAL. PEELS OFF BOTH WHILE DRIVING & WHEN PARKED. FLAKING OF PAINT IS CONTINUOUS.

NHTSA ID
10954471
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
92,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 27, 2015
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE ENGINE WAS ON; HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WITH NO DRIVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID
10786278
Incident
Oct 26, 2015
Mileage
123,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROLL OVER SENSOR BECAME INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,747.

NHTSA ID
10760744
Incident
Jul 10, 2015
Mileage
59,747 mi
Filed Jul 29, 2015

I TOOK THE VAN IN TO A DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. AFTER PAYING $60.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK, (WHICH I STILL DON'T LIKE) THEY TOLD ME THE ROLLOVER SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A CRIMINAL $700.00 WHICH I WILL NOT PAY. SOUNDS LIKE A GM ISSUE TO ME SO I CALLED THE HOT LINE AND A WEEK LATER THEY SAID THEY WOULD PAY $200.00 OUT OF THE $700.00 BECAUSE I WAS A GOOD GM BUYER. WRONG ANSWER. SO I FILLED OUT THE BBB COMPLAINT FORMS, WROTE AN ARTICLE ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, FILLING OUT THIS FORM, DROPPING OF THE PAPER WORK TO MY ATTORNEYS OFFICE TOMORROW, THEN HEADED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. UPDATED 10/01/15*LJ UPDATED 12/13/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10744743
Incident
Jul 10, 2015
Mileage
59,747 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 22, 2014

VEHICLE WAS SHAKING. TOOK TO [XXX] INC.IN SYRACUSE, NY FOR ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS IN ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD THAT THE STEEL BELTS IN THE TIRES WERE BAD DUE TO TIRES BULGING ON THE OUTSIDE AND INDENTED IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TIRE ROTATION. ALL 6 TIRES ARE EFFECTED. THE WORSE TIRE PASSENGER FRONT WAS USED IN THE DATA COLLECTED BY THIS SITE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10605027
Incident
Jun 12, 2014
Mileage
14,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED A NEW KEY WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10588522
Incident
Feb 8, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2011

WHEN REFUELING THIS VEHICLE, THE GASOLINE DOES NOT FLOW WITH EASE THROUGH THE INTAKE TUBES. IT BACKS UP, OVERFLOWING THE FILLER PIPE, SPILLING OUT OR SHUTTING OFF THE GAS NOZZLE REPEATEDLY. IT CAN TAKE TEN MINUTES TO PUT TEN GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK. THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY TIME WE PUT GASOLINE IN THE TANK. NOT JUST ONE INCIDENT FOR SURE. THIS IS ON THE CHEVY EXPRESS 3500 WHICH HAS BEEN MADE INTO A 2009 ROADTREK MOTORHOME VERSATILE 210. *KB

NHTSA ID
10416916
Incident
Oct 30, 2010
Mileage
18,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 30, 2010

CHEVY EXPRESS 4500 DIESEL CUTAWAY. FUEL OIL HEATER (FOH) IS AN AUXILIARY HEATER LOCATED UNDER THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND EXHAUSTS IN THE SAME AREA. ODOR OF PARTIALLY BURNED FUEL AND A STRONG EXHAUST SMALL WOULD ENTER THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION IN COLD WEATHER. DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT CHARACTER OF THE ODOR A HOME CO MONITOR WAS PLACED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DID ALARM, PROMPTING THE VEHICLE TO BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND SENT FOR REPAIR. THE FOH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10373566
Incident
Dec 1, 2010
Mileage
82,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

13598

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

PIC5650M

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.

PIP5601C

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

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

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—
2009Viewing920—
2008111037.9
2007111042.1
2006151040.5
2005171044.5
2004160032.0
2003120148.0
2002310—
2001111043.4
2000410—
1999410—
1998300—
1997200—
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.