1999 Chevrolet Express Problems

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE AND BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I TOOK MY VAN IN UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE MY ABS DOESN'T WORK. MY REAR AXLE CLANKS AND WINDS. TWO WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THESE PROBLEMS STARTED TO OCCURED. I TOOK MY VAN INTO THE DEALER SHIP RIGHT AWAY AND THEY REPLACED MY REAR AXLE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE STILL EXISTS BUT WAS WORSE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE. THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESSING AND I WILL BE IN NEED OF A NEW AXLE SOON AND HAVE NEVER HAD ABS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VAN AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS OR THE REAR AXLE. THEY TESTED MY BRAKES BY DRIVING MY VAN AROUND THE PARKING LOT. MY FRONT BRAKES ARE SPONGY AND THEY LOCK UP ON WET ROADS WHEN BRAKING HARD. THIS IS A 1999 CHEVY EXPRESS VAN. WE ALSO PURCHASED A 1999 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SIGHT UNSEEN AT THE SAME TIME WE PURCHASED OUR EXPRESS VAN. WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT OF THE MONTE CARLO AND IT WAS THE TREAD OFF OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AFTER TWO THOUSAND MILES. THEY KEPT TELLING US THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. JIM COX TRIED TO TELL US THAT MY WIFE MADE TOO MANY LEFT HAND TURNS AND INSULTED MY WIFE ABOUT HER WEIGHT NEITHER VEHICLES WERE EVER TITLED BEFORE WE PURCHASED THEM. PROBLEMS ON BOTH VEHICLES STARTED TO OCCUR IMMEDIATLY AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH TRYING TO GET THE WARRANTY WORK DONE ON THEM. NOW THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY VAN STILL EXISTS AND IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY WORSE. JIM COX WAS THE AREA SERVICE REPRESENATIVE FOR ALL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA CHEVY DEALERSHIPS AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER "IF IT'S NOT BROKE DON'T FIX IT" AND HE HAD NO PROBLEM STATING THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF. CALLED HEAD OFFICE THAY DID NOT WHONT TO NKOW, NEVER EVER BUY CHEVE EVER EVER AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM A FIELD TRIP IN OUR 15-PASSENGER VAN FULL OF CHILDREN, THE STEELTEX R4S TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT AND TREAD SEPARATION. BY SOME SORT OF MIRACLE OUR DRIVER, GOING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, MANAGE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY ALL THE CHILDREN ARE SAFE,BUT I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE TIRES. I WOULD HAVE NEVER LET THE CHILDREN RIDE IN THE VAN WITH THOSE TIRES IF I KNEW THE PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT DUE TO THE BLOWOUT, BUT THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE DAMAGE OCCURRED. *NLM

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT.*JB

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE AND BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DRIVER SMELLED BURNING WIRES COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 VAN. THE HINGE ON THE DOUBLE DOORS ON THE SIDE FROZE, THEY WILL NOT OPEN ANYMORE. PREVIOUSLY, THEY WHERE HARD TO OPEN, AND NOW THEY ARE CRACKING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS BAD DESIGN. ALSO, DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS BACK ORDER ON THE HINGES. OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER RAN A DAY CARE CENTER. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN TO GO FROM THE FRONT OF THE VAN TO THE BACK. IN AN EMERGENCY IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE VAN FAST ENOUGH. *AK

PASSENGER DOORS HINGES ARE STICKING

DRIVER SAID VAN WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE MANIFOLD. *AK THREE HEAD BOLTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE NO. 1 CYLINDER. IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH SO THAT THE HEAD WAS NOT DAMAGED. IT HAS TO BE REMOVED, CHECKED FOR CRACKS AND RE-INSTALLED WITH NEW GASKETS FOR $1100.00 DOLLARS. *PH *NLM

AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN CONSUMER WOULD RETURN TO RESTART IT FROM MINUTES TO HOURS, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, ABOUT SIX TIMES. AT THIS TIME NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN INFORMED. *AK

I TOOK MY VAN IN UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE MY ABS DOESN'T WORK. MY REAR AXLE CLANKS AND WINDS. TWO WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THESE PROBLEMS STARTED TO OCCURED. I TOOK MY VAN INTO THE DEALER SHIP RIGHT AWAY AND THEY REPLACED MY REAR AXLE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE AXLE STILL EXISTS BUT WAS WORSE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE. THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESSING AND I WILL BE IN NEED OF A NEW AXLE SOON AND HAVE NEVER HAD ABS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VAN AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS OR THE REAR AXLE. THEY TESTED MY BRAKES BY DRIVING MY VAN AROUND THE PARKING LOT. MY FRONT BRAKES ARE SPONGY AND THEY LOCK UP ON WET ROADS WHEN BRAKING HARD. THIS IS A 1999 CHEVY EXPRESS VAN. WE ALSO PURCHASED A 1999 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SIGHT UNSEEN AT THE SAME TIME WE PURCHASED OUR EXPRESS VAN. WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT OF THE MONTE CARLO AND IT WAS THE TREAD OFF OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AFTER TWO THOUSAND MILES. THEY KEPT TELLING US THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. JIM COX TRIED TO TELL US THAT MY WIFE MADE TOO MANY LEFT HAND TURNS AND INSULTED MY WIFE ABOUT HER WEIGHT NEITHER VEHICLES WERE EVER TITLED BEFORE WE PURCHASED THEM. PROBLEMS ON BOTH VEHICLES STARTED TO OCCUR IMMEDIATLY AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH TRYING TO GET THE WARRANTY WORK DONE ON THEM. NOW THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY VAN STILL EXISTS AND IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY WORSE. JIM COX WAS THE AREA SERVICE REPRESENATIVE FOR ALL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA CHEVY DEALERSHIPS AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER "IF IT'S NOT BROKE DON'T FIX IT" AND HE HAD NO PROBLEM STATING THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF. CALLED HEAD OFFICE THAY DID NOT WHONT TO NKOW, NEVER EVER BUY CHEVE EVER EVER AGAIN. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING (LONG TRIPS). THE NEEDLE HAS STAYED STUCK AT 70 MPH WHEN COMMING OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAY UNTIL ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAS ALSO STAYED AT 20 - 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. DEALER AND CHEVY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS UNTIL CONDITION CAN BE REPLICATED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. GIVEN THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE, IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR LONG PERIODS. UNRELATED PROBLEM, BOTH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE IN THE WIND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS IN THEM. *AK

DT : THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT BROKE INSIDE THE PUMP ON JULY 14, 2000, THE DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 IT BROKE AGAIN, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN, AND THEY DID REPLACE IT. HOWEVER, THEY CHARGED THE CONSUMER $636.00. THE STEERING LOCKED AND THAT WAS HOW CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THIS HAPPENED ON A DRY PAVED ROAD AND IN WARM WEATHER. *AK *NM

DT: 1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE SHAFT ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT BROKE. THE CONSUMER STATES THE POWER STEERING INSTANTLY QUIT WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC DID NOT TELL HIM WHY THE SHAFT BROKE. *JB

VEHICLE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN I CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE DOING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. IMPACT WAS MAINLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. I WAS DRIVING AN CHEVY 1999 EXPRESS 1500 VAN. *NM

DT: VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WHEN PLACED KEY IN IGNITION DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ONTO DRIVER. VEHICLE HAD BEEN ESTIMATED AT AN INSURANCE CLAIM AGENCY FOR INSPECTION OF PRIOR HAIL DAMAGE. NO LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED TO WARN AND NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS AS WELL. HAVE NOT YET TAKEN TO DEALER, PLANS TO CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SHE NOTICED THAT THE DOOR LOCK PINS WOULD FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED OF THE PROCEDURE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE BRACKET THAT MOUNTS THE SEAT KEEPS CRACKING. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER INSISTS THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN THAT CAUSES THE BRACKET TO CRACK. *AK

BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS WOULD VIBRATE SEVERELY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50 OR MORE. THIS CONDITION CAUSES VERY POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ,AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE EXTERNAL MIRRORS VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50MPH. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED BOTH MIRRORS SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET/GM AND THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE IS A DEFECT AND HAVE STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IS "NORMAL AND INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE." A GM REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH ME AT MY DEALERSHIP TO TEST DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND A NEW COMPARABLE MODEL TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ALL CHEVROLET EXPRESS VANS HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF "NORMAL" VIBRATION. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE STATED THAT NO ONE ELSE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MIRRORS. I DISAGREE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CONSUMER DEFECT COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO NHTSA SINCE 1995 WHEN THE MODEL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED YET CHEVROLET/GM HAS NEGLECTED TO CORRECT OR RE-DESIGN THEIR DEFFECTIVE MIRRORS. THE MIRROR'S VIBRATION IS NOT "NORMAL". THIS VIBRATION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE MIRRORS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE HELP CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK

SEVERE ALLOY WHEEL CORROSION ON ALL WHEELS. *JB

NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON ALLOY WHEELS SHOULD NOT RESULT IN THE SEVERE CORROSION I HAVE ON MY WHEELS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A FAILURE RISK, BECAUSE I AM NOT A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER, BUT THE CORROSION IS SUBSTANTIAL. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE CLEAR COATING ON THE WHEEL HAS TRAPPED MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT, ALLOWING THE ACCELERATED CORROSION. I HAVE EMAILED AMERICAN RACING AND I HAVE BEEN IGNORED. *JB

WITHOUT WARNING ALL HEADLAMPS WENT OUT DRL,LOW BEAMS AND HIGH BEAMS. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORKED OK. NOT FUN AT NIGHT TO HAVE OCCUR. *TR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PARTS FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE AND BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES ARE EXTREEMELY SPONGY AND FADE SIGNIFICANTLY REQUIRING FAR GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER DRIVEN. PUMPING THE PEDAL SEEMS TO HELP BUT PUSHING FIRMLY ACTIVATES THE ABS WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH TOWARD WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF YOU. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE WHERE THE ABS KICKS IN SO FREQUENTLY. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING (LONG TRIPS). THE NEEDLE HAS STAYED STUCK AT 70 MPH WHEN COMMING OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAY UNTIL ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAS ALSO STAYED AT 20 - 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. DEALER AND CHEVY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS UNTIL CONDITION CAN BE REPLICATED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. GIVEN THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE, IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR LONG PERIODS. UNRELATED PROBLEM, BOTH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE IN THE WIND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS IN THEM. *AK

AFTER TRAVELING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME ON A HIGHWAY AND THEN SLOWING TO A STOP ON THE EXIT, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTS IN GEARS 1-2. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, IT APPEARS OK UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. TRANSMISSION FLUID IS OK. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 47500 MILES. HAD MECHANIC CHECK AND GETS COMPUTER CODE 1870, WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE WEB HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON CHEVY/GM VEHICLES WITH 4L60E TRANSMISSION, BUT NO RECALL TO DATE. MAY NOW HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION.

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE SUN GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT.*JB

REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS BEEN REPAIR OR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH NOISE. MJS

A/C UNIT WORKS, HOWEVER DUE TO SHORT CYCLE EXCESSIVE WEAR OCCURS TO A/C AND ENGINE.

WHILE INSTALLING CSS REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED, IT TAKES 10-15 SECONDS FOR THE FUEL INJECTION TO SHUT OFF, AND THE PEDAL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A DEAD STOP, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. BOTH VISITS TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS PRODUCED NO RESULTS AND I WAS TOLD "NO PROBLEM FOUND." DT