RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Express

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.
55
Latest Sep 30, 2021
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.
1
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 55 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Express, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and body & structure categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 419 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

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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA04012ClosedEngineering Analysis

HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES

Opened Apr 30, 2004
Closed Feb 28, 2005

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSISTLed to recall 05V005000

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Sep 30, 2021

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, she heard an abnormal loud banging sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the passenger’s side rear axle detached from the vehicle, causing the tire to detach and roll away. The contact did not sustain any injury. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11435043
Incident
Sep 29, 2021
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 5, 2018

THE SIDE HINGES SEIZE UP AND BREAK. IT THROWS THE DOOR ALIGNMENT OFF AND I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO COMPLETELY CLOSE THE FRONT SIDE DOOR AND IT KEEPS THE PASSENGER DOOR FROM OPENING ALSO. THIS IS A CONTINUEING PROBLEM CHEVROLET HAS WITH THEIR EXPRESS VANS. IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND ALSO CHEAP MATERIALS CAUSED IT TO RUST AND SEIZE UP AND THEN BREAK THE HINGE, THE HINGE IS WELDED ON. VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPARED. IT IS DANGEROUS AS PEOPLE CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE VAN. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO OFFER AN INEXPENSIVE FIX FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID
11115830
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Mileage
62,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 8, 2015

WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE THE GLASS WAS BROKEN AND HAD BEEN THROWN TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS FINE. IT WAS PARKED IN THE SHADE AND AWAY FROM ANYTHING WHICH COULD HAVE HIT IT. IT WAS LOCKED AND NOT TOUCHED IN ANY WAY. THE BROKEN FRAGMENTS WERE ON THE GROUND BELOW THE GLASS FRAME AREA. IT IS THE SAME TYPE OF GLASS THAT I SAW IN THE STORY ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY ABOUT THE SUN ROOFS THAT BREAK. WHEN I SAW THE STORY I KNEW THIS HAD TO BE THE EXPLANATION. I HAVE A PICTURE AND THE TEXT I SENT THAT DAY BECAUSE I WAS SO SHOCKED AT HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN, IT MADE NO SENSE. NOW IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

NHTSA ID
10747178
Incident
Jul 21, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Filed Aug 30, 2013

PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM CONSTANTLY WON'T ALLOW VAN TO START. CHEVROLET SAYS TO HAVE THE SYSTEM "RELEARN THE KEY" BY WAITING FOR 10 MIN THEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE. IT SOMETIMES TAKES 3-4 TRIES OF DOING THIS BEFORE IT STARTS.

NHTSA ID
10538042
Incident
Aug 2, 2010
Mileage
125,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 23, 2010

2002 CHEVY 2500 EXPRESS VAN. FAILURE OF POWER BOOSTER, LOST BOTH BRAKE POWER AS WELL AS STEERING POWER. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL CAR. REPLACED ONCE, FAILED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. REPLACED AGAIN. FAILED AGAIN THIS YEAR. I AM NOW ON MY FORTH POWER BOOSTER, FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU LOSE BOTH STEERING AND BRAKES AT SAME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313423
Incident
Nov 15, 2007
Mileage
108,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 18, 2009

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY. HARD TO VIEW ITEMS ON THE MIRROR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10265946
Incident
Oct 31, 2002
Mileage
17,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A GM DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,612 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,594.

NHTSA ID
10204751
Incident
Sep 25, 2007
Mileage
16,594 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2007

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE AT 69,700 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200576
Incident
Aug 20, 2007
Mileage
69,700 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

PIP5601C

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

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

PIP4723J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026030
2025040
2024100
2023210
2022410
2021132055.4
2020161052.5
2019840
2018116048.4
2017206047.6
2016156052.0
2015831
2014147048.6
2013228046.1
2012136064.6
2011125054.4
2010155053.7
2009107049.4
20081410040.9
2007174057.5
20061216067.9
2005239063.5
2004217156.6
20035811264.3
2002Viewing550137.1
2001452152.7
2000841144.5
1999682044.7
1998232046.4
1997292049.8
1996153055.0
1995100
1994000
1993000

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.