Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2005 Chevrolet Express 1500 with NHTSA between 2006 and 2015.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 38
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Express 1500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
30% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 38
22% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2005 compares with every other Chevrolet Express 1500
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2005 Chevrolet Express 1500
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
440.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 53,400 mi
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
110.0%
Lights
110.0%
Median failure at 150,000 miles
Airbags
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 235,000 mi
Electrical System
110.0%
Median failure at 90,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
Median failure at 31,185 miles
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
Median failure at 25,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
333.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
222.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
111.1%
150,000+ miles
333.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2006peak 2Mar 2015
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 235,000 milesEast Haven, CTCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAGS IN MY EXPRESS 1500 DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER I SKIDDED OUT ON A HIGHWAY TO AVOID A 18 WHEELER. THE VAN WAS TOTALED SO NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT IT BUT WITH NO AIRBAGS IT LED TO A BROKEN SHOULDER AND SOME RIBS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HIT THE JERSEY BARRIER GOING DIRECTLY STRAIGHT AT IT AT ABOUT 50-60MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10371015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesKearny, NJCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED THROUGH A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL DRIVING OVER A CURVE AND COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE HOSES OF THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WERE TWO HOSES THAT WERE RUNNING TOGETHER ABNORMALLY AND THE FRICTION CAUSED THE HOSE TO COLLAPSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #10359044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 150,000 milesMemphis, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10694035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesMurphy, NC
ENGINE
THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE AND JUST DIDN'T PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO IT BUT THE FIRST TIME WE REALLY NOTICED IT WE WERE : TRAVELING SLOWLY ON GRAVEL ROAD , ENGINE JUST QUIT. HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND CRANK IT . SECOND TIME : HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN , STARTED TO PULL OUT, ENGINE JUST QUIT . HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND CRANK IT AGAIN. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND US EITHER TIME . NEED TO USE THIS VEHICLE FOR A TRIP WITH OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE OR COMFORTABLE IN TRAFFIC AS THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS BUT FEEL THERE MUST BE SOME TYPE OF DEFECT AND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD . WE ONLY HAVE 29,500 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE ( EXPRESS VAN ) AND USE IT MOSTLY FOR OUTINGS WITH THE FAMILY . WITH ALL THE RECALLS ON THE IGNITION SWITCHES , WE JUST NEED TO REPORT THIS AND NEED IT FIXED .
NHTSA complaint #10615273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesVista, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED, AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10586130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 157,200 milesWyoming, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH. WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN FOR SOME REASON AND THE BRAKES WENT STIFF AND I COULD BARELY STOP. MECHANIC SAID WHEEL SENSOR, IT WAS CHANGED AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ABS KICKS IN AT THE WORST TIMES WHEN YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION THE BRAKES GO STIFF. ALMOST GOT KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10521963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 235,000 milesEast Haven, CTCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAGS IN MY EXPRESS 1500 DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER I SKIDDED OUT ON A HIGHWAY TO AVOID A 18 WHEELER. THE VAN WAS TOTALED SO NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT IT BUT WITH NO AIRBAGS IT LED TO A BROKEN SHOULDER AND SOME RIBS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HIT THE JERSEY BARRIER GOING DIRECTLY STRAIGHT AT IT AT ABOUT 50-60MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10371015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesKearny, NJCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEY WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED THROUGH A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL DRIVING OVER A CURVE AND COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE HOSES OF THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WERE TWO HOSES THAT WERE RUNNING TOGETHER ABNORMALLY AND THE FRICTION CAUSED THE HOSE TO COLLAPSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #10359044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,800 milesKearny, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500 V6 AND WHILE DRIVING TO MY HOUSE FROM WORK I LOST ALL BRAKES DUE TO A BRAKE LINE FAILURE, THE TWO HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER ARE IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER METALLIC BRAKE HOSE UNDER THEM, BY RUBBING TOGETHER FOR FOUR YEARS CAUSED THE HOSES TO WEAR AND RUPTURE AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10358952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,185 milesBrooklyn, CT
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. NEXT THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28000. UPDATED 01/05/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SEAL FAILED ON THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH CAUSED ALL THE FLUIDS TO INTO THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 01/05/10.
NHTSA complaint #10295834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesSouth Plainfield, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1) TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 2) BOTH BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AT FLEXIBLE SECTION BELOW MASTER CYLINDER. 3) REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES, REFILLED SYSTEM AND BLED SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10265293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIELD OF VISION PROVIDED BY THE MIRRORS ON MY VAN. I HAVE OWNED THREE FULL SIZED VANS SINCE 1995, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE STYLE AND SIZE OF THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS. MOST FULL SIZE VAN MANUFACTURERS HAVE HORIZONTAL MIRRORS, BUT CHEVY OPTED FOR A VERTICAL THAT HAS CUT DOWN ON THE PERIPHERAL VISION FIELD OF THE DRIVER. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY AS I PERCEIVE IT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY, AND KEEPING ABREAST OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC FROM THE REAR OF THE VAN. THE REDUCED PERIPHERAL VISION HAS CAUSED A NUMBER OF NEAR MISS COLLISIONS. I HAVE HAD THE VAN SINCE AUGUST 2005, AND HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS MIRROR CONFIGURATIONS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION TO NO AVAIL. THE MIRRORS AS DESIGNED DO NOT PROVIDE THE PERIPHERAL VISION THAT I HAD WITH MY 2000 DODGE VAN THAT HAD HORIZONTAL MIRRORS. I HAVE EVEN TRIED THE SUGGESTED MIRROR ADJUSTMENT TECHNIQUES ON MYGMLINK.COM TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE MANUFACTURE, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO REFER ME TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT EVEN WHEN I'VE ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN ENGINEERING OR DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #10149078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.