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FaultScore report

2008 Chevrolet Express 1500 problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Express 1500 with NHTSA between 2010 and 2023. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 7 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Express 1500 All 2008 cars
B

FaultScore 32/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Express 1500.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

66,549 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

38%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 38 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 64 vs 50
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 — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 64
38% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2008 compares with every other Chevrolet Express 1500

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2008 Chevrolet Express 1500

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 4 40.0%

Median failure at 18,956 miles

Body & Structure 2 20.0%

Median failure at 101,000 miles

Stability & Traction Control 1 10.0%

Median failure at 18,349 miles

Seat Belts 1 10.0%

Median failure at 125,000 miles

Tires 1 10.0%

Median failure at 53,098 miles

Airbags 1 10.0%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 3 37.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 12.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 12.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 37.5%

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.

May 2010 peak 2 Jan 2023

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Spokane Valley, WA

SERVICE BRAKES

The brake system completely failed. the peddle goes to the floor. there is still fluid in the reservoir to proper level but all brakes failed at the same time no stopping ability. had to use parking break to slow and down shift to first gear. This flaw could have killed or injured every passenger/occupant (s) as well as harmed other drivers on roadway/motorway. There should be some type of safety measure to aid in stopping even if a partial failure. But this is a whole system failure. Please advise

NHTSA complaint #11500208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 111,000 miles Naples, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

WE'VE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES. AFTER HAVING A COMPLETE BRAKE REHAB ON JULY 7TH, 2017, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON FEB. 2ND, 2018 LOSING ALL BRAKES INSTANTLY AS I APPROACHED A 6 LANE INTERSECTION. I CONTACTED THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP BOTH BY PHONE AND EMAIL AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE. I WAS TOLD THAT A HOSE OR TUBING WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE LINES CAUSING AN ABRUPT LOSS OF FLUID? WHY THIS WAS NOT NOTICED DURING THE EARLIER BRAKE WORK SEEMS QUESTIONABLE. MOREOVER, I AM OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOLLOWING THE EARLIER BRAKE WORK THAT TOTALED ABOUT ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST 7 MONTHS PREVIOUS. TO THIS DAY THE BRAKES FEEL "MUSHY" AND I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK DONE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11153606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Goshen, VA

SEAT BELTS

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN ORDER TO TRAVEL WITH PASSENGERS BUT ON MY FIRST ATTEMPT THIS HOLIDAY DISCOVERED THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE MOST PASSENGERS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM NOR DO I WANT TO BE LEGALLY CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL EQUIPMENT (OR RESPONSIBLE FOR HARM TO ANYONE IN MY VEHICLE). THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DEALING WITH SUCH A DILEMMA AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INPUT THAT THE COMPANY MAY ADVISE. IS THIS AN OVERSITE ON THE MANUFACTURER TO BUILD A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT MEET REGULATIONS?

NHTSA complaint #11003312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highland Park, NJ

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRONICALLY FAILED FRONTAL CRASH SENSOR.I PURCHASED A NEW PART FROM GM.THE PART WAS INSTALLED AND THE CONNECTOR WOULD NOT FIT IN.I CHECKED THE ALIGHNMENT OF SLOTS AND THE CONFIGURATION MATCHED THE OLD ONE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE MOLD OF THE PLASTIC WAS DISTORTED.CHECKING THE ORIGIN OF THIS PART (MADE IN SINGAPORE).MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT IF THERE NOT TESTING THE FIT,HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IT WOULD EVEN SEND THE SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.EVEN THOUGH THE SDM UNIT CHECKS THE RESISTANCE VALUE AND OK'S THE PART AS BEING GOOD.ALSO I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH WITH 34 YEARS EXPERIENCE.I JUST AM UPSET THAT THE PROFIT MARGIN SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN VEHICLE PASSENGER SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #10850343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Greenville, SC

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE WHITE FACTORY PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF ON SEVERAL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE, EXPOSING THE PRIMED SHEET METAL. THERE WAS NO REPAINT DONE ON THIS VEHICLE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND TAKEN CARE OF REGULARLY AS RECOMMENDED BY GM. THE DEFECT IS A 100% FACTORY PROBLEM IN THE PAINT SHOP. IT APPEARS THAT THE PAINT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE PRIMER.

NHTSA complaint #10714575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Bellwood, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WERE EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE MANUFACTURED TO OPERATE AS THEY WERE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10567413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,956 miles Saratoga, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

I AM A FLEET MECHANIC FOR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE. DURING A ROUTINE SAFETY INSPECTION ON A CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500 8 PASSENGER VAN FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE VERIFIED MY COMPLAINT, OF COURSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON IT AROUND 1 YEAR AGO. THE TOTAL COST PARTS AND LABOR WAS AROUND $900.00 TO FIX IT ON A VAN WITH AROUND 19,000 MILES ON IT. THIS LEAK CAN LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE AND CAUSE A CRASH. IT CAN ALSO LEAK ON PLASTIC AND OTHER COMPONENTS AND CAUSE THEM TO FAIL AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10461844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,098 miles Albany, NY

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEM ON TPMS BROKE FILED BY JIFFY LUBE.

NHTSA complaint #10414826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,349 miles Brooklyn, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PURCHASED A NEW 2008 CHEVY EXPRESS 1500 WITHIN 9 MOS HAD ABS AND STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT ON. TECH REPLACED WHEEL SENSOR. HAPPENED AGAIN 6 MOS LATER, 4/7/09 AND 5/15/10. ON MY LAST VISIT THEY SAID THEY FOUND A SHORT, BUT THE LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN THE ABS AND STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT IS ON (AND ONLY WHEN TRAVELING BELOW 30 MPH) WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE ABS AUTOMATICALLY WILL ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THIS IN TURN ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ADDITIONAL DISTANCE WHEN TRYING TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS ON PERFECTLY LEVEL, SMOOTH AND DRY CIRCUMSTANCES. ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN MANY CHEVY VANS UP TO AND INCLUDING 2010. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS MALFUNCTION. SOME OTHER MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY FEEL IT MIGHT BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. IT IS ONLY OF MATTER OF TIME, AND PROBABLY HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, WHEN TRYING TO STOP - REAR ENDING A VEHICLE OR STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN WHO HAS STEPPED OUT IN FRONT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT COURSE OF ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH GM.

NHTSA complaint #10332281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,349 miles Brooklyn, NY

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

PURCHASED A NEW 2008 CHEVY EXPRESS 1500 WITHIN 9 MOS HAD ABS AND STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT ON. TECH REPLACED WHEEL SENSOR. HAPPENED AGAIN 6 MOS LATER, 4/7/09 AND 5/15/10. ON MY LAST VISIT THEY SAID THEY FOUND A SHORT, BUT THE LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN THE ABS AND STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT IS ON (AND ONLY WHEN TRAVELING BELOW 30 MPH) WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE ABS AUTOMATICALLY WILL ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THIS IN TURN ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ADDITIONAL DISTANCE WHEN TRYING TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS ON PERFECTLY LEVEL, SMOOTH AND DRY CIRCUMSTANCES. ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN MANY CHEVY VANS UP TO AND INCLUDING 2010. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS MALFUNCTION. SOME OTHER MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY FEEL IT MIGHT BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. IT IS ONLY OF MATTER OF TIME, AND PROBABLY HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, WHEN TRYING TO STOP - REAR ENDING A VEHICLE OR STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN WHO HAS STEPPED OUT IN FRONT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT COURSE OF ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH GM.

NHTSA complaint #10332281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.