2005 Chevrolet Express
The Verdict
The 2005 Chevrolet Express has 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (29 complaints) and brakes (13 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 85/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Express, consider the 2024 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 98% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Chevrolet Express dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 6
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
CUSTOMIZERS IS RECALLING 3 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LI...
Risk
A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy
CUSTOMIZERS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000.
Reported Apr 10, 2026
MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING 185 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2005 AND JUNE 25, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR...
Risk
THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy
MAIN MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MAIN MOBILITY AT 1-716-759-6811.
Reported Jun 7, 2009
MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING 185 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2005 AND JUNE 25, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR...
Risk
THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy
MAIN MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MAIN MOBILITY AT 1-716-759-6811.
Reported Jun 7, 2009
MOBILITY IS RECALLING 43 MY 2005-2006 FORD E-SERIES AND CHEVROLET EXPRESS VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTO...
Risk
A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy
MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MOBILITY AT 714-674-0480.
Reported Jun 2, 2009
MOBILITY IS RECALLING 86 MY 2005-2006 FORD E-SERIES AND CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MO...
Risk
THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy
MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MOBILITY AT 714-674-0480.
Reported Jun 2, 2009
CERTAIN CONVERSION VANS BUILT ON GMC/CHEVROLET CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE ...
Risk
FOLLOWING VEHICLES MAY NOT BE FULLY INFORMED OF VEHICLE BRAKING. REAR-END COLLISIONS AND INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.
Remedy
SANTA FE IS WORKING WITH AUDIOVOX TO REPLACE THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SANTA FE AT 1-800-274-1886 OR ASA AT 1-574-266-3172.
Reported Jul 11, 2005
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
LT245/75R16. Driving north on I-77 around Charlotte, NC around 7:40 PM and the tire blew out. I saw in my left rearview mirror the treads roll off the right side of the highway. I did not run over anything. Travel speed was 65 to 70 mph in medium traffic. No warning lights came on. Did not lose control and was able to navigate to the left side of highway when enough space opened up after a guide rail. All that was left was the rim and shredded sidewalls. Tire was installed in August, 2025 and had just about 3000 miles on it when the blowout occurred. The passenger side of the vehicle was about 3 feet from the fog line, and traffic for the exit ramp was very close to the vehicle. Called 911 and NCDOT helped remove the rim and put on the spare. My wife and daughter were in the vehicle.
I was driving and out of no where my brakes “ all four wheels “ locked up as if I was hauling a heavy load . I put on my hazard lights to warn the semi behind me. So I maintained control of my line until the cargo van slowed down to a safe speed for me to pull over . I thought the semi was going to run into the back of me, luckily the southbound line was clear so the semi took off pass me. So as I was coming to a safe stopping speed my brake pedal was stiff as well and when the cargo van slowed down to a safe speed, I pulled over to check my brakes with a warm liquid “ all four brakes were hot “ .
I was in a front end Collison due to a brake failure and when I have a steel gate at about 30 mph no airbag deployed. Car was towed by the Upper Darby Police Department and it is totaled. I sustained injuries. There was no airbag light brake warning light came when I attempted to use the emergency brake when regular failed
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated that while driving, the front passenger’s side tire started to wobble. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the tie rod needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving, the headlights failed to operate without engaging the lever. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the bulbs were replaced; however, the high-beam headlights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Hole warn in front passenger side brake line from battery cable going to engine starter motor. The shielding on electrical cable rubbed and wore a hole in the brake line causing fluid to flow out and caused brakes to fail. No one was injured and no accident. I was backing out of the driveway the brakes failed, next I saw a large puddle of fluid on driveway, I just put it in park. The battery cable crosses over the break line and both are fastened to the frame near each other. I can provide break line and photo. The van has 60,000 miles on it, I purchased it new in 2005.
Paint is peeling from ALL parts of the exterior vehicle, even around the window frames and door frames! It appears that NO PAINT PRIMER was used, at all! My white van has missing paint from about 75% of the vehicle, with bubbling going on, in the remainder of paint that has yet to fall off! Looking at ANY Chevy van that is on the roadways, one can easily see that the paint has also been falling off those vehicles, as well! This is a well-known defect in the painting practices of most ALL Chevrolet Vans, and should be dealt with on a class-action basis, since all Chevrolet Van owners are forced to live with an inferior paint scheme on these vehicles! But new owners are not aware of these shortcomings, until they see the paint fall off their vans, for no apparent reason! And it is clearly seen that NO PAINT PRIMER was used, when you look at the paint chip that fell off! Shame on Chevrolet and shame on the NHTSA agency for allowing any auto manufacturer to put out such inferior products to unsuspecting consumers!
BOTH REAR TIRES VEERUBBER TAIGA H/T SIZE LT 245/75R16 DOT # 6MSG-CH HAD BECOME UNSERVICEABLE DUE THE INSIDE SIDE WALL BELT PLYS SEPARATING RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED ON 5 MAR 2021 WITH NEW COPPER STFR SOLARUS LT245/75R16 THROUGH MAVIS TIRE WHICH HAD INSTALLED THE TAIGA TIRES MENTIONED ABOVE ON 21 MAY 2020. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THESE TIES SINCE THEY ONLY APPROXIMATELY 15000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY HAD A SERVICE LIFE OF 45000 MILES. THIS ISSUE CAME TO LIGHT WHEN WE WERE OPERATING OUR VAN ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES AN HOUR.
WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE TRACTION CONTROL OR STABILITRAK WILL KICK ON AND IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT REALLY HARD ON AND OFF AND ITS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING IT FEELS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ALSO KICK IN AS IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP ALSO. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AT 45MPH AND ITS TERRIFYING IM AFRAID IF THIS HAPPENED AT 70MPH IT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE
BF GOODRICH TIRE DOT BE11 JD11 4012 LT 24.5/75 R16 120/1160 TIRE IS BULGING AT CENTER OF TREED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP AND BOUNCE, CAUSING SPRING DAMAGE AND SEVERE VIBRATION OF VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED..TIRE LOOKS AS IF IS GOING TO BLOW OUT..
WHEN I NORMAL DRIVE UNDER HOOD FIRE THE VEHICLE BURN OUT IF YOU NEED MORE FILE OR PICTURE I CAN SEND MAIL MY E MAIL ADDRESS (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
PAINT PEELING OFF, HAS BEEN FOR YEARS.
CATASTROPHIC SIDEWALL FAILURE IN TIRE WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AT 50MPH. DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY FAILED AND UPON REMOVAL- NOTICED SIDEWALL SPLIT. UPON IMMEDIATE INSPECTION OF PASSENGER REAR TIRE, NOTICED SAME SPLIT IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE, WITH FAILURE IMPENDING. 55.000 MILETIRES HAVE 31000 MILES- ROTATED NORMALLY, AIR PRESSURE AS PER RECOMMENDATIONS. MAIN PROBLEM- THERE ARE 2 MORE TIRES ON THE FRONT- SAME MANUFACTURE AND MAKE- CLASSIFICATION RATING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 EQUIPPED WITH KENDA KLEVER TIRES, SIZE: LT225/75 R16. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. MA 10/5
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.
THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE WERE INSPECTED AT HOMEWOOD CHEVROLET IN ILLINOIS AND THEY DID NOT NEED PADS OR ANYTHING, HOWEVER, THE BRAKES BRAKES RELEASE ON THEIR OWN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. THERE WAS A HYDRAULIC RECALL AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION..THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR ALSO KEEP BURNING OUT WITHIN WEEKS OF HAVING THEM CHANGED. THE VEHICLE HAS SOME SUSPENSION ISSUE AS WELL. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL FOR THAT WHICH I RECEIVED NO NOTICE FOR.I HAVE NOT MOVED SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE.
PAINT PEELING ON ROOF GUTTER AND DOOR AROUND WINDOWS. *TR
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 . *TR
KEY GETS STUCK! CAR WONT TURN OVER!,KEY FALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING! EVEN THOUGH ITS A RECALL DEALER WONT FIX. *TR
SERVICED VEHICLE DUE TO *CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. RAN ROUGH, SKIPPED MISFIRING. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR BILL WE RECEIVED FROM EMERSON AUTO DEALERS. IT APPEARS THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM AND A HOLE ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK! ALL OF THE FUEL LINES AND INJECTORS AND TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK OF FIRE HAZARD. CONTACTED OUR DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT OUR VIN # HAD NO RECALLS REGARDING ISSUES, ONLY SOME HAD MET THE CRITERIA FOR THAT YEAR?! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. WHAT CAN BE DO TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS? THANK YOU *TR
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.
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