CSR
Check a VIN

Look up

About

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2021 Chevrolet Express

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 13 safety complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Express with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the electrical system and the tires.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 3 complaints, 23% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2022 to July 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

13 complaints on file

13

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
AIR BAGS 3 · 23%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 23%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 23%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 15%
STRUCTURE 2 · 15%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 · 8%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 · 8%
STEERING 1 · 8%
TIRES 1 · 8%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 13.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 4.

8 6 4 2
22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2022 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2021 Chevrolet Express. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

21V189000 · March 18, 2021

Park outside until repaired

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with 6.6L gasoline engines. The positive battery cable terminals may contact a fuse block assembly attachment post and cause an electrical short circuit.
The risk
A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove a portion of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable terminals near the fuse block assembly attachments, free of charge. If too much of the tab had been removed during prior servicing, the battery cable will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202325160.

General Motors, LLC · up to 10,154 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES

21V115000 · February 25, 2021

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
The risk
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

General Motors, LLC · up to 33,838 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 65,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH the contact was crashed into by a deer, the contact stated that the deer struck the driver's side front headlight and then the driver's door. The contact stated that the left headlight was fractured and the grill was damaged by the deer strike. The contact stated that both side curtain air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the impact of the side air bag caused his left arm to pull down on the steering wheel which caused the vehicle to veer out of the lane and into oncoming traffic. The contact was hauling an 18-foot box trailer. The contact stated that he turned the steering to the

NHTSA complaint 11559558, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

fire

Vehicle Caught Fire while driving on the highway. This is the third Chevy express 2021 that caught fire in last three months. 1GB0GRFP9M1249499 - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date of Fire - July 6th 2026 1GB0GRF72N1218998 - 2022 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 16th 2026 1GB0GRFP0M1249665 - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 18th 2026

NHTSA complaint 11749127. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 23 miles

The contact rented a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was slowed to 10 MPH for the contact to regain control of the steering wheel. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering gears were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23.

NHTSA complaint 11497723. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

towed · 5,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated while driving out of the driveaway, the vehicle shut off inadvertently and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the failure recurred. The contact was unable to pull to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer, Auto Gallery Chevrolet Buick GMC (1415 Lafayette Pkwy, LaGrange, GA 30241) and the contact was informed that the dealer could not repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The

NHTSA complaint 11558742, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Vehicle Caught Fire while driving on the highway. This is the third Chevy express 2021 that caught fire in last three months. 1GB0GRFP9M1249499 - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date of Fire - July 6th 2026 1GB0GRF72N1218998 - 2022 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 16th 2026 1GB0GRFP0M1249665 - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 18th 2026

NHTSA complaint 11749131. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My 2021 Chevrolet express van with an 8L90 transmission has failed after only 80k miles, willing to have it inspected. Check engine codes show P0700 and P2714 on 02/08/25. No prior warning lamps. This product has put my safety at risk due to overheating and making the vehicle go into limp mode while on public roadways. The product is known to fail for trucks alike with the same transmission but has yet to be reported for the Chevrolet express. Has only been confirmed via OBDii scanner from parts shop.

NHTSA complaint 11647184. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

18,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to pull to the left, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder off the roadway. After a visual inspection, the contact stated there was smoke coming from the driver's side front brakes. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the braking system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11646583, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
This is a Forest River Sunseeker Motorhome on a 2021 Chevrolet Express chasis. On Friday, [XXX], after being in stop and go traffic for 10-15 minutes on [XXX] driving at 65 mph, a smell of burning brakes started filling up the motorhome. Then the vehicle started to wobble and the ABS light came on. Pulled over to the side and while applying brakes the vehicle shook/wobbled. Drove to a NTB tire store and the manager indicated it was not the tires but smelled like the brakes burning and advised not to drive it. Had it towed to Monument Chevrolet and they reported they could not replicate the problem. No repair. On [XXX] after numerous trips in RV, the exact same thing occurred. This time

NHTSA complaint 11634050, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel Pump Control Module failed in vehicle with only 26,000 miles. No warning light came on. No previous issue. Vehicle stalled while driving speed limit, all control of steering and braking was lost and vehicle did not restart. Needed to have vehicle towed. Vehicle was diagnosed by a dealership. Part unavailable, backordered and have been without vehicle for over 2 weeks. Awaiting invoice for repair

NHTSA complaint 11617913. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Express

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 17 1 —
2019 8 4 —
2018 11 6 —
2017 21 6 —
2016 15 6 —
2015 8 3 —
2014 14 7 —
2013 22 8 —
2012 13 6 2
2011 12 5 —
2010 15 5 —

Other 2021 Chevrolet models

Silverado 1500 829 Tahoe 453 Suburban 198 Trailblazer 193 Blazer 134 Equinox 96 Malibu 89 Traverse 89

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst