CHEVROLET EXPRESS · model year

1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS

35 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997CHEVROLETEXPRESS carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 EXPRESS is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4) and tires:tread/belt (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1997 EXPRESS, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

35
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

35 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
TIRES:TREAD/BELT3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
WHEELS2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
SEATS1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1

Recent Complaints

20160222FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR CAME FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ UPDATED 05/31/18*JB

20060328STRUCTURE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A HOOK ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE HOOK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS AND HERNIATING TWO DISCS. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED.

Mileage: 200,000

20060320TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. TWO HUNDRED MILES LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHICH DETERMINED THE BLOWOUTS WERE A RESULT OF ROAD HAZARDS. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. *NM

Mileage: 67,000

20060222POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH TO "SAFE" MODE. SAFE MODE COMPENSATED THE TRANSMISSION HEAT PROBLEM BY HARD SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY REPAIR SHOP WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE REPAIR SHOP THAT GM KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THE ISSUE WAS NOT LIFE THREATENING. COST OF MODIFICATION WAS $1,600.*JB

20050921POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT: WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER NOTED THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IT WAS DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO OTHER INDEPENDENT SHOPS, AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER SAID. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET AGAIN, AND THEY ESCALATED HIS CONCERNS BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *AK UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. UPDATED 05/06/08

Mileage: 78,900

20050921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER NOTED THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IT WAS DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO OTHER INDEPENDENT SHOPS, AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER SAID. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET AGAIN, AND THEY ESCALATED HIS CONCERNS BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *AK UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. UPDATED 05/06/08

Mileage: 78,900

20050921ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

DT: WHILE DRIVING SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER NOTED THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE FLUID IT WAS DETERMINED A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO OTHER INDEPENDENT SHOPS, AND THEY TOO CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER SAID. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND PARKED IT. NO CORRECTIONS OR REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET AGAIN, AND THEY ESCALATED HIS CONCERNS BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *AK UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. UPDATED 05/06/08

Mileage: 78,900

20050916EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TAIL LIGHT SOCKET FAILURE, NEW SOCKETS ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLED. *JB

Mileage: 82,000

20050516SEAT BELTS

DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT WAS MOUNTED ON MIDDLE CAPTIAN CHAIR, STARCRAFT CONVERSION VAN. CABLE BROKE FROM NORMAL USAGE?

Mileage: 185,000

20041004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE SHIFTING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20040425FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL GUAGE FAILURE ON MY 1997 EXPRESS VAN. GUAGE SHOWED FUEL TANK EMPTY. ESTIMATED REPAIRS= $600.00. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO FRIENDS WITH SAME YEAR CHEVROLETS. INTERNET FULL OF COMPLAINTS FOR 1997 AND 2000 YEARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT MANY CANNOT AFFORD. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP. I AM SUBMITTING THE SAME FUEL GUAGE FAILURE COMPLAINT FOR A 2000 CHEVROLET BLAZER REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT PUT MY TEENAGER IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY!*AK

Mileage: 80,750

20040422EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS 1996-2002 G-SERIES VANS (CHEVY EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA). THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE (PCM/VCM) CORRODES OVER TIME AND THE CASE ENCLOSING THE COMPUTER SPLITS OPEN ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 02-06-04-020, ATTRIBUTING IT TO LOCATION OF THE PCM/VCM AND DESIGN OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFLECTOR. THIS DEFLECTOR ACTS MUCH LIKE A "RAIN GUTTER" TO ROUTE WATER AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER. IT WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND INSTEAD DUMPS WATER DIRECTLY ON TO THE COMPUTER TRIGGERING CORROSION. THE CORROSION MAY ALSO BE THE RESULT OF GALVANIC ACTION (TWO DISSIMILAR METALS GENERATING AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE) AS THE COMPUTER CASE IS ALUMIONUM AND SCREWS HOLDING IT TOGETHER ARE STEEL. A SMALL CLAIMS COURT ACTION FILED AGAINST GM AND THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY RESULTED IN AN OFFER FROM GM TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS (PRIOR TO ANY HEARINGS). THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THE

Mileage: 83,599

20040115CrashWHEELS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WITH THE LUG NUTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND RAN INTO A WALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

20040115CrashWHEELS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WITH THE LUG NUTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND RAN INTO A WALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT MAKE A SHORT PANIC STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE HAS LITTLE EFFECT AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHES 15 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWER, CONSUMER STATED THE ABS CONTROL IS SUPPOSE TO DROP OFF AND PERMIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER HE SHOULD ALLOW FOR GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE WITH ABS AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO CONSUMER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAP SEAL DUE TO IT NOT SEALING PROPERLY. *JB

20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT MAKE A SHORT PANIC STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE HAS LITTLE EFFECT AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHES 15 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWER, CONSUMER STATED THE ABS CONTROL IS SUPPOSE TO DROP OFF AND PERMIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER HE SHOULD ALLOW FOR GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE WITH ABS AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO CONSUMER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAP SEAL DUE TO IT NOT SEALING PROPERLY. *JB

20020110POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON 12-02-01 WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 5 A.M. ON MY WAY TO WORK THERE WAS A VERY LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE VAN, TRANSMISSION GONE . VEHICLE TOWED TO MARK BASS CHEVROLET DEALER IN COAL CITY,IL. MILEAGE AT 107060. NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $1863.34 TO CONSUMER PLUS TOW BILL AND RENTAL CAR FOR 1 WEEK. ON 12-29-01 DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE AGAIN SET AT 68 MPH I AGAIN LOST THE TRANSMISSION. MILEAGE NOW AT 108219 AND VEHICLE AGAIN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TRANS COOLER WHICH WAS INSTALLED UPON PURCHASE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS TOWED A BOAT FOR A TOTAL OF 30 MILES. 99% OF THE MILES ARE INTERSTATE MILES DUE TO WORK DISTANCE OF 100 MILES PER DAY AND TRAVELING TO VISIT MY CHILDREN AND FATHER WHO LIVE IN TEXAS AND COLORADO. VEHICLE ALSO SEEMS TO GO THROUGH AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF BRAKES WHICH SEEM TO BE CONTINUELY GOING OUT AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 6 TIMES ALL

20011227SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT MAKE A SHORT PANIC STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE HAS LITTLE EFFECT AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHES 15 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWER, CONSUMER STATED THE ABS CONTROL IS SUPPOSE TO DROP OFF AND PERMIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER HE SHOULD ALLOW FOR GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE WITH ABS AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO CONSUMER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAP SEAL DUE TO IT NOT SEALING PROPERLY. *JB

20011227SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WILL NOT MAKE A SHORT PANIC STOP AT LOW SPEEDS, EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE HAS LITTLE EFFECT AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHES 15 TO 10 MPH AND SLOWER, CONSUMER STATED THE ABS CONTROL IS SUPPOSE TO DROP OFF AND PERMIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER HE SHOULD ALLOW FOR GREATER STOPPING DISTANCE WITH ABS AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, ALSO CONSUMER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAP SEAL DUE TO IT NOT SEALING PROPERLY. *JB

20011204VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE. BECAUSE OF VIBRATION DRIVER CANNOT SEE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED ITWAS A NON REPAIRABLE ITEM. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

Compare 1997CHEVROLETEXPRESS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS have?
The 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS has 35 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS?
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET EXPRESS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.