Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 · model year
2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012CHEVROLETEXPRESS 3500 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 2012 EXPRESS 3500 is fuel/propulsion system with 3 filings, followed by seat belts (1) and exterior lighting (1). 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 2012 EXPRESS 3500, 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.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20180213FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VAN IS A 2012 CUT AWAY SCHOOL BUS. ON 1-20-2018 DEVELOPED A GASOLINE LEAK ON THE VENT SIDE OF THE FUEL MODULE ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE INTHE TANK. THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE TANK TO PERFORM REPAIRS. AT A COST OF 1188.39$.
Mileage: 150,000
20180213FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HAVE A 2012 CHEVROLET CUT AWAY VAN FOR A SCHOOL BUS USE. STARTED LEAKING GASOLINE OUT OF THE PRESSURE SIDE LINE ON THE FURL MODULE. HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAD TO REMOVE FUEL TANK TO MAKE REPAIRS . THEY REPLACED FUEL MODULE IN THE TANK. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS 1166.41$.
Mileage: 149,000
20180125FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HAVE 2 2012 CHEVY CUT AWAY VAN SCHOOL BUSES WITH THE FUEL PUMP MODULE START LEAKING. 1 LEAKED ON THE PRESSURE LINE,THE OTHER ON THE VENT LINE. BOTH BUSES HAVE LESS THAN 150000 MILES.
Mileage: 150,000
20170227EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE HAD NO RUNNING LIGHTS. CHECKED BULBS AND FUSES OK .VAN WENT TO CHEVY DEALER WAS CHARGED 100.00 CHECKOUT FEE. THE DEALER FOUND NO GROUND FROM BCM . THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 752 55 TO THIS POINT FOR THEM TO RUN AN AUXILIARY CIRCUIT TO FIX OR IT WOULD COST 1200.00 -1500.00 TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. I WENT WITH THE CHEAPER OPTION. I DO BELIEVE NO RUNNING LIGHTS ON A VEHICLE WOULD QUALIFY AS A SAFETY CONCERN.
Mileage: 168,269
20150714SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SETABELT LOCKS UP, PREVENTING THE BELT FROM BEING DRAWN OFF THE REEL. THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM USING THE SEAT BELT. THE ISSUE OCCURS WHILE THE VAN IS PARKED AND STATIONARY, REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GIVE SLACK ON THE REEL AND EXTEND IT ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. THIS IS THE THIRD CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN MY COMPANY OWNS THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM.
Mileage: 13,081
Compare 2012CHEVROLETEXPRESS 3500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 have?▼
The 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.