Reliable Auto DB

2012 Chevrolet Express reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Chevrolet Express holds 0 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 0 per year. Express years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Equipment, Fuel system, other, and Frontal.

2012 Chevrolet Express
Photo by Randall Ferry, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

0

Per year

0

Recalls

6

Years on the road

15

Next to 2013

The 2013 Express has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Chevrolet Express. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (6)

Recall Equipment 2018-04-26 · NHTSA campaign 18V267000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Remedy GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
Recall Fuel system, other 2014-08-13 · NHTSA campaign 14V500000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chevrolet Express compressed natural gas (CNG)vehicles manufactured September 10, 2010, to April 28, 2014, and GMC Savana CNG vehicles manufactured May 23, 2011, to April 21, 2014. The affected vehicles may leak natural gas from the CNG high pressure regulator.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure regulator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14321.
Recall air bags, frontal 2014-03-17 · NHTSA campaign 14V117000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans manufactured January 27, 2009, through March 7, 2014 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds and less and equipped with front passenger air bags. In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger's head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel may not sufficiently absorb the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Notices to the owners of the heavy duty vans were mailed on April 28, 2014. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14082.
Recall Fuel system, other 2013-05-15 · NHTSA campaign 13V225000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) and IMPCO Automotive Division of IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (IMPCO) are recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Cargo vans that have a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system installed as original equipment by IMPCO. The fuel systems, manufactured February 14, 2011, through February 20, 2013, have a fuel shut-off solenoid connector to the CNG tank that may corrode and form a short.
Remedy GM will notify owners and GM dealers/fleets will perform the remedy which will include replacing the solenoid assemblies and fuel pump fuses and adjusting the wiring routing. The recall began on August 5, 2013. GM's number for this recall is 13139. Impco's number for this recall is FA13GM001. Owner's may contact GM Fleet Action Center at 1-800-353-3867.
Recall steering, steering gear box, Pitman shaft 2012-03-22 · NHTSA campaign 12V112000
Summary GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND SUBURBAN VEHICLES, AND GMC SAVANA AND YUKON XL HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES. THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY HARDENED AND COULD FRACTURE.
Remedy GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING GEAR AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 4, 2012.
Recall Air bags 2011-11-08 · NHTSA campaign 11V543000
Summary GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 17, 2011. THE SECOND STAGE OF THE DUAL-STAGE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE IN A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT. ACCORDINGLY, THE AIR BAGS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Remedy GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-800-462-8782 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020.

Complaints by component (0 total)

No complaints on file with NHTSA for this model year.

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Chevrolet Express Cargo G13405 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Express Cargo G23405 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Express Cargo G23705 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Express Cargo G33405 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Express Cargo G33705 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Express Cargo H13405 VAN AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2012 Chevrolet Express Passenger 1500 VAN AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars
2012 Chevrolet Express Passenger 1500 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars
2012 Chevrolet Express Passenger 2500 VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars
2012 Chevrolet Express Passenger 3500 12 Pass VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars
2012 Chevrolet Express Passenger 3500 15 Pass VAN RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Express 1500 two-wheel drive Cargo 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 4-speed Rear-wheel drive 13 18 15 MPG $4300
Express 1500 two-wheel drive Cargo 4.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 4-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 20 17 MPG $3800
Express 1500 two-wheel drive Conversion Cargo 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 4-speed Rear-wheel drive 13 17 14 MPG $4650
Express 1500 two-wheel drive Passenger 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 4-speed Rear-wheel drive 13 17 14 MPG $4650
Express 1500 all-wheel drive Cargo 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 4-speed All-wheel drive 13 17 14 MPG $4650
Express 1500 all-wheel drive Conversion Cargo 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 4-speed All-wheel drive 13 17 14 MPG $4650
Express 1500 all-wheel drive Passenger 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 4-speed All-wheel drive 13 17 14 MPG $4650
Express 2500 two-wheel drive Cargo 6L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 10 15 12 MPG $5400
Express 2500 two-wheel drive Conversion Cargo 6L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 10 15 12 MPG $5400
Express 2500 two-wheel drive Passenger 4.8L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 11 17 13 MPG $5000
Express 2500 two-wheel drive Passenger 6L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 11 16 13 MPG $5000
Express 3500 two-wheel drive Cargo 6L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 10 14 12 MPG $5400
Express 3500 two-wheel drive Passenger 6L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 10 15 12 MPG $5400
Express 3500 two-wheel drive Passenger 4.8L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 11 17 13 MPG $5000

Specs and fitment

GMT610 van, 2012–present
Body styles Cargo van, Passenger van
Oil 5W-30 (all temps) for common gas V6/V8; 0W-40 (all temps) or 5W-30 above -29°C for 2.8L diesel , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/75R16 (common US cargo/passenger fitments)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-655 covers certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express vehicles equipped with a single, manual rear climate control module (CCM), along with certain GMC Sierra vehicles listed in the campaign: if the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, CCM components may overheat and increase fire risk. Dealers remove electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM. Recall 18V-509 covers certain 2018 Express vehicles with specific front-tire and GVW option code combinations: the Tire Pressure Monitoring System may be programmed with incorrect placard pressure information; dealers check and correct the RCDLR and tire placard data as specified.

Compare

Next year 2013 Chevrolet Express See every Chevrolet Express model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Express reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Chevrolet Express holds 0 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 0 per year. Express years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Equipment, Fuel system, other, and Frontal.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Express more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Express has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

Has the 2012 Chevrolet Express been recalled?

The 2012 Chevrolet Express has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Chevrolet Express?

Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Express with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Chevrolet Express get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Chevrolet Express is 13.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US Chevrolet Express use?

5W-30 (all temps) for common gas V6/V8; 0W-40 (all temps) or 5W-30 above -29°C for 2.8L diesel With filter, about 6 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US Chevrolet Express?

Published US specs commonly list front 245/75R16 (common US cargo/passenger fitments) and rear 245/75R16 (common US cargo/passenger fitments); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Chevrolet Express?

Recall 18V-655 covers certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express vehicles equipped with a single, manual rear climate control module (CCM), along with certain GMC Sierra vehicles listed in the campaign: if the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, CCM components may overheat and increase fire risk. Dealers remove electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM. Recall 18V-509 covers certain 2018 Express vehicles with specific front-tire and GVW option code combinations: the Tire Pressure Monitoring…