How Reliable Chevy Express Vans Are

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Here’s the expected reliability of the Express:

Older Chevy Express vans have below average reliability and the newer ones are okay.

Compared to other work vans, the Chevrolet Express has a below-average total annual repair cost, average frequency of unscheduled repairs and average severity of repairs. They’re not the most reliable vans though.

I love Chevrolet Express vans, if you want an American vans that feels and looks like an American van, it’s great. For that reason I love it.

However I cannot say it is the most reliable van. If used heavily, the older ones can be off the road and in the shop for serious issues, the newer ones have average reliability.

I have spent ages with my Ford Transit, and over the years chatted with the people at the repair shop I use, who repair vans for loads of people. In their and my experience, the Mercedes Sprinter and Metris are the most reliable for heavy use; the Nissan ones also do decently well.

There’s a reason Amazon chose the Mercedes Sprinter for their delivery vans. The parts and labor are more expensive, but they need repairing less. The Chevrolet Express is cheaper for parts and labor, but usually needs repairing more. Especially if it is used heavily.

For average reliability are the Ford Transits, Ford Connect, GMC Savana, Ram Promaster and Chevrolet Express vans.

 However to make this the most complete and accurate assessment of how reliable Chevy Express vans are, I have done full and detailed research to give you the best possible answer.

 

Their Newer Models are More Reliable

However, the specific reliability of your Chevy Express will largely depend on the model year.

Express models manufactured between 2015 and 2020 tend to have fewer issues reported, while there are significantly more complaints about the 2005-2008 and 2010 model years.

The most common problems that can affect the reliability of an Express van are related to parts and components such as the:

  • Brakes
  • Seat belt or airbag
  • Electrical system
  • Engine
  • Body (paint)
  • Fuel system
  • Steering

But the reliability will largely depend on the specific Express that you’re looking at and how it was serviced.

That’s why I recommend thoroughly inspecting the vehicle before buying it, to make sure that you’re aware of any past reliability issues.

And to help you get an even better understanding of just how reliable a Chevy Express is, in this article, I’ll cover the following topics:

  • How reliable the different Chevrolet Express models are.
  • The most and least reliable Express model years.
  • How the Express compares to other vans in terms of reliability.
  • The 5 most reliable vans out there.

 

The Reliability Ratings of the Chevrolet Express

As well as from my own experience, I’ll also show you the reliability ratings from one of the leading sites about auto repair and maintenance info – RepairPal.

The reliability rating from RepairPal is a way to measure how reliable a vehicle is, based on these 3 factors concerning unscheduled repairs and maintenance:

  • Cost
  • Frequency
  • Severity

Note that the Chevy Express comes in 3 different versions (1500, 2500, and 3500) and each has a different reliability rating that you’ll find below:

 

1. Chevrolet Express 1500

The reliability rating of the Chevy Express 1500 is 3.0/5.0, which gives it 9th place among 21 commercial vans.

What stands out though is poor ownership costs.

Even though the frequency of repairs for the Express 1500 is average, they’re likely to be more severe when compared to other models.

Here’s a breakdown of the different reliability factors:

 

The Cost of Repairs Is Okay

The average repair cost per year on a Chevy Express 1500 is $963, which is the exact same as the average for commercial vans ($963 annually).

However, this amount leans more toward the expensive side as the average total annual cost for all vehicles is $652.

 

Do Not Often Need Unscheduled Repairs

This is the strongest point of the Express 1500, as it faces only 0.3 unscheduled repairs on average per year, which is not very often compared to the overall average.

The average number of unscheduled repairs for commercial vans is 0.5, while the average across all vehicles is 0.4 times.

 

When They Need Repairs, They Can Be Severe

Express 1500 owners have a 16% probability of dealing with a major or severe repair.

This is the same as the average for commercial vans (16%), but more when compared to all vehicles, where 12% of all repairs are considered severe.

 

2. The Most Reliable Chevrolet Express Is the 2500

The 2500 model is the most reliable Express model as it ranks at 7th place out of 21 commercial vans, although it has the same 3.0/5.0 rating.

Ownership costs are lower than those of a 1500 model but still higher than average, with an average repair cost of $877 per year.

However, the 2500 version has the highest average frequency of repairs among all Express models at 0.41 times per year.

While the severity of repairs is higher than average in comparison to other work vans.

Here’s a breakdown of the different reliability factors:

 

Cost of Repairs

This model has the lowest average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance among all Express vans at $877.

This amount is also less than the average across commercial vans ($963), although the average repair cost per year for all vehicles is much lower ($652).

 

Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs

If you own an Express 2500, you can expect to face unscheduled repairs at an average of 0.41 times annually.

This is not that often when compared to the overall average for commercial vans, which is 0.5 times.

While the average frequency of unscheduled repairs for all vehicles is 0.4 times per year.

 

The Severity of Repairs

There’s a 16% chance to deal with a significant repair if you have a 2500 Chevy Express, which is the same as the average for other commercial vans.

Only the average percentage regarding the severity of repairs for all vehicles is less at 12%.

 

3. The Least Reliable Chevrolet Express Is the 3500

The 3500 model is the least reliable in the Express lineup, with a below-average reliability rating of only 2.5/5.0.

This means that this Express version sits at rank 13 among 21 rated commercial vans.

The average annual repair cost is rather high (highest among all Express models), while any potential problems that can arise are more likely to be serious.

The only aspect that falls within the average range is how frequently you have to visit an auto repair shop.

Here’s a breakdown of the different reliability factors:

 

High Cost of Repairs

The Express 3500 has a very steep average overall annual cost for repairs and maintenance at $1,013.

This is more than the commercial van average of $963 and almost twice as expensive as the average annual cost of repairs for all vehicles rated by Repairpal ($652).

 

Decent Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs

This is the best reliability aspect of the Chevy Express 3500 as the number of unscheduled repairs that you can expect is 0.4 times per year.

This means fewer visits to the auto repair shop for unexpected repairs compared to the average of 0.5 times across all work vans, while the frequency of unscheduled repairs for all vehicles is the same at 0.4 times.

 

High Chance of Needing Severe Repairs

The chance to be faced with a severe repair on a 3500 Express van is on the higher end of the spectrum at 19%.

While the probability of a repair being major for all work vans is 16% and only 12% for all vehicles.

 

Most and Least Reliable Chevy Express Model Years

Not all Chevrolet Express vans offer the same reliability. Some models tend to have a poorer reputation for not being as reliable.

For relevancy reasons, I’ve included the most and least reliable model years for the now discontinued Chevrolet City Express van, which was the smaller cousin of the larger Express.

Also, all data is gathered from the automotive complaint resource CarComplaints.

 

1. Chevrolet Express

Starting with the information about the popular large Chevy work van:

 

The Most Reliable Chevrolet Express Model Years

These are the top 7 Express models with the least complaints based on model year (using 2005-2020 as a sample range):

  1. 2019 – 1 complaint
  2. 2020 – 2 complaints
  3. 2018 – 8 complaints
  4. 2015 – 12 complaints
  5. 2016 – 13 complaints
  6. 2017 – 17 complaints
  7. 2011 – 22 complaints

If you’re considering buying a used Chevrolet Express, my advice would be to get one of these most reliable models.

But since these models still have their issues, here are the main problems based on the overall number of complaints for each problem across the model years mentioned above:

  • Brake (15)
  • Electrical (12)
  • Engine (8)
  • Body (paint) (7)
  • Suspension (6)
  • Seat belt/airbag (5)
  • Fuel system (4)
  • Drivetrain (3)
  • Lights (3)
  • Exterior accessories (2)
  • Steering (2)
  • Wheel/hubs (1)
  • Transmission (1)

 

The Least Reliable Chevrolet Express Model Years

These are the 7 worst Express models with the most complaints based on model year (using 2005-2020 as a sample range):

  1. 2005 – 73 complaints
  2. 2006 – 58 complaints
  3. 2010 – 52 complaints
  4. 2008 – 45 complaints
  5. 2007 – 43 complaints
  6. 2013 – 36 complaints
  7. 2014 – 36 complaints

If possible, I’d recommend staying away from pre-2010 Express models due to their poorer reliability.

And here are the issues based on the specific number of complaints for the aforementioned model years:

  • Brake (53)
  • Seat belt/airbag (46)
  • Engine (32)
  • Electrical (31)
  • Body (paint) (28)
  • Fuel system (23)
  • Steering (20)
  • Wheel/hubs (20)
  • Suspension (15)
  • Drivetrain (14)
  • Lights (9)
  • Exterior accessories (8)
  • Transmission (8)
  • Interior accessories (7)
  • Cooling system (1)
  • AC/heater (2)
  • Window/windshield (2)
  • Cooling system (1)

One thing that really stands out is the large number of complaints regarding the seat belt/airbag of older Express models, which is a serious safety concern.

 

2. Chevrolet City Express

And here are the most and least reliable models of the discontinued City Express compact van:

 

The Most Reliable Chevy City Express Model Year

There’s very limited data for the number of complaints about the City Express.

Nonetheless, here’s the most reliable model year:

  • 2016 – 0 complaints

There are no specific problems to report, although there’s a recall about the passenger air bag potentially not deploying due to an OCS error.

 

The Least Reliable Chevy City Express Model Year

This is the City Express model with the most complaints:

  • 2015 – 13 complaints

And these are the most common problems:

  • Interior accessories (2)
  • Seat belt/air bag (2)
  • Brake (2)
  • Fuel system (2)
  • Suspension (1)
  • Wheels/hubs (1)
  • Body/paint (1)
  • Electrical (1)

 

Chevy Express’ Reliability Compared to Other Vans

The Chevrolet Express has above-average reliability as 2 of the 3 Express models are in RepairPals’ top 10 commercial vans (Express 2500 at #7 and Express 1500 at #9), out of 21 different models.

Here’s how the most reliable Chevy Express model (2500 one) compares to the other vans in the top 10:

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Nissan NV200

The Nissan NV200 is ranked at number one as the most reliable commercial van.

This Japanese van is overall superior to the Express 2500 in all reliability aspects, except for the frequency of unscheduled repairs.

Here’s how they compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Nissan NV200
Reliability rating3.0/5.04.0/5.0
Repair cost$877$645
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.43
Severity of repairs%16%9

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Ram ProMaster City

The compact Ram ProMaster City van trashes the Express in just about every reliability factors.

Here’s how these work vans compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Ram ProMaster City
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.5/5.0
Repair cost$877$795
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.35
Severity of repairs%16%12

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Nissan NV1500

In a similar fashion to the other Nissan van in the top 10, the NV1500 is more reliable than the Express 2500 in everything except how frequently you visit the auto repair shop for unscheduled repairs.

Here’s how they compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Nissan NV1500
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.5/5.0
Repair cost$877$825
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.51
Severity of repairs%16%12

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs GMC Savana 1500

It’s worth noting that the Chevy Express and the GMC Savana are mechanically identical as the Savana is basically a rebadged Express.

Still, the Savana 1500 is higher on the reliability list, mainly due to the much lower frequency of unexpected repairs.

Here’s how these two very identical vans compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500GMC Savana 1500
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.0/5.0
Repair cost$877$960
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.19
Severity of repairs%16%16

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Ford Transit Connect

The smaller Ford Transit Connect ranks better than the Express in terms of the overall reliability rating, but the Chevy van has a lower annual repair cost and frequency of unexpected repairs.

Here’s how they compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Ford Transit Connect
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.0/5.0
Repair cost$877$926
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.46
Severity of repairs%16%14

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Ford Transit 350

The larger Transit 350 sits just below the Express 2500 at rank #6 for reliability, mainly due to the lower possibility of facing a major repair.

Here’s how these two popular vans compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Ford Transit 350
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.0/5.0
Repair cost$877$888
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.84
Severity of repairs%16%12

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Ford Transit 150

The Ford Transit 150 performs worse than the Express 2500 in every reliability aspect except for how severe any potential repairs might be.

Here’s how these the Express 2500 and the Transit 150 compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Ford Transit 150
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.0/5.0
Repair cost$877$972
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.83
Severity of repairs%16%11

 

Chevrolet Express 2500 vs Nissan NV3500

Nissan’s NV3500 work van sits at rank #10 for overall reliability and the only area where it excels over the Chevy Express 2500 is the average annual repair cost.

Here’s how these two vans compare head-to-head:

Reliability FactorsChevrolet Express 2500Nissan NV3500
Reliability rating3.0/5.03.0/5.0
Repair cost$877$740
Frequency of unscheduled repairs0.410.76
Severity of repairs%16%17

 

Top 5 Most Reliable Vans

These are the 5 most reliable vans based on the reliability ratings courtesy of RepairPal:

 

1. Nissan NV200

The Japanese-built Nissan NV200 tops the charts for overall reliability with a 4.0/5.0 rating, which lands it rank #1 from 21 different work vans.

The average repair costs per year are notably lower than the average of other vans at $645, while the frequency of unexpected repairs is also average (0.43 times per year).

However, the severity of any potential repairs is quite low at 9%.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the Nissan NV200 fairs in regards to the main reliability factors:

  • Repair cost – $645 per year (notably below average)
  • Frequency of unscheduled repairs – 0.43 times per year (slightly above average)
  • The severity of repairs – 9% of all repairs are considered severe (way below average)

 

2. Ram ProMaster City

The highly popular compact Ram ProMaster City van has a 3.5/5.0 rating.

Ram’s compact workhorse has higher than average ownership costs that translate into an average annual repair cost of $795.

However, the strong points of the ProMaster City are the frequency and severity of any repairs that are lower than the commercial van average.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the Ram ProMaster City fairs in regards to the main reliability factors:

  • Repair cost – $795 per year (higher than average)
  • Frequency of unscheduled repairs – 0.35 times per year (below average)
  • The severity of repairs – 12% of all repairs are considered severe (notably below average)

 

3. Nissan NV1500

Nissan makes its second entry into the top 3 with the reliable NV1500 that has a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0.

This large work van comes with an average repair cost per year of $825, which is still lower than the $963 average among commercial vans.

The frequency of repairs is just about average for this segment, while the possibility of encountering a major issue is below average.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the Nissan NV1500 fairs in regards to the main reliability factors:

  • Repair cost – $825 per year (below average)
  • Frequency of unscheduled repairs – 0.51 times per year (slightly above average)
  • The severity of repairs – 12% of all repairs are considered severe (below average)

 

4. GMC Savana 1500

Nissan makes its second entry into the top 3 with the reliable NV1500 that has a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0.

GMC’s Savana 1500 work van finds itself in the top 5 with a 3.0/5.0 reliability rating.

One interesting fact about the Savana is that it’s mechanically identical to the Chevy Express, implying that their reliability is quite similar.

This commercial van has an average annual repair cost of $960, which is pretty much the average across 21 work vans ($963).

What’s impressive about the Savana is the very low number of potential unscheduled repairs per year, although the chance to face major repairs is the same as most other vans (16%).

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the GMC Savana fairs in regards to the main reliability factors:

  • Repair cost – $960 per year (average)
  • Frequency of unscheduled repairs – 0.19 times per year (much lower than average)
  • The severity of repairs – 16% of all repairs are considered severe (average)

 

5. Ford Transit Connect

The super-popular Ford Transit Connect finds itself in the group of the 5 most reliable vans with a rating of 3.0/5.0.

This compact van has an average repair cost of $926 per year, which means you’ll have slightly cheaper ownership costs compared to most of the other vans ($963 average annual repair cost).

The frequency of unexpected repairs is just about average for this segment, while the probability of being hit by any major repairs is slightly lower when compared to the average for all 21 vans.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the Ford Transit Connect fairs in regards to the main reliability factors:

  • Repair cost – $926 per year (slightly below average)
  • Frequency of unscheduled repairs – 0.51 times per year (average)
  • The severity of repairs – 14% of all repairs are considered severe (slightly below average)

 

Conclusion

In my experience and that of the repair shop I have used for many years, the Mercedes and Nissan vans are the most reliable. The Chevrolet Express can be considered a decently reliable work van, especially the 2500 model. The older vans models such as those in 2010 and before, are not that reliable. Also the 2014 ones.

Two out of the three Express models find themselves in the top 10 of the most reliable vans on RepairPal, with only the 3500 version sitting outside at rank #13.

One of the strong sides of the Express when it comes to reliability is the average overall repair cost per year, which is lower than the average for all vans. That is a big reason why, although it is not the most reliable, people still choose it.

Note that one of the primary factors that will affect your Express’ reliability is the year it was manufactured in.

The model years that tend to be more reliable are:

  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2011

While the model years with more reported issues that you need to be aware of are:

  • 2005
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2010
  • 2013
  • 2014

The main problems of this large van are related to parts such as the brakes, seat belt/airbag, electrical system, and engine. But even if you’re considering a newer used Express, I’d recommend having an experienced mechanic inspect the van in detail and its history.