The Lemon Index
201620181st generation
One of the most reliable · most complaints: brakes
9 owner complaints, first 3 years 12–13 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2017 Ford E-Series 392017 Ford Transit 282017 Ford Transit Connect 18
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 8 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V428000 (equipment), 19V387000 (visibility) and 18V655000 (electrical) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Chevy's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 9 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 49K miles (7K to 79K km) on the car (8 of all 9 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
My employer has three on a lease with bad master cylinder rear section proportioning valve not allowing cold driving rear brakes unless pumping brake pedal hard.
2017 Chevrolet Express owner · NHTSA complaint 11206002
More owner reports
Abs warning light randomly illuminates, you can stop, then restart the engine, and it will sometimes go out. Cruise control randomly will not work
NHTSA complaint 11173809
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 16.4M views · 1996–2024 Chevrolet Express
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors641K views
How to Replace Crankshaft Position Sensor 2003-2021 Chevy Express 3500TRQ · 185K views · 6 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door607K views
How to Replace Main Temperature Blend Door Actuator 2003-2021 Chevrolet Express 3500TRQ · 132K views · 10 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors420K views
How to replace the handle on a sliding door of a 2007 Chevy Express VanPriesty Boys · 175K views · 6 videos - Cooling system392K views
How to Replace Water Pump 2003-2021 Chevrolet ExpressTRQ · 122K views · 6 videos
Show 3 more
- Infotainment, battery & electrical374K views
How to Replace Starter 2003-2021 Chevy Express Van 3500TRQ · 103K views · 8 videos - Steering & suspension186K views
How to Replace Upper Ball Joint 2003-2021 Chevrolet ExpressTRQ · 65K views · 3 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank173K views
How to Replace Fuel Pressure Regulator 2003-2021 Chevrolet Express 3500TRQ · 83K views · 3 videos
Before you buy, watch
2003 CHEVY EXPRESS TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMSJoe Dixon · 162K views
Top 5 Problems Chevrolet Express 2500 Van 2003-2025 2nd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 52K views
How Reliable is a 2004 Chevrolet Express 2500 Cargo Van POV Test DrivePOV Nelson · 20K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2017 is the same generation.
Recalls 6
- Equipment · recall issued 2019
The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
- Visibility · recall issued 2019
One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass.
- Electrical · recall issued 2018
If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components within the CCM may overheat.
Show all 6 recalls
- Visibility · recall issued 2018
Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.
- Equipment · recall issued 2018
These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher.
- Visibility · recall issued 2016
These vehicles are required to have either an inside rearview mirror or both left and right-hand flat exterior rearview mirrors.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Chevrolet Express recall, all years · All Chevrolet recalls
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express Cargo G23405 VAN RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Chevrolet Express Cargo G23705 VAN RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $4,600–$5,000 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 6.0L 8-cyl.
Every Chevrolet Express year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (2003–2003, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 3 Chevrolet Express years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2017 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-express/?y=2017" title="Chevrolet Express reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="445" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/chevrolet-express/2017/">Lemon Index</a> (2017 Chevrolet Express reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Express reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew less than a sixth as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 12; 100 is average, lower is better). The Chevrolet Express year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2011.
What are the most common 2017 Chevrolet Express problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (44%), electrical (33%) and airbags (22%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Express have?
6 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Chevrolet Express get?
12 to 13 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Express have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2017 Chevrolet Express cost in fuel a year?
About $4,600 to $5,000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Chevrolet Express have?
6.0L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Express year is better than the 2017?
Nearby, the 2018 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (less than a sixth as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2011 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works