The Lemon Index
201720211st generation
One of the most reliable · most complaints: electrical
Better years to buy
6 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2018 Ford E-Series 142018 Ford Transit 152018 Ford Transit Connect 18
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 5 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V115000 (tires), 19V428000 (equipment) and 19V387000 (visibility) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Any clunks over bumps or uneven tire wear? Were struts, shocks or control arms replaced?
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 6 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 7K to 12K miles (12K to 20K km) on the car (5 of all 6 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
Unknown, electrical fire from inside passenger door, no external heat source, and heat source seems to be from inside the door. Vehicle was parked while fire occurred.
2018 Chevrolet Express owner · NHTSA complaint 11418581
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 2018 is the same generation.
Recalls 6
- Tires · recall issued 2021
The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
- 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.
Show all 6 recalls
- 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.
- Tires · recall issued 2018
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be incorrectly calibrated, causing the TPMS warning lamp to illuminate when tire pressure reaches 37 PSI, not 41 PSI.
- Equipment · recall issued 2018
These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher.
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
Government investigations
- Closed6l90 transmission failure2023–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express Cargo G2500 VAN RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Chevrolet Express Cargo G3500 VAN RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Every Chevrolet Express year. 2018 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 2018 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-express/?y=2018" 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/2018/">Lemon Index</a> (2018 Chevrolet Express reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2018 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 9; 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 2018 Chevrolet Express problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (33%), brakes (33%) and suspension (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Express have?
6 safety recalls (latest: tires). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Express have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 17% of its owner complaints.
Is there a better Chevrolet Express year than the 2018?
Not nearby: the 2018 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Chevrolet Express years within 3 model years of it. 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