14 Best & Worst Chevy Express Years (Stats & Examples)

The Chevrolet Express series is a collection of full-sized vans GM released into society in 1996. The company still manufactures these vans and sells them under alternative names, such as the Savana.

You might be interested in purchasing one of these models if you operate a contracting business or want to start one.

To make the best choice, you’ll need to know which of these models is the worst and which is the best.

The following is some information on the best and worst years for the Chevrolet Express.

The Best and Worst Years for Chevrolet Express Are:

The best years for the Chevrolet Express van are 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021. The worst years for the Chevrolet Express are 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2013, and 2017.

What Chevrolet Express Years Are the Most Reliable?

When shopping, you’ll want to know which vehicle is most likely to last you for the most extended amount of time.

These are some of the most reliable and top-rated Chevy Express models for you to choose from:

1. 2011 Chevrolet Express

The 2011 Chevrolet Express is perhaps the highest-rated model. It has garnered a perfect five-star score from Edmunds and is cherished among van enthusiasts.

Vehicle owners mostly liked this model for its all-wheel drive and extensive powertrain lineup. It is also popular for the passenger configurations.

Some consumers were not pleased with the amount of space inside for passengers, but they regarded this vehicle as an excellent model.

2. 2014 Chevrolet Express

The year 2014 is another fantastic year for the Chevrolet Express. This model has a 4.5-star rating and has had a lot of praise for many years. The list of qualities that buyers created was much longer for this model than for many of the other ones.

They liked that this model has an excellent towing capacity, and they also mentioned that its V8 engine choices were robust and desirable. Some consumers said they appreciated this model for its all-wheel drive, while others were fixated on its passenger configurations.

What they didn’t like about it were the cheap cabin plastics and having less space than they may have had in other models. Also, some consumers said that the ride they experienced in that model was not as smooth as in other vans.

3. 2015 Chevrolet Express

The 2015 Chevrolet Express is one of the best options you can buy if you’re seeking a reliable model. This particular model has a 4.5-star rating from over 40 reviewers on Cars.com.

The most beloved features of this particular year were the powerful V8 engines, the high towing capacity, and all of the features the manufacturer added to its passenger compartment.

The few consumers who weren’t overly enthused about it talked about its cheaply made plastic and the bit of a rough ride it offered.

4. 2016 Chevrolet Express

The 2016 Chevrolet Express received the same amount of praise as the previous model. It received a 4.5-star rating because consumers were happy with its powerful motors and towing capacity.

Buyers discussed the various reasons they bought and loved the model, and some of them said that they enjoyed it for its smooth ride.

Others liked that it was manufactured in the U.S., while some liked its design.

5. 2018 Chevrolet Express

Edmunds users rated the 2018 model of the Chevrolet Express with 4.2 stars for its towing and payload capabilities. Some consumers test-drove the diesel model and said they liked it for its power.

What they didn’t like so much was the fuel economy or the lack of a roof cargo option. Otherwise, consumers held this model in very high esteem.

6. 2020 Chevrolet Express

The 2020 Chevrolet Express is another option you might want to consider choosing. This model has a 3.5-star rating, and the buyers who spoke well about it mentioned that they did so because of its payload and powerful motors.

The issues that took away from the model’s score were problems like interior styling and a low fuel economy on the V8 version of the model.

Otherwise, consumers found it to be an above-average selection.

7. 2021 Chevrolet Express

The 2021 Express is an amazing choice as well. Consumers ranked it 3.5 stars and raved about its power and towing capacity.

You can feel confident about putting your money on this model if you’re currently on the market for one.

What Chevrolet Express Years Should You Avoid?

Some models are not as reliable as others and should be avoided.

Also, you can see more here about how long the Chevy Express models last.

These are the ones you should think twice about buying:

8. 1999 Chevrolet Express

The 1999 Chevrolet Express received at least 93 complaints, as stated by Car Complaints.

The issues consumers had with this vehicle mostly revolved around fuel system problems, engine problems, and cooling system issues.

The main problem with the fuel system seemed to be complete fuel pump failure. However, some clients also complained about the gas pedal sticking.

The second most common category of issues with this model was the engine problems. Issues included problems such as engine starting complications and difficulty restarting the engine once it got started the first time.

If we were going to list a third category for the most common failures with this model, it would be the problems with the cooling system, like intake manifold gasket failure.

This model also had a few recalls.

One was for the hydraulic power assist, and the other one was for a problem with the lighting. 

You will probably want to avoid purchasing this model if you’re looking for a reliable option, as all the above-mentioned issues may fall upon you.

9. 2000 Chevrolet Express

The 2000 Chevrolet is another one of the less desirable models. This year had over 112 complaints, which were mostly electrical problems.

The car also had issues with the interior accessories, and some had engine-related complications.

The most prevalent electrical problem had to do with the anti-theft system not working. A “cranking but not starting” situation also came about because of some of the electrical issues.

There were some recalls for power-steering-related issues on this model.

10. 2001 Chevrolet Express

The 2001 Chevrolet Express is another year that didn’t fair very well.

This year mainly had engine problems, but it also had some issues with the heater and the exterior paint.

The engine problems were broad, and they included non-starting issues as well as overheating problems.

The AC sometimes didn’t work either.

The model had some recalls for air conditioning issues as well.

11. 2004 Chevrolet Express

The 2004 model had at least 74 complaints in its day. Most of the complaints with this vehicle revolved around paint and body problems. However, some vehicle owners experienced problems with the engine and fuel system.

The most common complaint with the paint and body is peeling paint. Some people also complain about their door hinges seizing. The engine issues included a rough running issue and a locking steering wheel.

The fuel system also seemed to present leaks a little bit more than usual for this model. This year’s Express was also recalled for filler pipe corrosion and exterior lighting issues.

A few recalls have been performed for this vehicle as well, with the most common one pertaining to an airbag issue.

12. 2010 Chevrolet Express

The 2010 Chevrolet Express seemed to have a slew of issues as well. Its most common issues were the activation of the “Check Engine” lights and the “Loss Engine Power” lights.

The vehicle also had problems such as difficulty starting and stalling while driving the car.

Various isolated body and paint issues occurred with this model as well.

There were some recalls of this model as well. These recalls were mainly for the frontal airbags and the fuel system.

13. 2013 Chevrolet Express

The 2013 Chevrolet Express had about 40 complaints, as stated in Car Complaints.

These complaints mostly pertained to the engine, steering, and braking issues.

The problems that occurred within the engine included timing chain failure and vacuum problems. The steering issues consumers had included problems such as power steering hose failure and leaks.

Brakes problems were also apparent in this model.

14. 2017 Chevrolet Express

The 2017 Chevrolet had a host of problems, such as engine issues and problems with the paint. 

Many consumers suffered with the vehicle not starting, while some others found that their engines had a bad component the manufacturer chose to fix.

Some vehicle owners had problems with the sliding door and said that it would not unlock. In terms of recalls, this model had them for mirror-related problems.

What Are Some Typical Problems With the Chevrolet Express Models?

We have a full list of problems across the Chevy Express models here.

As you can see, the Chevrolet Express series had a significant number of problems going on with the vehicles.

They’ve had issues with:

• the service brakes,
• seat belts,
• airbags,
• fuel systems,
• and more.

Some of them had minor and major problems with the engine.

The ones listed as the worst were the models that had the highest number of problems.

Now you know which Chevrolet Express models were the best and which ones were not so favorable. You can now choose which one you desire with a high level of knowledge and awareness.

Please also read our article about the best and words years of the Nissan Serena. 

Go Back: Best & Worst data on all Chevrolet models