2016 Chevrolet Express: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2016 Chevrolet Express
On the 2016 Chevrolet Express, the failure owners report most often is ABS module or sensor failure, with 5 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 35,000 miles. Overall it scores 70 out of 100, high risk for a 2016.
High risk for a 2016 — 166th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. 20 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2016 Chevrolet Express
Owners have reported 11 named failure modes on the 2016 Chevrolet Express, and the three most-reported carry 50% of everything filed.
ABS module or sensor failure leads with 5 reports and about 0.3 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other body or interior problem follows with 3 reports, median 2,000 miles.
Tire blowout or tread separation follows with 2 reports.
By system, the reports fall mostly into brakes (5), body (3) and engine (3).
When these failures get reported
11 of the reports on the 2016 Chevrolet Express came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 35,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 82% by 50,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 36% of the dated reports.
55% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 3 a fire. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.70, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: ABS module or sensor failure at $500–$2,400, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, tire blowout or tread separation at $200–$1,500 and other electrical problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
20% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 3 | 3 | — | 2k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 35k | — | 0.1 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 21k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 20 | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 88k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 88k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2016 Chevrolet Express draws about 1.2 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 73rd percentile of complaint rates among 2016 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 17,290 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2016 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. While the vehicle was parked, the door closed without warning even when the vehicle was on an incline. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised by the technician that the door was performing as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet express. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked on an incline and the sliding door was opened, there was no locking mechanism to prohibit the sliding door from closing independently. The contact stated that on several occasions the door closed independently while an employee was making deliveries with the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed by the general motors fleet coordinator that the vehicle was operating as intended. The approximate failure mileage was 300.
Recalls on the 2016 model year
NHTSA has issued 6 recall campaigns covering the 2016 Chevrolet Express, affecting an estimated 20,895 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover visibility:glass, side/rear, electrical system, visibility:power window devices and controls and equipment. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
1,159 vehicles 2019-05-23- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
- Consequence
- Tempered glass increases the risk of injury in the event of a side impact or rollover crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tempered glass windows with laminated glass windows, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192218960.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
30,448 vehicles 2018-09-21- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a single, manual, rear climate control module (CCM). 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.
- Consequence
- If the CCM overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire in the vehicle's headliner.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM to remove the fire risk, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. 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 18299.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
207,483 vehicles 2018-05-03- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with power windows. Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.
- Consequence
- High electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side window switch, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2018. 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 18155.
EQUIPMENT
6,154 vehicles 2018-04-26- Defect
- 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…
- Consequence
- In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
- 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.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
40 vehicles 2016-09-29- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Express manufactured September 25, 2015, to August 22, 2016, and 2016 GMC Savana cargo and cutaway vans manufactured January 28, 2016, to May 18, 2016. The affected vehicles were manufactured without an inside rearview mirror and with a right-hand convex exterior review mirror. These vehicles are required to have either an inside rearview mirror or both left and right-hand flat exterior rearview mirrors. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
- Consequence
- If the driver does not have a clear unobstructed view to the back of the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will instal a right-hand flat rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016. 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 16036.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
321 vehicles 2016-04-01- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana incomplete vehicles equipped with a 159 inch wheel base manufactured August 2, 2013, to January 30, 2016. The affected vehicles were shipped to final stage manufacturers without a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
- Consequence
- Without a TPMS, the driver would not be alerted if one or more tires became under inflated. Driving with under inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install the hardware and software necessary to equip the vehicles with a TPMS, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2016. 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 15819.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2016 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2016 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2016 — 166th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 23 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 54 and 2021 worst at 79, with 2016 itself at 70.
If the model year is negotiable, 1996, 2004, 1997, 2006, 2005, 2011, 1998, 2003, 2002, 1999 and 2000 score lower than 2016 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2015–2017 generation specifically, 2017 is the strongest year at 69 and 2016 the weakest at 70.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2015-2017 generation, 2017 Chevrolet Express scores best at 69 and 2016 Chevrolet Express worst at 70.
Where these figures stop being useful
20 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 20 reports, 11 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 55% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Express?
The most-reported failures are abs module or sensor failure (5 reports), other body or interior problem (3 reports, median 2,000 miles) and tire blowout or tread separation (2 reports). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Express reliable?
It scores 70 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 166th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2016 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Express is best?
Within the 2015–2017 generation, 2017 scores best at 69 out of 100 and 2016 worst at 70. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed