2012 Chevrolet Express Owner Complaints
Complaint Summary
The 2012 Chevrolet Express has 18 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve service brakes and steering.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 18 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
SERVICE BRAKES
3 16.7%
STEERING
2 11.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 11.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 11.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 11.1%
Quick Insights
The top category is SERVICE BRAKES, accounting for 16.7% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 12 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2012 Chevrolet Express
The 2012 Chevrolet Express has 18 owner complaints in this dataset. SERVICE BRAKES is the most common complaint category, representing about 17% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2012 Chevrolet Express are SERVICE BRAKES (3), STEERING (2), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 12 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2012 Chevrolet Express?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 12 of 12 systems
SERVICE BRAKES
3 Reports17% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. *TR
1/12/2013
PARKING BRAKE CABLE FOUND RUBBING ON THE HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE LINE, FORWARD OF THE REAR AXLE ON DRIVERS SIDE OF CHASSIS. WEAR IS EVIDENT ON HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE LINE AND PARKING CABLE, ALONG WITH COMPONENT PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS STUCK UNDER. *TR
4/22/2013
STEERING
2 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND RELEASED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STABILITRAK ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER BEING TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
6/17/2015
UNKNOWN...THE VEHICLE VEARED OFF ROAD AN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. Did not seam like steering was working properly. The final out come there were 2 deceased operators. In 2 different vehicles. I'm not sure if the recalls were ever repaired.
8/13/2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND RELEASED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STABILITRAK ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER BEING TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
6/17/2015
ENGINE WAS AT IDLE HAD PULLED INTO GAS STATION . ALARMS WENT OFF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STABLE TRACK ERROR, MULTIPLE TONES. AFTER 20 SECONDS ENGINE STALLED. WOULD NOT CRANK. AFTER TALKING TO PEOPLE AND COUPLE TRIES FIX TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SHORTED. I HAD GONE THRU RAIN EARLIER AND A COUPLE STORMS PASSED THRU WHILE AT STATION AND EATING. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND PROGRAMMED IT. THIS COULD OF HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD OF LOST ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. SINCE JUST MODULE REPLACED AND BEN TOLD IT IS KNOW TO SHORT OUT WHEN WET IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
9/12/2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE IN PARK
5/30/2019
UNKNOWN...THE VEHICLE VEARED OFF ROAD AN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. Did not seam like steering was working properly. The final out come there were 2 deceased operators. In 2 different vehicles. I'm not sure if the recalls were ever repaired.
8/13/2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Vehicle is upfitted as a school bus. Forward fuel tank strap failed in operation. Our company operates more than 100 of these vehicles and we experience a failure of fuel tank straps at a rate of about one vehicle per month. If the 2nd strap would also fail the gasoline tank would become dislodged and present a fire hazard. This is even more critical as these vehicles are carrying students as a school bus. We perform visual inspections of the straps at 6 month intervals (per Pennsylvania these vehicles are subject to Semi-Annual State Inspection). There were no symptoms of the problem before this failure. There are never symptoms of the problem before any failure. Failed fuel tank straps on this were repaired by GM Dealer (Faulkner GMC, 705 Auto Park Blvd, West Chester, PA 19382) (Invoice #677658 - Invoice Date Feb 25 2025).
3/21/2025
Vehicle is upfitted as a school bus. Forward fuel tank strap failed in operation. Our company operates more than 100 of these vehicles and we experience a failure of fuel tank straps at a rate of about one vehicle per month. If the 2nd strap would also fail the gasoline tank would become dislodged and present a re hazard. This is even more critical as these vehicles are carrying students as a school bus. We perform visual inspections of the straps at 6 month intervals (per Pennsylvania these vehicles are subject to Semi-Annual State Inspection). There were no symptoms of the problem before this failure. There are never symptoms of the problem.
4/23/2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
PARKING BRAKE CABLE FOUND RUBBING ON THE HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE LINE, FORWARD OF THE REAR AXLE ON DRIVERS SIDE OF CHASSIS. WEAR IS EVIDENT ON HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE LINE AND PARKING CABLE, ALONG WITH COMPONENT PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS STUCK UNDER. *TR
4/22/2013
SUSPENSION
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
PARKING BRAKE CABLE FOUND RUBBING ON THE HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE LINE, FORWARD OF THE REAR AXLE ON DRIVERS SIDE OF CHASSIS. WEAR IS EVIDENT ON HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE LINE AND PARKING CABLE, ALONG WITH COMPONENT PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS STUCK UNDER. *TR
4/22/2013
SEAT BELTS
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT REEL SEIZED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SO THE BELT COULD NOT BE EXTENDED AND BUCKLED. THE OPERATOR WAS NOT ABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT AS REQUIRED BY LAW. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER TSB 05-09-40-002G TODAY, A SECOND VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL 2014 MODEL YEAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.
10/21/2014
ENGINE
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
THE ENGINE WILL GO TO LOW POWER AND NOT GO MORE THAN 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS AN AMBULANCE CHASSIS AND IS A KNOW PROBLEM GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED YET IN THE 2012 AND 2013 CHASSIS. IT CAN DO THIS ON HWYS WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 55, 65, 70 MPH SUDDENLY WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS NO STOP LIGHTS GIVE ANY WARNING AND YOU CAN'T SPEED UP ANYTIME IN POOR VISIBILITY OR AT ANYTIME. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD FOR THE INJURED OR ILL PATIENT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY OTHERS. GM HAS FIXED THIS ON THE 2014 AND NEWER MODELS BUT NOT 12 &13. THIS IS NOT JUST OUR ONE UNIT THIS IS 2012 AND 2013 CHEVY DIESELS AMBULANCE ALL OVER THE US. WE HAVE FOUR UNITS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN TO AND TWO THAT IS HAS WITH PATIENTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE EPA, GM, AND OUR INDIANA STATE SENATORS TRYING TO GET THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION TAKEN CARE OF IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. I AM ASKING ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO HELP PUSH GM FOR A FIX.
9/29/2015
POWER TRAIN
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
THE ENGINE WILL GO TO LOW POWER AND NOT GO MORE THAN 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS AN AMBULANCE CHASSIS AND IS A KNOW PROBLEM GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED YET IN THE 2012 AND 2013 CHASSIS. IT CAN DO THIS ON HWYS WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 55, 65, 70 MPH SUDDENLY WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS NO STOP LIGHTS GIVE ANY WARNING AND YOU CAN'T SPEED UP ANYTIME IN POOR VISIBILITY OR AT ANYTIME. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD FOR THE INJURED OR ILL PATIENT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY OTHERS. GM HAS FIXED THIS ON THE 2014 AND NEWER MODELS BUT NOT 12 &13. THIS IS NOT JUST OUR ONE UNIT THIS IS 2012 AND 2013 CHEVY DIESELS AMBULANCE ALL OVER THE US. WE HAVE FOUR UNITS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN TO AND TWO THAT IS HAS WITH PATIENTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE EPA, GM, AND OUR INDIANA STATE SENATORS TRYING TO GET THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION TAKEN CARE OF IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. I AM ASKING ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO HELP PUSH GM FOR A FIX.
9/29/2015
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
UNKNOWN...THE VEHICLE VEARED OFF ROAD AN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. Did not seam like steering was working properly. The final out come there were 2 deceased operators. In 2 different vehicles. I'm not sure if the recalls were ever repaired.
8/13/2023
AIR BAGS
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
About 6:45 in the morning on November 10th, the vehicle was in a high-speed. Front end collision with adult cow elk at 70 miles an hour on the freeway, and the airbags failed to deploy in the Van on both front seats and the vehicle was severely damaged. Injuries were sustained.
12/14/2025
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Express?
Are complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Express a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2012 Chevrolet Express?
Are complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Express severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Chevrolet Express: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 18
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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