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Chevrolet ExpressModel year report

2012 Chevrolet Express Problems

Complaints
13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
38,500miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
13 mpgcombined, 4.8L 8-cyl · flex-fuel RWD · 11 city / 17 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Chevrolet Express (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Express. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and fuel system (2). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 38,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 1,783 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 34 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 269 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “I manage a fleet of 53 school buses, model years ranging from 2008 to 2015. I have noticed a trend with the hydro boosters and master cylinders, they tend to leak internally on these GM vehicles some have begun to leak as early as 30,000 miles. I expect to have to replace all of these components, on every bus in the near future. As the fleet ages the trend is getting increasingly worse. I believe this is a dangerous situation because I am vigilant with keeping up on this issue, however I am not sure that the general public will have the same understanding about the danger of this design flaw. …”

NHTSA complaint #10970667, filed 2017-04, 30,000 miles

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10763324, filed 2015-09, 212,000 miles

Fuel system: “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). …”

NHTSA complaint #11656226, filed 2025-04

Other or unknown: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11538233, filed 2023-08

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 14,500 and 85,000 miles.

25%0–1013%10–2525%25–500%50–7513%75–10013%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 38,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2013201420153201720192023202532026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Express. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Express Passenger 1500 · VAN AWDnot rated———3 · 22.8% risk
Express Passenger 1500 · VAN RWDnot rated———3 · 27.9% risk
Express Passenger 2500 · VAN RWDnot rated———3 · 29.2% risk
Express Passenger 3500 12 Pass · VAN RWDnot rated———3 · 29.2% risk
Express Passenger 3500 15 Pass · VAN RWDnot rated———3 · 27.9% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Chevrolet Express version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Express 2500 2WD Cargo6.0L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic101512$5,600
Express 2500 2WD Conversion Cargo6.0L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic101512$5,600
Express 2500 2WD Passenger4.8L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic111713$5,150
Express 2500 2WD Passenger6.0L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic111613$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Chevrolet Express → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,783 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,783 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Express

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20211311,5002———Not enough data
20201762,3761———Rising
201985,3924———Not enough data
2018119,9426———Not enough data
20172118,0006—13—Rising
20161521,2536—13—Stable
2015824,0003—13—Not enough data
20141430,9507—13—Not enough data
20132219,6628—14—Falling
20121338,5006—13—Not enough data
20111294,0365—12—Not enough data
20101547,8505———Falling
20091051,0007———Not enough data
20081442,47510—14—Not enough data
20071865,0004—15—Falling
20061262,52916—15—Not enough data
20052385,9348—15—Falling
20042187,0006—15—Falling
20035946,82410—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20025633,0000—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20014545,0002—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20008455,8751—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19996868,6121—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19982361,1251—14—Stable
19972982,0001—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19961558,5002—14—Stable

All Chevrolet Express model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Express have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Express as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Chevrolet Express is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2012 Chevrolet Express been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Express get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Express (Express 2500 2WD Passenger, 4.8L 8-cyl · flex-fuel) at 13 mpg combined, 11 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Express reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 38,500 miles and the middle half falls between 14,500 and 85,000 miles; 63% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.