Most common 2021 Chevrolet Express problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Express complaints by model year
Best Express years: 2025, 2012, 2015. Years to avoid: 2013, 2020, 2000, 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
2021 Chevrolet Express recalls (2)
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with 6.6L gasoline engines. The positive battery cable terminals may contact a fuse block assembly attachment post and cause an electrical short circuit.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove a portion of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable…
Tires
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021.
What 2021 Chevrolet Express owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated while driving out of the driveaway, the vehicle shut off inadvertently and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the failure recurred. The contact was unable to pull to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer, Auto Gallery Chevrolet Buick GMC (1415 Lafayette Pkwy, LaGrange, GA 30241) and the contact was informed that the dealer could not repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle would be towed to another dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
The fuel pump power control module in this vehicle has caused the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, interrupting the flow of fuel to the engine. When the engine does not receive adequate fuel, the vehicle has unexpectedly stalled. This has happened several times. At times has seen a check engine light or experienced a rough running engine. The vehicle may also be A vehicle stall without warning could increase the risk of a crash, especially at high speeds. This vehicle has been taken to a GM or Chevrolet service center twice for this problem. The first time, the fuel pump module was replaced. The second time, there was wiring that was bad that had to be traced down that was related to the fuel pump module failing. It has now happened a third time, while driving down the road, the vehicle suddenly shuts off. It has less than 5,000 miles on the engine. …
Brakes
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to pull to the left, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder off the roadway. After a visual inspection, the contact stated there was smoke coming from the driver's side front brakes. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the braking system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 18,000.
Vehicle Caught Fire while driving on the highway. This is the third Chevy express 2021 that caught fire in last three months. [VIN] - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date of Fire - July 6th 2026 [VIN] - 2022 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 16th 2026 [VIN] - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 18th 2026
Air bags
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH the contact was crashed into by a deer, the contact stated that the deer struck the driver's side front headlight and then the driver's door. The contact stated that the left headlight was fractured and the grill was damaged by the deer strike. The contact stated that both side curtain air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the impact of the side air bag caused his left arm to pull down on the steering wheel which caused the vehicle to veer out of the lane and into oncoming traffic. The contact was hauling an 18-foot box trailer. The contact stated that he turned the steering to the right to get back into his lane, however, he had overcompensated and the vehicle left the roadway and into a ditch and stopped. …
Vehicle Caught Fire while driving on the highway. This is the third Chevy express 2021 that caught fire in last three months. [VIN] - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date of Fire - July 6th 2026 [VIN] - 2022 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 16th 2026 [VIN] - 2021 Chevy Express 3500 - Date Of Fire - April 18th 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Express a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Express rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Express at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Chevrolet Express?
The fuel & propulsion system — 4 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (4) and air bags (3).
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Express have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Express, the most recent from March 18, 2021 (cables). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Express?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2012 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2020, 2000, 1999 and 2002. See the full Chevrolet Express years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Express problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 18,000 miles; 75% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.