2012 Chevrolet Express: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Chevrolet Express: 6 recalls, 13 owner complaints and up to 17 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #11V543000 · 2011 · 1,798 vehicles
What's wrong: The second stage of the dual-stage air bag will not inflate in a severe frontal impact. Accordingly, the air bags fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: An improperly deployed air bag will increase the risk of injury to the occupant.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install a new front passenger air bag free of charge. The safety recall began on November 29, 2011.
Steering Vehicle recall #12V112000 · 2012 · 6,159 vehicles
What's wrong: The steering gear pitman shaft May not have been adequately hardened and could fracture.
Why it matters: If this condition occurs, a loss of steering could result, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering gear and, if necessary, replace the steering gear pitman shaft. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on April 4, 2012.
Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #13V225000 · 2013 · 1,791 vehicles
What's wrong: General motors LLC (gm) and impco automotive division of impco technologies, Inc. (impco) are recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet express and GMC savana cargo vans that have a compressed natural gas (cng) fuel system installed as original equipment by impco. The fuel systems, manufactured February 14, 2011, through February 20, 2013, have a fuel shut-off solenoid connector to the cng tank that May…
Why it matters: A short at the connector May cause overheating, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners and gm dealers/fleets will perform the remedy which will include replacing the solenoid assemblies and fuel pump fuses and adjusting the wiring routing. The recall began on August 5, 2013. Gm's number for this recall is 13139. Impco's number for this recall is fa13gm001.…
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V117000 · 2014 · 303,013 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger's head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel May not sufficiently absorb the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, "occupant protection in interior impact."
Why it matters: In the event of a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Notices to the owners of the heavy duty vans were mailed on April 28, 2014. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Chevrolet owners May call 1-800-630-2438. Gmc owners May call 1-866-996-9463. Gm's number for…
Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #14V500000 · 2014 · 3,345 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May leak natural gas from the cng high pressure regulator.
Why it matters: A natural gas leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire or explosion.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure regulator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2013.
Equipment Vehicle recall #18V267000 · 2018 · 6,154 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit:…
Why it matters: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, instructing them to contact kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (3): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
- Steering (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Other / unknown (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2012 Chevrolet Express has 13 owner complaints, ranking #19 of 31 Express model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 21). Complaints peaked in 2015 (3 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 38,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (12 complaints, 5 recalls), 2013 (22 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 17 | 13 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 16 | 13 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 10 | 15 | 12 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 10 | 14 | 12 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Chevrolet Express.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Express have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Express. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Express problems?
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (4), electrical (3), steering (2).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Express get?
EPA ratings run up to 17 mpg combined (4.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 8 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Chevrolet Express repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.