1999 Chevrolet Express recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Lights
What's wrong, in plain English: Headlights, tail lights or turn signals may not work, making the car hard to see. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
What could happen: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 EXPRESS.
- Book a repair at any authorized Chevrolet dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 09E012000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-909-598-7589.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Notes: THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT. THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
2. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VANS EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE THAT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FLUID FLOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
What could happen: IF THIS OCCURS, POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THREE SCREW CLAMPS TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE JOINTS. IF THE CLAMPS ARE NOT THE SCREW TYPE, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLAMPS.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 EXPRESS.
- Book a repair at any authorized Chevrolet dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 00V085000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VANS EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE THAT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FLUID FLOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, POWER STEERING FLUID COULD FLOW ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THREE SCREW CLAMPS TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE JOINTS. IF THE CLAMPS ARE NOT THE SCREW TYPE, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLAMPS.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 11, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1999 Chevrolet Express owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Brakes (12), Wheels / tires (11), Hydraulic (10), Transmission / drivetrain (8), Electrical system (7).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
09/15/2010 · Lights
WITHOUT WARNING ALL HEADLAMPS WENT OUT DRL,LOW BEAMS AND HIGH BEAMS. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORKED OK. NOT FUN AT NIGHT TO HAVE OCCUR. *TR
03/17/2010 · Latches / locks
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SHE NOTICED THAT THE DOOR LOCK PINS WOULD FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED OF THE PROCEDURE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
12/22/2005 · Airbags · crash
VEHICLE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN I CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE DOING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. IMPACT WAS MAINLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. I WAS DRIVING AN CHEVY 1999 EXPRESS 1500 VAN. *NM
10/25/2005 · Steering
DT : THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT BROKE INSIDE THE PUMP ON JULY 14, 2000, THE DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 IT BROKE AGAIN, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN, AND THEY DID REPLACE IT. HOWEVER, THEY CHARGED THE CONSUMER $636.00. THE STEERING LOCKED AND THAT WAS HOW CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING…
10/07/2005 · Unknown Or Other
1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE SPARE TIRE WAS ATTACHED WITH A STEEL CABLE TO THE REAR UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. WHEN THE STEEL CABLE BROKE THE TIRE BOUNCED UNDER THE TOW TRAILER BENDING IT'S AXLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE CABLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN STRONG ENOUGH. *NM
08/10/2005 · Body / structure
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 VAN. THE HINGE ON THE DOUBLE DOORS ON THE SIDE FROZE, THEY WILL NOT OPEN ANYMORE. PREVIOUSLY, THEY WHERE HARD TO OPEN, AND NOW THEY ARE CRACKING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS BAD DESIGN. ALSO, DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS BACK ORDER ON THE HINGES. OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING SIMILAR PRO…
07/13/2005 · Steering
DT: 1999 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE SHAFT ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT BROKE. THE CONSUMER STATES THE POWER STEERING INSTANTLY QUIT WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC DID NOT TELL HIM WHY THE SHAFT BROKE. *JB
06/14/2005 · Transmission / drivetrain
AFTER TRAVELING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME ON A HIGHWAY AND THEN SLOWING TO A STOP ON THE EXIT, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTS IN GEARS 1-2. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, IT APPEARS OK UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. TRANSMISSION FLUID IS OK. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 47500 MILES. HAD MECHANIC CHECK AND GETS COMPUTER CODE 1870, WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE WEB H…