What 17 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Express Passenger 3500 15 Pass

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.

NHTSA ODI 11704917

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.

NHTSA ODI 11656226

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).

NHTSA ODI 11649646

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 ODI 11538233

VEHICLE ROLLS WHILE IN PARK

NHTSA ODI 11216933

THE VAN IS A 2012 CUT AWAY SCHOOL BUS. ON 1-20-2018 DEVELOPED A GASOLINE LEAK ON THE VENT SIDE OF THE FUEL MODULE ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE INTHE TANK. THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE TANK TO PERFORM REPAIRS. AT A COST OF 1188.39$.

NHTSA ODI 11072658

HAVE A 2012 CHEVROLET CUT AWAY VAN FOR A SCHOOL BUS USE. STARTED LEAKING GASOLINE OUT OF THE PRESSURE SIDE LINE ON THE FURL MODULE. HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO CHEVY DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAD TO REMOVE FUEL TANK TO MAKE REPAIRS . THEY REPLACED FUEL MODULE IN THE TANK. THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS 1166.41$.

NHTSA ODI 11072667

HAVE 2 2012 CHEVY CUT AWAY VAN SCHOOL BUSES WITH THE FUEL PUMP MODULE START LEAKING. 1 LEAKED ON THE PRESSURE LINE,THE OTHER ON THE VENT LINE. BOTH BUSES HAVE LESS THAN 150000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11064792

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. I HAVE HAD BUSES COME IN BLEEDING BRAKE FLUID OR HYDRAULIC FLUID.

NHTSA ODI 10970667

VEHICLE HAD NO RUNNING LIGHTS. CHECKED BULBS AND FUSES OK .VAN WENT TO CHEVY DEALER WAS CHARGED 100.00 CHECKOUT FEE. THE DEALER FOUND NO GROUND FROM BCM . THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 752 55 TO THIS POINT FOR THEM TO RUN AN AUXILIARY CIRCUIT TO FIX OR IT WOULD COST 1200.00 -1500.00 TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. I WENT WITH THE CHEAPER OPTION. I DO BELIEVE NO RUNNING LIGHTS ON A VEHICLE WOULD QUALIFY AS A SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI 10957258

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.

NHTSA ODI 10778557

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.

NHTSA ODI 10763324

DRIVER'S SETABELT LOCKS UP, PREVENTING THE BELT FROM BEING DRAWN OFF THE REEL. THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM USING THE SEAT BELT. THE ISSUE OCCURS WHILE THE VAN IS PARKED AND STATIONARY, REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GIVE SLACK ON THE REEL AND EXTEND IT ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. THIS IS THE THIRD CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN MY COMPANY OWNS THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10733933

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.

NHTSA ODI 10725751

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.

NHTSA ODI 10649163

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

NHTSA ODI 10509029

VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10492330