2009 Chevrolet Express 1500: common problems

Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Express 1500 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 5

What fails most often

1 Air bags 40% of all complaints
2 Seat belts 20% of all complaints
3 Steering 20% of all complaints
4 Tires 20% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Air bags: 2 complaints (40% of all).
Seat belts: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Tires: 1 complaints (20% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

airbag warning light1 · 20%
loss of power / limp mode1 · 20%
rust, corrosion1 · 20%
seat belts1 · 20%
steering or power steering problems1 · 20%
warning lights, check engine1 · 20%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Air bags	2	0	0
Seat belts	1	0	0
Steering	1	0	0
Tires	1	0	0
Other	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The contact stated that immediately after turning the vehicle on, the air bag light illuminated. The contact stated while researching online he was made aware of nhtsa campaign number: 14v117000 (air bags).
Air bags · 2014-07-10 · NHTSA complaint #10609569
The first problem with the vehicle was with the stabi-trac & reduced power light came on . We hooked up are tech-2 scan tool an retrieved the codes an diagnosed the problem with the steering wheel position sensor and the throttle position sensor. We repair those issues and sent it on.
Air bags · 2014-05-13 · NHTSA complaint #10588195
While checking the tire pressure of a customer's vehicle the tpms sensor and air valve broke causing the tire to deflate. The tire had to be repaired at a tire repair shop.
Tires · 2013-08-23 · NHTSA complaint #10536945
The contact stated the interior paint was peeling from the steering column beneath the power steering reservoir. In addition, the hose running from the reservoir to the power steering pump was missing the clip to prevent the hose from causing friction to the steering column and wheel.
Steering · 2010-07-14 · NHTSA complaint #10343171

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20101
20131
20142
20161

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Express 1500 has 7 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Express 1500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, seat belts, steering. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (20%), loss of power / limp mode (20%), rust, corrosion (20%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Chevrolet Express 1500?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2009 Chevrolet Express 1500 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2009 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.