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2016 Chevrolet Express

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Express.

Transmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2016 Chevrolet Express pairs a 6-speed automatic transmission with EPA ratings of 11 mpg city, 16 highway, and 13 combined. Owner feedback for this model year is remarkably quiet, with just two complaints on file—both centered on the suspension—and zero recalls. Within the Express's long production run from 1995 to 2026, where the 2003 model peaked at 127 complaints and the 1995 model recorded only one, the 2016 edition stands as one of the most trouble-free.

Model year201820172016201520112010200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy11/16/13 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12690386 alt 12691158
Engine air filter84373974
Fuel filter19259252 alt 12664429
Spark plug12680072
Battery88866306 alt 88866121
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt19210691 alt 12637202
Thermostat12680544 alt 89018168

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length244.1 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height81.9 in
Wheelbase155.1 in
Curb weight5505 lb
Track (front / rear)68.1 / 67.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 16 / 13 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine Synthetic · 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 62.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.0
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · SYNTHETIC
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.4 qt
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · 75W-85 · GL-5
Engine CoolantDex-Cool
Engine CoolantDex-Cool

Engine torques

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts42
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug62.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission38.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket107.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle66.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket66.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts47.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 155.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAc Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78

Service checks

Engine Compression100 min psi

Brakes

ABS Sensor Torque9.3
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation0.0001
Maximum Rotor Runout0.005

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9048 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 8515 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 8515 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
147.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30 degrees, Step 3: 3047 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

At 6,000 miWheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Chevrolet Express is not directly represented in the available federal record data, which skips from 2007 to 2023, creating an 11-year gap that encompasses the target model year. However, the generation's arc is visible: complaints peaked sharply at 127 in 2003 alongside 13 recalls and 2 investigations, then steadily declined through 2007 (23 complaints, 6 recalls), suggesting that by the mid-2000s GM had addressed the generation's primary systemic issues. The 2016 model's specific complaint profile shows only one suspension and one exterior lighting complaint, with zero crash and fire complaints reported—indicating a relatively clean record where issues did exist. The takeaway is that 2016 falls well after the generation's trouble peak, making it the most mature and (based on available data) least problematic year within this generation to purchase used, though the data gap means any issues unique to 2016 cannot be confirmed or ruled out by federal records alone.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
431
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’23’24’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Suspension1
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 431 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Express. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 batteryEngine oil filter 12690386Engine air filter 84373974Fuel filter 19259252Spark plug 12680072

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Express have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Express get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 16 highway / 13 combined mpg.