2023 Chevrolet Express Drivetrain Software Recall (24V839)
General Motors, LLC · 77,824 vehicles · Reported November 7, 2024
General Motors, LLC is recalling 77,824 2022 Chevrolet Equinox; 2023 Chevrolet Express; 2022-2023 GMC Savana vehicles. Incorrect software in the transmission control module (TCM) may result in harsh shifting, reduced power, unintended deceleration, rear wheel lockup, or cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direction. Rear wheel lock-up or moving in an unintended direction can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V839 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V839000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N242471620 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 7, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022 Chevrolet Equinox; 2023 Chevrolet Express; 2022-2023 GMC Savana |
| Units affected | 77,824 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | Rear wheel lock-up or moving in an unintended direction can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Chevrolet Express in recall 24V839?
Incorrect software in the transmission control module (TCM) may result in harsh shifting, reduced power, unintended deceleration, rear wheel lockup, or cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direction.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. Incorrect software in the transmission control module (TCM) may result in harsh shifting, reduced power, unintended deceleration, rear wheel lockup, or cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direction.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Express with recall 24V839?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Rear wheel lock-up or moving in an unintended direction can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Rear wheel lock-up or moving in an unintended direction can increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Express shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V839?
Recall 24V839 covers 77,824 vehicles: 2022 Chevrolet Equinox; 2023 Chevrolet Express; 2022-2023 GMC Savana.
NHTSA lists 77,824 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Chevrolet | Equinox |
| 2023 | Chevrolet | Express |
| 2022-2023 | GMC | Savana |
What is the fix for the Express drivetrain software recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the transmission control module software calibration, free of charge.
Dealers will update the transmission control module software calibration, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N242471620.
When was recall 24V839 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 24V839 to NHTSA on November 7, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 9, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 7, 2024 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V839000. |
| December 9, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 23 months ago. If your Express was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Express is part of recall 24V839?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V839 is open on your Express, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2023 Express vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Express owners do about recall 24V839?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V839000 applies to your Express.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Chevrolet dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Express owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 24V839 was reported on November 7, 2024, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after November 7, 2024, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 181 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Chevrolet Equinox: 177 complaints in total, 11 about the transmission
- 2022 GMC Savana: 2 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
- 2023 Chevrolet Express: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 GMC Savana: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The transmission in my 2022 GMC Savana experiences severe harsh shifting during normal driving conditions. The issue is most noticeable between 1st–2nd gear and 2nd–3rd gear, with 2nd gear being especially problematic. The vehicle jerks and slams aggressively into gear during acceleration, causing unstable driving behavior and hesitation.
2022 GMC Savana owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11740083, filed May 26, 2026
I was put in a rental by enterprise from a rear-end. I was involved while my car was in the shop fixing the trunk. This rental had broken window glass under the passenger seat, and the car started sounding weird when turning and driving.
2022 Chevrolet Equinox owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11649626, filed March 20, 2025
Winter of 2023/early 2024- during very cold period, I was on the freeway where it is 70 mph, and received a warning of a power train underboost- car said low power mode. It was caused by water accumulating and freezing.
2022 Chevrolet Equinox owner, WI, NHTSA complaint 11653184, filed April 7, 2025
Can recall 24V839 make my Express a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Express qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2023 Chevrolet Express: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Express been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Chevrolet Express recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V839
Did the recall 24V839 fix work?
Since recall 24V839 was reported on November 7, 2024, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 9, 2024.
Is the 24V839000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Express is part of recall 24V839000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 24V839000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Chevrolet, GMC. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.