RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Chevy Van Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Oct 24, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Chevy Van, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Seat belts220.0%
  • Fuel system220.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Interior & seats110.0%
  • Exterior lighting110.0%
  • Driver assistance110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE SHOULDER STRAPS IN THE REAR OF THE VAN LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE PASSENGERS UNFASTEN IT IN ORDER TO READJUST THE BELT. THE BELT GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER IF NOT TAKEN OFF. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD TO HAVE TO TAKE OFF YOUR SEATBELT. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A CHEVY VENTURE 2003 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.

NHTSA ID 10121424 · filed May 19, 2005

I WAS GETTING INTO THE REAR SEAT OF A BRAND-NEW CHEVROLET FULLSIZE VAN AT THE LA QUINTA INN AT THE APEX IN RALEIGH-DURHAM NC. THERE IS A CIRCULAR DISK OF HARD PLASTIC WHICH HOLDS ON A SMALL BUNGEE WHICH IN TURN HOLDS A CHILD SEAT BELT ADJUSTER. AS I WAS GETTING IN, MY ARM CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PLASTIC DISK AND VERY NEATLY SLICED SEVERAL LAYERS OF MY SKIN OFF. IT WASN'T AN ATYPICAL ENTRANCE TO A VEHICLE, IN OTHER WORDS, I WASN'T FOOLING AROUND OR BEING INCAUTIOUS IN ANY WAY. I'VE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, BUT I DON'T WANT MORE PEOPLE TO GET ACCIDENTALLY CUT. THAT HARD PLASTIC DISK IS AS SHARP AS A KNIFE! *NLM

NHTSA ID 10010613 · filed Mar 17, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL FILLER NECK LEAKS DUE TO CORROSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE LH DOORS AND THE FUEL NECK IS ROUTED IN THE WHEEL WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10456403 · filed Apr 24, 2012

I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS EVERY TIME I FILLED THE CAR. IN DECEMBER, I SAW A LARGER POOL OF GAS UNDER MY CAR AS I WAS FILL THE TANK. I LOOKED UNDER AND SAW MOST OF THE GAS WAS SPILLING ONTO THE GROUND. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEAL AND FOUND OUT THE FILLER TUBE WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE REASON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ON A CAR THAT IS 8 YEARS OLD STEMS AROUND THE COVERING AROUND THE TUBE. WATER GETS TRAPPED AND CANNOT DRY. BAD DESIGN. LUCKILY, I DO NOT SMOKE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10438046 · filed Dec 2, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STARTING MECHANISM SEEMS TO STAY ENGAGED EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED.*AK

NHTSA ID 10104423 · filed Dec 23, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WE HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN V6 3.4L, ODOMETER-49698. VEHICLE MADE AN ODD SOUND WHEN STARTING. THIS SOUND HAPPENED SUDDENLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP THEIR COMPUTER INDICATED A MISFIRE CODE AND THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE PLUGS. WE OPTED TO TAKE THE VAN TO OUR MECHANIC. THEY CHECKED THE PLUGS AND THEY LOOKED BRAND NEW AND WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION IS STRAIGHT FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP : ONE CYLINDER ONLY HAS 35 PSI AND THERE IS A TAPPING NOISE IN THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. WILL NEED TO TEAR THE UPPER END DOWN FOR INSPECTION (UPPER AND LOWER INTAKES AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET). THE REAR CYLINDER HEAD ON THE #3 CYLINDER, THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE ROCKER ARMS HAVE PULLED OUT OF THE HEAD. THE MACHINE SHOP FOUND THE THREADS FOR THE ROCKER ARM STUDS ON THE REAR CYLINDER HEAD WERE PULLING OUT. HAD TO HAVE ALL THE ROCKER ARM STUDS HOLES REPAIRED. BASED ON THE MACHINE SHOP'S ADVICE THE FRONT CYLINDER HEAD WAS REMOVED AND TO HAVE THE ROCKER ARM STUD HOLES INSPECTED. THEY WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE PULLING OUT. ALL STUD HOLES ON THE FRONT CYLINDER HEAD WERE REPAIRED. REINSTALLED THE CYLINDER HEADS AND INTAKES. ALL IN ALL START TO FINISH THE REPAIR BILL WAS A RIDICULOUS $2609.48 AND A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO LISTEN TO ANY COMPLAINTS, SIMPLY SAYING THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP IS THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE HAVE ALL OUR OIL CHANGES PERFORMED. THEY HAVE ALL THE RECORDS. AMAZING THIS IS THE FOURTH STRAIGHT GM VEHICLE WE HAVE BOUGHT. BASED ON THE WAY WE WERE TREATED BY THE DEALER WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID 10158941 · filed Jun 4, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN REAR SLIDING POWER DOORS DO NOT REVERSE AND ARE VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING AN INJURY TO MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHILE ENTERING THE VAN WHEN THE DOOR SUDDENLY CLOSED ON HER AND POTENTIAL DEATH TO A YOUNG CHILD. *NM

NHTSA ID 10158473 · filed May 28, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET 1500 CONVERSION VAN.(N/A) THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND SCORCHED THE SEAT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID 10345296 · filed Jul 26, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NEW VEHICLES HAVE BLINDING HEADLIGHTS. VERY BAD. WHY ARE THESE BEING ALLOWED ON THE ROAD!?

NHTSA ID 11142494 · filed Oct 24, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2003 CHEVY VENTURE SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND CONTINUALLY GAIN SPEED EVEN WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I ACTUALLY HAVE TO RIDE THE BRAKES TO GET WITHIN THE 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT ALL THE WAY. THIS EVENT REPEATING THEMSELVES EVERY TWO DAYS WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT. I WENT ATLEAST 4 MECHANICS THEY CLEANED EVERYTHING THEY KEPT MY CAR THREE DAYS EACH. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I WANT GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD. THIS DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO FLY UP TO THE MOON WITH IT, KILLING MY FAMILY AND OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10576926 · filed Apr 2, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .