2003 Chevrolet Express

On August 7, 2012 General Motors (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety related recall for model year (MY) 2003-2004 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles.The recall affects vehicles equipped with a left side cargo door and that were originally sold or currently registered in the corrosion or salt-belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Dealers are to install a new fuel filler neck. Consumer notification letters will be sent in early October 2012, when sufficient parts are available. ODI has received 12 complaints alleging unique incidents of fuel leakage during refueling of a subject vehicle. Eleven of the complaints occurred on Chevrolet Express vans, and 1 of the complaints involved a GMC Savana. All vehicles were equipped with the left side cargo door option. For vehicles so equipped, water and road debris can become trapped in the protective conduit that covers the fuel filler pipe and may subsequently cause the pipe to corrode. If the corrosion creates a significant perforation in the pipe, fuel may leak onto the ground while refueling the vehicle. An illuminated Check Engine light (on some vehicles) or the presence of fuel odor may also act as precursors to fuel leakage. Fuel in the presence of an ignition source could cause a fire to occur. In their response to ODI's information request, GM reported 24 owner reports and 1 field report alleging fuel filler pipe failure/corrosion in the subject vehicle population. Six additional records were also provided that included the replacement of the fuel filler pipe, however not enough information existed to determine a relation to the alleged problem. After further review of the reports, ODI determined that a total of 27 individual GM reports were related to filler pipe corrosion. The complaints received from both ODI and GM primarily occurred in the corrosion states. During the investigation, the scope of the subject vehicle population was expanded to include MY 2004 Express vans, and MY 2003 and 2004 GMC Savana vans (with V6 engines) also equipped with left hand side door options, since the Savana vans also utilize the same, or substantially similar fuel filler pipe configuration. GM subsequently modified the design of the fuel filler pipe on vehicles equipped with side doors to correct the corrosion concern, so these vehicles do not have the defect issue.The affected vehicle population shown above reflects the total number of vehicles registered in the salt-belt states listed in GM's defect information report (DIR). Prior to the safety recall announcement, GM had issued a special coverage adjustment for vehicles in these states, during which a total of 771 repairs were made. Accordingly the vehicle population noted in the DIR reflects that of the remaining vehicle population.The investigation is closed based on GM's announcement of safety recall 12V388. The reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10463398, 10459328, 10456403, 10453725, 10445925, 10443143, 10441615, 10413568, 10413214, 10411911, 10353717, 10259377.

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Chevrolet Express. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 156,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on July 2, 2024, was 258,051.

NHTSA ID

11724984

Incident

Oct 10, 2024

Mileage

258,051 mi

THE FRAME AND ITS CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED (ROTTED) THRU ABOVE THE GAS TANK MAKING THE VAN USELESS. THE GAS TANK IS EVEN ATTACHED AT THOSE AREAS MAKING IT A TICKING TIME BOMB. THIS IS A KNOW GM FRAME PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS ON MANY TRUCK BODIES.

NHTSA ID

11163653

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SEAT BELTS TOGETHER, LOCATED IN THE REAR MIDDLE ROW, SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT SECURE PROPERLY AND CAUSE AN INJURY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE GLUED SHUT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000. UPDATED 10/17*LJ UPDATED 10/4/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11013927

Incident

Aug 5, 2017

Mileage

228,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OVER 30 MPH OVER A BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS, THE PITMAN ARM, THE TIRES AND THE HUBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/22/15 *BF UPDATED 10/4/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10703964

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

109,000 mi

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM ( DOC ID #32202443, #12167 FUEL FILLER PIPE CORROSION) STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR LEAKING GASOLINE. I BROUGHT IT TO SIGHN CHEVROLET IN RIVERSIDE CA AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT CA VEHICLES DO NOT QUALIFY. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS CASE # [XXX] AND ALL THEY DID WAS CALL THE SAME SERVICE MANAGER AND GOT BACK TO ME SAYING THEY WON'T FIX IT. I BELIEVE I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A VEHICLE LEAKING GAS ON THE ROAD CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY FAMILY WITH A DIRE FIRE HAZARD. MY CONTENTION IS, WHY WOULD THEY SEND ME A RECALL NOTICE AND THEN TELL ME I DON'T QUALIFY? I DID RECEIVE THE NOTICE AND IT SAID IT HAD TO BE ACTED ON BEFORE 12/31/12 BUT IT WAS NOT LEAKING THEN. I DON'T CARE WHEN IT EXPIRES. IT IS A ADMITTED DEFECT AND GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR DANGEROUS ERRORS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ID

10678717

Incident

Dec 3, 2014

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY SPEEDOMETER QUICKLY JUMPS FROM ONE INDICATED SPEED TO ANOTHER SPEED THAT IS CLEARLY INACCURATE, DOWN AS LOW AS -0- WHILE DRIVING, ACCOMPANIED BY THE TRANSMISSION ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT ON IT'S OWN, WHICH CAUSES A SEVERE ENGINE OVER-REV CONDITION OR GOING INTO A NEUTRAL MOMENTARILY WITH NO INPUT FROM ME AS THE DRIVER. THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC ACTIONS I CAN TAKE TO TRIGGER THE ERRATIC SYMPTOM, NOR ANY SPECIFIC ACTION I CAN TAKE TO CAUSE NORMAL OPERATION. WITH SNOW AND ICE ON THE ROADS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD CAUSE THE VAN TO LOCK UP THE REAR WHEELS ON SLIPPERY PAVEMENT CAUSING LACK OF CONTROL. THIS CONDITION CAN OCCUR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT CRUISE CONTROL IS SELECTED, REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR I MANUALLY SELECT, AND REGARDLESS OF THE TRAILER MODE BEING SELECTED OR NOT. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT GOES ON, THE "ABS LIGHT" AND "BRAKES" LIGHTS ARE LIT ON THE DASHBOARD ALTHOUGH NO BRAKING ABNORMALITIES ARE NOTED. I REPORTED A LESS SEVERE CASE OF THIS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM THE NHTSA. DOING INTERNET RESEARCH I FIND THAT IT MAY BE A DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD NEED TO BE SENT AWAY FOR REPAIR/EXCHANGE. THEY REQUIRE A LARGE DEPOSIT IN ORDER TO GO THRU THE VERIFICATION PROCESS THAT THE ODOMETER READING I REPORT IS THE SAME AS THE UNIT I SEND IN. PART COST WITH DEPOSIT IS CLOSE TO $600, AND THEY SHOW AN ONLINE INTERNET VIDEO OF HOW TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD UNIT WHICH TAKES LESS THAN 3 MINUTES. I'VE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW, AND IT HAS LESS THAN 17,000 ACTUAL MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667542

Incident

Dec 21, 2014

Mileage

15,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL PUDDLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE METAL FUEL FILLER PIPE WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V388000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,500.

NHTSA ID

10630304

Incident

Aug 7, 2014

Mileage

153,500 mi

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING ERRATICALLY FROM ACTUAL SPEED TO LOWER SPEEDS 45, 25 + OTHERS AS LOW AS 8 (EIGHT) MPH. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT UNPREDICTABLY, OVER-REVVING THE ENGINE SPEED. IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY SO I DOCUMENTED THE ODOMETER ERRATIC MOVEMENT ON MY CELL PHONE AS A VIDEO, SHOWING ROAD MOVEMENT + ALL GAUGES + AUDIO EVENTS LIKE ENGINE OVER-REVVING AT SAME TIME. THE VIDEO IS OF HIGH QUALITY AND THE EVENTS TAKING PLACE ARE DOCUMENTED WITH THE VIDEO. RURAL AREA WITH FEW CARS ON ROAD AT THE TIME. IF IT TOOK PLACE IN A CITY INTERSTATE ENVIRONMENT (ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS) IT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A MULTIPLE CAR COLLISION WITH SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DOWNSHIFTING THAT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. ENGINE RPM ALSO HUNTS ERRATICALLY AND OUT OF MY CONTROL. PREDICTABLE IN WHAT IT DOES, IT BEGINS APPROXIMATELY WITHIN A RANGE OF 4-8 MILES AFTER LEAVING HOME DAILY. WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF AND PARKED AT A LOCAL STORE AS AN EXAMPLE, IT WILL CLEAR IT'S PROBLEM AS IF A CPU IS "RE-BOOTED", AND REPEAT THE CYCLE OF ERRATIC BEHAVIOR FROM THAT NEW STARTING POINT. WHEN I BOUGHT + INSTALLED ACTRON BRAND OBD-II CODE READER WHICH FEATURES ABILITY TO REVEAL ABS BRAKE CODES, IT NEVER SHOWS ANY OTHER STORED CODES EXCEPT A SINGLE PO446 WHICH IS AN EMISSIONS RELATED CODE. THIS VAN WAS ORIGINALLY SENT NEW BY THE SELLING NH CHEVROLET DEALER TO THE PENNSYLVANIA BASED QUIGLEY CONVERSION FACILITY, SO IN FEBRUARY 2004 WAS MODIFIED FROM RWD TO A 4WD BY EXCHANGING STOCK MODEL 2500 FRONT END FOR A 4 WD PICKUP TRUCK NEW FACTORY FRONT END WITH 4WDL, NEUTRAL, 2WDH 4WDH FLOOR CONTROL LEVER. THE DRIVER'S DOOR JAM HAS AN 8600 LB GVW CERTIFICATION WHICH IS APPROPRIATELY QUIGLEY'S. MY VERY LOW ODOMETER AT 16,614 MILES IS ACCURATE, AS I ALSO HAVE OTHER VEHICLES TO USE, AND WORK AT HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629518

Incident

Aug 25, 2014

Mileage

16,614 mi

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.