RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Express Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Mar 17, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 58 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Express submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 2026

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
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CONVERSION VAN. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, ALL OF THE GAUGES AND ELECTRICAL FEATURES FAILED HOWEVER, THE LIGHT FUNCTIONS REMAINED OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 5/22/14*CN

NHTSA ID
10578288
Incident
Mar 10, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 6, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50-60 MPH 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS STALLED. THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, THEN IT RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS OF NOW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER SO THEY COULD EXAMINE THE VAN.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135447
Incident
Sep 5, 2005
Mileage
7,260 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2004
Fire reported

THE PANIC ALARM WENT OFF AND COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF INITIALLY. DEALER ADVISED TO BRING VEHICLE IN. ALARM WENT OFF WHEN VEHICLE STARTED FOR SECOND TIME. VEHICLE DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES, ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OVER, SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER HOOD, THEN FLAMES UNTIL VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. VEHICLE TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10062712
Incident
Mar 19, 2004
Mileage
18,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 16, 2003

THE VEHICLE'S HORN AND WINDSHIELD WIPER EQUIPMENT FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *MR

NHTSA ID
10051603
Incident
Dec 13, 2003
Mileage
36,800 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 19, 2003
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS AWAKENED BY A HORN BLASTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE FRONT DOOR, VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. ENGINE WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FAULTY WIRING CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
10044186
Incident
Aug 10, 2003
Mileage
1,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 2003
Fire reported

COSNUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033576
Electrical
Filed May 21, 2003
Fire reported

FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE RIGHT REAR BACK DOOR FACTORY WIRING WHERE ARCING AND ELECTRICAL FAULTING WERE PRESENT, SPECIFICALLY THE WIRING TRAVELING TO THE LOCK MOTOR, WHERE A SHORT TO GROUND OCCURRED AND IGNITED WIRING INSULATION INTO OPEN FLAME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019088
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
3,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .