2003 Chevrolet Venture Airbags Problems

Driving on a driveway (estimated speed 5-10 mph) when I noted that the driver side door didn't seem completely closed. I tugged on the door handle to shut it and instantaneously felt the driver-side side airbag deploy, scraping my left forearm, left ear, and rupturing the left eardrum. There had been no collision or accident involving the car or any other structure. The vehicle has not been in a prior accident, and has not had additional electric work performed to any of its systems since manufacturing. The vehicle is available for inspection, it has not been inspected yet by a manufacturer or dealer, and the airbag affected my safety by causing physical harm due to faulty deployment.

NHTSA ID

11515814

Incident

Apr 2, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OCCURRING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND INTERNAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID

10853221

Incident

Feb 2, 2016

Mileage

137,000 mi

DRIVER OF VEH. #1 2003 CHEV VENTURE LS WAS EAST BOUND THROUGH A CONTROLED INTERSECTION, WHEN VEH. 2 A 1997 JEEP WAS WEST BOUND IN INTO THE INTERSECTION AND MADE AN ABRUP LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF VEH. #1. BOTH VEHICLES STRUCK EACH OTHER IN THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF EACH VEHICLE. VEH. #1 WAS DECLARED TOTALLED BY TRAVELERS INSURANCE CO. THE LF PORTION OF THE VAN WAS SHOVED BACK IN TO THE MOTOR, RADIATOR, ALONG WITH THE LF WHEEL AND ASSEMBLY. THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY FROM THE NEAR HEAD ON CRASH.

NHTSA ID

10746120

Incident

Jul 22, 2015

Mileage

130,132 mi

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE BOTH TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WHERE THERE WERE INJURIES REPORTED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, KNEE, HIP, AND ARM INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V222000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. DR

NHTSA ID

10552680

Incident

Nov 13, 2013

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID

10534893

Incident

Aug 9, 2013

Mileage

106,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED ON BEHALF OF THE VEHICLE OWNER AND DRIVER. THIS CHEVY VENTURE WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO VEHICLE, HEAD-ON CRASH VS. A CHEVY SILVERADO. BOTH FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE VENTURE WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS IN THE VENTURE FAILED TO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE IMPACT WAS SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO CAUSE FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRBAGS IN THE SILVERADO DID DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524144

Incident

Apr 26, 2013

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND CRASHED HEAD FIRST INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10454483

Incident

Apr 4, 2012

Mileage

102,000 mi

THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A 25MPH ROAD. THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR EXTERIOR VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE AIRBAG JUST DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT INJURED NOR WERE THERE ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHO SERVICES THE VEHICLE, WHO SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS AND MY INSURANCE CO. HE SAID THEY WOULD START A FILE ON THE INCIDENT AND HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS TOLD HIM WHAT HE COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AFTER WORK I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM SEE IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOW THEM THE DEPLOYED AIRBAG. WE AGREED THAT I WOULD DROP OFF THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AND THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. AFTER 2 DAYS I SPOKE WITH GENERAL MOTORS WHO SAID THEY WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND COULD NOT AUTHORIZE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE TIME IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY THINKING IT WOULD BE INSPECTED ON MONDAY. AFTER 2 DAYS I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS WHO STILL HAD NOT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. LATER THAT DAY I SPOKE WITH A 3RD PARTY INSPECTOR WHOM GENERAL MOTORS HIRED. HE WOULD NOT BE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK. 9 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF TO THE DEALER 11 DAYS SINCE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER GENERAL MOTORS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH A RENTAL CAR. THE 3RD PARTY INSPECTOR CALLED AFTER HE HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME IT WOULD BE ANOTHER 7-8 DAYS BEFORE I WOULD HEAR ANYTHING FROM GENERAL MOTORS. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 18 AND 21 DAYS TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE GENERAL MOTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395536

Incident

Mar 31, 2011

Mileage

85,500 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING ON VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368186

Incident

Oct 30, 2010

Mileage

204,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY CHEVY VENTURE NEW WITH 10 MILES ON IT IN 2003 THOUGHT THIS VAN WAS SAFE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE 40-45 MILES AN HOUR THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IF NOT FOR WEARING MY SEAT BELT DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED .. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265106

Incident

Apr 13, 2009

Mileage

103,000 mi

ON 10/30/07, MY 2003 CHEVY VENTURE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE R/S SAFETY DEPLOYMENT MODULE WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT A HUGE PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. HE TOLD ME THE REPAIRS COULD WIAT UNTIL I HAD THE MONEY IN JANUARY. ON 11/25/07, WHICLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE (SIDE) AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED IMMEDIATELY. I PHONED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNRELATED AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSILBE. I FILED A PRODUCT ALLEGATION COMPLAINT WITH GM. THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR TO THE DEALER WHO REVIEWED THE CAR AND FOUND IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNTION OF THE SAFETY DEPLOYMENT MODULE THAT CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. HE STATED THAT THEIR WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THE AIRBGA DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALER ADMITTED TO GM THAT THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT GM DECLINED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR 2 SEPARATE FRONT AIRBAG PROBLEMS. GM STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS NO OPEN RECALLS ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND IS NOW OFF THE ROAD. I AM PAYING THE LOAN OFF AND HOPING TO GET SOME RESOLUTION TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE REPARED SO I CAN CONTINUE TO USE IT.*CN

NHTSA ID

10213606

Incident

Nov 25, 2007

Mileage

49,157 mi

I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN FOR 28 MONTHS WITH MULTIPLE MECHANICAL FAILURES. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED, THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED TWICE, THE TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES, THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE GLOVE BOX LOCK, THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT TWICE, THE ENGINE "SEALS", THE COOLANT HOSES AND THE POWER DOOR HANDLES. THE POWER SLIDING DOOR GASKET HAS ALSO COME OFF ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOW BEEN ON FOR 4 WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES AND WITHOUT A VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE LATEST PROBLEM REQUIRED THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER TO FIX. THE CAR OVERHEATED AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN ALL THREE TIMES, IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. THIS REQUIRED A NEW WATER PUMP ON THE FIRST VISIT, A NEW THERMOSTAT 8 DAYS LATER AND NEW HOSES 1 DAY AFTER THAT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139788

Incident

Oct 13, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATES SHE WAS IN A SIDE AND FRONT END COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VAN WAS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED OUT OF STATE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10126498

Incident

Jun 18, 2005

Mileage

40,238 mi

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHIN INJURIES, PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, AND PASSENGER IN THE SECOND SEAT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAGS WAS DAMAGED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10071733

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

Mileage

8,894 mi

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054457

Incident

Dec 28, 2003

Mileage

1,600 mi

THE VEHICLES SIDE DOOR WAS HIT YET THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015948

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

Mileage

2,497 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015852

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

Mileage

3,000 mi