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2003 Chevrolet Venture Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 185 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture, most often about the lights (16% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is 4th of 6 Venture model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2003 Chevrolet Venture problems
Lights
30 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights, turn signal.
- the contact has a 2003 Chevrolet Venture in which he had to replace the climate control switch because the fan switch stayed only on the low position, allowing for only one setting. The contact bought the replacement part and replaced the climate control switches on his own. While replacing the switches he noticed…
We bought our 2003 Chevrolet Venture last year and have had constant problems with the brake light which do not work 80 % of the time. The circuit boards that hold the bulbs burn up the plastic and the bulbs which causes them to not light up when I press on my brakes. This is a consistent problem and even though I…
Engine
28 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
On 3 mile in town trip, heat gauge suddenly climbed into the red. I turned of car and let it cool. Drove back home with many stops to prevent overheating. Towed it to a dealer. Lower manifold intake gasket, a well documented problem--but no US recall, needed to be replaced. Labor costs brought the defective and badly…
Was on the interstate after driving approximately 1.5 hours when service engine soon light appeared. When I slowed down to in-town speeds the van drove very rough and would often stall when at a stop light. Took it to gm shop to find out that the rocker arm post had pulled out of the cylinder head #4. Gm wanted to…
Body and structure
27 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
: the contact stated the right power sliding door of the vehicle latched close trapping a child's hand. The keys were locked inside the vehicle and an ambulance was called to assist. A paramedic had to break a window to release the child. The vehicle has not been to a dealer or independent auto repair shop to…
Due to rusted rear right brake line, vehicle lost all brake fluid without warning and prevented vehicle from stopping in a timely manner. The lack of brake control caused right rear side of the van's body (just in front of the rear right wheel) to hit the protective barrier at the gas station. Upon inspection rust is…
Fuel system
23 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 90,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
About a week after I got my mini van the fuel gauge quit working, the ignition switch started staying on in the start position, and I've got a rattle in the engine that nobody can seem to find. All of my friend's have heard this sound in the engine, but the techs keep telling me it's normal.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Venture. The contact stated that the vehicle has a fuel leak where the nipple meets the gas tank. The dealer stated that there was no sign of impact and was due to age and mileage. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 85,000.
Air bags
17 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
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…
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 ..
Electrical
17 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, horn.
- the contact has a 2003 Chevrolet Venture in which he had to replace the climate control switch because the fan switch stayed only on the low position, allowing for only one setting. The contact bought the replacement part and replaced the climate control switches on his own. While replacing the switches he noticed…
First we lost one of the speeds on the fan inside the van. Then about 2 weeks later we were on a trip and all was fine. We stopped for about 1.5 hours and then continued to drive. When we had started out the second time there was an odor of something burning, so I pulled over and checked things out. I looked under the…
Transmission
16 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Venture. When accelerating from a stop at 5 MPH, the vehicle would jerk severely. The contact changed the transmission fluid, but that did not work. She took the vehicle to a repair shop and they tested the transmission. She was informed that the seals in the transmission failed and…
The vehicle is a 2003 Chevrolet Venture. When accelerating from a stop the vehicle severly jerks. The transmission fliud and filter have been replaced with no change in the condition. This condition started around 65,000 miles.
Brakes
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, fluid.
There are several problems with my van. The first is the plug at the base of the captains chair on the driver side has broken twice. Since it is plastic-I have already replaced this item. The van has an intake leak which I can't afford to fix, this was discovered at 64,000 miles. With a price tag of over $500 dollars…
My 2003 chevy Venture lt van (41,000 mi on it) stopped at the bottom of my driveway and would not go forward. My son-in-law, ( a mechanic) checked the left back brake and found a large heavy duty spring and broken in half that held the brake shoe together. I do not know if this is a defect but it could have been…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Chevrolet Venture recalls
Fuel system: storage
Risk: A fracture may allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on december 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on december 13, 2007. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. The vehicle population includes buick rendezvous and pontiac aztek vehicle built in may 2003; chevrolet venture and pontiac montana vehicles built from june through august 2002; and all vehicles registered in nevada, arizona, virgin islands, puerto rico, and hawaii.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor, the passenger's arm may be pushed into the seat back or armrest and a wrist or lower arm injury may result.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power sliding door interior handle on the passenger-side. If the vehicle is equipped with a power or manual sliding door on the driver-side, the interior handle will also be replaced for appearance reasons. Note: before the vehicle is serviced, gm advises owners to not use the interior door handle to open the door. The driver can open and close the door from switches at the driver's position or by using the remote key fob. The driver should tell passengers to use the switch located in front of the door to open or close it. The driver should use the override switch to p
Full defect summary
On certain minivans equipped with second-row bucket seats or captain's chairs and a power sliding door on the passenger side of the vehicle, a passenger using the interior handle to open the power sliding door could be injured.
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Full defect summary
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Power-sliding door
Summary
Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's chair seat back creating a risk of injury (other seating configurations have ample seat to door clearance to avoid entrapment of the lower arm).among the 103 total reports, there were 102 alleged injuries including arm/wrist, thumb and shoulder injuries.a count of injuries reveal
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Venture?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (30 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); engine (28 complaints, typically around 69,500 miles); body and structure (27 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Venture have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 8, 2007 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Chevrolet Venture?
- It is 4th of 6 Venture model years by number of complaints, with 185 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.