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2003 Chevrolet VentureProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 185 owner complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

2003 Chevrolet Venture
53
CarFlaw IndexSolid year11% below the Venture median · #7 of 9 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints18545 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage73kExterior lighting, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 6, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Chevrolet Venture has problems

185 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Exterior lighting304
Structure2711
Engine and engine cooling230
Electrical system172
Air bags1711
Power train165
Fuel system, gasoline140
Service brakes, hydraulic111
Latches/locks/linkages112
15 other systems575

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2003 Chevrolet Venture recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

Recall 07V-349 · Aug 8, 2007 · 20,594 vehicles

Risk. A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 04V-597 · Dec 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Air bags: frontal

Recall 02V-222 · Aug 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do exterior lighting problems start?

73kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 23 exterior lighting complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles18under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Venture year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Venture median. How we score

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Chevrolet Venture safety ratings

2003 Chevrolet Venture w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Chevrolet Venture frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2003 Chevrolet Venture side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Chevrolet Venture, and the recalls they led to.

  1. POWER-SLIDING DOORPE04064 · closed Dec 22, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-597
In owners' words

What Venture owners report

Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

LEFT TURN SIGNAL WIRING SHORTED OUT & AS RESULT ALL LIGHTS ON LEFT FRONT DO NOT WORK NOW. PIGTAILS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS APPLICATION!!!
Complaint 11405712 · Mar 31, 2021 · 189,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PARKED AND OBSERVED THAT THE LAMPS WERE MELTED AND…
Complaint 10806819 · Nov 25, 2015 · 100,000 miles
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY VENTURE AND WHEN I PURCHASED IT, I NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD START BLINKING REAL FAST ON THE DASH. WHEN I WOULD LOOK AT THEM ON THE OUTSIDE THEY WERE BLINKING FINE, AS WAS THE DASH LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, SO I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST THE BULBS THEMSELVES.…
Complaint 10587966 · May 13, 2014 · 204,785 miles

Own a 2003 Venture?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.