2003 Chevrolet Venture Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about rear brake and tail lamp failures — bulbs and socket boards that melt or short rather than simply burn out — and about fuel leaking from the tank where the filler neck meets the tank body. A second cluster covers coolant and oil leaks from the intake manifold area, plus power sliding doors that open on their own or fail to stay shut. Many reports arrive between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, though brake-light and fuel-tank reports also appear well below that.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Brake and tail lights fail; sockets and boards melt

   • 28 complaints (15%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2021

   Owners describe rear brake and tail lamps that stop working, often without warning, and are found only after another driver or police point it out. On inspection the bulb sockets, wiring and tail lamp circuit boards are melted or burnt, and replacing bulbs or boards fixes it for a short time before the failure returns. Some also report turn signal lamps failing, condensation or moisture inside the lamp assemblies, and a burning-wire smell. Dealers replaced bulbs and boards; several owners say the problem came back within weeks or months. Reported from about 12,500 to 204,000 miles, with many cases between 65,000 and 120,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all rear brake, tail and turn lamps work, and pull a bulb to look for melted plastic, corrosion or water in the socket and circuit board. A service bulletin covers exterior lamp condensation and water leaks, so ask whether that guidance was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On my 2003 chevy Venture extended I have had to replace both tail light braking bulbs. My concern is that the bulbs elements inside the bulb didn't burn out they shorted out at the socket on both drive and passenger side melting the bulb to the socket. I'm afraid that this is gooing to create a electrical fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #10129001, filed 2005-07, 41,500 miles

   “2003 chevy Venture, constantly having non working brake lights . Replacing bulbs constantly because of the melting. Replaced them again with a lubricate, that I was told was needed for this type of car. Still having problems. Getting tired of having to fix the brake lights everytime I need to go out.!!!!!!!!!!! Tired of being pulled over by the cops because of my non working brake lights............”

   NHTSA complaint #10357125, filed 2010-09, 12,500 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in a crash, or deploying unexpectedly

   • 14 complaints (8%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2023

   Owners describe frontal impacts where the air bags did not deploy, and in a few cases side or driver air bags deploying without a crash, sometimes while starting the van. Some reports mention an air bag warning light before the incident, and dealers diagnosing a deployment module or sensor. Owners also note that their vehicle was not covered by the driver air bag inflator recalls. Reported from about 8,900 to 190,000 miles, with several cases above 100,000 miles.

   Recall 03V051000Recall 02V222000

   What to check: Confirm the air bag warning light comes on and goes out with the ignition, and ask whether the driver air bag inflator recalls (03V051000, 02V222000) were performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 ..”

   NHTSA complaint #10265106, filed 2009-04, 103,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10395536, filed 2011-04, 85,500 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel leak at tank filler neck / inlet check valve

   • 16 complaints (9%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2022

   Owners describe gasoline leaking or pouring from the top of the fuel tank where the filler neck joins the tank body, often noticed right after refueling or as a strong fuel smell. In some reports the neck separated from the tank, and the tank was replaced. Several owners say the manufacturer declined coverage because their vehicle identification number was not included in a fuel-system recall, and some note replacement tanks were hard to find. Reported from about 46,000 to 200,000 miles, with several cases between 46,000 and 113,000 miles.

   Recall 07V349000

   What to check: Smell around the rear of the van after fueling and look for wetness or staining where the filler neck meets the tank. Ask whether the fuel tank inlet check valve recall (07V349000) was performed on this vehicle and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or around this date my vehicle started to leak fuel from the fuel tank inlet check valve weld.there appears to have been a recall/special coverage # 07203 for this problem dated 8/7/07.I am informed by GM that this expired last year?? I also realize that despite fairly low mileage my vehicle is 11 years old but it is in very good condition and currently registered and has passed safety inspection in ma. My question to you is how can something as dangerous as this have a expiration date??”

   NHTSA complaint #10654497, filed 2014-11, 81,600 miles

   “After refueling, the vehicle began leaking fuel from the tank near the area where the fuel inlet enters the tank. There is a safety recall bulletin, 06230, and the VIN numbers of vehicles affected does include my vehicle. However GM will not cover the cost to repair, claiming my vehicle is not affected. Obviously it is affected or it would not be leaking fuel from the exact same area covered by the recall! There are several complaints on the NHTSA website stating the same experience. Why won't GM cover the repair even when there is a recall? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11268257, filed 2019-10, 99,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Coolant or oil leak from intake manifold gasket

   Mentioned in 8 of 80 sampled complaints

   Owners report losing coolant with a sweet antifreeze smell, low coolant, and the temperature gauge climbing toward the red; some describe coolant or oil seeping from the intake manifold area. Repairs typically involve replacing the lower intake manifold gasket, and owners mention costs in the several-hundred-dollar range and repeat failures. Some also describe a rough-running engine, misfires, or a check-engine light around the same time. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles; several between 50,000 and 94,000 miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue or staining around the intake manifold and under the front of the engine; ask for service records showing whether the intake gasket has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2003 chevy Venture with engine code of e in the VIN (covered under service bulletin) started leaking antifreeze and oil from the intake gasket. Called Chevrolet customer care and they informed me that my VIN was not covered in their service bulletin. It will cost approximately $850 to repair and be without the vehicle for 2 days.”

   NHTSA complaint #10191617, filed 2007-05, 50,000 miles

   “Why hasn't there been a recall on ** intake manifold gasket ** for the Chevrolet Venture 2003 ? I replaced it 2 years ago and now I must replace it again . There are like 35 models with the same problem. Gmc knows about the problem. No one does anything about it. I hope you guys do something about it because every repair is around $ 700 to $1100 . It depends where you go. I can't believe you guys can't force gmc to make this a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10314015, filed 2010-02, 75,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door opens by itself or will not stay shut

   • 17 complaints (9%)
   • median 28,377 mi at 2.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2011

   Owners describe the passenger-side power sliding door opening on its own, including while the van is locked or being driven, and sometimes failing to latch closed. Some reports mention the door continuing to close on an object or a hand in its path, and dealers adjusting the linkage or unplugging the remote without a lasting fix. Others mention a door that would not operate or latched in a way that trapped a hand. Mostly reported under about 50,000 miles, with several cases between 17,000 and 45,000 miles.

   Recall 04V597000

   What to check: With the van locked and unlocked, cycle the power sliding door several times and watch whether it latches fully and reverses when something is in its path. Ask whether the door latch recall (04V597000) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) on 9/7/04 I purchased a 2003 Chevrolet Venture van. It is a wb edition with two sliding side doors. On 9/19/04 three of my four children and myself were picking my finace' up from work on old rt. 66 in oatman az. I climbed into the driver's seat, my 8 year old daughter got into the passenger side, first row of back seats, closed the door, and buckled her seat-belt. My 5 year old daughter began getting into the driver's side first row of seats, and my fiance into the passenger side front seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10093131, filed 2004-09, 30,080 miles

   “When the vehicle was locked, the sliding door opened. The consumer stated when an object was in the way of the sliding door it continued to close instead of disengaging. Please provide additional information. There is no cylinder lock and key.”

   NHTSA complaint #10094145, filed 2004-10, 18,000 miles

Buying note. Look closely at the rear lamps, the fuel tank filler neck area, and the intake manifold for the symptoms described here, and ask for recall and service paperwork. Because these vans are now well past their original warranty, records of what has already been repaired matter as much as mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.