FaultScore
See all results →
All makes Worst years, ranked Problems by part Problems by model year Recalls in Canada Compare two cars How we grade

FaultScore report

2003 Chevrolet Chevy VAN problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Chevy VAN with NHTSA between 2003 and 2018. The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 6 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Chevy VAN All 2003 cars
C

FaultScore 60/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Chevy VAN.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 36 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure not reported
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 36
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Chevy VAN. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
30% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 2003 compares with every other Chevrolet Chevy VAN

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2003 Chevrolet Chevy VAN

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 2 20.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 2 20.0%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

Seats 1 10.0%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 80,000 mi

Lights 1 10.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 10.0%

Median failure at 83,000 miles

Body & Structure 1 10.0%
Electrical System 1 10.0%
Engine & Cooling 1 10.0%

Median failure at 49,698 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 25.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 50.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 25.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2003 peak 1 Oct 2018

NHTSA investigations into the 2003 Chevrolet Chevy VAN

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA04012 Opened 30 Apr 2004 Closed 28 Feb 2005 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 80,000 miles Alexandria, VA Fire

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET 1500 CONVERSION VAN.(N/A) THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND SCORCHED THE SEAT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10345296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Royal OAK, MI 2 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN REAR SLIDING POWER DOORS DO NOT REVERSE AND ARE VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING AN INJURY TO MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHILE ENTERING THE VAN WHEN THE DOOR SUDDENLY CLOSED ON HER AND POTENTIAL DEATH TO A YOUNG CHILD.

NHTSA complaint #10158473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sharpsburg, GA 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

I WAS GETTING INTO THE REAR SEAT OF A BRAND-NEW CHEVROLET FULLSIZE VAN AT THE LA QUINTA INN AT THE APEX IN RALEIGH-DURHAM NC. THERE IS A CIRCULAR DISK OF HARD PLASTIC WHICH HOLDS ON A SMALL BUNGEE WHICH IN TURN HOLDS A CHILD SEAT BELT ADJUSTER. AS I WAS GETTING IN, MY ARM CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PLASTIC DISK AND VERY NEATLY SLICED SEVERAL LAYERS OF MY SKIN OFF. IT WASN'T AN ATYPICAL ENTRANCE TO A VEHICLE, IN OTHER WORDS, I WASN'T FOOLING AROUND OR BEING INCAUTIOUS IN ANY WAY. I'VE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, BUT I DON'T WANT MORE PEOPLE TO GET ACCIDENTALLY CUT. THAT HARD PLASTIC DISK IS AS SHARP AS A KNIFE! *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Lehigh Acres, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NEW VEHICLES HAVE BLINDING HEADLIGHTS. VERY BAD. WHY ARE THESE BEING ALLOWED ON THE ROAD!?

NHTSA complaint #11142494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Akron, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2003 CHEVY VENTURE SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND CONTINUALLY GAIN SPEED EVEN WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I ACTUALLY HAVE TO RIDE THE BRAKES TO GET WITHIN THE 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT ALL THE WAY. THIS EVENT REPEATING THEMSELVES EVERY TWO DAYS WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT. I WENT ATLEAST 4 MECHANICS THEY CLEANED EVERYTHING THEY KEPT MY CAR THREE DAYS EACH. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I WANT GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD. THIS DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO FLY UP TO THE MOON WITH IT, KILLING MY FAMILY AND OTHER PEOPLE.

NHTSA complaint #10576926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LE Sueur, MN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL FILLER NECK LEAKS DUE TO CORROSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE LH DOORS AND THE FUEL NECK IS ROUTED IN THE WHEEL WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10456403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Frankfort, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS EVERY TIME I FILLED THE CAR. IN DECEMBER, I SAW A LARGER POOL OF GAS UNDER MY CAR AS I WAS FILL THE TANK. I LOOKED UNDER AND SAW MOST OF THE GAS WAS SPILLING ONTO THE GROUND. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEAL AND FOUND OUT THE FILLER TUBE WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE REASON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ON A CAR THAT IS 8 YEARS OLD STEMS AROUND THE COVERING AROUND THE TUBE. WATER GETS TRAPPED AND CANNOT DRY. BAD DESIGN. LUCKILY, I DO NOT SMOKE.

NHTSA complaint #10438046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Alexandria, VA Fire

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET 1500 CONVERSION VAN.(N/A) THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND SCORCHED THE SEAT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10345296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,698 miles Garland, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WE HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN V6 3.4L, ODOMETER-49698. VEHICLE MADE AN ODD SOUND WHEN STARTING. THIS SOUND HAPPENED SUDDENLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP THEIR COMPUTER INDICATED A MISFIRE CODE AND THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE PLUGS. WE OPTED TO TAKE THE VAN TO OUR MECHANIC. THEY CHECKED THE PLUGS AND THEY LOOKED BRAND NEW AND WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION IS STRAIGHT FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP : ONE CYLINDER ONLY HAS 35 PSI AND THERE IS A TAPPING NOISE IN THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. WILL NEED TO TEAR THE UPPER END DOWN FOR INSPECTION (UPPER AND LOWER INTAKES AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET). THE REAR CYLINDER HEAD ON THE #3 CYLINDER, THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE ROCKER ARMS HAVE PULLED OUT OF THE HEAD. THE MACHINE SHOP FOUND THE THREADS FOR THE ROCKER ARM STUDS ON THE REAR CYLINDER HEAD WERE PULLING OUT. HAD TO HAVE ALL THE ROCKER ARM STUDS HOLES REPAIRED. BASED ON THE MACHINE SHOP'S ADVICE THE FRONT CYLINDER HEAD WAS REMOVED AND TO HAVE THE ROCKER ARM STUD HOLES INSPECTED. THEY WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE PULLING OUT. ALL STUD HOLES ON THE FRONT CYLINDER HEAD WERE REPAIRED. REINSTALLED THE CYLINDER HEADS AND INTAKES. ALL IN ALL START TO FINISH THE REPAIR BILL WAS A RIDICULOUS $2609.48 AND A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO LISTEN TO ANY COMPLAINTS, SIMPLY SAYING THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP IS THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE HAVE ALL OUR OIL CHANGES PERFORMED. THEY HAVE ALL THE RECORDS. AMAZING THIS IS THE FOURTH STRAIGHT GM VEHICLE WE HAVE BOUGHT. BASED ON THE WAY WE WERE TREATED BY THE DEALER WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10158941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Royal OAK, MI 2 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN REAR SLIDING POWER DOORS DO NOT REVERSE AND ARE VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING AN INJURY TO MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHILE ENTERING THE VAN WHEN THE DOOR SUDDENLY CLOSED ON HER AND POTENTIAL DEATH TO A YOUNG CHILD.

NHTSA complaint #10158473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lynnville, TN

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

THE SHOULDER STRAPS IN THE REAR OF THE VAN LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE PASSENGERS UNFASTEN IT IN ORDER TO READJUST THE BELT. THE BELT GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER IF NOT TAKEN OFF. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD TO HAVE TO TAKE OFF YOUR SEATBELT. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A CHEVY VENTURE 2003 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10121424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ankeny, IA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STARTING MECHANISM SEEMS TO STAY ENGAGED EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED.

NHTSA complaint #10104423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sharpsburg, GA 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

I WAS GETTING INTO THE REAR SEAT OF A BRAND-NEW CHEVROLET FULLSIZE VAN AT THE LA QUINTA INN AT THE APEX IN RALEIGH-DURHAM NC. THERE IS A CIRCULAR DISK OF HARD PLASTIC WHICH HOLDS ON A SMALL BUNGEE WHICH IN TURN HOLDS A CHILD SEAT BELT ADJUSTER. AS I WAS GETTING IN, MY ARM CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PLASTIC DISK AND VERY NEATLY SLICED SEVERAL LAYERS OF MY SKIN OFF. IT WASN'T AN ATYPICAL ENTRANCE TO A VEHICLE, IN OTHER WORDS, I WASN'T FOOLING AROUND OR BEING INCAUTIOUS IN ANY WAY. I'VE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, BUT I DON'T WANT MORE PEOPLE TO GET ACCIDENTALLY CUT. THAT HARD PLASTIC DISK IS AS SHARP AS A KNIFE! *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.