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.
The worst 2003 Chevrolet Venture problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights30
- Engine28
- Body27
- Fuel system23
- Airbags17
- Electrical17
- Transmission16
- Brakes12
- Locks11
- Seat belts10
- Suspension8
- Visibility8
- Tires5
- Acceleration4
- Seats2
- Steering2
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Venture
Fuel leak 8Headlights 8No deployment 7Door locks 6Overheating 6Fuel gauge 5Stalling 5
Recalls 5
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- 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).
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 07V349000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 prevent operation of the power door by children or by others who are not familiar with its use. The owner notification letter mailing will be conducted in phases with the first phase beginning on may 31, 2005. The second phase mailing began on july 18, 2005. The recall began on may 31, 2005. Phase 2 began on july 18, 2005. Phase 3 (final phase) began on august 24, 2005, to all remaining customers. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668; or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537.
Recall number 04V597000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 03V250000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 03V051000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 02V222000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2003 Chevrolet Venture
Defect investigations
Power-sliding door
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 reveals that 76 injuries were a fractured or a broken arm/wrist requiring an immobilizing cast for four-to-six weeks.all injuries involve the right side power sliding door.the left side power sliding door is on far fewer vehicles, but more importantly, it produces less force.gm notified the agency by letter dated december 21, 2004, that it will recall model year 1997 though early 2005 gm u-van vehicles equipped with a right side power sliding door and with 2nd-row bucket seats or captain chairs (the federal safety agency recall #04v597).as part of the recall remedy, gm will replace the door handle with a flush mounted handle that will prevent an occupant from grasping the handle with the palm between the handle and door panel (thumb up orientation) and thus eliminate the potential for arm/wrist entrapment.this investigation is closed.
PE04064
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Chevrolet Venture 469
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- Unknown or other
- Electrical system
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles
- GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities
- This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves...
- This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS)...
2003 Chevrolet Venture fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 24 | 20 |
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 22 | 18 |
What 2003 Chevrolet Venture owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was adding fuel to my car and noticed a strong fuel smell. I only traveled a few miles but my fuel gauge dropped from 3/4 to 1/4 full in only a few miles. When I got home I told my husband. He checked the vehicle and found that fuel was leaking from the inlet on the fuel tank. My husband searched the issue an found a recall for some 2003 and 2004 Chevrolet and other GM products listed as the federal safety agency Campaign # 07V349000 and the federal safety agency Action # EA07006. It does list the same vehicle I have a 2003 Chevy Venture van. The recall covers just certain months of production. From our research it seems that a broader recall in needed
Left turn signal wiring shorted out & as result all lights on left front do not work now. Pigtails not available for this application!!!
The buttons for my control dash where radio and heat adjustment are, the panel,. Gets blazing hot to the touch. Everytime we drive it. It's overheating so much I am concerned it wasn't fixed by a recall previously claimed. The buttons decals have melted off on some buttons. This happens when the car is on. I recently purchased this van privately in illinois.
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 federal safety agency website stating the same experience. Why won't gm cover the repair even when there is a recall? To make matters worse, gm no longer makes the replacement tank and I can not find an aftermarket tank either.
Tamara inflates includes my brakes as I have to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor and the van would still not stop. Also my driver's side window will not go down.
The engine RPM surges without pushing the gas. The engine will gradually propel the vehicle to around 50-60 MPH with no mechanical movement of the gas pedal. This happens about every day or two. Have to put the car in neutral or firmly press the brakes to get the velocity down. The car is in motion and stationary when this happens. It happens sporadically. Changing all types of parts and still no resolution. I also see alot of the same issues on line with other owners of this vehicle.
The lower intake manifold head gasket cracked or ruptured resulting in the anti- freeze coolant to leak into the motor oil. Required removal of entire intake manifold assembly and replacement of defective ruptured head gasket. Cost 9 hours mechanic labor and $ 975.00 for professional repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet venture. While pumping fuel the contact observed fuel leaking from the rear driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 199,874. Updated 01/27/17*lj updated 02/02/17.
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.
Compare the 2003 Chevrolet Venture
Other model years
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture
Is the 2003 Chevrolet Venture reliable?
Owners have filed 185 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture, close to a typical Venture model year.
What is the 2003 Chevrolet Venture year score?
The 2003 Chevrolet Venture scores 71 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Venture: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Chevrolet Venture?
Lights, with 30 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles. Next is engine (28).
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Venture have?
5 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline, latches/locks/linkages and equipment.
What year does the Chevrolet Venture have the most lights problems?
The Chevrolet Venture model years with the most lights complaints are 1997 (64 complaints), 1998 (59 complaints) and 2003 (30 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Chevrolet Venture get?
Official estimates for the 2003 Chevrolet Venture range from 18 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.4L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.
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