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.
2003 Chevrolet Venture airbags problems
17 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 102,000. 8 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 17
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 102,000
- crashes
- 8
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Side/window4
- Frontal: sensor/control module1
- Frontal1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Venture airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Venture airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
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
What 2003 Chevrolet Venture owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
Driver of veh. #1 2003 chev venture ls was east bound through a controled intersection, when veh. 2 a 1997 jeep was west bound in into the intersection and made an abrup left turn in front of veh. #1. Both vehicles struck each other in the left front corner of each vehicle. Veh. #1 was declared totalled by travelers insurance co. The lf portion of the van was shoved back in to the motor, radiator, along with the lf wheel and assembly. The drivers airbag did not deploy from the near head on crash.
Tl - the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, another vehicle crashed into the front end of the vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver and the passenger were both taken to a hospital where there were injuries reported. The driver sustained neck and shoulder injuries. The passenger sustained head, knee, hip, and arm injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 02v222000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 113,000. Dr
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet venture. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the air bag module assembly on the passenger's side needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 106,000.
This complaint is being filed on behalf of the vehicle owner and driver. This chevy venture was involved in a two vehicle, head-on crash vs. A chevy silverado. Both front seat occupants in the venture were killed in the crash. Both front airbags in the venture failed to deploy even though the impact was substantial enough to cause fatal injuries. The airbags in the silverado did deploy.
Tl* 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 failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.
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. He said they would start a file on the incident and he could not do anything until general motors told him what he could do. The vehicle was drivable and there were no injuries. After work I took the vehicle to the dealer to have them see if the vehicle was safe to drive and show them the deployed airbag. We agreed that I would drop off the vehicle the following monday and they would inspect the vehicle. After 2 days I spoke with general motors who said they would have the vehicle inspected and could not authorize a rental car for the time it was at the dealership. I dropped off the vehicle the following day thinking it would be inspected on monday. After 2 days I spoke with the dealer and general motors who still had not had the vehicle inspected. Later that day I spoke with a 3rd party inspector whom general motors hired. He would not be inspecting the vehicle until the beginning of the following week. 9 days after the vehicle was dropped off to the dealer 11 days since the airbag deployed. The entire time the vehicle was at the dealer general motors would not provide any assistance with a rental car. The 3rd party inspector called after he had inspected the vehicle and informed me it would be another 7-8 days before I would hear anything from general motors. So we are going to be somewhere between 18 and 21 days to get a response from the manufacturer of the vehicle general motors.
Drivers side seat airbag deployed while turning on vehicle.
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 ..
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture airbags
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Venture have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the airbags of the 2003 Chevrolet Venture, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Venture airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 102,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Venture airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 03V051000, 02V222000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Venture have bad airbags?
The Chevrolet Venture model years with the most airbags complaints are 1999 (40 complaints), 2000 (31 complaints) and 1998 (27 complaints).
Other 2003 Chevrolet Venture problems
Lights 30Engine 28Body 27Fuel system 23Electrical 17Transmission 16Brakes 12Locks 11Seat belts 10Suspension 8Visibility 8Tires 5Acceleration 4Seats 2Steering 2Wheels 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Chevrolet Venture?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history