Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Chevrolet Tracker problems
Owners filed 96 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Tracker with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Sep 2021. The most-cited component is suspension (22).
Complaints
96
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension22
- Electrical system14
- Structure10
- Air bags9
- Steering8
- Seat belts7
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Power train6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Exterior lighting5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Engine4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Tires4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
15
12
7
13
4
4
3
2
2
6
10
4
1
2
2
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
22 reports3 crashes
“VEHICLE HAS A KNOWN AND SERIOUS SAFETY MANUFACTURING DEFECT PREVIOUSLY COVERED UNDER A "SPECIAL COVERAGE - #06186" FOR CORROSION AND RUST PROOFING CAUSING THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROL ARMS CORRODE AND DETACH. GM REFUSES TO HONOR PREVIOUSLY EXPIRED SPECIAL COVERAGE AND CONSIDERS THIS AN "OUT OF POCKET" EXPENSE.”
Electrical system
14 reports
“FUSES AND BRAKERS KEEP POPPING/BLOWING ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. WHEN POPPED THE VEHICLE LOSES THE ABILITY FOR THE BRAKES TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTER WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO USE THE HORN. RECENTLY I HAD A DIFFERENT FUSE POP THAT CUT ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS AFFECTING SOME ON THE OUTSIDE. THE FOLLOWING FAILED. THE BREAK LIGHTS WERE NOT VISIBLE WHEN TURNED ON OR WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK, EMERGENCY FLASHERS DID NOT WORK, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTING FAILED, DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK, WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR THE LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN ON INSIDE OF THE CAR, WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED I HAD TO MANUALLY ENGAGE THE SHIFTER BY GOING UNDERNEATH OF THE SHIFTER AND RELEASING THE LOCK WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK AND THEN MOVE THE SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL AT THE SAME TIME TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. THESE HAVE BEEN RECURRING ISSUES WITH REGULAR SHOP MATNEINCE THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 135000 MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. IT HAS PLENTY OF LIFE IN IT AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE CONTINUED ISSUES. HELP!!!”
Structure
10 reports2 crashes
“I HAD A SEVER CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG NEVER OPEN AND PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES GOT LOCK AFTER WE WERE HIT ON THE REAR OF THE TRACKER. AND LAST CONTROL”
Air bags
9 reports7 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN MY CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT OF THE ROAD AND HIT A GROVE OF TREES HEAD ON. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ALSO I RECEIVED A SAFETY NOTICE ABOUT MY CHEVEROLET TRACKER 4 DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER DOE SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE AND WHY DIDN'T MY AIR BAGS GO OFF SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK AT THIS CAR BEFORE IT GETS HAULED OFF BY THE ADJUSTER!!!!! I WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CUT THE ROOF OF MY CAR OFF TO GET ME OUT NO AIRBAGS WHAT HAPPENED!!! *TR”
Steering
8 reports
“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE WHEEL STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT.AFTER THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO GO BACK AND FORTH A BIT AND FELT SHAKING..WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW.THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF A PROBLEM.I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE CROSS MEMBER WAS ROTTED OUT. *TR”
Seat belts
7 reports5 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT HER SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A SERIOUS INJURY AND AS A RESULT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.