Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Chevrolet Venture problems
Owners filed 212 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Venture with NHTSA between Jan 2003 and Apr 2023. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (33).
Complaints
212
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
37
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Exterior lighting33
- Structure28
- Electrical system26
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Air bags19
- Fuel system, gasoline17
- Power train17
- Seat belts11
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Latches/locks/linkages11
- Suspension9
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Visibility7
- Tires7
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 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
29
24
32
14
28
13
7
11
13
10
8
8
4
3
1
2
1
0
2
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 32 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 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
Exterior lighting
33 reports1 crash3 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PARKED AND OBSERVED THAT THE LAMPS WERE MELTED AND THE BULBS WERE DARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Structure
28 reports2 crashes
“DRIVER WAS TURNING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AT LOW SPEED, 200 FT FROM HER HOME. WHEN TURN WAS COMPLETE, DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RETURN STEERING WHEEL TO FORWARD POSITION, NOR WAS SHE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING BRAKE PEDAL, UNTIL THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER ONE PARKED ALONG THE STREET. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW IT COULD HAPPEN, AND THE ACCIDENT WAS CONSIDERED HER FAULT. HOWEVER, THE LATEST GM RECALL REGARDING WEAKNESS OF IGNITION KEY MECHANISM PROVIDES LOGICAL EXPLANATION OF THIS ACCIDENT. IF THE IGNITION KEY FLIPPED TO "OFF" POSITION DURING THE TURN, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING WOULD BE GONE, AND WHAT DRIVER DESCRIBED WOULD MAKE TOTAL SENSE. ESPECIALLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT AT THAT TIME THE DRIVER HAD SEVERAL ADDITIONAL KEYS ON THE KEYCHAIN. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE IGNITION MECHANISM MAY SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM AS ONES RECALLED BY GM? *TR”
Electrical system
26 reports2 fires
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
25 reports
“THE METAL UNDERSIDE SUPPORT BRACKET THAT HOLDS UP BOTH THE ENGINE COOLANT RADIATOR AND A/C RADIATOR HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LEFT (DRIVER) SIDE OF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY FAILED AND ALLOWED THE RADIATORS TO TILT DOWN AND DROP APPROX. 4" ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE PRIMARY SUPPORT IS NOW ONLY THE COOLANT HOSES. HAD I NOT NOTICED, WHILE VIEWING THE CAR FROM THE FRONT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM; BOTH THE RADIATORS COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING, THEY CERTAINLY COULD HAVE WEDGED TO IMPEDE THE STEERING CONTROL AND /OR RUN OVER BY THE TIRES TO MOST CERTAINLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO US OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. MY CALL TO A DEALERSHIP STATED THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR RUST ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL BY GM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPAIR A CORROSION ISSUE OF THIS SUPPORT COMPONENT THAT IS A SAFETY INTEGRITY ISSUE. [XXX] *TR”
Air bags
19 reports9 crashes2 related recalls
“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.”
Fuel system, gasoline
17 reports1 related recall
“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 NHTSA 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.*JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.