Total Complaints
33 filings
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET · model year
33 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003CHEVROLETCHEVROLET carries 33 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 CHEVROLET is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 5 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and air bags (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 49 investigation files overlapping the 2003 CHEVROLET, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
33 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
MY DAUGHTER HAD A WRECK IN HER VECHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
Mileage: 58,999
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. CONDENSATION ACCUMULATES INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL . SHE SPECULATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT SHE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Mileage: 92,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. CONDENSATION ACCUMULATES INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL . SHE SPECULATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT SHE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Mileage: 92,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. CONDENSATION ACCUMULATES INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL . SHE SPECULATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT SHE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Mileage: 92,000
DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD THE LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CAR DIES PUSHED IT TO A PARKING LOT TRIED TO START WOULD NOT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP. THIS COULD OF BEEN SCARY IF IT WOULD OF DIED ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Mileage: 84,000
I PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE LT AND THE BACK GLASS HINGE HAS CAME UNGLUED FROM THE GLASS AND FALLEN ON ONE SIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FOUR GLASS COMPANY'S THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF 2003 TAHOES AND SURBURBANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BACK GLASS AND THAT IT IS A DEFECT. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 100,000 MILES BUT ITS THERE PROBLEM THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GLUED THE HINGES TO THE GLASS AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 900.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE GLASS ESPECIALLY WHEN I DON'T HAVE IT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE THE CHEVROLET COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS CAUSED THE BACK GLASS TO STICK UP OVER THE BACK ABOUT A INCH AND YOU CAN NOT EVEN OPEN IT BECAUSE THE HINGE ON THE GLASS HAS COME COMPLETELY UNGLUED IT FALLS DOWN WHEN YOU OPEN IT AND IS VERY VERY HARD TO CLOSE ONCE YOU OPEN IT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PICK UP ON THE GLAS
I PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE LT AND THE BACK GLASS HINGE HAS CAME UNGLUED FROM THE GLASS AND FALLEN ON ONE SIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FOUR GLASS COMPANY'S THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF 2003 TAHOES AND SURBURBANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BACK GLASS AND THAT IT IS A DEFECT. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 100,000 MILES BUT ITS THERE PROBLEM THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GLUED THE HINGES TO THE GLASS AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 900.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE GLASS ESPECIALLY WHEN I DON'T HAVE IT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE THE CHEVROLET COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS CAUSED THE BACK GLASS TO STICK UP OVER THE BACK ABOUT A INCH AND YOU CAN NOT EVEN OPEN IT BECAUSE THE HINGE ON THE GLASS HAS COME COMPLETELY UNGLUED IT FALLS DOWN WHEN YOU OPEN IT AND IS VERY VERY HARD TO CLOSE ONCE YOU OPEN IT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PICK UP ON THE GLAS
I HAVE A 2003 TAHOE AND HAVE HAD THE SPEEDOMETER STICK A NUMBER OF TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER THE SERVICE TECH COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION SO THEY TOLD ME NOT TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE COST. GM IS NOW OFFERING A "SPECIAL COVERAGE" THAT EXTENDS THE WARRANTY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, HOWEVER ONLY IF THE TAHOE HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES OR YOU HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE UNDER 7 YEARS WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. I FEEL THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD ISSUE A FULL RECALL TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET STATING "THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR VEHICLE COULD DEVELOP A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR MORE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLES MAY STICK, FLUTTER, OR BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS MAY CAUSE INACCURATE READINGS, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE" THE LETTER CONTINUES TO STATE THAT "GENERAL MOTORS IS PROVIDING SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT EXTENDS THE WARRANTY" IF "YOUR 2003 CHEVROLET MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET TAHOE WITHIN 7 YEARS OF THE DATE" OR "70,000 MILES". MY CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS BOTH THESE ISSUES. THEY STARTED ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE I RECEIVED THE LETTER. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FROM GENERAL MOTORS IS WHY MY SAFETY IS NOT AN CONCERN TO THEM BECAUSE I HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 70,000 MILES IN MY TAHOE? I TRAVEL THROUGH A LOT OF RURAL AREAS TO WORK AND I FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. I FEEL IT EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS THAT I AM GOING 60 O
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET STATING "THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR VEHICLE COULD DEVELOP A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR MORE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLES MAY STICK, FLUTTER, OR BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS MAY CAUSE INACCURATE READINGS, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE" THE LETTER CONTINUES TO STATE THAT "GENERAL MOTORS IS PROVIDING SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT EXTENDS THE WARRANTY" IF "YOUR 2003 CHEVROLET MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET TAHOE WITHIN 7 YEARS OF THE DATE" OR "70,000 MILES". MY CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS BOTH THESE ISSUES. THEY STARTED ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE I RECEIVED THE LETTER. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FROM GENERAL MOTORS IS WHY MY SAFETY IS NOT AN CONCERN TO THEM BECAUSE I HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 70,000 MILES IN MY TAHOE? I TRAVEL THROUGH A LOT OF RURAL AREAS TO WORK AND I FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. I FEEL IT EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS THAT I AM GOING 60 O
SPEEDOMETER OF 2003 CHEVY TAHOE, STOPPED WORKING ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD NO WAY O MAKING SURE WHAT MY SPEED WAS. I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION. THE OFFICER LOOKED AT MY SPEEDOMETER THAT WAY SHOWING 60 MPH AT A DEAD STOP. HE GAVE ME A WARNING AND TOLD ME TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
WE HAVE A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AROUND 50,000 MILES. CHEVY HAS SENT NO RECALL NOTICE AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST OR SLOW I AM GOING. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
HAZARD FLASHER RELAY/SWITCH "SOUNDS OFF" AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS RETURNED TO THE REST POSITION AFTER SIGNALING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, THIS CLICKING SOUND ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ADJUSTED AND WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL BY IT'S SELF. THE HAZARD AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT LIGHT, ONLY THE AGGRAVATING CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. I CAN ALSO MAKE THE HAZARD/SIGNAL RELAY/SWITCH CLICK BY WIGGLING THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR SWITCH. I HAD THE HAZARD SWITCH REPLACED AT THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE THE HAZARD/FLASHER RELAY/SWITCH AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
HAZARD FLASHER RELAY/SWITCH "SOUNDS OFF" AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS RETURNED TO THE REST POSITION AFTER SIGNALING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, THIS CLICKING SOUND ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ADJUSTED AND WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL BY IT'S SELF. THE HAZARD AND TURN SIGNALS DO NOT LIGHT, ONLY THE AGGRAVATING CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD. I CAN ALSO MAKE THE HAZARD/SIGNAL RELAY/SWITCH CLICK BY WIGGLING THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR SWITCH. I HAD THE HAZARD SWITCH REPLACED AT THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I HAVE THE HAZARD/FLASHER RELAY/SWITCH AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
MY FIANCE AND I BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY IMPALA IN NOV OF 2006 WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES. IN JULY OF 2007, THE CAR WAS STARTED AND SHUT OFF BY ITSELF A FEW MINUTES LATER. IT WOULD THEN NOT START. WE FIRST HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP THAT INFORMED US THAT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. IT LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE CYLINDERS, THE SPARK PLUGS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE AND THE COST FOR REPAIR WOULD BE 1400.00. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A 2ND SHOP FOR A 2ND OPINION. THEY TOLD US THAT THE ANTIFREEZE THAT LEAKED HAD TOTALLY LOCKED UP THE ENGINE AND WE NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ONE. THAT WAS GOING TO COST US AT LEAST 2,000 FOR A USED ONE. WE THAN DECIDED THAT A 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 60K MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT BE IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE SO WE AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD US THE SAME THING. THE CAR WAS OFFICIALLY IN NEED OF A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. WE CONTACTED CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER CARE DEPT AND THEY ARE SO FAR UNWILLING TO HELP. WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 8-9 MONTHS AND AR
Mileage: 61,000
WHEN DOING 60 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE READS OVER A 100 MPH. YOU HAVE TO STOP AND START THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT RESET TO 0 MPH. I SPENT 2 WEEKS RESEARCHING THIS AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 CHEVY TAHOE. *TR
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT CHEVROLET, CAVALIER 2003. THE CAR JUST QUIT WHILE DRIVING, THANK GOD I WAS ONLY ONE ON ROAD. THE CAR ONLY HAD 57,000 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE; SUCH AS OIL CHANGES, TRANSMISSION FLUIDS, FILTERS, ETC. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BAD FUEL PUMP. THIS COASTED ME $721.29, WHICH WAS VERY UNEXPECTED. WHAT AMAZED ME EVEN MORE WAS MANY MORE HAD SAME PROBLEM ONCE I SEARCHED IT ONLINE. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WEBSITE. TP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-CAVALIER/TVINIC5TFU5SFSI5H I FOLLOWED ANOTHER FORUM POSTERS RESPONSE AND CAME HERE TO LET MY EXPERIENCE BE HEARD. *AK
Mileage: 57,000
I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM A FRIEND'S HOUSE ABOUT 3 MILES TURNED IT OFF AND LOCKED IT USING THE REMOTE. WHEN I TRIED STARTING THE CAR ABOUT AN HOUR LATER , AFTER UNLOCKING IT USING THE REMOTE), THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WANTED TO START BUT JUST COULDN'T TURN OVER. LUCKILY, I HAVE A MECHANIC IN THE FAMILY THAT SUGGESTED A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO RESET THE SYSTEM. AS A RESULT I ENDED UP MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING. EVERY NOW AND THEN THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT ON DASHBOARD POPPED ON AND THEN EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY. I DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE 10 EXTRA MINUTES TO SPARE JUST IN CASE THE CAR DECIDED TO DO THIS. *AK
Mileage: 61,000
2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY NEEDING A FUEL PUMP AT 67000 MILES. A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB TO BE DONE SO EARLY IN THE CAR'S LIFE. *AK
Mileage: 67,000
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 40 AND ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT. SHE WASN'T INJURED, NOR WAS THERE ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRE WASN'T PUNCTURED, THAT THE TREAD WALL COLLAPSED AND THEY RECOMMENED NEW TIRES. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS WITH 44,000 MILES ON A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD.
Mileage: 44,000
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
Momentary Increased Steering Effort
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.