Overview & Reviews

The Venture remains relatively unchanged for 2003. Base vans now have additional color options but many previously standard features are now optional to keep prices down.

• Carlike ride and handling, power sliding doors, eight-passenger seating option, available DVD entertainment system.

• Flimsy modular seats, poor interior fit and finish, coarse engine character, mixed crash test results.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 96.00

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  Nomerous complaints about taillights - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By kewldude_001 - January 5 - 5:37 pm

  I have had my van for 6 months. Purchased from a family member. Having a few problems, i thought I would look up some info and found the many complaints about the taillights. I found I had the same issue. With burning taillights out and turning signal (driver side) To help people who might have this problem try this. At night turn lights on and hit the brake pedal. Look for you turn signal lights on you dash to glow slightly. If so the plastic around the connector melted and is allowing current to travel down brake light and turn light and vise versa. If you have some knowledge, take you brake light fixture out and look at your plug. If you see the signs of melting that is your problem!

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  Expensive to own - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By gunner29 - July 9 - 1:45 pm

  We have owned this van for over 4 years and are finally selling it. It is reliable as far as driving is concerned but expensive to own. The rear brake lights are always burning out. We have also had to replace the windshield wiper motor twice, the ball joints, the rear shocks and springs, and now the rear load leveler is broken. It is also starting to rust out all along the bottom. The gas mileage is okay if you do a lot of highway driving. Use synthetic oil for oil changes. We have put on over 130,000 kilometers since we have bought this vehicle (90% highway) and this van has not broke down once while driving. We do most of our driving with the van loaded with family gear.

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  comfy with extras, but serious flaws - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By busdriverjosh - May 27 - 8:53 pm

  We bought this used and had a transmission solenoid go out in two months. Soon after the ABS and AWD started to quit. You can turn the ignition off to reset it but its still a pain. Also, the wipers have a design flaw that allows the area to fill with snow and ice so the spring breaks if its not cleaned out before use. We like it and it has a lot of room and great features, but its just not reliable.

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  Functional, But Boring - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Papi - October 12 - 2:00 am

  We bought this van with low miles and the dealership was willing to do anything to get us into this van. We had zero problems except for the seat trim falling off, headlights full of water, and a loose windshield seal, until about 70K miles. Then the wheel bearings went, the transmission started shifting erratically, and the headlights were completely opaque. Sometimes the radio wont shut off, and the electric door is wonky. Windshield washer tank leaks. Have replaced 12 bulbs in 4 months and the light sockets were melted! Brake lights come and go. Acceleration is measured with a calendar.

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  Discontinued for good reason. - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Iversjohnson - April 23 - 3:48 pm

  Year one - transmission rebuild, brakes gone at 22000, interior lighting failing, engine overheating in summer. Year two - additional interior lighting failure, power door locks no longer function, lift gate strap pulls off, arm rests come loose on driver door and front passenger door, engine still overheating after several repairs. Year three - down to two or three dash lights no center console lights left, engine still overheating after additional repairs, transmission shifting hard and clunking (dealer replacement in year one). Year four plus - barely driveable despite regular maintenance and numerous dealer repairs.

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  My Last GM Product - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By soind - May 8 - 11:10 am

  This van started falling apart at about 50000 miles. Door handles breaking, DVD player quit working, backup sensors quit working, seat side plastic plate broke to name a few. It now has 105,000 miles on it and I took it to the dealer with a list of things I would like to have repaired and asked them to give the van a good once over for problems. The total came up to roughly $5,000. The good ol manifold gakset needed replaced, new shocks and struts, new brakes and rotors, a new computer, new plugs and wires and they wanted $183 dollars to fix the cheap plastic seat side plate. Im going to have the stuff repaired, but not by those crooks. My 1997 Nissan Quest has 206,000 miles. Hmmm.

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  2003 Venture LT - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Dave - November 17 - 12:40 pm

  Costly! Put in a new transmission, new radiator. Not a happy camper.

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  Like a rock - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By mouse - April 25 - 1:44 pm

  The Ventura van is a comfortable riding van. I have owned one of the past 3 years and have enjoyed it. Changes to the interior such as reinforced brackets on driver seat controls(electeric front seat) made of plastic, use metal, mine has broken twice. The lever on the driver side seat has stripped and the glove box handle should be made of metal. Blinker bulbs are very hard to change. Standard radio in all vans should be CD player. Next model make the arm rest wider and about 2in higher. Swivel head rest and deeper cushion in seats. Round swivel air vents would be prefered to square flat. Swivel lights in top of van for map reading. Child car seats in all back seats or option upon buying.

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  DONT WANT ANOTHER ONE - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By BUD - January 10 - 2:00 am

  POOR HANDLING QUALITIES ON THE ROAD. THIS IS MY SECOND VENTURE, HAD SAME PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS ON THE 2001. ALOT OF ACCESORIES THAT WERE STANDARD ON THE 2001 ARE MISSING ON THE 2003. AMAGINE A 30000.OO AUTO AND NO GLOVE COMPARTMENT LITE. MILEAGE ON THE VAN IS WAY BELOW EXPECTATIONS.

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  mixed feelings - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By volson71 - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Bought the van 2 1/2 weeks before making a 2000 mile trip 3 days after purchasing, had a problem with the fuel injector, which ended up needing to be replaced. On our trip, the driver side sun visor fell out and needed to be replaced when we returned. Fairly comfortable in the back seats (we have the captains chairs in the middle row), especially with the leather interior. Not crazy about the way it handles, feels like youre tipping when going around corners. Ride is not very smooth, especially going up hills. Brakes seem rough, especially in icy conditions. Handles well on snow, however.