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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  Reliable Van, Some Mechanical Probelms - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By akk050708 - February 5 - 6:55 am

  I bought my van in 2010 with 100,000 miles on it already. Here it is Feb.2014 and I have put almost 71,000 miles on it. When I bought it, it had a transmission slipping problem. I drive it daily with this problem & as long as you dont gun it at a dead stop, & give it time to shift from reverse to drive it doesnt slip. But does have tranny issues. I have also had my ABS go out at about 140,000 miles. I still can drive it daily & has never failed me even with those issues. I have had some break repairs done, but other than that its been regular routine maintenance. I would buy this van again if they had newer models. Its been extremely reliable, never stranded me & my family.

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  MONEY PIT - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By moneypit10 - January 13 - 8:12 pm

  Since I bought this van at 22,000 miles its needed a $1200 engine seal, new windshield wiper motor, new headlights because they leak water into them. Now its at 50,000 miles and it needs a tune up. I wonder what else will go wrong with it. It just keeps costing me money. This has not been a good vehicle to own. The only good thing about this van is that its 11 years old with only 50,000 miles on it and the interior and exterior look like new. Too bad whats under the hood cant be more reliable. I give this 10 thumbs down and 20 raspberries. I will never buy another chevy.

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  Tail lights and headlights - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By sherrington - December 15 - 1:47 pm

  I see numerous complaints about tail lights and headlights for the Venture here. Ive had and cured both issues. The brake lights burn out becuase of water collecting in the tail light assembly. The seals are unable to keep it out at highways speeds. Drill a 1/4 inch hole in the bottom of the tail light assembly to drain water out. Be sure and drill through the bottom bulb chamber as well. Headlights come filled with nitrogen. Dont as why. If the nitrogen leaks out they will fog up. You can change the bulbs without draining the nitrogen, but a new head light assmebly is available online for about the cost of a new bulb. That said, my Venture is reliable, comfortable and roomy.

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  Chevy Venture 2003 - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By angelam1 - October 1 - 1:42 pm

  I own the car and it now has 204,000 miles on it. I am so attached I am finding it hard to buy another. I love the van, lifetime repairs have cost about 500.00, which isnt bad. 2 cons to the car, heater isnt the best, doesnt get as hot as other brands I have road in and doesnt blow strong. Electrical system has always had a querk. If I change one light thats out (tail or blinker) another one will go out after. I have spoke to other owners with the same problem. But with all that, it still has been very reliable, great in the snow, reliable, love it!

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  not bad - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By thisguy3 - September 5 - 2:14 pm

  Recived this car with 95000 miles from family member, and have a mostly possitive experience. The V6 has plenty of low end torque, so much that we used to use it as a pickup for lumber and things, steering has very good feel for a minivan, although is a bit heavy at low speeds, and is fairly comfortable.

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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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  Proud of my 2003 Chevy Venture Minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By keeley00 - January 2 - 12:15 pm

  I bought my van in Feb of 2006 with 130000 miles already on it. Im not sure how the previous owners maintained the van, but since I bought it I have changed the oil every 4000-5000 miles. I had to have the transmission rebuilt in 2007, but it now has 270000 miles on it and a daily driver still. The other issues I have had with this van has been the poor headlight vision and frequent blown headlight bulbs and turn signals due to leakage into the headlights. I am very pleased with this van overall and if I was in the market for another van I would buy this same one. Just an fyi from a venture owner.

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  2003 Chevy Venture Review - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By md2011 - September 20 - 11:41 am

  We bought this car used in Dec 05. Had 30K on it. it has been a very dependable vehicle for the past 6 years. Impressed with the mpg even when the van is loaded and have the ext version (gotten 28mpg traveling from NYC to North Carolina). Maintenance has been: oil changes every 4 months, cabin air filter, air intake filter replaced at 45K, transmission fluid and filter changed at 45K. Things that have broke are, glovebox handle, headlights are fogged, rear seatbelt stuck. The only issues I have with the vehicle are, poor headlight illumination, mushy brakes (no matter what weve done to improve them), and taillight keeps burning out. Overall a great vehicle!!

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  Too many problems - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By fedup26 - July 23 - 6:05 pm

  With 89K miles, I have replaced: head gasket, power window motor & switches, tail lights, transmission cable, computer chip, engine mount. In addition, the latch for the glove compartment is broken, the sliding side door does not work. Also, the piece holding the power window motor has deteriorated. Can easily be replaced at a cost of $700 by ordering the part from Canada. Now, Im looking at worst case senario a rebuilt engine (not going to happen), best case senario another $1500 bill. I wil follow my kids advice - get a new car. I will never purchase another GM product.

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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.