TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKING, UPON REMOVING THE BULB THE SOCKET AND PLASTIC ON THE BULB IS MELTED. AFTER CLEANING UP THE BULB AND REPLACING IT, IT WILL WORK FROM ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1 DAY TO A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE STOPPING AGAIN. TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH AN OEM PART AND HAS THE SAME RESULTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESUL…
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TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKING, UPON REMOVING THE BULB THE SOCKET AND PLASTIC ON THE BULB IS MELTED. AFTER CLEANING UP THE BULB AND REPLACING IT, IT WILL WORK FROM ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1 DAY TO A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE STOPPING AGAIN. TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH AN OEM PART AND HAS THE SAME RESULTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN MANY STOPS BY POLICE AS YOU CAN NEVER TELL JUST WHEN THE LIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS AND SIMILAR GM MODELS. IT IS ALSO A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS NO ONE BEHIND YOU CAN SEE YOU BRAKING IF THE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED IN '07. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10404408
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2011
Exterior Lighting
2003 CHEVY VENTURE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO STOP WORKING. HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES. THE SOCKET THE BULBS PLUG INTO MELTED AND I REPLACED THAT....BULBS ARE OUT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395772
70,000 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Exterior Lighting
FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL WITHOUT ANY DETECTABLE REASON. I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY "FIXES" RANGING FROM REPLACING BLOWN CIRCUIT BOARDS, BENDING PRONGS FOR BETTER CONNECTION AND GREASING THE CONNECTIONS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID REPLACING THE BULBS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE, ONLY TO FAIL WITHIN THE FOLL…
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FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL WITHOUT ANY DETECTABLE REASON. I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY "FIXES" RANGING FROM REPLACING BLOWN CIRCUIT BOARDS, BENDING PRONGS FOR BETTER CONNECTION AND GREASING THE CONNECTIONS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID REPLACING THE BULBS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE, ONLY TO FAIL WITHIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE CLEANED THE COMPONENTS AND BENT THE PRONGS HOLDING THE BULBS IN PLACE TO GIVE A BETTER CONNECTION. THE CIRCUIT BOARDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP EITHER. ALL OF THESE SOLUTIONS HAVE WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS AT THE LONGEST. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF MELTING COMPONENTS, MOISTURE OR RESIDUE WITHIN THE CIRCUIT BOARDS OR BRAKE BULB CONNECTIONS. I HAVE FOUND, IF I "BANG" ON EACH BRAKE LIGHT PRIOR TO DRIVING IT MIGHT REMAIN WORKING UNTIL I GET TO MY DESTINATION. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME ALMOST 99% OF THE TIME, I'M SCARED OF GETTING REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE PERSON BEHIND ME DIDN'T KNOW I WAS STOPPING BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. I'M HOPING I'M ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERN TO YOUR AGENCY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10394251
84,000 miles · Mar 26, 2011
Exterior Lighting
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES STOPPED WORKING AFTER FAILING MANY TIMES OVER. UPON CHECKING THE BULBS AND THE VOLTAGE WITH A METEOR....IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THEY DO WORK AS LONG AS THE SLIDING DOOR IS IN MOTION, HARDLY ACCEPTABLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392973
51,000 miles · Jan 15, 2011
Exterior LightingCrash
REAR MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS ALWAYS REPLACING AND BURN OUT FREQUENTLY WITH NO REASON NOW REAR ENDED .IF MY KIDS WERE SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT THEY MAY BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. I HEAR IT IS A PROBLEM NATION WIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376785
12,500 miles · Sep 23, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2003 CHEVY VENTURE, CONSTANTLY HAVING NON WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS . REPLACING BULBS CONSTANTLY BECAUSE OF THE MELTING. REPLACED THEM AGAIN WITH A LUBRICATE, THAT I WAS TOLD WAS NEEDED FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. GETTING TIRED OF HAVING TO FIX THE BRAKE LIGHTS EVERYTIME I NEED TO GO OUT.!!!!!!!!!!! TIRED OF BEING …
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2003 CHEVY VENTURE, CONSTANTLY HAVING NON WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS . REPLACING BULBS CONSTANTLY BECAUSE OF THE MELTING. REPLACED THEM AGAIN WITH A LUBRICATE, THAT I WAS TOLD WAS NEEDED FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. GETTING TIRED OF HAVING TO FIX THE BRAKE LIGHTS EVERYTIME I NEED TO GO OUT.!!!!!!!!!!! TIRED OF BEING PULLED OVER BY THE COPS BECAUSE OF MY NON WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS............ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357125
85,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN WARNED BY POLICE THAT NO BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OPERATIONAL. SOCKETS WERE MELTED. REPLACED THE TAIL LAMP CIRCUIT BOARD. AFTER TWO MONTHS THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, RESULTING IN NO BRAKE LIGHTS. REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF CIRCUIT BOARD, AND THE SAME PROB…
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2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN WARNED BY POLICE THAT NO BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OPERATIONAL. SOCKETS WERE MELTED. REPLACED THE TAIL LAMP CIRCUIT BOARD. AFTER TWO MONTHS THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, RESULTING IN NO BRAKE LIGHTS. REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF CIRCUIT BOARD, AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER FIVE MONTHS. NO BRAKE LIGHTS=SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344601
98,000 miles · Jul 3, 2010
Exterior Lighting
THE BRAKE LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE OF 2003 CHEVY VENTURE CONSTANTLY IS BURNING OUT. OCCURS WITHIN A WEEK AFTER REPAIR EACH TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS HALF A DOZEN TIMES AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE CIRCUIT BOARD TWICE WITH NEW DORMAN UNITS. PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE/COMPLAINT WITH THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR GM VANS. …
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THE BRAKE LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE OF 2003 CHEVY VENTURE CONSTANTLY IS BURNING OUT. OCCURS WITHIN A WEEK AFTER REPAIR EACH TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS HALF A DOZEN TIMES AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE CIRCUIT BOARD TWICE WITH NEW DORMAN UNITS. PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE/COMPLAINT WITH THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR GM VANS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PASS VEHICLE INSPECTIONS AND MAY RESULT IN A FINE IF I AM STOPPED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341334
75,000 miles · Jun 2, 2010
Exterior Lighting
WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT WHICH DO NOT WORK 80 % OF THE TIME. THE CIRCUIT BOARDS THAT HOLD THE BULBS BURN UP THE PLASTIC AND THE BULBS WHICH CAUSES THEM TO NOT LIGHT UP WHEN I PRESS ON MY BRAKES. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD …
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WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT WHICH DO NOT WORK 80 % OF THE TIME. THE CIRCUIT BOARDS THAT HOLD THE BULBS BURN UP THE PLASTIC AND THE BULBS WHICH CAUSES THEM TO NOT LIGHT UP WHEN I PRESS ON MY BRAKES. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE BOARDS REPLACED TWICE AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE BOARDS REPLACED I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER 500 DOLLARS TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS A CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM AMONG HUNDREDS OF OWNERS OF THE CHEVROLET VENTURE OF VARIOUS YEAR MODELS, AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MORE OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. ONE OF THESE DAYS I AM GOING TO GET REAR ENDED BECAUSE I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT. I AM GOING TO GET HIT AND THEN EITHER HAVE MYSELF OR ONE OF MY THREE CHILDREN END UP IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF A DEFECT ON CHEVROLET'S PART. THIS IS SHAMEFUL THAT THEY HAVE HAD VARIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE YET TO RECALL THIS DEFECT BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334276
99,600 miles · Feb 15, 2010
Exterior Lighting
ALL REAR LIGHTS DON'T BURN OUT THEY JUST SHORT OUT THE BASES ARE MELTED AND IM AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE A ELECTRICAL FIRE WE JUST PURCHASED THE VAN ON THE 18. *TR
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW DRIVER'S AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE04064 · POWER-SLIDING Door
Opened Sep 17, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door
SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE WERE 102 ALLEGED INJURIES INCLUDING ARM/WRIST, THUMB AND SHOULDER INJURIES.A COUNT OF INJURIES REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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