NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 18 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500, describing incidents dated July 23, 2007 to December 21, 2015.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 9 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Seat Belts 2 complaints
Structure 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint

Of the 18 complaints on file, 2 report a fire; across all 18 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10917814 · Filed October 21, 2016
HINGES BROKE; DOORS ARE UNSAFE.
ODI #10811420 · Filed December 21, 2015
CORRODED AND LEAKING FUEL FILLER NECK. FOOLISH DESIGN INVOLVING DISSIMILAR METALS HELD IN CONTACT AND SURROUNDED WITH A CONDUIT WHICH HOLDS WATER AND ROAD SALT. DESIGN IS DESTINED FOR FAILURE. GM HAS A PARTIAL RECALL FOR THE SNOW BELT. SUCH A FOOLISH DESIGN SHOULD BE FIXED EVERYWHERE AS IT IS JUST A…
ODI #10748421 · Filed August 13, 2015
THE PASSENGER SIDE SWING DOORS ARE VERY HARD TO OPEN AND SHUT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SWING DOORS ARE IN THE INITIAL STAGE OF THIS. THE PASSENGER SWING DOOR THAT IS FIRST TO OPEN (RIGHT) DOES NOT WANT TO OPEN AND DOESN'T WANT TO SHUT. I HAVE TO FORCE IT. THE SECOND DOOR (LEFT) IS GETTING WORSE AS WELL…

Read all 18 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE11-040: Fuel Filler Pipe Corrosion/Leakage
Closed August 16, 2012
- Recall 12V-388

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS/FUEL LEAK

NHTSA #06E043000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported May 19, 2006 · HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Potentially affected: 88,303 vehicles

Owners notified October 18, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET FRAM FUEL FILTERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

18 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500.

Structure

ODI #10917814

Incident: June 6, 2013 · Filed: October 21, 2016

HINGES BROKE; DOORS ARE UNSAFE.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10811420

Incident: December 21, 2015 · Filed: December 21, 2015

CORRODED AND LEAKING FUEL FILLER NECK. FOOLISH DESIGN INVOLVING DISSIMILAR METALS HELD IN CONTACT AND SURROUNDED WITH A CONDUIT WHICH HOLDS WATER AND ROAD SALT. DESIGN IS DESTINED FOR FAILURE. GM HAS A PARTIAL RECALL FOR THE SNOW BELT. SUCH A FOOLISH DESIGN SHOULD BE FIXED EVERYWHERE AS IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL FAILURE.

Structure

ODI #10748421

Incident: August 3, 2015 · Filed: August 13, 2015

THE PASSENGER SIDE SWING DOORS ARE VERY HARD TO OPEN AND SHUT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SWING DOORS ARE IN THE INITIAL STAGE OF THIS. THE PASSENGER SWING DOOR THAT IS FIRST TO OPEN (RIGHT) DOES NOT WANT TO OPEN AND DOESN'T WANT TO SHUT. I HAVE TO FORCE IT. THE SECOND DOOR (LEFT) IS GETTING WORSE AS WELL. THIS IS CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHT PIN IN THE DOOR JAM TO NOT PUSH IN ALL THE WAY, THEREFORE; THE LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10628404

Incident: July 1, 2014 · Filed: August 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPRAYED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL FILLER PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10493335

Incident: November 15, 2012 · Filed: January 17, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE RETURN AND DELIVERY FUEL LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10459328

Incident: May 1, 2012 · Filed: May 22, 2012

ON A FEW OCCASIONS PRIOR TO LOCATING A LEAK, I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. FINALLY WHEN FILLING EARLIER THIS MONTH, I SAW A LOT OF LEAKING COMING OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE, BETWEEN THE METAL TUBE AND THE PLASTIC COVER SURROUNDING THE TUBE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CUT OFF THE PLASTIC TUBE ABOUT HALFWAY AND FOUND A STATIC WIRE RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE TUBE. EVERYWHERE, WHERE THIS WIRE TOUCHED TO METAL PIPE, IT WAS CORRODED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE STATIC WIRE IS OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL AND WAS NOT CORRODED. PRESENTLY I HAVE WRAPPED THE TUBE WITH A GASOLINE RESISTANT TAPE. BUT, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TUBE SOON. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS QUOTED APPROX. $241.00 WITHOUT INSTALLATION. ARE THERE OTHER INSTANCES LIKE THIS AND IS THERE A RECALL I'M NOT AWARE OF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10453725

Incident: March 31, 2012 · Filed: April 1, 2012

FOR SOMETIME, THERE WAS A SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN FILLING THIS VAN, WHICH I JUST ATTRIBUTED TO A VAPOR RELEASE WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL. RECENTLY, I NOTICE GAS LEAKING UNDER THE VAN WHEN FILLING AT THE GAS STATION. THE GAS LEAKS IN AND AROUND THE BRAKE LINES. THIS VAN IS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500 WITH LEFT HAND DOOR OPTION. THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE AND IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM FURTHER, I UNDERSTAND IT TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND A DESIGN FLAW, WHERE THE FUEL FILL HOSE RUSTS. THIS NEEDS A RECALL WITH IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10445925

Incident: January 19, 2012 · Filed: January 30, 2012

I WAS REFUELING MY VAN AND GAS STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM. AFTER LOOKING I DISCOVERED THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS RUSTED THRU. THE VAN ONLY HAS 64K MILES. I REPLACED IT MYSELF AT THIS TIME. THERE WAS NO COLLISION DAMAGE....SIMPLY HEAVY CORROSION. *TT

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10443143

Incident: September 1, 2011 · Filed: January 9, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, HE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE GASOLINE FILLER TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000. UPDATED 02/13/12

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10413214

Incident: July 10, 2010 · Filed: July 17, 2011

GAS FILLER TUBE RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE LEAKED EVERY TIME I REFUELED. THIS WAS NOT A SMALL HOLE. THE METAL ON THE WHOLE TUBE BROKE DOWN CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK AND CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF UPDATED 3/08/2012 *LN *TR

Other Chevrolet Express 1500 model years

Check your 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Express 1500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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