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2003 Chevrolet Express 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 10 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
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96,000 miles · Jan 15, 2012
StructureUnknown Or Other

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN 2500 THAT THE PAINT JUST STARTED FALLING OFF IN LARGE FLAKES ON THE REAR AND SIDE DOORS, AND THE FRONT HOOD. I HAVE TRIED TOUCH UP PAINT TO TRY AND STOP THE PEELING, BUT IT HAS NOT HELPED.WHEN I WASH THE VEHICLE OR IT RAINS MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSEN BY FILLING UP POCKETS BEHIND THE PAINT. THIS …

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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN 2500 THAT THE PAINT JUST STARTED FALLING OFF IN LARGE FLAKES ON THE REAR AND SIDE DOORS, AND THE FRONT HOOD. I HAVE TRIED TOUCH UP PAINT TO TRY AND STOP THE PEELING, BUT IT HAS NOT HELPED.WHEN I WASH THE VEHICLE OR IT RAINS MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSEN BY FILLING UP POCKETS BEHIND THE PAINT. THIS IS A MY COMPANY VAN WHICH HAS DECAL LETTERING ON IT. THE FLAKING IS STARTING TO GET TO THE LETTERING. IF IT CONTINUES, I WILL LOOSE APPROX. $800.00 TO A $1000.00 IN DECAL LETTERING PLUS THE VAN LOOKS TERRIBLE FOR A COMPANY VAN. THE COLOR OF THE VAN IS WHITE. I HAVE NOTICED MANY GM CARS AROUND WHERE I LIVE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I NEVER REALLY NOTICED UNTIL MY VAN STARTED TO DO IT. MANY OF OUR CITY POLICE CARS WHERE I LIVE ARE WHITE GM PRODUCTS AND HAVE PAINT PEEL ON THEM.WHY IS GM NOT CORRECTING THIS ISSUE? WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED? I HAVE OTHER GM PRODUCTS I OWN. I AM NOT SURE IF I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER DUE TO PROBLEMS SHOWING UP YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST IF THEIR PRODUCT IS A QUALITY PRODUCT AND GM STANDS BEHIND THEIR QUALITY OF WHAT THEY PRODUCE. NOW I AM FACED WITH THE COST OF A PAINT JOB AND THE COST OF RELETTERING THE VAN. THE SMARTER ANSWER MAY BE TO BUY ANOTHER VAN OF ANOTHER MAKE AND STAY AWAY FROM GM IF THEY CANNOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT QUALITY. I HAVE READ TOO MANY ARTICLES ABOUT PAINT PEEL ON GM PRODUCTS SINCE INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. MANY SUGGEST SMALL CLAIMS COURTS BECAUSE GM WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. NEED HELP IF THERE IS ANY SUGGESTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10443849

83,000 miles · Sep 10, 2009
Unknown Or Other

UNDER NORMAL USE REAR SIDE DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN OR CLOSE AND NOW BROKEN. THE DOOR, EVEN BEFORE IT WAS BROKE WAS HARD TO LATCH IF IT WOULD LATCH. THIS WOULD MAKE THE FRONT SIDE DOOR NOT CLOSE TIGHT. NOW WITH THE HINGE BROKEN THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH CORRECTLY. ALL EXPRESS VANS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURE KNOWS IT. I TRI…

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UNDER NORMAL USE REAR SIDE DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN OR CLOSE AND NOW BROKEN. THE DOOR, EVEN BEFORE IT WAS BROKE WAS HARD TO LATCH IF IT WOULD LATCH. THIS WOULD MAKE THE FRONT SIDE DOOR NOT CLOSE TIGHT. NOW WITH THE HINGE BROKEN THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH CORRECTLY. ALL EXPRESS VANS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURE KNOWS IT. I TRIED USING EVERY PENETRATING OIL AND IT WOULD NOT KEEP THE DOOR HINGE FROM SEIZING UP. THIS IS A COMPANY VAN AND WE HAVE 2 OF THEM WITH BROKEN HINGES (BOTH ARE THE TOP REAR ON THE SIDE DOOR) AND A 3RD THAT IS VERY HARD TO OPEN CLOSE. IF THIS WERE A PASSENGER TYPE THE DOOR COULD BE HIT ON THE INSIDE AND OPENED BY ACCIDENT. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING A HINGE TO REPLACE THE ONE ON THE VAN I DRIVE AND WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL DEALER TO KEEP ALL RECEIPTS INCASE OF A RECALL. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AROUND $1200 TO FIX 1 DOOR. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN AT THIS TIME, BUT DURING THE DAY I AM WITH THE VAN 7AM TO 4PM . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283608

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

PE11040 · Fuel Filler Pipe Corrosion/leakage

Opened Dec 14, 2011 · Closed Aug 16, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On August 7, 2012 General Motors (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety related recall for model year (MY) 2003-2004 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles.The recall affects vehicles equipped with a left side cargo door and that were originally sold or currently registered in the corrosion or salt-belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Dealers are to install a new fuel filler neck. Consumer notification letters will be sent in early October 2012, when sufficient parts are available. ODI has received 12 complaints alleging unique incidents of fuel leakage during refueling of a subject vehicle. Eleven of the complaints occurred on Chevrolet Express vans, and 1 of the complaints involved a GMC Savana. All vehicles were equipped with the left side cargo door option. For vehicles so equipped, water and road debris can become trapped in the protective conduit that covers the fuel filler pipe and may subsequently cause the pipe to corrode. If the corrosion creates a significant perforation in the pipe, fuel may leak onto the ground while refueling the vehicle. An illuminated Check Engine light (on some vehicles) or the presence of fuel odor may also act as precursors to fuel leakage. Fuel in the presence of an ignition source could cause a fire to occur. In their response to ODI's information request, GM reported 24 owner reports and 1 field report alleging fuel filler pipe failure/corrosion in the subject vehicle population. Six additional records were also provided that included the replacement of the fuel filler pipe, however not enough information existed to determine a relation to the alleged problem. After further review of the reports, ODI determined that a total of 27 individual GM reports were related to filler pipe corrosion. The complaints received from both ODI and GM primarily occurred in the corrosion states. During the investigation, the scope of the subject vehicle population was expanded to include MY 2004 Express vans, and MY 2003 and 2004 GMC Savana vans (with V6 engines) also equipped with left hand side door options, since the Savana vans also utilize the same, or substantially similar fuel filler pipe configuration. GM subsequently modified the design of the fuel filler pipe on vehicles equipped with side doors to correct the corrosion concern, so these vehicles do not have the defect issue.The affected vehicle population shown above reflects the total number of vehicles registered in the salt-belt states listed in GM's defect information report (DIR). Prior to the safety recall announcement, GM had issued a special coverage adjustment for vehicles in these states, during which a total of 771 repairs were made. Accordingly the vehicle population noted in the DIR reflects that of the remaining vehicle population.The investigation is closed based on GM's announcement of safety recall 12V388. The reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10463398, 10459328, 10456403, 10453725, 10445925, 10443143, 10441615, 10413568, 10413214, 10411911, 10353717, 10259377.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

On August 7, 2012 General Motors (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety related recall for model year (MY) 2003-2004 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles.The recall affects vehicles equipped with a left side cargo door and that were originally sold or currently registered in the corrosion or salt-belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Dealers are to install a new fuel filler neck. Consumer notification letters will be sent in early October 2012, when sufficient parts are available. ODI has received 12 complaints alleging unique incidents of fuel leakage during refueling of a subject vehicle. Eleven of the complaints occurred on Chevrolet Express vans, and 1 of the complaints involved a GMC Savana. All vehicles were equipped with the left side cargo door option. For vehicles so equipped, water and road debris can become trapped in the protective conduit that covers the fuel filler pipe and may subsequently cause the pipe to corrode. If the corrosion creates a significant perforation in the pipe, fuel may leak onto the ground while refueling the vehicle. An illuminated Check Engine light (on some vehicles) or the presence of fuel odor may also act as precursors to fuel leakage. Fuel in the presence of an ignition source could cause a fire to occur. In their response to ODI's information request, GM reported 24 owner reports and 1 field report alleging fuel filler pipe failure/corrosion in the subject vehicle population. Six additional records were also provided that included the replacement of the fuel filler pipe, however not enough information existed to determine a relation to the alleged problem. After further review of the reports, ODI determined that a total of 27 individual GM reports were related to filler pipe corrosion. The complaints received from both ODI and GM primarily occurred in the corrosion states. During the investigation, the scope of the subject vehicle population was expanded to include MY 2004 Express vans, and MY 2003 and 2004 GMC Savana vans (with V6 engines) also equipped with left hand side door options, since the Savana vans also utilize the same, or substantially similar fuel filler pipe configuration. GM subsequently modified the design of the fuel filler pipe on vehicles equipped with side doors to correct the corrosion concern, so these vehicles do not have the defect issue.The affected vehicle population shown above reflects the total number of vehicles registered in the salt-belt states listed in GM's defect information report (DIR). Prior to the safety recall announcement, GM had issued a special coverage adjustment for vehicles in these states, during which a total of 771 repairs were made. Accordingly the vehicle population noted in the DIR reflects that of the remaining vehicle population.The investigation is closed based on GM's announcement of safety recall 12V388. The reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10463398, 10459328, 10456403, 10453725, 10445925, 10443143, 10441615, 10413568, 10413214, 10411911, 10353717, 10259377.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

On August 7, 2012 General Motors (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety related recall for model year (MY) 2003-2004 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles.The recall affects vehicles equipped with a left side cargo door and that were originally sold or currently registered in the corrosion or salt-belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Dealers are to install a new fuel filler neck. Consumer notification letters will be sent in early October 2012, when sufficient parts are available. ODI has received 12 complaints alleging unique incidents of fuel leakage during refueling of a subject vehicle. Eleven of the complaints occurred on Chevrolet Express vans, and 1 of the complaints involved a GMC Savana. All vehicles were equipped with the left side cargo door option. For vehicles so equipped, water and road debris can become trapped in the protective conduit that covers the fuel filler pipe and may subsequently cause the pipe to corrode. If the corrosion creates a significant perforation in the pipe, fuel may leak onto the ground while refueling the vehicle. An illuminated Check Engine light (on some vehicles) or the presence of fuel odor may also act as precursors to fuel leakage. Fuel in the presence of an ignition source could cause a fire to occur. In their response to ODI's information request, GM reported 24 owner reports and 1 field report alleging fuel filler pipe failure/corrosion in the subject vehicle population. Six additional records were also provided that included the replacement of the fuel filler pipe, however not enough information existed to determine a relation to the alleged problem. After further review of the reports, ODI determined that a total of 27 individual GM reports were related to filler pipe corrosion. The complaints received from both ODI and GM primarily occurred in the corrosion states. During the investigation, the scope of the subject vehicle population was expanded to include MY 2004 Express vans, and MY 2003 and 2004 GMC Savana vans (with V6 engines) also equipped with left hand side door options, since the Savana vans also utilize the same, or substantially similar fuel filler pipe configuration. GM subsequently modified the design of the fuel filler pipe on vehicles equipped with side doors to correct the corrosion concern, so these vehicles do not have the defect issue.The affected vehicle population shown above reflects the total number of vehicles registered in the salt-belt states listed in GM's defect information report (DIR). Prior to the safety recall announcement, GM had issued a special coverage adjustment for vehicles in these states, during which a total of 771 repairs were made. Accordingly the vehicle population noted in the DIR reflects that of the remaining vehicle population.The investigation is closed based on GM's announcement of safety recall 12V388. The reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10463398, 10459328, 10456403, 10453725, 10445925, 10443143, 10441615, 10413568, 10413214, 10411911, 10353717, 10259377.

Fuel System, Gasoline

On August 7, 2012 General Motors (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety related recall for model year (MY) 2003-2004 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles.The recall affects vehicles equipped with a left side cargo door and that were originally sold or currently registered in the corrosion or salt-belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Dealers are to install a new fuel filler neck. Consumer notification letters will be sent in early October 2012, when sufficient parts are available. ODI has received 12 complaints alleging unique incidents of fuel leakage during refueling of a subject vehicle. Eleven of the complaints occurred on Chevrolet Express vans, and 1 of the complaints involved a GMC Savana. All vehicles were equipped with the left side cargo door option. For vehicles so equipped, water and road debris can become trapped in the protective conduit that covers the fuel filler pipe and may subsequently cause the pipe to corrode. If the corrosion creates a significant perforation in the pipe, fuel may leak onto the ground while refueling the vehicle. An illuminated Check Engine light (on some vehicles) or the presence of fuel odor may also act as precursors to fuel leakage. Fuel in the presence of an ignition source could cause a fire to occur. In their response to ODI's information request, GM reported 24 owner reports and 1 field report alleging fuel filler pipe failure/corrosion in the subject vehicle population. Six additional records were also provided that included the replacement of the fuel filler pipe, however not enough information existed to determine a relation to the alleged problem. After further review of the reports, ODI determined that a total of 27 individual GM reports were related to filler pipe corrosion. The complaints received from both ODI and GM primarily occurred in the corrosion states. During the investigation, the scope of the subject vehicle population was expanded to include MY 2004 Express vans, and MY 2003 and 2004 GMC Savana vans (with V6 engines) also equipped with left hand side door options, since the Savana vans also utilize the same, or substantially similar fuel filler pipe configuration. GM subsequently modified the design of the fuel filler pipe on vehicles equipped with side doors to correct the corrosion concern, so these vehicles do not have the defect issue.The affected vehicle population shown above reflects the total number of vehicles registered in the salt-belt states listed in GM's defect information report (DIR). Prior to the safety recall announcement, GM had issued a special coverage adjustment for vehicles in these states, during which a total of 771 repairs were made. Accordingly the vehicle population noted in the DIR reflects that of the remaining vehicle population.The investigation is closed based on GM's announcement of safety recall 12V388. The reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10463398, 10459328, 10456403, 10453725, 10445925, 10443143, 10441615, 10413568, 10413214, 10411911, 10353717, 10259377.