ChevroletTracker 2WD2003Overview/chevrolet/tracker-2wd/2003/base/

2003 Chevrolet Tracker 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Tracker 2WD.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2003 Chevrolet Tracker 2WD is a compact SUV with a 4-speed automatic transmission and a gasoline engine that requires 5.5 quarts of SAE 5W-30 oil, delivering EPA fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. With zero recalls but 96 total owner complaints—the most common area being suspension—this model year occupies a mixed position in the Tracker's reliability history, indicating that while no major safety issues prompted a recall, the suspension system was a frequent source of owner frustration.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque69 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/24/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 85 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 91176161. Note the factory engine air filter, spark plug and cabin air filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 85 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter91176161 alt 91176162
Engine air filter91174457 discontinued · alt 30025009
Fuel filter30020673
Spark plug91176020 discontinued
Front wiper blades91174721 alt 91174720
Serpentine belt30026857 alt 30026799
Thermostat91176904 alt 91176890
Cabin air filter91175923 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length148.8 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase86.6 in
Curb weight2723 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 24 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 69 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.6 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts109 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts109 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts19 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts37 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts69 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug17.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeSK16PR11
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.77-0.99 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type150
Oil Capacity3.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number85
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number85

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief13 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)36.0-43.0
RPM30-37 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Other4 Door / 2 Door
Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle61.5 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Other4 Door / 2 Door
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.006 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.67 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

Prep Except M6 Bolts

139.0 ft. lbs.39 ft. lbs
261 ft. lbs.61 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts completely
439 ft. lbs.39 ft. lbs
561.0 ft. lbs.61 ft. lbs
676.0 ft. lbs.; M6 Bolts:76 ft. lbs
16.0 ft. lbs.6 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 45,000 miTransmission Oil Cooler Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 120,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Tracker 2WD top in one area — the suspension, 15 of 96 reports (16%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 21 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
356
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
96
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 96 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension15
Electrical System8
Air Bags7
Vehicle Speed Control5
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Seat Belts4
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Power Train4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tracker 2WD. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Tracker 2WD take?

5.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Tracker 2WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tracker 2WD get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 24 highway / 22 combined mpg.