1997 Chevrolet Van

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the equipment › appliance › air conditioner. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Fuel System, Other3
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing2
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Tires › Sidewall1
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Nov 26, 2007158,000 milesNC

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY VENTURE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM BUT CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. I FIRST TALKED TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YES THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER. I TOOK IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I CALLED THE CHEVY 800 NUMBER AGAIN AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. BUT I STILL SEE THE RECALL HERE. SO WHAT CAN I DO. *TR

Tires
Filed Jun 22, 2007MI

IN ONLY FOUR MONTHS, ALL 4 OF MY GOODYEAR REGATTA TIRES WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THEM BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. (4 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS). THE COMPANY HAD AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THESE WERE ALL THE RESULTS OF "ROAD HAZARDS" AND THAT THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TO ANY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A BLOW OUT UNTIL ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES BLEW OUT OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS. HAS TO BE THE TIRES, NOT THE ROADS. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 6, 2005MD

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 6, 2005MD

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINDING TO OTHER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 10 TIMES.*AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Jan 13, 200596,500 milesNC

STEERING LOCKED ON TAKING A LEFT TURN WITHIN A PARKING LOT. REMEMBERED THAT CHEVROLET HAD SERVICED A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN FEB 2003. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARING, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THEIR INSPECTION POINTED TO A WORN STEERING GEAR AS THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 17,000 MILES OF THEIR SERVICING THE RECALL. READ ABOUT NUMEROUS FAILURES UNDER INVESTIGATION (PE01038) ALL POINTING TO THE SAME FAILURE. GM DID NOT SERVICE THE RECALL ADEQUATELY - THEY HAVE A FAULTY RACK AND PINION WHICH IS A GLARING SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING THE COMPLETE RACK AND PINION AS PART OF THE RECALL. HAD TO PAY FOR NEW RACK AND PINION AND LABOR CHARGES, OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 20, 2002CA

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 1500 VAN. IT SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE "REVERSE INPUT HOUSING BEARING" FAILED AND HAD SHREDDED INTO METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. AS SUCH, THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED VS. REPAIRED. $3,000. FAILURE AT 64,920 SEEMS UNREASONABLE FOR A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN WITH CARE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WILL FAIL AND AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES MAY RESULT. I'VE HEARD THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. DT

Fuel System, Other
Filed Apr 5, 2002LA

THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WANTS EITHER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE OR THE DEALER TO REIMBURSE THE REPAIR EXPENSES. *YH

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 2, 2002MI

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION GASKET FAILED.(CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE)*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Aug 21, 2001FL

02 SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 20, 2001NY

THE ABS FAILS TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING SHORT PANIC STOPS AT LOW SPEEDS IN WARM WEATHER BECAUSE ONE OF THE WHEELS PARTIALLY LOCKS UP, CONSUMER STATES HE DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAP, THE CAP SEAL WAS NOT SEALING PROPERLY AND A NEW SEAL WAS INSTALLED.*YH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 30, 2001NJ

SIRS, I HAVE TWO EXPRESS VANS (1999 AND 1997) BOTH HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURES BEFORE 50000 MILES. HMMMMM I SEE A PATTERN HERE. DOES ANYONE ELSE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Apr 5, 2001IN

DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR A RECALL ON FUEL FILLER VALVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Fuel System, Other
Filed Mar 22, 2001NC

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED GAS GAUGE READING 1/2 OF TANK, SOON AFTER GAS INDICATOR WOULD READ A FULL TANK OF GAS. *AK DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK SENDER UNIT WITH PUMP. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 8, 2001NY

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, AND BRAKE CONTROL. *AK CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALL. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT STARTED STELLING AGAIN. *YH

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Mar 1, 2001OH

SIDE CARGO DOOR FROZE AT HINGES, AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THE DOOR WAS UNSAFE. *YH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 18, 2000MI

EXPERIENCED 2 HARD 1ST-2ND GEAR SHIFTS AND SET TROUBLE CODE P1870 INDICATING INTERNAL SLIPPAGE. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, OR OVERHAUL. OTHER RESEARCH INDICATES COMMON PROBLEM FOR GM WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION QUITE POSSIBLY STEMMING FROM SWITCHING FROM A CAST IRON VALVE BODY IN EARLIER MODELS TO AN ALUMINUM VALVE BODY IN LATER MODELS OF THAT TRANSMISSION. *AK

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Sep 29, 2000CT

HUGE LOUD SHIMMY/VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, REPLACED DUE TO LARGE SIDEWALL BULGE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BM05326-1 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 25, 2000NY

BRAKES PADS ARE TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO WEAR OUT EVERY 15,000 MILES, AND DRUMS NEEDS TO REPLACED EVERY OTHER TIME. DEALER CLAIMED THIS IS WAS NORMAL.*AK TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED FOUR TIMES. THE THREE KNOBS FOR THE HEATER BROKE. POWER STEERING MAKES NOISE AND LEAK DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP. FRONT BRAKE MAKES NOISE. *YH

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jul 21, 2000WI

A/C LEAKED AT REAR AIR UNIT CORRODING THE CONNECTIONS AND DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR DUE TO THE COMPRESSOR FAILURE. YH

Fuel System, Other
Filed Dec 14, 1999OH

WHEN GAS IS USED, ESPECIALLY WITH A FULL TANK, THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO DOWN TO EMPTY AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE, THEN WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO ABOUT A QUARTER TANK THE GUAGE WILL GO BACK UP AND REGISTER FULL EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT BOUGHT ANY FUEL. THEN VEHICLE WILL RUN OUT WHEN GUAGE REGISTERS FULL! *AK

20 of 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200211000Routine
200114000Routine
200022020Routine
199915000Routine
199816010Routine
1997 — this page27000Routine
199628010Routine
199520010Routine
199411000Routine
199319010Routine
19928031Fatalities reported
19914020Routine

Compare every Van year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.