1997 Chevrolet Venture complaints

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS COULD BE RELATED TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK *NM

I HAVE FIRESTONE P215-70R15, FR680 TIRES ON MY 97 CHEVY VENTURE VAN. THE TIRES HAVE AROUND 50K ON THEM. STILL PLENTY OF TREAD. TWO MONTHS AGO A 5 INCH PIECE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE RIPPED OFF THE TIRE. KNOWING ABOUT THE TIRE PROBLEM I CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY SENT ME TO THEIR "SERVICE CENTER" WHERE HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT NO THE TIRES. TWO WEEKS LATER ON A TRIP TO ORLANDO A 9 INCH PIECE OF TIRE RIPPED OF MY LEFT FRONT TIRE. NEEDING A TIRE I ALSO REPLACED THAT ONE. THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK IS ON SATURDAY 5.15 MY WIFE AND ONE YEAR OLD TWIN GIRLS WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO GAINSVILLE, FL AND THE "WHOLE" TREAD ON THE BACK LEFT TIRE RIPPED OFF. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD DID SHE KEEP CONTROL OF THE VAN AND GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE POLICE OFFICER THAT HELPED HER SAID SHE WAS VERY LUCKLY TO NOT HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TIRE TREAD MESSED UP THE SIDE OF THE VAN AND TORE OFF PART OF THE BACK BUMPER.

WHILE DRIVING/PARING BOTH FRONTAL PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

OWN A 97 CHEVY VENTURE DURING AN OIL CHANGE WAS TOLD I HAD COOLANT IN MY OIL, SO I TOOK VAN TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THEY INFORMED MY THE INTAKE GASKET WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 975.00, THIS WAS DONE AND NO MENTION WAS EVER MADE THAT THERE COULD ALSO BE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THIS LEAK. FIVE MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET DURING 5 O'CLOCK RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TAKING MY SICK CHILD TO THE DOCTOR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER, I HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE CURB SIDE LANE, GET MY SICK CHILD OUT AND WALK TO A PHONE TO CALL MY SPOUSE TO COME GET US AND THE VEHICLE MIND YOU THIS WAS LATE SEPTEMBER AND IT WAS CHILLY OUTSIDE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER (THE SAME ONE THAT DIAGNOSED THE GASKET LEAK) WHO TOLD ME THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPLACE THE MOTOR THAN TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, AT A COST BETWEEN $3000.00 TO $5200.00 DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF REPLACEMENT MOTOR I WANTED, NOT BEING COMFORTABLE WITH THIS REPSONSE I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHO AT LEAST COULD TELL THAT THE INTAKE GASKET HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT UNFORTUNATLY GAVE THE SAME RESULT REPLACE MOTOR. I DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THIS SO THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND OF NO USE TO ME. I HAD TO GO AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED ON VAN. VEHICLE BECAME HOT QUICKLY AND STOPPED RUNNING. HAD CHEVY DEALER REPLACE INTAKE. VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER SPENDING OVER $1100.00. I APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.1, 3.4 AND 3.8 GM MOTORS. VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN THIS PRODUCT.

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP OF ACOMPLAINT FILED ON 3/10/1997. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH CHEVY CORP. THEY HAVE ADVISED ME THAT THEY WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING MY VENTURE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED ME THAT REPAIRS WILL COST A MINIMUM OF $2000. ADD THIS TO THE $7500 THAT I STILL OWE AND I WILL OWE $9500 ON THIS VAN. I AM AMAZED BY THE DENIAL OF CHEVY CORP. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS WHO HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS FROM DEX COOLANT. I AM ASKING THAT SOMEONE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER!! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES ON THIS VAN. THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 12,000 MILES PER YEAR, AND I HAVE DOCCUMENTED PROOF OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SLIDING DOOR, SEAT LATCHES, AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS. I WILL NEVER BY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN!!*AK

I PURCHASED A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE IN 8/2000. THE VAN HAD 19,000 MILES AND I PAID 17,900. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, AND THE VAN HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I USE THE VAN TO TRANSPORT MY DAY CARE CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOLS. I ALSO USE IT TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS AND DANCE. LAST WEEK THE COOLANT LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON & OFF. ALSO, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING BETWEEN HOT AND COLD, AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT- $130.00. AT THE TIME THERE APPEARED TO BE NO COOLANT MIXING WITH THE OIL. I DROVE THE VAN 3 MILES TO MY HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE VERY NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL THE SAME THING OCCURRED. AFTER RETURNING THE VAN TO THE GARAGE, I GOT THE DEVASTATING NEWS THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC WAS IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE I TAKE SUCH GREAT CARE OF MY VAN. MY DAY CARE PARENTS ARE FURIOUS!! I STILL OWE $7,000. ON THIS VAN AND I'M MAKING PAYMENTS OVER $300.00 A MONTH. I RECENTLY BUILT A NEW HOME AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, TWO OF MY FRIENDS JUST PURCHASED VENTURESBASED ON MY RECCOMMENDATION! THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING UNLOADING THEM ASAP. I WAS GOING TO TRADE MINE FOR A WARNERS BROTHERS MODEL LATER THIS YEAR. I SOLD A JEEP CHEROKEE WITH 100,000+ MILES ON IT FOR $2000 SO THAT I COULD GET THIS VAN. THE JEEP WAS RUNNING BEAUTIFULLY. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING COMPLAINTS. THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND THEI

ON 11/18/2003 I TOOK MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN, WITH 64,000 MILES, TO MY SERVICE SHOP TELLING THEM I WAS GETTING A FLUID LEAK ON MY DRIVEWAY LOOKING LIKE A MIXTURE OF OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND ALSO THAT I COULD HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT. IT TURNS OUT I DID HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE AND NOW MAY NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH SO FEW MILES. CHEVROLET SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCT.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS: 1. HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY; 2. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HEADLIGHTS CAME ON; 3. ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO LEAKING RADIATOR , AND 4. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS IGNITION AND POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED REGULARLY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START. THE DOOR PANELS WERE LOOSE. THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED. THE ANTI THEFT ALARM MALFUNCTIONED. REAR WINDOW WASHER MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

VAN TAKEN FOR SERVICE FOR COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE OVERHEATING AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING UP AND CAUSING TEMPERATURE (HOT) AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LAMPS TO COME ON. THE VAN NEVER WARMS UP EITHER. THE VAN WAS DIAGNOSED BY GM TECHNICIAN INDICATING REPAIRS OF LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, REPLACEMENT OF LOWER INTAKE GASKET THERMOSTAT AND OIL PUMP DRIVE SEAL. CYLINDER #2 MISFIRE WITH INSTALLATION OF NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, PCV VALVE, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER AND CLEANING OF FUEL INJECTORS. THE VAN DIDNT GET 1.5 MILES FROM THE SERVICE FACILITY AFTER MY ALMOST $1600 PAYMENT BEFORE THE SAME PROBLEMS RESURFACED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK AND AFTER BEING SERVICED AGAIN WITH NO NEW DIAGNOSIS, I DROVE THE VAN ALL OF 20 MILES BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THE VAN WAS TAKEN BACK FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER INITIAL SERVICE, ALL WITHIN A ONE-WEEK TIMEFRAME. NOW, THE VAN HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING HEAD FAILURE. GM NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND ITS WORK THE FIRST TIME AND NOT TRY TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER MORE THE THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

MY CHEVY VENTURE WITH 95,000 MILES, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, RATHER SUDDENLY OVERHEATED AND STALLED AS I WAS PULLING IT OVER ON THE INTERSTATE. THANKFULLY THERE WAS A LEVEL, GRASSY SHOULDER SO I COULD PULL ALL THE WAY OFF THE ROAD, AS THE HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC WAS QUITE INTIMIDATING. THIS WAS IN MAINE, ON A VERY COLD DAY, AND I WAS ALONE WITH MY 4 SMALL CHILDREN, ABOUT 45 MINUTES FROM HOME. TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULDN' T TAKE ALL OF US, AND THERE WERE NO TAXI CABS. THANK GOD ONE OF MY FRIENDS WITH A VAN (FORD!) WAS ABLE TO COME GET US. WE HAD TO WAIT IN THE CAB OF THE TOW TRUCK FOR 45 MINUTES FOR MY FRIEND TO COME FROM HOME TO WHERE WE WERE STRANDED. GOT THE VAN BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A $2800 REPAIR BILL (APPARENTLY WE GOT OFF EASY, USUALLY MORE ENGINE DAMAGE IS SUSTAINED IN THIS KIND OF THING) DIAGNOSIS: FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (WHICH DEALERSHIP ADMITS IS A "DESIGN FLAW", RESULTING IN THESE PROBLEMS FOR TOO MANY OWNERS) RESULTING IN A FLOODING OF ENGINE WITH ANTIFREEZE, SUDDEN TEMPERATURE CHANGE WARPING THE HEAD. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM, I WISH IT HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR A REPLACEMENT BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. CHEVY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT ITS MINIVAN PRODUCTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS DRIVEN BY MOMS WITH LARGE FAMILIES WHO CANNOT AFFORD (FINANCIALLY OR SAFETY-WISE) TO BREAK DOWN SO DRAMATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. MY CHILDREN AND I WERE TERRIFIED THAT DAY--IF IT HAD STALLED 5 SECONDS SOONER, WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT OFF THE ROAD. THANK YOU. MARCIA HYDE. *JB

FROM ABOUT 40000 MILESPROBLEMS WITH THE TEMP GAUGE INDICATING ENGINE RUNNING HOT WHEN IN FACT IT NEVER WAS AND COOLANT WAS ADEQUATE MECHANIC NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE OUT 60000 INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED 90000 MILES ENGINE LOSING POWER AND STALLING ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED POSSIBLE AND HEAD GASKET. BRAKES NOISY WITH A GRINDING FEEL IN THE PEDAL LIGHTS ON DASH ON & OFF ABS AND COOLANT LOW WHEN NO PROBLEM EXISTS! CAR PULLS TO LEFT AND HARD TO STEER IN A PUDDLE HORN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACTIVATE. DIRECTIONAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FLASH WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER SLIDING DOOR WORKING IMPROPERLY AND OPENING ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE DOOR DURING THAT TIME AND THE DOOR WAS "FIXED" BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE DOOR CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTIONED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND A FULL TIME JOB, I COULD NOT CONTINUE TO TAKE THE VAN TO THE DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR KEPT OPENING ITSELF AFTER BEING CLOSED AND THEN WOULD BLOW THE FUSE AND ONLY OPERATE MANUALLY. FOR FEAR OF THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, I LEFT THE DOOR OPERATE MANUALLY AND GAVE UP ON THE POWER ASPECT OF THE DOOR. THE DOOR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN MANUALLY AND REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, I CONTACTED GM ON THE MATTER AND THEY SENT ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP(SYLVESTER CHEVROLET OF PECKVILLE PA. ) AND THEY "DIAGNOSED" THE PROBLEM AS BEING UNRELATED TO THE RECALL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS AND FEEL THAT WERE THE LAST ONES TO DO ANY WORK ON THE DOOR(RECALL) AND IT BROKE SHORTLY AFTER THEY"FIXED"THE RECALL. THE DEALER AND GM ARE TELLING ME THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST $850 TO FIX. I FEEL ANY DAMAGE TO THE DOOR WAS AS A RESULT OF THIS RECALL AND THEIR INABILITY TO CORRECT IT. THE DEALER AND GM HAVE TOLD ME HEY CAN OFFER ME NO HELP IN THIS MATTER AND IF I WANT THE DOOR FIXED, TO PAY FOR IT. I KNOW HAVE TO PAY $350 FOR THEM JUST TO PUT MY VAN BACK TOGETHER WITH NO REPAIRS

I OWN A REPAIR SHOP, MY WIFES VAN JUST STARTED TO OVER HEAT. OPON ME TESTING THE ENGINE I COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM- BECAUSE OF YEARS OF WORKING ON ENGINES I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE HEAD GASKETS ONLY TO FIND CRACKS IN BOTH HEADS FROM THE PLUG HOLE TO THE VALVE -THIS IS DEFINITLY A DESIGN FLAW HEAD DO NOT JUST CRACK NOR DO THEY DO IT IN THE SAME PLACE, I BELEIVE ALOT OF COOLANT PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINE 3.4 V6 WILL BE TRACED TO THE HEADS ,I COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BY DOING A PRESURE TEST BUT ONCE THE HEADS WERE OUT THERE IT WAS..1997 CHEVY VENTURE

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM

MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I WILL SOON NEED MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED BECAUSE THAT IS WHY I HAVE AN OIL LEAK THEY CANNOT STOP. I PAD A LOT OF MONEY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE OIL LEAK. AND HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR SO MANY OIL CHANGES BECAUSE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ETC. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNIOCAL SERVICE BULLITIN RE. THIS PROBLEM BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BASED ON MY RESEARCH OF THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.*AK

COOLANT LOST 3.4 LITRE G.M. ENGINE. FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS CAUSING OVERHEATING AND ENGINE REPAIR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE. THE CONSUMER FELT BINDING IN THE GAS PEDAL, AND THE VAN STARTED DECELERATING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CAUSE OF THE BROKEN ACCELERATOR CABLE IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NM

CONSUMER'S SON GOT ENTANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT WHICH THEN TIGHTENED AROUND HIS WAIST/LOWER ABDOMEN. *PH ALTHOUGH THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS PRESS THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO ALLEVIATE THE PAIN IT WAS CAUSING TO THE CHILD. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE SEAT BELT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK PINION STEERING, WRITER QUESTION IF HIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED WITH RECALLED CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000. *PH *MR *SC *JB.

SUMMER OF 2003 ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WITH DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITH LITTLE OR NO BRAKING ACTION. LOUD SHUTTER AND VIBRATIONS WERE FELT FROM THE WHEELS. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. SERVICE FACILITY FOUND FAULTY ABS SENSOR, COST $580.00. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. LITTLE OR NO BRAKING WITH ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING ALL THE TIME. *CB

VEHICLE REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER TO THE RIGHT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO STEER TO THE LEFT. THIS IS AFTER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V286000 (02049) WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON 03/19/03 @ 103819 MILES. *CB

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL AND NOTICED WATER IN THE OIL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AND INTAKE GASKET. *NM

ENGINE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF A BROKEN CAMSHAFT. CAMSHAFT BROKE DUE TO ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS INTO ENGINE VIA DAMAGED INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $5180. THIS INCIDENCE IS SIMILAR TO MANY CASES REPORTED BY OWNERS OF VEHICLES (VENTURE, MONTANA, GRAND AM, ETC.) WITH EITHER THE 3.1L OR 3.4L GM ENGINE. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE ENGINE FAILED, EXCEPT FOR THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT TURNED ON A WHILE BACK. COOLANT WAS TOPPED OFF TO RECOMMENDED LEVEL AT THAT TIME. OWNER OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD VISIT HTTP://WWW.GMINTAKELEAK.COM/ FOR MORE INFORMATION.

MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK

OVER THE PAST YEAR THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. RECENTLY I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND POSSIBLE LIFTER PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SEVERAL RECALL RELATED ISSUES. A WEB SITE HAS BEEN SET UP TO PETITION GM TO RECALL THIS ISSUE HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/MOD_PERL/SIGNED.CGI?GMCNSMRS&1 .

THIS ALL STARTED IN DEC OF 2002, THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL DUE TO A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. I REPLACED THIS AT A COST OF 850.00. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS FROM OTHER WEBSITES I DECIDED TO WRITE THE BBB ALSO WHO WROTE BACK STATING NOT GMS FAULT SINCE THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. THATS A LIE, BECAUSE THERE IS A THOUSAND OF THEM ON THE INTERNET INCLUDING A PETITION-ON-LINE. ANYWAY THOUGH, AFTER ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER I FIXED THE MANIFOLD GASKET THE ENGINE WENT ANYWAY AND SINCE I STILL HAVE A LARGE "BALANCE DUE" ON THE CAR I HAD TO GET THE ENGINE REPAIRED AT A PRICE OF $4300.00. MY MECHANIC THOUGH AT LEAST GUARANTEES ME ON THIS ENGINE OF 3 YEARS OR 75000 MILES. MORE OF A WARRANTY THAN GM GAVE ME. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT BEFORE I GOT THE GASKET REPLACED, I WENT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM...HE DIDNT EVEN LOOK UNDER THE ENGINE BUT KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT I HAD THIS GASKET PROBLEM AND OFFERED ME ONLY $1000.00 FOR THE VAN FOR A TRADE IN...HE KNEW WE STILL OWED 7000.00 ON IT. I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN GM PRODUCTS AGAIN.

TWO MONTHS AGO I TOOK MY CHEVROLET VENTURE(WITH 53,000 MILES)TO A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET REPAIR SHOP COMPLAING THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS ON, AND THAT MY VAN WAS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POWER. AFTER HAVING MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR 8 DAYS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS CHARGED 153.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND AN OIL CHANGE. A WEEK AGO MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I AGAIN TOOK THE VAN TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF $5,000. I JUST FINISHED PAYING OFF THIS $27,000 VAN. NOW IT IS WORTHLESS. I DON,T UNDERSTAND. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY I CAN NOT ROLE UP MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AS THE POWER SWITCH HAS FAILED

THIS TRUCK IS A 1997 MODEL I PURCHASED IN MAY 1998 FROM TOM TAYLOR CHEVROLET IN MARTIN, TENNESSEE. WITHIN 3 MONTHS I HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK BACK (BEFORE THE 6-MONTH WARRENTY INSPECTION) BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT PULL THE TRUCK. SINCE THEN I'VE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION INCLUDING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE, EVEN AT STOP SIGNS, WITH ACCELERATOR PRESSED DOWN AND AT INCREASED RPM'S. HAVE TO SHIFT MANUALLY. TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING AND WILL NOT SHEFT INTO OVERDRIVE. THIS HAS NEARLY GOT ME INJURED OR KILLED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION.

OUR VAN SUDDENLY OVERHEATED COMING HOME FROM WORK A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND TOTALLY SHUT DOWN. OUR DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT WE NEED NEW GASKETS AND THE HEADS ARE WARPED DUE TO THE ENGINE GETTING SO HOT. THERE IF OIL IN THE COOLANT AND BOILED THE COOLANT AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE!! WE HAVE ONLY HAD OUR VAN FOR 11 MONTHS WITH NO EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WE KNOW OF A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NOT SO FAR DONE ANYTHING TO HELP!!! OUR DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY NICE, BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM!!! SINCERELY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF AND YET GM CANADA CLAIMS NO PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO HEAR OUR COMPLAINT LET ALONE ACKNOWLEDGE IT YET WE CAN SEE FOR OURSELVES ON THIS SITE THE U.S. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT! THE FLOORBOARD CRACKED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND IT'S BEEN A DAY AND WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL RETAILER!

WHEN THE CAR IS RUNING FOR MORE THAT ONE HR THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, WHEN I STOP AND TRY TO LEAVE THE CAR IS MOVED WITH LOSS OF DRIVE. I CHANGE NEW TRANSMISSION FROM THE SAME DATE, BUT NOTHING CHANGED,EVERY TIME THE LIGHT COME ON THE READING IN THE COMPUTER SCANER, ALWAYS IS A FAULT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE SHOP CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP JUST RESET THE LIGHT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.

IN MARCH 03, I NOTICED THAT THE VAN DID NOT HAVE HEAT. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO HIGHLAND CHEVROLET, AURORA ONTARIO FOR RECALL WORK AND WE ASKED THAT THEY CHECK THE NO HEATING PROBLEM! THE NO HEAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT THE VAN HAD 59274 KILOMETERS (37000 MILES) ON IT. THE VAN WAS REPAIRED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED GASKETS THAT CAME OUT IN NOVEMBER 2002. THE VAN STILL DID NOT HAVE HEAT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS NO LONGER WORKING AFTER THE ABOVE REPAIR. THE VAN WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHO RECHECKED THE VAN AND STATED THAT THE CABIN FILTERS WERE BLOCKED. THEY TOOK THE CABIN FILTERS OUT AND TOLD US TO TRY THE VAN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS DID NOT WORK AND VAN STILL DID NOT HAVE HEAT OR A/C. THE VAN WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN , WE ADDRESSED OUR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO AGREED TO TAKE THE VAN BACK IN FOR A THIRD TIME . THIS TIME THEY BACK FLUSHED THE HEATER AND HEATER NOW WORKS MODERATELY BETTER. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A BUILD UP OF GRUNGE, WHICH WAS PREVENTING THE HEATER FROM WORKING . AS FOR THE A/C THAT STILL DOES NOT WORK, WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ARE PIN HOLE LEAKS IN THE PIPE THAT RUNS UNDER THE VAN .THIS PIPE OPERATES THE REAR AIR. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THERE IS LEAK WITH THE END SEAL ON THE TIE ROD, WHICH CAUSES POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. TO DATE WE HAVE NOT HAD THESE ITEMS REPAIRED. IN JULY THE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER CAME OFF! I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO MR. GRIMALD

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER SENT TO GMC ON 1/18/03. GMC DID NOT DO A THING TO HELP OUT WITH THE DEFECT. NOTE THAT [XXX] IS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. MY NAME IS [XXX] - HIS SON - I AM FILING THE COMPLAINT ON HIS BEHALF. ----- SIR / MADAM: DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN MY GMC VENTURE, I WAS FORCED INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. AT AN INTERSECTION ON HASTINGS STREET - ONE OF THE BUSIER STREETS IN VANCOUVER - MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED LEAVING ME HELPLESS, WITHOUT POWER. SEVERAL MECHANICS ASSESSED MY MINIVAN CONCLUDING THAT, FOR NO NORMALLY EXPECTED REASON, THE CAMSHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT, IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. ATTACHED TO THIS LETTER IS AN ANALYSIS OF THE ENGINE FAILURE CONDUCTED BY A MECHANIC WITH 23 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. HAVING PURCHASED FIVE NEW EXCLUSIVELY GM VEHICLES IN THE PAST, SPECIFICALLY A PONTIAC SEDAN, A PONTIAC STATION WAGON, A CHEVROLET VAN, AN OLDSMOBILE CALAIS SUPREME AND MY PRESENT VENTURE MINIVAN (WOLFE CHEVROLET OLDSMOBILE, VANCOUVER), I CONSIDER MYSELF A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER. BEING A LIFETIME GM CUSTOMER I'M DISAPPOINTED AND SURPRISED BY THE EXTENT AND MAGNITUDE OF MY MINIVAN FAILURE. I REALIZE THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BUT I BELIEVE IT TO BE COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE FOR A CAMSHAFT TO SNAP AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE USE. AS SUCH, I FEEL IT IS ONLY FAIR AND REASONABLE THAT GMC, BEING CONSUMER MINDED, REIMBURSE ME FOR T

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-286-000 MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. THIS RECALL FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *CB

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 VENTURE CHEVROLET VAN THAT I PURCHASED IN MAY OF 1997. I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS AFTER REVIEWING YOUR WEB SITE. FIRST, I JUST CHARGED ON MY CREDIT CARD ALMOST $2,000 (DECEMBER 2003) TO FIX THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE WAS A RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2002 THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED FOR THE RACK AND PINION. SECOND, I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL RELATED TO THE POWER PUMP STEERING. IT IS NOT BY CHANCE THAT BOTH OF THESE ITEMS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXERTION ON MORE PRESSURE TO MAKE TURNS AND THIS IS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE RECALL. I CAN NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE OF THE INCIDENTS WHEN THE ISSUES FIRST STARTED BUT IT IS FAIR TO SAY IT STARTED SOMETIME IN 2003. WHAT PROCEDURES SHOULD I FOLLOW TO GET THESE CHARGES TAKEN OFF OF MY CREDIT CARD? SINCE I PAID FOR OR IS CHARGED TO MY CREDIT CARD, I CAN NOT GET THE REPAIRS FREE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF BILLS - PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ALSO, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LEAKING OF BREAK FLUID IN 2001. AFTER VIEWING YOUR WEB SITE IT APPEARS THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANOTHER DEFECT. I DO NOT THINK IT IS JUST BY CHANCE THE THREE MAJOR REPAIRS THAT I HAVE PAID FOR ON MY VEHICLE ARE RECALLS FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. *LA

WE OWN A 1997 CHEVY VENTURE AND I AM FEARFUL THAT I WILL BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND WE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. THIS NEARLY HAPPENED AT OCTOBER OF 2003. NOW THERE IS A TICKING NOISE. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. *LA

WHEN MAKING A TURN AT 15 MPH STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND THEN LOCKED UP. WITH ENOUGH FORCE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. RECENTLY DISCOVERED ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE OF A FAILED GASKET AND DEXCOOL ENGINE COOLANT. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING ALSO. WHEN I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM I BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A PETITION LOCATED AT HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/ THAT CONTAINED ALMOST 5000 GM OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ON OTHER SITES I FOUND THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE PUT IN HARMS WAY BY THE FAILURE OF THIS GASKET AND THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED TO THEIR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES. THE GASKET HAS BEEN REDESIGNED BUT AT SOME POINT LAST YEAR (2003) IT WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. AFTER REPAIRS AND APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES OF TRAVEL MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT HAS NOW COME ON. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAILURE OF THESE GASKETS, THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY USE OF DEXCOOL COOLANT, AND SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL FAILURE OF GMC ENGINES. *AK

I HAVE A MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE THAT MAKES IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES. AT THIS POINT WE WERE TOLD NO HELP FROM GM. FROM LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS I SEE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *LA

THE INTAKE GASKETS ON MY WIFE'S 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE FAILED, LEAVING HER AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE. *AK

LOSS OF POWER STEERING LED TO THE DEATH OF DRIVER'S INFANT DAUGHTER AS STATED BY THE CONSUMER'S LAWYER. *LA WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. IN JANUARY 2003 THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION. *NM

TRANSMISSION JERKS AND BUCKS WHEN SHIFTING INTO OVER DRIVE, AND CONTINUES DOING THIS. HAD TORQUE CONVERTER CHANGED, FIXED PROBLEM FOR 2 WEEKS. THEN STARTED DOING THE SAME JERKING CONDITION. *LA

OUR 1997 CHEVY VENTURE VAN WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT JUST LOST ITS SECOND ENGINE IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. MY WIFE AND I ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, AND IT BEGAN AT 50 SOMETHING THOUSAND MILES WHEN THE DEALER STATED THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED AND THE ENGINE HAD DAMAGE FROM THE COOLANT. NOW, ON NOV 18TH, 2003 THE ENGINE DIED AND THE MECHANICS SAY THAT IT IS THE CAM SHAFT UNDOUBTEDLY FROM THE ORIGINAL COOLANT DAMAGE. INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. TWO ENGINES IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND I STILL OWE ON THE LOAN. *LA

FUEL PUMP FAILED WITH ONLY 65,000 MILES ON THE CAR.*AK

MY CHEVROLET 1997 VENTURE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND THE VAN DIED. WHEN I DID GET HOME I LET IT SET AND NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LOW, WHICH IT WAS NEVER BEFORE. CHECK IF OFTEN AS PER THE MANUAL. HAD IT TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND NOW THE GASKETS ARE RUINED AND THE HEADS ARE WORPED DUE TO THE ENGINE GETTING SO HOT!!! THERE IS OIL IN THE COOLANT!! $1,200.00 IN REPAIRS WHICH WE DON'T HAVE!! GM WILL DO NOTHING. HAVE ONLY HAD THE VAN FOR 1 YEAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IT JUST HAPPENED SUDDENLY!! *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WOULD STALL, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER STATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND COOLANT WENT INSIDE THE ENGINE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WOULD STALL, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. ALSO, BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK

TRAVELLING ~40 MPH, APPLIED BRAKE, ENGINE STALLED. RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. PROCEEDED ONE QUARTER MILE, APPLIED BRAKE TO TURN RIGHT, ENGINE STALLED, RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; COULD REPRODUCE PROBLEM BUT NOT LOCATE SOURCE. TOOK TO DEALER: UNABLE TO REPRODUCE PROBLEM. *AK