1997 Chevrolet Venture complaints

DOOR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN, DEALER EITHER WANTS $2000 TO FIX IT AND WON'T TELL ME HOW MUCH TO DISCONNECT THE WHOLE THING SO THAT IT IS EASY TO OPEN.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS SHORTED OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

DRAMATIC UNTREADING OF TIRE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 OUTSIDE OF SAVANNAH GEORGIA. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. TS

SLIDING DOOR COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD. SOMETIMES DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN, AND SOMETIMES AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR DOOR DOESN'T WORK. DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 MODULES TRYING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS NOW HAPPENS CONSTANTLY TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T EVEN WANT TO DRIVE THIS MINIVAN. THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT, THE STEERING LOCKED UP A TOTAL OF 15 TIMES. IT IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN.*AK

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO OVERCOME THE RESISTANCE. DRIVING ABOUT 100 FEET AND TURNING LEFT THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT A SEAL IN THE RACK AND PINION HAD FAILED AND THE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER DISASSEMBLED THE PINION GEAR AND THE SEALS WERE IN TACT. THE SEALS DIDN'T FAIL. FURTHER INSPECTION AND CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING WAS DAMAGED AND ALL OF THE BALL BEARINGS WERE GONE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY THAT POSES A RISK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR MONIES PAID TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY. *JG

THE CLEAR PART THAT HOLDS THE BULB INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT FIXTURES FLEW OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED PREVENTING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM TURNING AND UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS NOT A CASE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER. THE STEERING COULD NOT BE TURNED AND I COULD FEEL THE POWER STEERING PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING THE WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT, AT SLOW SPEED, WHERE I COULD PULL OVER AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO RERPAIR SHOP, IN WHICH THEY HAD REPAIRED AND STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WILL NEED REPLACING. *JB CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. (06/26/02) *SCC

CONSUMER STATE ON RENTAL VEHICLE THE SECOND ROW DID NOT LATCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING LEFT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND OWNER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. *AK RACK AND PINION FAILED. AFTER REPLACEMENT, AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. *TT

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 40 MPH, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LINE HAD A HOLE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *AK 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SCC

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSISTED WHEN GOING THROUGH SHALLOW PUDDLE. BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, IT WAS RAINING AND THE ROAD WAS WET WITH SOME PUDDLE IN THE ROAD. WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE RIGHT LANE TO MAKE RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, I HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME WATER THAT PONDED ALONG THE GUTTER LINE, THE STEERING SEIZE ON ME AND REQUIRED FORCEFUL TURN. BRAKE PADDLE WAS HARD TO PRESS AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE APPROPRIATELY.*AK

WORSENING OVER THE COURSE OF ONE WEEK OCCURRING AT ALL SPEEDS POWER STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE TURNING LEFT. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP CHEVY CHASE MARYLAND STATES RACK AND PINION CRACKED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, POWER STEERING FLUSH AND HOSE REPLACEMENT, AND ALIGNMENT REQUIRED FOR TIRES AFTER PLACEMENT OF NEW RACK AND PINION. NO MENTION MADE OF HISTORY OF GM 1997 MODEL RACK AND PINION SIMILAR PROBLEMS THOUGH HISTORY OF SAME FOUND OVER INTERNET.*AK

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK

BRIDGESTONE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. CHEVROLET NOTIFIED, BUT STATED TIRES ARE NOT ON RECALL LIST.*AK

THE SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE SNAPPED AND DROPPED THE SPARE ON THE GROUND DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. COROSION OF THE CABLE IS EVIDENT. I FOUND TWO WEB SITES WHERE A RECALL WAS MENTIONED OF THIS (WWW.WESTERNDRIVER.COM AND WWW.CANADIANDRIVER.COM) BUT FOUND NO INFORMATION HERE. I MUST NOT BE THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

AT 10 MPH, WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, STEERING WHEEL MADE A POPPING NOISE, THEN IT LOCKED UP ON CONSUMER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TT

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW AND FILLED THE ENGINE WITH WATER, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4 ENGINE THAT GM IS AWARE OF. THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS FALLEN OFF THE VAN 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD DEALER FIXED 3 TIMES THEN IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING WHEN THE VAN HAD 1000 MILES ON IT AND CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. GM SAYS THEY ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT. THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VAN COME UNLATCHED AT ANY TIME, THE BELTS IN THE REAR WILL CONTIUALLY TIGHTEN WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD. GM TOLD US THAT WE WERE NOT USING THE SEATBELTS PROPERLY. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE IMMIDIATLY FOLLOWING THE WARRENTY RUNNING OUT. *AK

SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE WHICH RUSTED CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT

DESIGN OF INTAKE GASKET WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY SET BECAUSE IN HOT TEMPERATURES, BETWEEN 90-110 DEGREES, PART WILL MELT, AND VEHICLE WILL MALFUNCTION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

VAN WAS INVOLVED WITH RECALL 01V067 POWER SLIDING DOOR. DOOR APPEARS CLOSED BUT WILL OPEN WHILE VAN IS BEING DRIVEN. OWNER TOOK VAN BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHICH THEN REPLACED ELECTRIC CONTACT POINTS.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF, THE CAULKING AROUND THE COVER CRACKED. *AK THE GLASS DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS MISSING. MAYBE IT HAD BROKEN OR SOMEONE HAD BROKEN IT. THERE WERE NO PIECES OF GLASS LEFT ON THE BASE OF THE HOUSING OF THE HEADLIGHT. *SCC

DEFECTIVE STEERING

CONSUMER STATES THAT SEALING COMPOUND HOLDING LENS TO BODY OF HEADLIGHT DRIED OUT AND THE LENS FELL OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE OPEN TYPE BULB TO GET WET AND BLOW. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *YD

CAR OVERHEATING AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PART ON NATIONAL B/O AND NOT A RECALL. VEHICLE DOWN. 48,000 PARTS NEEDED THROUGH OUT THIS COUNTRY. SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL?*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LEAKING.*JBMECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS AN IMPROPER GASKET INSTALLATION. *JG

BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FELL OFF OF THE CAR - ONE YEAR APART - THE LEFT AND RIGHT ASSEMBLIES - THE COST TO REPLACE THEM EXCEEDED 200.00 - WHEN CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS, CHEVROLET DIVISION THEY DENIED THEIR WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE US. *A,

HEADLAMP FELL OUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, NEVER DID FIND IT. ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE MALFUNCTIONING, VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, ESPECIALLY WITH SO LITTLE MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS THAT I AM REPORTING ARE VERY COMMOM AND NEED SOME ATTENTION GRANTED TO THEM. VEHICLES COST SO MUCH AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THEM IT CAN FINANCIALLY DRAIN YOU. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

CONSUMER STATES HIS TWO YEAR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR OUT OF PARKED INTO DRIVE, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE ABS WOULD INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE ON DRY SURFACE WHICH COULD LEAD IN A VEHICLE CRASH, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM

POWER LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF. *JG *AK

I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY COMMON ON VENTURE VANS.BROTHER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON 1998 VENTURE VAN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

FRONT COLLISION AT 45-50 MPH, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND IMMEDIATLY EXPLODED. NECK/JAW/BACK INJURIES TO PASSENGER. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO CHEST AND NECK AREAS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK *JG

I SENT A REPORT EARLIER THIS WEEK REGARDING THE STEERING FAILURE OF MY VAN ON 3/18/02. I BROUGHT OUR MINIVAN TO IRON TRAIL TO BE REPAIRED. ON 3/28/02 WE CALLED TO FIND OUT WHEN THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COMPLETE AND THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE REPLACEMENT RACK HE INSTALLED IN OUR VAN BROKE WHEN HE WAS TAKING IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AFTER INSTALLATION. HE ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS IS THE SECOND CHEVROLET VENTURE THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RACK AND THEN THE REPLACEMENT RACK ALSO BROKE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAILURE ON THE PART OF CHEVROLET IN THAT THE RACK IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE STEERED AT ALL WHEN THIS OCCURS. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FUTHER. THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T REALIZE THAT THEIR STEERING CAN "FREEZE" AT ANY TIME. A MINIVAN IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND A PERSON SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF STEERING FAILURE. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING WHAT IS DONE WITH THESE TYPE OF REPORTS AND WHAT FOLLOW UP THERE IS. THANK YOU. NLM

INSIDE OF HEADLIGHTS FILLED UP WITH WATER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WATER INSIDE OF HEADLIGHTS MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE ROAD. *YH

WHILE DRIVING STEERING BECAME TIGHT; THEN, FAILED REPEATEDLY. MADE LEFT TURN AND STEERING LOCKED UP AND FROZE. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

ON 12/12/01, THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED UNDER POWER. THE MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH LOCATED ON THE HEADER HAD TO BE USED AND THE DOOR CLOSED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 12/19/01 TO HAVE THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR PERFORMED. THIS WAS DONE BUT THE DEALER SAID THE INSIDE DOOR LOCK WAS BROKEN DUE TO THE BAD ACTUATOR THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE CAMPAIGN AND THAT I NEEDED TO CALL CHEVROLET. LATER THAT EVENING, THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. CHEVROLET (REF. # CO6273409) WAS CALLED AND TODAY, OVER 2 MONTHS LATER, MICHAEL GLENN OF CHEVROLET SAID THAT IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE DOOR REPAIRED. YESTERDAY, 2/27/02, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND POWER WAS REMOVED FROM THE SIDE DOOR.*AK

DASH WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON A STARTED UP AND STAYED ON, CONTROL MODULATOR FOR THE AIRBAG WAS BAD CAUSING SYSTEM FAILURE. THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT OR LOCK PROPERLY. THEN, AT OTHER TIMES, DOOR WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH SLIDING DOOR CAME OPEN. A SHORT TIME BEFORE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN REPAIR SH0P TO GET SLIDING DOOR FIXED. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO PROCEED FORWARD AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION.*AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE TURN SIGNALS STOP FLASHING WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED DUE TO MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE. THE ENGINE LOOSES COOLANT AND OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. REAR WIPER WAS INOPERATIVE. ABS LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. RIGHT FRONT TIRES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. *YH

POWER DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CLOSE ON PASSENGER OR NOT OPERATE AT ALL WHILE GETTING IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND WASUNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RECALL 01V264000, FOR SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT DEALER, SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL VANS IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH EVEN LESS MILAGE. *AK

WHILE HAVING MY VAN WASHED, THE FRONT LEFT HEAD LIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF. THE LENS COVER CAME OFF IN ONE PIECE LEAVING THE BULB EXPOSED. AFTER REPLACEING THIS AT A COST OF 250.00 DOLLARS IT APPEARS THAT THE OTHER (RIGHT SIDE) HEAD LIGHT HAS YELLOWED FROM UV EXPOSURE. THERE IS ALSO CONDENSATION INSIDE THE LIGHT INDICATING THIS SEAL IS COMPROMISED AND WILL SOON NEED REPLACING. THESE PLASTIC HEAD LIGHTS SHOULD NOT FALL APART AND YELLOW. THE REPLACEMENT LIGHT IS FAR BRIGHTER THAN THE ORIGINAL INDICATING THE LENS COVERS ARE MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL NOT WITHSTANDING UV DAMAGE. I'VE SURVEYED SEVERAL VANS THAT USE THE SAME STYLE LIGHTS, SEVERAL HAVE THE SAME CONDENSATION PROBLEMS LIMITING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LAMP. *AK

DRY ROT ON BOTH TIRES AND BELT SHIFT ON ONE. SERVICED DUE TO VIBRATION IN TIRE AND DEFECTS FOUND AT THAT TIME. TIRES WERE PUT ON IN MAY 2000 AND HAD 35, 000 MILES ON THEM. ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

ON DECEMBER 30, 1999, I DROPPED MY CHEVROLET, VENTURE TO PUENTE HILLS CHEVROLET DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER!/S TECHNICIAN FOUND A HOLE IN THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING. BASED ON THE DEALER!/S DIAGNOSTICS, THE HOLE WAS BURNED BY EXHAUST HEAT. SINCE THE DEALER HAD NO PART AVAILABLE, THE TECHNICIAN JUST SIMPLY TAPED THE HOLE AS A FIX. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE MINIVAN!/S ENGINE STARTED TO STALL OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VAN WAS DECELERATED BEFORE THE RED LIGHT, LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. I SENT THE VAN TO GLENDORA CHEVROLET DEALER TWICE, ONE WAS ON MARCH 12, 2001, AND ANOTHER WAS ON MAY 15, 2001 WITH NO SUCCESS. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND DID NOTHING (OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN!/T DO ENOUGH TESTING). ON OCTOBER 14 OF 2001, MY WIFE GOT AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE ENGINE STALL WHEN SHE EXITED FROM A FREEWAY. I SENT THE VAN TO PUENTE HILL DEALER NEXT DAY, ASKING TO CHECK THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TO REPLACE THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING. IT TOOK THE DEALER SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM BY THE SERVICE MAN, MARK FETTERMAN, DURING HIS ROAD TEST, BUT HAS NO CLUE WHY THE ENGINE STALLED. EVENTUALLY, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HOLE BURNED BY EXHAUST HEAT WAS VERY CLOSE TO AN ENGINE SENSOR AND THEY GUESSED THAT THE HOLE MIGHT CAUSE THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM. THE DEALER!/S GUESS WAS CORRECT. AFTER A NEW AIR CLEANER HOUSING WAS INSTALLED ON OCTOBER 19, WE NEVER HAVE THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF.*AK

RECALL 01V264000. NOT PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK