1997 Chevrolet Venture complaints

WHEN CONSUMER IS TRAVELING PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED THERE IS AN ALARM INDICATING THAT DOOR IS SECURE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

OUTER PIECE THAT HELD LENSES IN FELL OUT OF HEADLIGHTS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WENT OUT, DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING, DEALER STATED BOTH AIR BAG MODULES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, DEALER ONLY GAVE CONSUMER A 10 PERCENT DISCOUNT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP SUDDENLY, PREVENTING CONSUMER FROM CONTROLLING DIRECTION OF VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND RELEASE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BOTH HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES LOST PLASTIC ITS LENSE COVERS, IT APPEARED THAT THE ADHESIVE DRIED OUT AND CRACKED. *YH

DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY COME ON AT NIGHT. WHEN LEANING FORWARD IN SEAT SEAT BELT COMES ON. SEAT BELT INDICATOR ALARM DOESN'T WORK. LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK GOING DOWN THE ROAD. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BODY CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CONFIRM PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER OWNING VEHICHLE A FEW MONTHS, VAN WAS LEFT RUNNING WHILE PARKED, WAITING ON A PASSENGER. IT RAN OUT OF GAS DURING THIS TIME AND WE FILLED A TOTAL OF FOUR FIVE GALLON GAS CANS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT STARTED. FINALLY CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SOME SELF-DESTRUCT MECHANISM WHICH CAUSED A DIAPHRAM (?) IN THE TANK TO DISABLE SHOULD IT EVER RUN OUT OF GAS OR HAVE GAS PUT IN IN ANY METHOD OTHER THAN WITH A STANDARD NOZZLE. THIS, I WAS TOLD WAS A SAFTY FEATURE SO THAT OWNER'S WOULD TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP SHOULD THEY RUN OUT OF GAS, SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE CHECKED. HOWEVER, HAD I RAN OUT OF GAS IN AN UNSAFE AREA, THIS COULD PROVE DETRIMENTAL TO MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS.

AFTEER OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR BARELY A MONTH, WE BEGAN NOTICING A STENCH THAT NEAREST I COULD DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE THAT OF A DEAD MOUSE. HOWEVER, THE SMELL ONLY NOTICABLE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. TO RUN THE HEATER, WE WOULD PUT IT ON AC AND THEN TURN THE HEAT UP TO AVOID THE SMELL. WHEN WE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, WE WERE INFORMED IT WAS BECAUSE WE SMOKED IN THE VEHICLE. HOWVER, WE HAVE SMOKED FOR YEARS AND THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT STALE ODOUR FROM CIGARETTES WHICH IS IN NO WAY SIMILAR TO THE SMELL WE NOTICED. NOW WE ONLY REALLY NOTICE THIS SMELL AFTER WE HAVE THE CAR SERVICED.*AK

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING CAR, HEADLIGHTS FILLED WITH MOISTURE CAUSING LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENTS EVEN MADE YET. AT ALMOST 100,000 MILES ENGINE DIED, POWER STEERING FAILED, BELT SLIPPED AND AC WENT OUT WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER. 1800CHEVUSA REP "JASON" SAID "CHEVY ONLY BUILDS THEIR VEHICHLES TO LAST 100,000 MILES". NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY CHEVY. NOT AFTER WHAT JASON SAID.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE LENSE FELL OFF. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. 3 WEEKS LATER, DRIVER'S SIDE LENSE FELL OFF. THIIS EVENTUALLY COULD SHORT LIGHT OUT. OTHER LENSES HAVE COME OFF AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE INTERIOR OF LAP BUCKLE CAME OUT OF THE OUTER CASING, BUCKLE CAN STILL BE USED BUT IF A SLIT TOUCH BUCKLE RELEASES. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IS THE SEAT WERE MY DAUGHTER SAFETY SEAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, AND IF THE BUCKLE FAILED THAT EASILY WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A CRASH. THE DEALERSHIP & CHEVROLET REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIR TO THE LAP BELT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WE BELIEVE CHEV. SHOULD REINBURES US FOR THE 800.00 AND THE ENGINE PROBLEM JUST STARTED BUT THINK THEY SHOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF. NO BODY DAMAGE OR DAMAGE TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS RACK AND PINION. *AK *SLC

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT PARK CLOSED AND STAY OPEN ON THE GLASS, THE FRONT STRUTS HAVE ALSO WORN OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 61,000 MILES. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE AT THE DEALER WITH TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIR 01V-067 OF THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR, THE DEALER TOOK SEVERAL HOURS MORE TO MAKE THE REPAIR THAN ORIGINALLY STATED. NLM

REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BEHIND DRIVER KEEPS POPPING OUT OF BUCKLE MECHANISM.*AK

ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED BECAUSE OF CIRCUIT BOARD ACCORDING TO THE DEALER . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. *AK

MY 19 YR OLD SON LOST ABLITY TO STEER THE VAN AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT, AFTER A SOCCER GAME. THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER LEFT AND WAS HARD TO MAINTAIN DRIVING STRAIGHT WITH ANY TYPE OF CONTROL. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VAN AND CONFIMN THE LOST OF STEERING. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION FROM THE DEALER THAT ALL THE STEERING UNIT NEED TO BE REPLACED . ALSO THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG COIL BROKE WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT AND COULD HAVE CAUSED UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. STEERING WAS REPAIRED UNDER EXTENTED WARRENTY. REPAIR TO DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG COIL WAS NOT UNDER WARRENTY AND PAID FOR BY CUSTOMER. ALL REPAIR HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A ACCIDENT YET, BUT THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR IS VERY LOOSE. WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT A RECALL WAS TO TAKE PLACE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO YOUR INFORMATION THIS RECALL WAS IN EFFECT IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. SO FAR, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION. HAVE WE BEEN OVERLOOKED? THIS PROBLEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE THE DOOR FLIES OPEN AND WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM PERHAPS WITH GRANDCHILDREN ONBOARD. *AK

THE STEERING LOCKED-UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED TO THE LEFT. DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION GEAR SYSTEM. EVEN THOUGH THE VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, GM COVERED 50% OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION.

HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF, ONE WAS IN THE STREET. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC GLUED IT ON. PONTIAC GRAND INDICATED HEADLIGHTS LENS CAME OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH WHEN POWER ASSISTED STEERING FAILED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHICH DETERMINED THAT A BRACKET BROKE LOOSE, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL IN RACK AND PINION GEAR. CONSUMER COMPLAINED IS THAT VEHICLE WAS ABOUT READY TO EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DUE TO HANDLING AND STEERING VIBRATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR OPENED WHILE IN MOTION . IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK AND ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE MOULDING INSIDE THE VAN IT ALSO FRIGHTENED MY 2 YEAR OLD WHO WAS SEATED AT THE DOOR. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS SECURED IN HER CHILD SAFETY SEAT DOOR WAS IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ENGAGED.CHEVY DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. THIS MATTER IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR GETS KILLED.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T STAY IN PROPER POSTION. MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE ENTIRE UNIT AT CONSUMER'S COST OF $400. UNIT WILL BE WARRANTIED UP TO 90 DAYS.*AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONING WAS INDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN SB 97005 FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. *YH

MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH AND LOCK INTO POSITION. *AK *SLC

COVERS FOR ALL HEADLIGHTS HAVE FALLEN OFF.*AK THE WHOLE LAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE HEAD LIGHT COVERS FALLING OFF. THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THE CONSUMER POINTED OUT. *YH

FRONT HEADLIGHTS COVER KEEPS COMING OFF, POSSIBLY CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH LIGHT BULB. *AK THE HEAD LIGHT WAS NOT BRIGHT AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE HEAD LIGHT COVER. *YH

FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLE STARTING HARD. VEHICLE IS NOW ACTING UP AGAIN AND WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING IT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE SHOCKS LAST YEAR AND HAD THEM REPLACED. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT THE CORRECT ANSWER!!! BRAKES WERE ALSO REPLACED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. BRAKES STILL FEEL SOFT AND ARE MAKING A GRINDING/SQUEALING NOISE.*AK

VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE AT 56K MILES. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT WAS SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT BUT VERY PRONOUNCED DURING PARKING. REPLACED PUMP AND RACK/PINION.

DEALER SAID ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED BUT ENGINE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY OVERHEATED. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AND A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN IS MADE, A THUMPING NOISE OCCURS WITHIN STEERING RACK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

REAR POWER SLIDE DOOR OPENS UP ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO BE STUCK WHEN OPENED MANUALLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED, DUE TO COLD WEATHER. CONDITION LISTED BY CONSUMER'S GUIDE AS PROBLEMATIC. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME COMMENT ON A NUMBER OF VARIOUS WEB SITES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THER IS A SYTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THE *AK

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT APPEARED TO BE IMPROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE ASSEMBLY, POSSIBLY DUE TO POOR QUALITY ADHESIVE. THIS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO BE INOPERABLE. THE LENS COVER BROKE AFTER FALLING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT, NEW FUEL PUMP, FRONT/REAR SHOCKS & STRUTS,INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, BRAKES. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEADLIGHT LENS CAME OFF; DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK WHEN THE LENS FALLS OFF, MOISTURE BREAKS THE BULB CAUSING HAZARDOUS CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER. *YH

THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER CAME UNGLUED AND DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT COULD NOT BE FOUND. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, BY A PERSON IN THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT, WHO STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE PROTECTION OF THE LIGHT BULB AND THE PATTERN OF THE LIGHT ARE INSUFFICENT FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. *AK

DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WHEN DOOR CLOSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT VERY DANGEROUS. CONSUMER'S CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN VEHICLE SOMETIMES WITH KEYS INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID NOTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. MANUFACTURER KEPT REFERRING CONSUMER TO DEALER.*AK

SEAT BELTS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SECOND AND LAST ROW WILL NOT PULL OUT TO ALLOW A PERSON TO BE BUCKLED IN. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING THE REPAIRS. THE MOST RECENT SEATBELT TO FAIL IS A REPLACEMENT SEATBELT. *AK

TOLD DEALER THAT ENGINE IS KNOCKING/MAKING A TICKING SOUND. CAN HEAR IT CLEARLY FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE OF THE VAN. TOOK IT TO DEALER ONCE ALREADY AND WILL BE TAKING IT AGAIN ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2000 FOR TESTING. ENGINE IS ALSO TAKING LONGER TO START...HARD START NO MATTER IF HOT/COLD START. ALREADY HAD TO HAVE NEW BRAKES, SHOCKS AND STRUTS PUT ON THE VEHICHLE. *AK

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY OR MAY NOT STOP.

HEAD LIGHTS WERE HALF FILLED WITH WATER, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED HEADLIGHTS. THEN, IN 02/15/99 HEADLIGHTS WERE FILLED WITH WATER AGAIN, ON 08/14/2000, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*AK

I WAS LUCKY AND THE LENSE COVERED FELL OFF DURING THE DAY. IF IT WOULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHILE THEY WERE TRAVELING AT NIGHT THE LENSE COVERS FALLING OFF AND THE HEADLIGHT BLOWN. I BELEIVE THERE COULD BE SEVERAL FATALITIES BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS. I THINK CHEVROLET SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT TOO. I HOPE YOU FEEL THIS IS AS IMPORTANT AS I DO. THANKS