1997 Chevrolet Venture complaints

DOOR WILL NOT OPERATE BY REMOTE BUTTON; HAVE TO MANUALLY OPEN OR CLOSE DOOR BY HAND. VEHICLE BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK THE DOOR WAS STILL NOT OPERATING AFTER BEING REPAIRED. *YH

WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. A BROKEN STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND. DEALERSHIP AND OWNER SPLIT REPAIR COST. *AK

END CAP AT END OF RACK AND PINION STEERING POPPED OUT, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP WHILE MAKING A TURN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF AND CAUSED A BLOW OUT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

PE00-020; WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION, BUT TIRE NEVER WENT FLAT, AND CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CHEVROLET, VENTURE, 1997, GENERAL, AMERI P205/704 185, DOT A3M0DB1446. *AK GENERAL TIRE CLAIMS THE TIRE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. *YH

HEADLIGHTS HAVE FILLED UP WITH WATER. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHTS. REPLACEMENT LIGHTS HAVE FILLED UP WITH WATER AND BLEWOUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING EAST ON 494 AT 55 MPH ONE OF FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES EXPLODED. THE CAR SWERVED ALL OVER THE INTERSTATE BUT FORTUNATELY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AT THAT TIME SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A NEARBY GAS STATION PUT ON THE SPARE AND THE NEXT DAY I PAID TO HAVE THE PR680 REPLACED AT A FIRESTONE DEALER (STORE #016926-29F1 TR:8870 07 99) SINCE THEN THE OTHER FRONT TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE 2 REAR TIRES ARE STILL ORIGINAL. FROM THE NEWSPAPER PICTURES I'VE SEEN (E.G. 9-2-00 MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE BUSINESS SECTION) THE TIRES ON MY CHEVROLET MINIVAN SEEM TO BE EXPLODING JUST LIKE THOSE FORD TIRES RECALLED.( DOT NUMBER: FR 680 )

SPEEDOMETER WILL CUTOUT FROM 45 - 65 MPH TO STAY AT 25 - 30 MPH FOR UP TO 1/2 HR AT A TIME, TO RETURN TO CORRECT READING AT ANYTIME.

THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED.GM NOTICE C97005. THE RECALL FIXED WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL 1999. THE WIPERS FAILED AGAIN AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THEY ONLY FIX A RECALL ISSUE ONCE. I THEN CALLED CHEVY ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THIS REPAIR WS IN EXCESS OF $300. IF NOT FIXED THE WIPERS ARE IN MY DIRECT DRIVING VISION SO I HAD THE DEALERSHIP MAKE THE REPAIR. AS STATED IN THE REPORT THIS IS THE 5TH OR 6TH TIME THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. ADDITIONALLY, I THOUGHT RECALLS ARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, LOOKS LIKE A BANDAID UNTIL THE VEHCILE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NOTICED SHIMMY IN FRONT AT LOW SPEEDS, MOSTLY AT ACCELERATION. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECT IN THE FRONT AXLE(INBOARD). NOTIFIED GM AND THEY WILL ALSO INSPECT ON 8/25

POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, WHETHER VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF, UNCONTROLLABLY. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. AT THAT TIME, LOCK CODE MODE WAS RESET. HOWEVER, THIS TIME NOT ABLE TO RESET. WORRIED ABOUT LOCKING CHILDREN IN VAN WITH KEYS IN IGNITION.

STEERING GEAR SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET; UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND MARKED DIFFICULTY TURNING WHEEL TO RIGHT. FORTUNATELY OLDSMOBILE DEALER ONE BLOCK AWAY WHO EVENTUALLY REPAIRED CAR.

THE HEADLANPS SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE, LESS THAN 30 DAYS A GO THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OUT. THE RIGHT LENS FELL OUT. THE SEAL THAT HOLDS THE LENS TO THE ASEMBLY IS DRY AND CRACKED.THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC. IF ONE OR MORE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS COME OFF ON A RAIN SOAKED AT NIGHT THE WATER WOULD BLOW THE HALOGEN BULB OR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CAN JEOPARDIZE PEOPLE'S LIVES. THANK YOU WALTER

SAFETY, HEADLAMPS ARE UNSAFE. *AK

DEALER FOUND PROBLEM WITH A FUEL INJECTOR WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. VAN SUDDENLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION IN 65MPH TRAFFIC. MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. (SCARY!)*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING CRACKED. NO REASON FOR HAPPENING, JUST TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND HEAR A LOUD THUD. COULD NOT MAKE FULL TURNS.*AK

O-RING CRACKED ON FUEL FILTER UNDER THE VEHICLE, FUEL LEAKED ALL OVER GARAGE, AND CONSUMER WOKE UP, COUGHING AND HAD BURNING EYES. CONSUMER FELT HOUSE COULD HAVE EXPLODED. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SPLIT SEAT WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY IN THE DOWN POSITION. DEALER NOTIFED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED LEFT BECAUSE OF A CHIPPED GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION UNIT. NLM

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, HEARD BANGING/THUMPING NOISE IN REAR WHEN STOPPING AND ACCELERATING. HAPPENS WHEN TANK IS FULL OR 3/4 FULL ONLY. REPLACED SHOCKS AND GAS TANK. CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM AND DEALER/MFG UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. VERY ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING THAT MANUFACTURER CAN'T CORRECT OBVIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE VAN WAS PARKED, ALL THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED OUT. ACID MOSTLY LEAKED FROM POSITIVE CABLE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML

POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE BACK SIDE WHILE DRIVING AND BURNT COMPLETELY. YH

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. TENSIONER AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE DAMAGED. THIS ALLOWED STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN FREELY, BREAKING THE TAPE THAT CONNECTS TO AIRBAGS AND DISABLING AIR BAGS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK *ML

AFTER HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VIBRATION. UPON INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT 3 OF 5 LUG NUTS WERE CRACKED AND ONE WAS LOOSE. IT APPEAR THAT THE LUGS WERE OVERTIGHTED WHEN THE TIRES WERE REPLACEDNLM

CAR SHUT DOWN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. INSPECTION AFTER SECOND FAILURE AT AUTO SHOP INDICATED FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR UNDER LEFT MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND SEVERELY CORRODED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT. SIMILAR CONNECTOR FOR ABS BRAKES ALSO SHOWS SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT YET FAILED. MECHANIC ASKED FOR REPLACEMENT PIGTAIL. GM TOLD THEM ONLY ENTIRE HARNESS WAS AVAILABLE (ENGINE HARNESS ETC). SHOP CUT CONNECTOR OFF AND SPLICED WIRES WITH SOLDER.*AK

ELECTRICAL WIRES CONTINUED TO SHORT CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. ALSO, SMOKE ENTERED INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL INTO TRAFFIC, CAUSE UNKNOWN. TIRE WAS HELD AGAINST THE BOTTOM WITH WINCH CABLE ASSEMBLY. *AK *ML

FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE PITTED IN THE INNER SURFACE, CAUSING A PULSATION. THERE ARE PITTED SO DEEP THAT THEY CANNOT BE CLEANED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH. ALSO, TRANSMISSION MAKES A BANGING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. *AK

BRAKES CONTINUALLY SQUEAL, CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE SERVICED ON FOUR OCCASIONS TO TRY TO REMEDY, HOWEVER DEALER STATES THAT THE BRAKES ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY. *MJS

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET, BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, A CAR PULLED INTO OUR PATH. AS THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN, SHE NOTICED SHE HAD TO REMOVE ONE HAND FROM THE RING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE ALSO REALIZED THAT IF IMPACT HAD OCCURRED, HER ARM WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED TREMENDOUS FORCE FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE HORN ACTIVATION BUTTONS SHOULD BE ON EACH SIDE OF THE WHEEL SO THE DRIVER CAN KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL FOR EVASIVE MANUEVERS IF NEEDED AND TO KEEP THE HANDS AWAY FROM THE AIRBAG'S DEPLOYMENT ZONE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SLIDING DOOR WINDOW EXPLODED,CAUSING SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS TO FLY INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, FALING ON THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN REMOVING FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS. THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL VEHICLE IS TO PLACE LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATE WITH THE RIGHT FOOT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK.ET.

WHILE MAKING A ROUTINE RT TURN, THE GEAR ASSEMBLY OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY "BLEW-OUT". THIS EVENT LOCKED MY STEERING UP. NO WARRANTY IN PLACE TO RECOVER LOSS. BUT, THE NATURE OF THE EVENT WAS UNUSUAL. THAT IS, THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE GEAR(S)FRACTURING AND EXPLODING IT'S HOUSING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE? AT A HIGHER SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WITH 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCED INDICATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY "BLOW-OUT" LIKE THE ONE I AM PRESENTING IN THIS CASE. THE SUPERVISOR MECHANIC FURTHER INDICATED, "THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT". I HAVE THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN MY POSSESSION AND I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE (DOC# 000029454 GM). GM HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR COSTS AND HAS INDICATED NO INTEREST IN HAVING GMC ENGINEERS LOOK AT THE FAILED SYSTEM. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT A VALID LIABILITY DOES EXIST THAT AND THAT THERE IS A MFT DEFECT WITH THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT YOU ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN MY CONCERN. I WILL WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE I GO PUBLIC REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU, MIKE JOHNSON. *AK

THE HEADLIGHT BULB OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT NOW, EXPLODED, BLOWING OFF THE HEADLIGHT LENS, WHICH IS GLUED ON. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL 36000. MILE WARRANTY, BUT IS THREE MONTHS PAST THE THREE YEARS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AS A NEW SEPARATE LENS CANNOT BE OBTAINED. WHAT SHOULD BE A MINOR HEADLIGHT PROBLEM WILL COST 240.00 FOR THE PART, PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. IN PASSING,LET IT BE NOTED THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY CHANGED 3 LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS ON THIS VAN SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. *AK

DRIVER'S POWER MIRROR HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT CAUSED THE WIRES TO BURN AND MELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

STEERING COLUMN STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ALSO, BEARINGS BROKE SOMEWHERE UNDER DRIVESHAFT. *AK

PARKING LIGHTS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS GO OFF WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES. *AK

#1. STEREO PANEL IS EXTREMELY HOT WITH LIGHTS ON & DRIVING A WHILE, THERE IS ALSO A BURING SMELL. IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWICE, REPLACED ONCE AND STILL YOU CAN BURN YOUR FINGERS. #2. DEFOGGER TAKES FOREVER TO DEFOG IN THE MORNING, SOMETIMES IT MAKES VISIBILITY WORSE. #3. INTERIOR ROOF HAS BEEN HANGING DOWN SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VAN AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. #4. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF CONDENSATION(AT LEAST 4 TIMES). #5. BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED NEW BRAKES BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I HAD THEM CHECKED ELSEWHERE. I NEEDED NEW BRAKES (FRONT). IT COST ME OVER$700 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID THEY WERE GRINDED DOWN ALL THE WAY AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRIND 2 TIMES BEFORE REPLACING. I HAVE THE PARTS. THEY SAID THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THIS FAR DOWN SO SOON, TOO PREMATURELY. I HAVE THE BILL WITH THE MECHANICS COMMENTS AND II WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FROM GM. #6. SIDE CONTROL PANEL PLASTIC IS BROKEN AND CONTROLS NO LONGER ALL WORK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I WILL BE FILLING OUT ANOTHER FORM TO FILE THE REMAINDER OF THE PROBLEMS.

#1. IT IS VERY HEAVY TO PUSH UP THE TAILGATE WITHOUT THE USE OF THE HYDRAULICS. IT GOES UP EASILY ONLY PART OF THE WAY. #2. MY SEAT AND POCKET SHOULD NOT BE RIPPING AS EASILY AS THEY HAVE. I DO NOT HAVE LITTLE KIDS TUGGING AT THEM. #3. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK . IT HAS BEEN ALLEGEDLY FIXED SEVERAL TIMES. #4. THE INTERIOR SIDE DOOR PANELS ARE HARD PLASTIC AND THEY ARE ATTACHED BY VELCRO. THEY DON'T ALWAYS STICK TO THE VELCRO AND COME LOOSE. ONE HAS ALREADY BROKEN AND REPLACED. THEY ARE STILL LOOSE. #5. THE FRONT SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT ALL THE WAY ON THEIR OWN AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBELT TWISTS ON A REGULAR BASIS. #6. THE RANGE OF DISTANCE ON THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY IS BEING BASICALLY ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT . IT IS MY FIRST AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MY LAST. I THINK I REALLY BOUGHT A LEMON. *AK

FUNNY SMELL OF CHEMCALS. *AK

WIRING HARNESS RUNS THROUGH FLOORBOARD AND UNDERNEATH CARPET, AND IT IS RUBBING UP AGAINST A BOLT, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *MJS

THE FRONT END LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY DUE TO RACK AND PINION AND AIR BAG COIL FAILURE. *MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, I DROVE OVER DEBRIS (TREE LIMB) ON HIGHWAY WHILE PASSING SEMI AT APPROX. 65 MPH. WHEN I RAN OVER BRANCH, ALL VEHICLE ELECTRICAL AND BRAKING SYSTEMS SUDDENLY WENT OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIGHTS, POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, SIGNALS, AND POWER FROM ENGINE - A TOTAL SHUTDOWN. I WRESTLED VAN TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TOWED TO TOWN (WHILE ON XMAS TRIP, TRAVELLING THRU OK). AFTER TOWED TO DEALER (CLOSED, AT NIGHT), I CHECKED UNDER VAN TO FIND A MALE AND FEMALE PLUG FOR WIRING HARNESS DISCONNECTED AND HANGLING DOWN MIDWAY FROM FRONT TO REAR ON DRIVERS SIDE. I PLUGGED TWO BACK TOGETHER AND VAN WORKED PERFECTLY WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ALTHO THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING, THEY PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN CONTROL, PULL VAN TO SIDE OF ROAD. I BELEIVE THAT CONNECTOR PLUG OF THIS CRUCIAL HARNESS SHOULD BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM UNINTENDED DISCONNECTION. I WAITED THIS LONG TO REPORT SINCE I REPORTED PROBLEM VERBALLY TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRIP AND JUST FOUND OUT THIS SITE EXISTS. I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VENTURE VAN, AND HARNESS/CONNECTION HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY BUT STILL SEEMS SUSCEPTIBLE (I TAPED CONNECTORS TO RECEPTACLES AS A PRECAUTION). *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY KEEPS COMING ON. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH AROUND GAS TANK, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO HAV EBEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR A PIN HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING & GOING DOWN HILL VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT INDICATION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE CAUSED BY THE MELTING OF THE AIR INTAKE HOSE, CAUSING A HOLE TO FORM IN THE HOSE, ALLOWING THE AIR MIXTURE IN THE ENGINE TO GO UNREGULATED. SINCE THE AIR HOSE WAS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM HAS STOPPED. *AK *ML

UNDER CARRIAGE FLOORBOARD OF THE CAR CAME APART.THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK