1998 Chevrolet Venture complaints

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE WITH 82,651 MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY DISSIPATE COOLANT, WHICH I REPLENISHED AS NEEDED. THEN A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK OCCURRED AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. BARNARD CHEVROLET OF CHURCHVILLE, NY 14428 REPAIRED THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, AND THE REAR HEAD GASKET. EACH HAD DETIORATED FROM THE DEX COOL, CAUSING THE LEAKAGE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED ANY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, DESPITE MY PROVIDING THEM WITH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #03-06-01-010. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER PROVIDED A COMPLETE AND PROFESSIONAL REPAIR, I BELIEVE THAT EVIDENCE IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THE DEX COOL COOLANT AND THE GASKET MATERIALS USED BY GM RESULTS IN A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND THAT GM MUST PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THAT NHTSA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER TO HOLD GM ACCOUNTABLE. THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SEEMS TO HAVE COMPLETELY SUPPRESSED THIS ISSUE IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT FOLLOWUP. WHAT A SHAME, THE LOBBYISTS WIN AGAIN. MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS LEFT WITH THE BILL. *AK

EXTREME LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, LEADING TO POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO COOLANT DESTROYING ALUMINUM COMPONENTS OF INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. THE FOLLOWING WAS DONE TO PREVENT IMMEDIATE ENGINE FAILURE: REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN INSIDE ENGINE ($771), REPLACE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH ($86), FULL COOLANT FLUSH ($105), OIL/FILTER CHANGE ($15), AND REPLACE COOLANT SENSOR ($85). CONSISTANT WITH HISTORICAL FAILURE OF ALL SIMILAR MAKES/MODELS. CUSTOMER PAYS FOR GM'S POOR PRODUCT. *AK

HEATER NOT WORKING DUE TO A FAULTY MANIFOLD GASKET THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE OF OUR 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT GM IS NOW PRODUCING A BETTER GASKET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THAT'S GREAT!! I WOULD LIKE GM TO PAY THE $798.67 BILL FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE FIRST GASKET THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY TESTED BY ENGINEERING. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *JB

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY VAN OVER HEATED AND STALLED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. I HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKETS, LOWER INTAKE, ALL MY SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. I HAD NO LEAKS THAT I WAS AWARE OF. NOTHING ON THE GORUND TO EVEN SUSPECT A LEAK. APPARENTLY I WAS LEAKING SO BAD INTERNALLY THAT 2 OF MY SPARK PLUGS CRAPPED OUT AND MY VAN REFUSED TO RUN. FROM WHAT I READ THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG VENTURE OWNERS. I REALLY LOVE MY VAN BUT THIS FLAW WILL PREVENT ME FROM BUYING ANOTHER ONE, WHICH I FULLY INTENDED ON DOING IN A FEW YEAR. SORRY GM BUT I'LL GO WITH A HONDA NEXT TIME. *AK

CAM SHAFT BROKE WHILE WARMING UP IN MY YARD. 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. I FOUND A TSB THAT STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VAN HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THE DEALER NEVER REPLACED THE GASKET BEFORE I PURCHASED IT.IT HAS 56000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS 88000 16 MONTHES LATER. TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT CAMSHAFTS DON;T JUST BREAK UNLESS THEY ARE FAULTY. I AM CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE LOANED ME A VEHICLE TO USE UNTIL WE COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT.*AK

I HAD THE COOLANT FLUSHED ONE MONTH AGO AT THE LOCAL DEALER. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY NEAR HOME, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. NO INDICATION ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE THAT COOLANT TEMP EVER EXCEEDED EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE NORMAL RANGE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE VAN RUNS ROUGH AND HAS A LIGHT COOLANT SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALER SAID THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FAILED ALLOWING THE VAN TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW THE HEAD GASKETS. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $2500 AND WITH ONLY 88K MILES ON THE VAN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE FAILED. FIRST TIME THE INTAKE GASKETS FAILED WAS AT 45K MILES RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THERE WAS NO OVERHEAT OR HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE FIRST INCIDENCE. *JB

I AM GOING TO NEED TO REPAIR MY MINIVAN DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT LEAK AND I REALLY CAN NOT AFFORD THIS AND MAY HAVE TO HAVE THE VAN SIT UNTIL I CAN. I CANNOT BELIEVE AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON HERE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS OR THE HEADLIGHTS. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT IS NOT THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY, ITS OBVIOUS THAT THIS NEEDS A RECALL. I DO HOPE YOU COME TO YOUR SENSES ABOUT THIS COSTLY REPAIR TO THE CONSUMERS BECAUSE I WILL LET EVERY ONE I POSSIBLE KNOW THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS COSTLY PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AS I AM SURE OTHERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM HAVE TOLD NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND YOU SALES WILL DROP SO LOW THAT YOU WILL WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL. *JB

CAM SHAFT JUST BROKE. *JB

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WONT OPEN OR CLOSE AT TIMES. HAS HAD ALL OF THE RECALS DONE. TODAY THE DOOR CLOSED ON MY SONS LEG AND WOULD NOT STOP MOVING OR REVERSE CAUSING A LARGE BRUISE TO HIM.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED WHILE IN OPERATION OR NOT WORK AT ALL DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT COVERS UNDER A RECALL. *AK RECALL# 98V072000. *SC *JB

IN FEB./MARCH 2004, RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LENS FELL OFF, EXPOSING LAMP TO WEATHER. IN JULY 2004, LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IN BOTH CASES. COST ABOUT $160 EACH TIME. DEALER INSTALLED NEW ASSEMBLIES AND TOLD US THE FAILURE IS DUE TO ADHESIVE BREAKDOWN BUT NOT COVERED BY CHEVROLET. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE LS WITH 75000 MILE IN FEB AND 80000 MILES IN JULY. *JB

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES DRIVING, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND I NOW HAVE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE OIL. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND AFTER CONSIDERABLE INTERNET INVESTIGATION, I FOUND LITERALLY HUNDRED OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT APPEAR THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF COST, BUT I THINK THAT GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO VENTURE OWNERS TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT COST FREE TO THE OWNER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS FORCED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *SC

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO BE EXAMINED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON VACATION DRIVING FROM BUTLER, PA TO CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 NEAR SAVANNAH, GA ON JUNE 26TH WHEN I NOTICED MY TEMPERTURE GAUGE WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN. CAR NEVER BOILED OVER OR LOSS ANY ANTI-FREEZE. I STOPPED AT A PEP BOYS REPAIR SHOP AT WHICH TIME THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY THERMOSTAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IT APPEARED THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT GM REQUIRES TO BE USED TURNS INTO A SLUDGE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES. ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM WAS SLUDGED UP BY THE DEX-COOL. AFTER INSTALLING NEW THERMOSTAT AND ANIT-FREEZE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER NEARBY - CHEVROLET DEALER SAID ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. - ANTI-FREEZE WAS ENTERING CYLINDERS #1 AND #2. CHEVROLET DEALER CHARGED OVER $6,000. I FEEL CHEVROLET DEALER OVERCHARGED AS I WAS TRAVELING FROM OUT OF STATE - MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER QUOTED $3,700 FOR SAME WORK. MY LOCAL MECHANIC ADVISED ME IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT DEX-COOL IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT HAS RUINED MANY ENGINES, RADIATORS, HEATER CORES AND THERMOSTATS - GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE DAMAGE CONTINUES. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME - GARAGE KEPT - WELL MAINTAINED - 112,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. *AK

FAILURE OF ABS, KEEPING THE FLUID FROM THE REAR WHEELS. *AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS WERE LEAKING COOLANT AND OIL ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE OVERHEATING, AND BURNING UP THE ENGINE MOTOR. ALSO, FUEL INJECTORS HAD TO BE CLEANED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO THEM MISFIRING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CLIP WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VAN BROKE AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF ONTO THE ROAD. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BUMPS AND BRUSIES. *AK

CONSUMER STATED AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND PARKING IT, ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

ANTI-LOOK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. OTHER LIGHTS ARE NOW FLASHING WHEM BRAKES ARE USED. THE MAIN BRAKE, SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STIPPED WORKING. THE ONLY BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING NOW ARE THE LED LIGHTS ON THE REAR DOOR. SYSTEM IS ACTING LIKE IT HAS A SHORT OR GROUNDING CONDITION. UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE AND IS PARKED.*AK UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS DUE TO BEING ON A FIXED INCOME. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND PAST THE LAST PART OF APRIL 2004.

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. *AK

MY 1998 CHEV VENTURE WAS GETTING COOLANT INTO THE MOTOR OIL WHICH CAUSED IT TO START TICKING.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE GASKET. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH COST ME $1500.00. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE BLEW UP .I HAD TO GET A REMAN.ENGINE WHICH COST $4000.00.I FEEL BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY GASKET THIS LEAD TO MY ENGINE PROBLEM.

1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN 65K MILES MY MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET NO GOOD IT IS LEAKING AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A WHILE. THIS WAS AN INDICATION THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE WITH A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD. A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A SINGLE MOM OF THREE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ANTIFREEZE WAS MIXED IN WITH THE OIL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAK. THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUBBER TRIM HAD FALLEN OFF, WATER WOULD GET INTO THE TRUNK WHEN IT RAINED, AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *SC

THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET FAILED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED IT DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *AK *NM

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE OIL NOTICED ENGINE COOLANT INTAKE MANIFOLD HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A CRACK. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEMS ON 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE 3.4L. DEALER INFORMED ME AT APPROX. 58000 MILES GASKET WAS FAILING. REPLACED 06/02. SAME DEALER INFORMED SAME GASKET PROBLEMS AT 94000 MILES. HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON OTHER GM PRODUCTS, VERY COMMON. WOULD LIKE TO SEE GM HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR DESIGN OF GASKET, WILL NEVER BUY GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *JB

PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CASKET. THE PART FAILS AND THE ALLOW COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN. THIS CASUSE A LOSS OF COOLANT AND WILD TEMPATURE FUNCUATIONS. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND SHOULD BE RECALLED A A DEFECTIVE PART. IN FACT THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED IN MORE RECENT GM MODELS. IF SOME ONE WOULD DO A LITTLE RESEARCH YOU WOULD FIND THAT PROBLEM IS MORE WIDE SPREAD THAN GM IS WILLING TO ADMIT TO. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JERKED BACK AND FORTH. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE CRANKCASE. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE SNAPPED. *AK *JB

'98 CHEVY VENTURE ONLY HAS 51,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY BY DEALER. RECENTLY HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED DUE TO LEAK OF COOLANT INTO CRANKCASE AT A COST OVER $1,000. ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND NOW NEEDS REPLACEMENT WITH EXPECTED COST OF OVER $5,000. SO FAR, NO FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION GIVEN BY GM.*JB

REAR LOCKING LATCH PLATE BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. *AK

LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE SAID TEMPERATURE GAUGE SOARED THEN DROPPED, SHE PULLED OUT AND DROVE AGAIN AND IT SOARED THEN DROPPED AGAIN ALONG WITH LOW COOLANT LIGHT. SAW ON THE INTERNET THIS IS COMMON FOR 1998 CHEVY VENTURE AND OTHERS. A LOT OF MINIVANS WITH KIDS AND SPOUSES OUT THERE ENCOUNTERING THIS. I CHECKED THE ENGINE UPON ARRIVAL AND THINK IT MAY BE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE AND HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. *LA

GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 03-06-01-010 IN MARCH 2003. THIS BULLETIN AFFECTS MY CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN AND WILL COST ME BETWEEN $600 AND $1500 TO REPAIR. TALKING TO THE DEALER INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE ARE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF CHEVY'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. *CB

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VAN I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE BAD DESIGN OF GM'S INTAKE GASKET WHICH BREAKS DOWN AND CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR AND/OR REPLACEMENT.

ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE. SUSPECT BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AFTER EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH ON WEB.

DEVELOPED ENGINE COOLANT (DEX-COOL) LEAK AT INTAKE MANIFOLD. DEALER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $500.00 TO REPLACE THE $3.00 GASKET. ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.

CURRENT PROBLEM IS LEAKING COOLANT WITH TICKING SOUND IN ENGINE AT STARTUP UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS BLOWN HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS. ESTIMATED COST IS $1300 FOR GASKET REPLACEMENT AND ANOTHER $660 IF HEAD IS CRACKED. MILEAGE IS 83350. MANY OTHER REPORTS EXIST OF THIS PROBLEM IN CHEVROLET VENTURES WITH SOME LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. 3.4L V6.

AT 60,000 MILES MY CHEVROLET VENTURE STARTED TO LEAK COOLANT AND I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE INTAKE MANIFIOLD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. COST APPROX. $800.00 INCLUDING COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND TAX. DEALER SAID THAT GM WAS NOT PAYING FOR ALL OR PART OF THE REPAIR AND IN FACT THEY HAVE NOT COMMENTED TO IT'S DEALERS ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AT ALL. OBVIOUSLY GM DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4L ENGINE. MY RESEARCH FINDS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND COSTLY PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.

KEPT LOOSING COOLANT - INITIAL PRESSURE TEST DID NOT DETECT LEAK. ASKED THEM TO CHECK INTAKE MANIFOLD & GASKETS. THEY DETECTED LEAK. COST TO REPAIR - 673.00. DO NOT KNOW YET IF ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENGINE.

1998 CHEVY VENTURE, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER ENGINE TAPPING & SMOKING. NO OIL LIGHT OR CHANGE IN TEMP, GAUGE OBSERVED. HAD TO WALK ON INTERSTATE 1.2 MILES TOOK RIDE FROM UNKNOWN COUPLE, HAD VAN TOWED. DIAGNOSES WAS: INTAKE GASKET COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONNECTING ROD TO GO THROUGH ENGINE. DEALERSHIP & GM CUSTOMER CARE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. OVERWELMED BY SEVERITY OF THIS GASKET PROBLEM READILY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET. WE REPLACED OUR ENGINE WITH A USED ONE, THAT IS ALL WE COULD AFFORD. IT DEFINITELY WAS THE FAULTY GASKET THAT CAUSED OUR ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, NO DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON, NOTHING TO EVEN TELL ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM, SUCH AS LOW OIL OR SERVICE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED OUR ENGINE TOLD US HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL CHEVY VENTURE VANS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WE HAD. WE HAD THE SERVIVE DONE AT D&N GARAGE 4929 SOUTH M-76 WEST BRANCH, MI 48661, THE OWNER IS NELSON SMITH. THE PHONE # IS 1 800 203 8504. IT COST US ALMOST $1600. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, WE LUCKED OUT FINDING ONE THAT HAD ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. NELSON MADE SURE TO PUT THE NEW GASKET ON THIS ENGINE. THE GM DEALERSHIP HERE REFUSED TO HELP. WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VAN REFUSED TO HELP, THE GM HELPLINE JUST VERY RUDELY TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM.

LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. LEAKING COOLANT. REPAIR ESTIMATED TO BE $800 BY ELCO CHEVROLET IN BALLWIN, MISSOURI. WE DISCOVERED THROUGH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND TALKING TO MECHANICS AT A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR FRANCHISE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY VENTURE VANS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR RELIEF FROM GM-THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH COOLANT LEAKS IN THE VAN AND ARE NOW WONDERING IF THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDETECTED AND WE HAVE BEEN REPAIRING OTHER ITEMS NEEDLESSLY (WATER PUMP, ETC.) WHEN THIS WAS THE TRUE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

CAR BEGAN LOSING COOLANT AT ABOUT 20000 MILES. HAD TO KEEP TOPPING COOLANT TANK. PRESENTED TO LOCAL DEALER AT 35,500 MILES TO BE REPAIRED. COOLANT SENSOR REPLACED, PROBLEM PERSISTED. WIFE'S CAR (1999 VENTURE) BEGAN HAVING SAME SYMPTOM, RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (RECENTLY REDESIGNED BY GM). THIS PROBLEM CAN ALLOW COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL, AND OIL WITH COOLANT. CAN RESULT IN SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE (CAMSHAFT BREAKS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION). STRANDED VEHICLES WILL PRESENT MULTIPLE SAFETY HAZARDS.

LEAKING COOLANT LED TO ENGINE FAILURE. GM AND DEALERSHIP TRY TO SHIFT BLAME TO ME. THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY STREET WITH A SMALL CHILD INSIDE. THE ENGINE OIL FILLED WITH ANTI FREEZE AND CEASED UP WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CHECKED AND THEY JUST ADDED STOP LEAK AND SAID IT WOULD BE FINE. THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THIS HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED FOR OVER A YEAR BUT GM IS STILL IN DENIAL. MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE WAS PURCHASED USED IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPT. 2002 FOR 15 POINT INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THIS WAS LAST DAY UNDER WARRANTY. IN JANUARY 2003 THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AT IT LOOKED ALMOST DRY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR EVIDENCE LIKE STAINS ON MY DRIVEWAY. THEY SAID GOOD THING I BROUGHT IT IN RIGHT AWAY AND FLUSHED AND FILLED IT AND SAID THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK IN ONE OF THE GASKETS AND ADDED STOP LEAK. IN MAY THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A REBUILT ONE AT A COST OF $4000.00. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP AND GM ASSISTANCE CLAIM NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. IN JULY MY NEIGHBOR WHO OWNS A 2000 CHEVY SILHOUETTE HAS THE SAME THING HAPPEN AND NEEDS HIS ENGINE REPLACED. A FRIEND OF MINE SAYS HE HAD HIS GASKET FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. *AK *MR

HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE, IT HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DOING RESEARCH I SEE THAT MANY VANS OF THIS YEAR ARE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM INSISTS THAT MINE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I THINK THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY PART. POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS. AT TIMES I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TURNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN/INTERSECTION.*AK