1998 Chevrolet Venture complaints

POWER STEERING IS FAILING IN MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. IT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, CHEVROLET SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICES I'VE READ INCLUDE 1998 CHEVY VENTURES. I AM UPSET THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUR OF POCKET AND THEN "WAIT" FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT ALREADY IS. *LA

1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE MANIFOLD LEAK.*MR THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS DOWN QUITE OFTEN. *JB *NM

I PURCHASED A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE NEW FOR APPROXIMATELY $27,000. AFTER 4 1/2 YEARS I HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. I MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS EVEN CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 3 TO 4000. ON LABOR DAY 2003, A LITTLE MORE THAN 5 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I BROKE DOWN RETURNING FROM A FAMILY VACATION WITH THE CAR PACKED AND MY THREE KIDS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER. 75 MILES FROM HOME. BOTTOM LINE THE CAM BEARINGS SPUN IN THE ENGINE AND THE DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS WORTH $300 AS IS. IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A TOTAL COST OF $6150. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AGREED THAT THIS WAS PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE BUT THAT THE ENGINE HAD 72,000 MILES AND ACCORDING TO GM THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THAT ENGINE IS ONLY 100,000 MILES. THEY SAID I GOT ALMOST 75% OF THE ENGINES EXPECTED LIFE AND THEY OFFERED ME 25% OF THE COST INCURRED BY ME TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. GM NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FAULTY GASKET ON THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED THIS PROBLEM BY ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE. GM SHOULD HAVE REIMBURSED ME THE COST FOR THE GASKET REPLACEMENT AND THE ENGINE. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR I EXPECT, BUT TO HAVE A VEHICLE WORTH ABOUT $7,000 ONE DAY AND $300 THE NEXT IS NOT FAIR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE AND I WILL LET AS MANY PEOPLE I KNOW HOW GM STANDS BY THEIR PRODUCT. *LA

LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND COOLANT OVER-FLOW IS CONSANTLEY EMPTY WITH A RESIDUE LEFT BEHIND. LOW COOLANT LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT APPROX.48000; PRESENT MILEAGE 58830. WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED COOLANT ON MY DRIVEWAY AND IN MY GARAGE. TEMPERATURE GUAGE ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF OVER HEAT.

I HAD TO HAVE A GASKET LEAK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIRED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM SINCE 1995 OCCURRING IN APPROXIMATELY 1 OUT OF 30 VEHICLES ACCORDING TO MY CURRENT DEALERSHIP. MY PREVIOUS MECHANIC OF 15 YEARS (A CHEVY MECHANIC FOR 26 YEARS) ALSO SAID GM IS AWARE OF THIS FREQUENT GASKET LEAK. I CALLED CHEVY IN DETROIT TO ASK FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MY $1,070 REPAIR AND THEY TURNED ME DOWN DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. CHEVY DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BUT IN EACH CASE THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO. THE AIRBAG HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THIS DATE, ACCORDING TO THE INDICATOR LIGHT, EXCEPT FOR SHORT TIME PERIODS AFTER REPAIR. WE HAVE ASKED CHEVY TO FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION WITH NO SUCCESS. *LA

MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT SUSTAINING MAJOR DAMAGE. THERE WAS A DIRECT HIT TO THE RIGHT HEADLAMP WITH THE POLE AND THE VAN ENDED UP LANDING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SKIDDING ON THE ROAD. NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THEM OR HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE?*AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. UPON CHECKING THE FLUID LEVELS YESTERDAY, I NOTED THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW, AND THE COOLANT APPEARED TO BE CONTAMINATED (PROBABLY BY OIL). THIS, COUPLED WITH ABNORMAL TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS AND AN ODD TINGE ON MY OIL DIPSTICK CAUSED ME ENOUGH CONCERN TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH. I'VE FOUND THOUSANDS OF TESTIMONIALS FROM GM OWNERS, ESPECIALLY OF THE 3.1 AND 3.4 LITER V-6, WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE DAMAGE RANGES FROM A SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR BILL TO EJECTED RODS/CRACKED HEADS/COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD DEFECT, AND ENGINE FAILURE IN ANY TYPE OF TRAFFIC IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY IN A FAMILY VEHICLE SUCH AS A MINIVAN. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT. MY COMPLAINT IS THE COMMONALITY LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THIS PROBLEM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT GM IS CLEARLY AWARE THAT IT EXISTS (BOTH BY TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR OF THE LOCAL GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS I CALLED RECENTLY REFERRED TO THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY). IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A RECALL HAS NOT OCCURRED ON THIS POORLY ENGINEERED, INHERENTLY DANGEROUS "DEX-COOL" COOLANT SYSTEM, WHEN IT CORRODES ENGINE OPERATING PARTS AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES, OFTEN UNDETECTABLE IN THE LOWER ENGINE AREA UNTIL CATASTROPHIC MATERIAL FAILURE. *LA

THE SEATBELTS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS CONTINUOUSLY LOCK, WHICH REQUIRES MY CHILDREN TO UNFASTEN THEM AND REFASTEN THEM SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. *LA

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V286000 NOTICE CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON 12/19/2002, AND DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *AK

REAR WINDOW ON VEHICLE BLEW OUT. *MR IN 2001 THE REAR WINDOW HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD BLOWN OUT. IN 2003, THE SAME WINDOW HAD BLOWN OUT AGAIN WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL FROM GM. THERE WAS NO SEAL AROUND THE ORIGINAL WINDOW. THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED BY GM IN WHICH THEY COVERED HALF THE COST. THERE WERE OTHER CHEVROLET'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. (THE CRACKED SEALED LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE) THE CONSUMER FELT THAT GM SHOULD REIMBURSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *SCC *JB

LOCKING MECHANISM ON VAN CARGO DOOR (98' CHEVY VENTURE) DEFECTIVE. DOOR CAN NOT BE LOCKED EVEN MANUALLY. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT AFTER A "REPAIR" AT A DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IS "NOT UNCOMMON". *JB

1998 CHEVY VENTURE 4WD/TRACTION CONTROL LS, EXTENDED VAN. WE REPAIRED THE FIRST RECALL PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE/SIDE POWER DOOR (DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY/OPENED AND THE WRONG TIME/WOULD NOT CLOSE AT ALL). NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. WE CANNOT USE THE TWO "SWITCHES" THAT WOULD OPEN THE POWER DOOR, AND WE CANNOT USE THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS WELL AS A PRACTICAL CONCERN. IF THE DOOR WAS SO BAD IN THE FIRST RECALL - NOW IT IS WORSE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING FROM HIGH TO LOW, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING ANTI FREEZE ONTO THE ENGINE.*AK

2 FUEL PUMPS, NOW MOTOR. *AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER REPAIRED IT, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG MODULE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS BAD. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. *JB

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND ON A 45 MPH IMPACT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

THE ABS SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. THE REAR ABS MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAMES ON AND STAYED ON. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IT FELT HARD. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE WERE FINE BUTHTE ABS WAS DISABLED. *SCC *NLM

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN ROUGHLY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY DONE PREVIOUSLY WAS NEVER DONE. *JB ALSO THE HEAD LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK *JB

THE GLASS AND BACK PIECE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE GLUED TOGETHER. THE GLASS CAME OFF THE HEADLIGHT. DUE TO FAILURE IN THE GLUE COMPOSITE. NEED TO CHECK ALL VEHICLES USING THAT LOT OF GLUE. EACH HEAD LIGHT COST $88.78. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSE FOR MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *NLM *CB

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL LINE WAS DRIPPING GAS OVER THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN 3400 DEX COOLANT ENGINE, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKIT & HEAD GASKET LEFT US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITH 3 CHILDREN IN BUSY JULY 4TH TRAFFIC, HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND CALL FOR SOMEONE TO PICK MY SELF AND CHILDREN UP WHILE MY HUSBAND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. FROM THE RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE THAT CHEVY WILL NOT PUBLICALY ADMIT TOO EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM FOR THE NEW VEHICLES .*AK

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE VIN DOES NOT COMPLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PARKWAY AT ABOUT 2:30 PM WITH MY FAMILY, MY WIFE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. TO OUR HORROR, WE SAW CARS BEHIND US SWERVING TO AVOID A TIRE WHICH WAS SKIDDING ALONG THE ROAD. WE IMMEDIATELY EXITED AND, UPON LOOKING UNDER OUR 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN, SAW NEITHER OUR SPARE TIRE, NOR THE PLATE THAT HELD IN PLACE. IT APPEARED AS IF THE CABLE THAT HELD THE TIRE IN PLACE HAD COMPLETELY AND CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, RESULTING IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. FORTUNATELY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED THE PAVEMENT WAS (FOR THE MOMENT) DRY, IT WAS DAYTIME, THE DRIVERS BEHIND WERE NOT TAILGATING (AS IS CUSTOMARY ON THE HUTCH) AND THE TIRE CAME TO REST ON THE MEDIAN, OUT OF THE LANES OF TRAFFIC. WE LOOPED BACK AND FOUND THE WHEEL ON THE MEDIAN AND, WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO DECIDE WHOM TO CALL TO REPORT THE INCIDENT (AAA, LOCAL POLICE, ETC) A WESTCHESTER COUNTY POLICE OFFICER STOPPED TO HELP US. HE BRIEFLY STOPPED TRAFFIC AND REMOVED THE WHEEL SO THAT NO ONE WOULD HIT IT. AS FAR AS WE COULD TELL, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THERE WAS NO MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT (WE HAVE YET TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO REPAIR THE WHEEL AND THE SPARE TIRE HOUSING). UPON SEARCHING THIS SITE, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED (A SPARE TIRE CABLE THAT HAS BECOME VERY CORRODED) AND BELIEVE OUR EXPERIENCE NOT TO BE AN ISOLATED EVENT, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE SALT IS COMMONLY USED IN THE WINTER TO

I BOUGHT MY 1998 VENTURE IN JULY. OF 2001. IT HAD 67000 ON IT. IT SEEMED TO HAVE THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. IN JUNE OF 2003 OUR VANS INTAKE GASKET BURST CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL PLUS TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE AVERAGE REPAIR BILL IS AT LEAST 6.6 HOURS LONG JUST FOR THE GASKET NOT INCLUDING ANY DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAM SHAFT (WHICH IS HOLLOW IN THIS MOTOR) I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM ON THIS MATTER. *NLM

I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE LS VAN. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES' SEALS DON'T KEEP THEM FROM FILLING FROM WATER CAUSING THE LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS) TO SHORT OUT. FURTHER, DUE TO THE KNOWINGLY DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES, THE HEADLIGHT CRYSTALS POP OFF (DUE TO THE POOR SEAL). THIS OCCURRED TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I SUBSEQUENTLY RAN OVER THE CRYSTAL SPRAYING DEBRIS BEHIND ME. IN CONTACTING CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER'S TOLL FREE NUMBER, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND THEY DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THESE SCENARIOS. IN DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THESE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES WERE VERY COMMON, CHEVROLET HAS IN FACT ISSUED A TSB HIGHLIGHTING THIS COMMONLY KNOWN DEFECT, AND IN TALKING WITH A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE WRITER HE RELATED THAT HE HAS SEEN FAR MORE OF THESE PROBLEMS THAN HE WOULD LIKE TO EVER SEE. DOES THE NTSB CONSIDER FULLY FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO BE NECESSARY SAFETY EQUIPMENT? HOW ABOUT HEADLIGHT CRYSTALS FLYING OFF VEHICLES WHILE IN OPERATION? *NLM

WE HAD A MANIFOLD GASKET ON OUR 1998 CHEVY VENTURE GO BAD EARLIER THIS YEAR. IT LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE OIL. IT APPEARS THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE OIL HAS CAUSED FAILURES IN THE STRENGTH OF THE CRANKSHAFT. AND SINCE THIS SITE DOES NOT COMBINE SIMILAR PROBLEMS, IT MAY APPEAR THAT THERE ARE JUST A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM, GASKETS AND CRANKSHAFT ON THE 1998-2000 VENTURE VANS. YOU NEED TO LOOK AT ALL THE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM REPORTS. NOW THE CRANK SHAFT HAS BROKEN. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VAN. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD US IT WILL COST OVER $5,000.00 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARS IN THE PAST, ONE NISSAN MAXIMA WE HAVE NOW HAS ALMOST 200,000 MILES, WITH NO ENGINE REPAIRS LIKE THIS. I BELIEVE GM HAS HAD A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND COOLING SYSTEM ON THIS VAN AND HAS AVOIDED A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. WE WERE JUST TOLD TO "HAVE A NICE DAY" BY ROSE UHL AND CHRISTY HARDCASTLE OF "GM CUSTOMER SERVICE". I THINK A $5,000.00 REPAIR BILL IS SOMETHING TO MAKE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ON A VAN THAT COST $23,000.00. *JB

1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE WITH 41,000 MILES TAKEN FOR OIL CHANGE WHERE LOW COOLANT CONDITION WAS NOTED. GM DEALERSHIP REPLACED LOWER INTAKE GASKET. THIS IS THE SECOND GASKET PUT ON THIS CAR. THE ORIGINAL GASKET WAS REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. *NLM

THE HEAD LIGHT LENS FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB

I BOUGHT MY 1998 VENTURE IN NOV. OF 2001. IT HAD 66000 ON IT. IT SEEMED TO HAVE THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. IN DECEMBER OF 2002 SOMEONE TOLD US THAT THE GASKETS WERE NOTED FOR LEAKING. MY HUSBAND REPLACED IT, AND GAVE IT AN OIL CHANGE IN FEB. IT WAS THICK AND DARK ORANGE IN COLOR. IT STARTED KNOCKING WHEN YOU ACCELERATED. SO ONCE AGAIN MY HUSBAND HAS IT TORN APART AND FOUND THE CRANK SHAFT IS COMING APART DUE TO THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. NOW I AM PAYING ON A DEAD HORSE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED. IT WOULD BE NICE IF GM WOULD RECALL THIS. *JB

1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE-BOTH HEADLIGHT COVERS FELL OFF OVER A ONE MONTH PERIOD. COST WAS $180.00 FOR REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS. *NLM

1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WENT BAD AND GOT COOLANT IN MY ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP ALSO. COST 927.35 TO REPLACE. I FEEL GM SHOULD MAKE THIS ITEM A RECALL AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS WEB SITES WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL SORTS OF GM VEHICLES.*JB

THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME UP ONE MORNING. A CERTIFIED FRIEND MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AT HOME WITH HIS ENGINE ANALYZER/COMPUTER & FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HE THEN CHECKED OUT THE GAS CAP IF SECURE. AFTER AWHILE, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE GAS CAP BECAUSE I'M VERY CAREFUL ABOUT LOOSE GAS CAPS. ANYWAY, AFTER 2 DAYS OF DRIVING, THE LIGHT CAME OUT AGAIN. BEFOREHAND, HE SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE GAS CAP REPLACED IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. SO I CHANGED IT & HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS NOW BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL THERE. SOMEBODY SAID THAT IT MIGHT TAKE A COUPLE OF GAS TANK REFILLS BEFORE THE GAS CAP GET "CROSS-THREADED" OR SEALED TIGHT. I ALREADY HAD 2 REFILLS & THE LIGHT'S STILL THERE. THE VAN'S RUNNING WELL & AM EXPERIENCING NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THAT LIGHT TURNED OFF.

THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSED AND LOCKED ALL THE DOORS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB

THE JACK THAT CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH THE THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS REPLACING A TIRE. *AK *NLM

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, AND WHEN HE TURNED HIS VEHICLE OFF THERE WAS NO PRESSURE IN THE RADIATOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $678.00 PLUS TAX. *NLM

WHEN SITTING STILL AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A LOW FREQUENCY LOUD GROANING NOISE. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE STEERING MECHANISMS OUTSIDE OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE KEY REMOVED WHEN SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR AREA FILLED THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

THE VAN OVER HEATED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET MELTED. *JB

INTAKE GASKET LEAK OF COOLANT. ON WEB RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN TO GM USUALLY WITH SERIOUS ENGINE REPAIRS BEING NECESSARY. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A, "COMMON PROBLEM". *JB

NO VEHICLE DESCRIPTION WAS AVAILABLE. MR SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *NLM *NLM

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN FOR A RECALL FOR A DEFECT ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V286000). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT BECAUSE THE VAN HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT "THE BEARING IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT" AND THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEFECT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. I CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR POLICY NOT TO DO RECALLS ON VEHICLES WITH A SALVAGED TITLE. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDLESS OF THE SALVAGED TITLE AND I THINK GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 98V131000) THAT IS A PROBLEM ON MY PARTICULAR VAN. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A 5 YEAR OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY WAS PLAYING IN THE VAN (WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE). HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER ENOUGH TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION LOCK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL IN PARK, AND THE VAN ROLLED DOWN THE HILL IN OUR BACK YARD. IT WAS STOPPED BY A SMALL TREE. NOBODY WAS HURT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE TWO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE BACK YARD PLAYING AND THE VAN SUFFERED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THIS WAS BECAUSE THE VAN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SO I DIDN'T PURSUE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEN I DISCOVERED THE RECALL ON IT AND NOW I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THEM TO FIX MY VAN?. *JB

I HAD MY VAN IN THE SHOP BECAUSE MY HEATER QUIT WORKING. THE THERMOSTAT WAS CHANGED. WHEN I GOT THE VAN BACK THE HEATER DIDN'T WORK AND BY THE NEXT MORNING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THEIR WEREN'T ANY EXTERNAL LEAKS NOTED. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE SHOP AND HE RAN SOME CHECKS AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY. HE ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST GM ENGINES. NOW MY VAN IS PARKED AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT. IT IS KNOCKING REAL LOUD AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO THE VAN EVENTUALLY CATCHING ON FIRE. MY VAN HAD BEEN IN THE CHEVROLET SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WASN'T ON TIGHT. MY VAN IS JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY AT @ 82,000 MILES. I HEAR THAT THE GASKET IN QUESTION IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER DO THE EXCESS AMOUNT OF GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT LENSES FELL OFF. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE. HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE STEERING. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE, EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM.

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT ONTO MOTOR AT 79000 MILES.*JB

THE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF.*JB