1998 Chevrolet Venture complaints

I AM SURPRISED NO TSB EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT I CAN FIND. MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT - THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING FELL OFF! DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH A NUMBER OF AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS, I LEARNED THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON OCCURRENCE. NOW IF THE LENS FALLS OFF, THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS EXPOSED AND CAN EASILY BE DAMAGED AND NOT FUNCTION - IS THIS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN? SHOULD NOT THIS ISSUE BE ADDRESSED AS A POSSIBLE THREAT TO SAFETY IN THE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE? THANK YOU.

THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT LENS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE.*JB

MY WIFE CLOSED THE SLIDING DOOR ON OUR VENTURE VAN, AFTER OUR CHILDREN GOT IN AND THE GLASS SHATTERED IN ON THEM, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT EXCEPT FOR A FEW MINOR CUTS.

RACK AND PINION REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. PH

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 62000MI, STARTED TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE IN ENGINE, BASED ON DEALER AND OTHER CUSTOMERS , THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM 3.1L AND 3.4L ENGINES. ACCOUNTABILITY IS NEEDED BY GM. ISSUE SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL. $900.00

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK, ALLOWING DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. MR SCC

THE "PRETENSIONER" OF THE SEATBELT SYSTEM ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAS FAILED NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS MEANS THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE ALERT LIGHT THAT WARNS OF TROUBLE IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SEEMS TO REVERT TO NORMAL AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT WHEN THE DEALER USES THE PROPER TEST EQUIPMENT IT CAN BE DETERMINED THE UNIT HAS FAILED. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT MANY VENTURES ARE BEING USED WITH FAILED PRETENSIONERS AND THEIR OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE ALL INDICATIONS FROM THE ALERT LIGHT IS THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ON MY VEHICLE IN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AND CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL. DEALER PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST AND VERIFIED LEAK, CHANGED OIL, AND FOUND COOLANT. HAD REPAIRED BY INDEPENDENT SHOP. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF INTERNAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO ENGINE. ENGINE HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO SEE THIS MANY COMPLAINTS WITHOUT A FORCED, OR VOLUNTARY RECALL. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *JB

AT 57,000 MI MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I WAS QUOTED A $500.00 ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE $3.00 GASKET AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE SEES A LOT OF THESE LEAKS AND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON. TS

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND ENGINE SEAL LEAK ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SERVICED EXACTLY AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. SIMPLE INTERNET RESEARCH (INCLUDING THIS WEBISTE) HAS SHOWN A PATTERN OF FAILURE FOR THESE PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLDGED PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT PAY ANY OF THE $1,200 REPAIR BILL SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A HUGE OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE FOR A PART WITH A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW TWO OTHER 1998 VENTURE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME REPAIR.

FUEL TANK "THUD" HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE A SECOND OR TWO AFTER COMING TO A STOP. LOUDEST WHEN TANK IS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. TAKEN TO DEALER TWO TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NO REPAIR MADE. NOW WITH 80,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN AGAIN AND SHOWN THE DEALER A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" FROM NHTSA.COM SHOWING CERTAIN 1998 VIN #'S NEED NEW FUEL TANKS. DEALER TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DIDN'T APPLY. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED AND DROVE VEHICLE W/SERVICE MANAGER. HE FINALLY AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY TANK AND WILL FIX/REPLACE. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SEE THE SECTION ON THIS WEB SITE THAT SHOWS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, PRINT MY COMPLAINT ALSO, AND TAKE THESE TO YOUR DEALER TO GET YOUR "THUD" FIXED.

98 CHEV VENTURE WITH 60K BLOWN ENG.DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE GASKET WHICH GM WONT RECALL.100K ANTIFREEZE SLUDGED AT 30K.OVER 70,000 INTAKE GASKET BACKOREDERED AT ONE TIME.NOV OF2002 MODELS HAVE UPDATED IMPROVED GASKET WHY SHOULD PUBLIC THAT KEPT UP ON THIER MAINT HAVE TO PAY FOR DESIGN FLAW.100S OF WEB SITES ON THIS ISSUE EXSIST.

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE WITH THE 3.4L ENGINE. I AM CONSTANTLY LOOSING ANTIFREEZE AND OIL DISAPPEARS WITH EXPLANATION. I AM STILL UNDER A WARRANTY BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY ENGINE MIGHT SEIZE OR FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE COOLANY THAT CHEVY USES DEXCOOL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO EAT AWAY THE GASKETS, SO LARGE A SCALE HAS THIS HAPPENED THAT GM HAS SWITCHED COOLANTS TO PRESTONE EXTENDED LIFE. I WANT A RECALL DONE FREE OF CHARGE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS DEFINITLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS MOST HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT CAMS BREAKING AND LOSS OF POWER. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS.

TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY FAULTY GASKETS ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE RESULTING IN CAMSHAFT BREAKING. THIS IS A CLASSIC PROBLEM ON 3.4L ENGINE, OCCURRING ON MOST AFFECTED VEHICLES BETWEEN 50K AND 60K MILES.

1998 CHEROLET VENTURE VAN, V6 ENGINE WITH 85,000 MILES. WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE. COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKING FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD. NO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WOULD DO THE REPAIR. TOOK VAN TO DEALER...REPAIRED UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD GASKETS. TOTAL COST $908.

INTAKE GASKET BAD, REPLACED JAN. 2002. PROBLEM STILL OCCURING, ENGINE KNOCKING AND A NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED.

1998 CHEVY VENTURE, 77000 MILES, NO WARNING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER, ENGINE TAPPING & SMOKING. WALKED 1.2 MILES ON INTERSTATE, 8 MILES TO EXIT, TOOK RIDE FROM UNKNOWN COUPLE. HAD VAN TOWED, DIAGNOSED: COLLASPED INTAKE GASKET CAUSED ROD TO GO THROUGH ENGINE. DEALERSHIP & GM REFUSED TO HELP. REPEATABLE PROBLEM WITH GASKET EASILY LOCATED ON INTERNET, OVERWELMED BY SEVERITY.

COOLANT LEAK IN 1998 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN. FAULTY INTAKE GASKET.

CONSUMER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASION. AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR

POWER SLIDING DOOR BUZZER SOMETIMES SOUNDS ALTHOUGH THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. I HAVE TO DISABLE THE POWERSWITCH AND SLAM THE DOOR TO CONTINUE.

POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENS AFTER CLOSING,SOMETIMES I MUST DISABLE POWERSWITCH TO KEEP CLOSED. PAID $162,DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM.

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STATES EVAP PROBLEM. STINKY EMISSIONS BUT DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM AFTER I PAID $162. RESET LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REAPPEARS AFTER A FEW DAYS.

BAD ANTILOCK BRAKE PULSATION AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLIED. I THOUGHT WAS NORMAL BUT DEALER SAID ROTORS MAY BE WARPED.

LEAKING COOLANT IN 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN W/ 3400SFI V6 ENGINE DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS "BLOWN HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS; MAY HAVE CRACKED HEAD, WON'T KNOW UNTIL OPENED UP. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $1300 FOR REPLACEMENT OF GASKETS AND ANOTHER $660 IF HEAD IS CRACKED." NO ACTION YET TAKEN BY CONSUMER 1/3/2003. MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM NOTED BY OWNERS. TS

NOTICED AN ENGINE "TICK" COUPLE WEEKS AGO. PROBLEM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR ONCE ENGINE CAME UP TO TEMPERATURE. NOTICED LAST NIGHT THAT PROBLEM "TICK" IS MORE NOTICEABLE. INVESTIGATED TONIGHT AFTER RESEARCHING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEMS ON THE WEB, AND DISCOVERED COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER STATES' AFTER BREAKING STEERING OUT OF THE LOCK MODE, CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

I WAS EXPERIENCING LOSS OF COOLANT. FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD /GASKET. COST OF REPAIR $700. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND A SITE WITH OVER 1,000 PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. MECHANICS ARE SAYING IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL GM ENGINES. THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED. HOPEFULLY, I CAUGHT MINE IN TIME. HUNDREDS DIDN'T AND THEIR ENGINE BLEW. MECHANIC SAID HAD I TAKEN THIS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE LEAK MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND IS AFFECTING MILLIONS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!! DT

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WHICH ALLOWED DEXTROL COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. DT

THIS FAILURE IF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A COMMON AND COSTLY REPAIR ON THESE GM MINIVANS. DT

ENGINE CONTINUES TO SHAKE REAL BAD AND STALLS OUT. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WONT START. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770115

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKE LEFT TURN. STEERING WHEEL, WILL LOSE THE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

THE FIRST BENCH SEAT, SEAT BELT WILL NOT HOLD WHEN THE CONSUMER CLICK THE TOP BUCKLE INSIDE OF THE RETRACTOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

METAL SEAT SUPPORT WEAR THROUGH AND CONTACTS DRIVERS LOWER BACK BONE AND HIP. MFG. SAYS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND WILL NOT REPAIR SEAT CUSHION TO PREVENT HARM. DT

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT AT 35 MPH, NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. TS

THIS IS A PART THAT FAILED AGAIN AFTER REPLACEMENT BY RECALL NHTSA # 01V067000 & 01V264000. REPLACED PART HAS FAILED CAUSING DOOR TO NOT FULLY LATCH AT TIMES. GM CONTACTED BY OWNER - GM EMPLOYEE - LEMONT BARLOW (866) 942-4368 HAS ADVISED OWNER THAT SINCE PART WA S REPLACED UNDER RECALL AND ONE YEAR HAS PASSED, GM NO LONGER WILL PROVIDE ANY REPAIRS. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED (IN WRITING TO OWNER) REPLACED ACTUATOR AS BEING DEFECTIVE. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE CAUSING INJURIES AND DAMAGES. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK. ONCE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT NOT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *JG

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING, UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER. STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED UP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT LENS COVER WILL POP OFF WITHOUT WARNING, UNABLE TOO JUST POP IT BACK ON. CONTACTED DEALER.CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

REPAIRS TO BRAKE SYSTEMS WERE ABOUT $1700.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VAN WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT START, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AT LEAST 20 TIMES. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND REPORTED ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NO FUEL PRESSURE TRACED TO NO OPERATION OF FUEL PUMP. FOUND WIRING HARNESS AT FUEL PUMP HAD COME LOOSE. AFTER HARNESS WAS RECONNECTED THE VAN STARTED RIGHT UP. ADVISED THAT CONNECTOR 305 AND GROUND 301 HAVE A HISTORY OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS AND ITNERNAL OPENS THAT CAUSE NO START CONDITIONS. *TT

THE CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AS THE RESULT OF THE AIR BAGS FAILURE TO DEPLOY. *YH DOORS DO NOT OPEN DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR.*TS

AFTER MUCH RESEARCH WITH AREA GM DEALERSHIPS AND YOUR WEBSITE, IT APPERS THAT THE 1998 VENTURE MINI-VAN'S INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DEVELOPS A LEAK AT 80000 TO 90000 MILES. I HAD THIS REPLACEMENT IN MAY 2002. SINCE MY VAN WAS OUT OF WARRENTY BY 1000 MILES (IT WAS SHY 2 WEEKS OF BEING 4 YEARS OLD). I SPOKE WITH GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE ON SCHEDULE FOR ALL TUNE-UP/OIL CHANGES/TIRE ROTATIONS, ETC. I ENDED UP PAYING $575.00 TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. SINCE THEN MY VAN HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP IN NEED OF A WHOLE NEW ENGINE WITH ONLY 82000 MILES. IT SEEMS A PISTON ROD SPUN AND DAMAGED THE CRANK SHAFT. AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET COULD HAVE CAUSED ALL OF THIS. NOW I AM FACED WITH REPLACING THE WHOLE ENGINE WITH AN USED ENGINE WITH 4,000 MILES FOR $2400 + TAX, GETTING A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE FOR $3865 OR TRADING IN THE CAR. I DO BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION IN THE LEAKING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SHOULD DEFINATELY BE PURSUED. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE. FOR THE HEADLIGHT, MY HEADLIGHT LENS FALL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55 MPH. I NEVER COULD FOUND THE LENS AND LUCKY THE LENS FLYING OFF DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH. I CONTACTED THE GM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ONCE AGAIN WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST US. THIS WASN'T A KNOWN PROBLEM. AFTER INVESTIGATI

THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. *YH

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, UPON IMPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF WITH OUT ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *YH

STEERING RACK AND PINION FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOST OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK THE COMPONENT FROM RACK AND PINION THAT FELL ON THE GROUND WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, ALSO THE BRAKES FAILED. *YH

LOSE ABILITY TO STEER THE VAN WHEN IT RAINS OR PASSING THROUGH SMALL WATER DEPOSITS ON THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN DRIVER SUSTAINING MAJOR HEAD INJURIES.*AK THERE WAS ONE INJURY.*YH