2001 Chevrolet Venture complaints

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS, CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT WHICH RESULTED HEADS WERE WARPING. MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON I-10 COMING HOME FROM OUR FAMILY VACATION FROM DISNEYLAND AND HEADING BACK TO PHOENIX AZ WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED ON THE 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN. WE WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE DESERT FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL TO ADD WATER INTO THE RADIATOR. 45 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE COOLED ENOUGH TO ADD THE WATER AND FOR SOME REASON IT WOULD NOT DRAW THE WATER OUT OF THE RESERVOIR. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. WE CALLED THE STATE POLICE AND A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN CAME OUT AND COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR US. HE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WE WERE CHARGED $250.00 TO BE TOWED 25 MILES FROM WHERE WE WERE TO THE TRUCK STOP AT TONAPAH. HE WANTED $700.00 TO TOW US HOME TO CHANDLER, AZ. HOWEVER, A FRIEND CAME TO OUR RESCUE BY TOWING US HOME WITH A STRAP FROM HIS TRUCK. BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE 101 FREEWAY IN THE EAST VALLEY THE BATTERY DIED, ADDING TO THE DRAMA AND STRESS OF THE EVENING. WE FINALLY GOT HOME AFTER 1 AM , WE WERE EXPECTED AT 5 PM. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER THAT THE HEADS WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND IT WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM IN ENGINES OVER 75,000 MILES , WE HAVE 77000 MILES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT AND DAMAGING IT. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE IN USE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GASKET SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL GAUGE NO LONGER INDICATED HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL, CAUSING THE SIGNAL TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SIGNAL. YET IT FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 85000. *AK

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT IN SYNC. THEY ARE IN THE UP POSITION WHEN TURNED OFF. I HAVE REPLACED THE MODULE ONCE AND THAT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT DID IT AGAIN. NOW I'M TOLD IT IS A COMPONENT THAT WILL COST $368 TO FIX. I SEE MANY VENTURES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE SAFETY HARNESSES ON SOME SEATS RATCHET UP, LOCK, AND CHOKE THE PERSON USING THEM. THE FIRST ONE TO DO THAT WAS IN THE FAR BACK AND HAD BEEN USED ONLY A FEW TIMES WHEN IT FAILED AND WE REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE 12-MONTH WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND SAFETY BELTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW, THE ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS THE SHOULDER HARNESS TO THE SIDEWALL OF THE VEHICLE, THE BOLTS PULLED COMPLETELY OUT AND THE SHOULDER STRAP IS NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING. ALL BUT THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER HARNESS ALSO RATCHETS UP AND LOCKS, NEARLY STRANGLING THE PERSON USING IT. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES WITH THESE SEAT BELTS. WE ARE A FAMILY OF 3 AND THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEATS ARE SELDOM USED, THE PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FAIRLY NEW, AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY THE ONE WHERE THE BOLTS FELL OUT. FORTUNATELY THAT HAPPENED WHEN OUR 13-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON WAS LATCHING IT, NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRING THE SAFETY BELTS. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE SEAM CAME LOOSE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED A SLOW FUEL LEAK. THE LEAK OCCURRED WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW FUEL SYSTEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FUEL SYSTEM FOR FREE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEAK WAS WHERE THE FILL NECK ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. UPDATE 03/20/07. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. THE DEFROST DOES NOT DEFROST THE FRONT AND SIDE WINDOWS. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDOWS ARE NOT EXPERIENCING THIS INCIDENT. THE CONTACT HAS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY CLEAN THE WINDOWS TO ENSURE VISIBILITY. PER THE MECHANIC THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A WEAK COMPRESSOR. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A NEW COMPRESSOR AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR PER THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT FEELS THE INCIDENT IS A SAFETY RISK DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99600. *NM

I HAVE A CHEVY VENTURE 2001 AND I BOUGHT IT USED IN JULY 2005 AND I AM NOT SURE IF ANY OF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND I ALSO HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR THERE IS NO SENSOR ON IT AND SOMEONE COULD BE CLOSED IN IT I HAVE TRIED TO PUSH IT OPEN WHEN IT CLOSES AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO CLOSE. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT CLOSING ON THEM. HOW CAN I GET IT FIXED AND WILL IT BE AT MY COST. *NM

FUEL GAUGE READING IS ERRATIC. SOMETIMES CORRECT, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S INCORRECT. *JB

TAILLIGHT CIRCUIT BOARDS OVERHEAT AND MELT CAUSING FAILURE. LEFT ONE HAPPENED 3 YEARS AGO WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. AND MOST RECENTLY RIGHT ONE MELTED AND HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE. *NM

THE FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC. IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK. *JB

AT 35,000 MILES, INTAKE GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO INTAKE, REPAIR COVERED BY WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ALONG WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT LEAKED INTO CRANKCASE CONTAMINATING OIL. WAS RECOMMENDED BY MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE ENGINE AND DID. THE NEW USED ENGINE HAD A INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ALONG WITH A HEAD GASKET FAILURE 36,000 MILES AFTER INSTALLATION. INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT A NEW GASKET KIT CAME OUT FOR THIS ENGINE TO FIX THE GASKET FAILURES WITH THE 3.4 LITER. BOTH ENGINES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A ENGINEERING FLAW BY GM. I FEEL GM SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS GASKET FAILURE. *NM

THE BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. CAUSING THE CAR TO STILL MOVE WHEN YOU PRESS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AND ACCIDENT AND KILL SOMEONE. I SAW ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THAT BETWEEN ALL THEM AND THE ONES STILL COMING IN, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *NM

I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET GM TO HONOR MY WARRANTY FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT IS BAD. I MADE THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR A PART TO BE ORDERED ON MARCH 15, 2006. ON JUNE 29, 2006, I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY GEICO BECAUSE I HAD A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME BECAUSE GM WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOW 5 1/2 MONTHS LATER AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I COULD NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WOULD FAIL THE EMISSIONS TEST REQUIRED BY EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA. MY STICKER IS NOW EXPIRED AND HAS BEEN SINCE JUNE 30, 2006. I HAVE CONTACTED MR. TED TRIMBLE, EPA EMISSIONS AND WARRANTY DEPT, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT I CAN NOT GET A RETURN PHONE CALL CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. WHO DO I SPEAK TO NOW! MY VAN IS EMITTING TRASH INTO THE AIR. DOES ANYBODY THERE CARE? GM IS TELLING ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PART IS ASKING TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THE PART AND GM DOESN'T WANT TO PAY IT. THAT IS FLAT OUT NOT HONORING A WARRANTY. *JB

FAULTY BRAKES DUE TO VEHICLE HOLDING MOISTURE 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE IN FRONT MADE A U TURN WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IMPACTED THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT. UPDATED 08/29/06. *JB

FAX FROM CONSUMER (OH) RE THE PROBLEM HE AND HIS WIFE HAD WITH THE HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *NM THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE KNUCKLE COLLAR AROUND THE FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

FAX FM (OH) RE THE PROBLEM HE AND HIS WIFE HAD W/THE HEAD GASKETS IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU & 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. *TS ***REFERENCE 10154062*** THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL SYSTEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING SLOW. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT CONTINUALLY BURED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON THE INBOARD SIDE AND THE PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE OUT OF "SYNC" AND JAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. I HAVE SCHEDULED REPAIRS FOR 12/8/2005, AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *JB

TAIL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE DIMLY ON THE DASH AND THEN FAIL TO OPERATE. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TURNING. REPLACED BOTH TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARDS AND PIGTAILS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS GOING UP AND DOWN. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THE THERMOMETER WAS NOT WORKING. HE PICKED UP THE CAR AND IN 3 THREE DAYS LATER THE CAR BLEW UP. HE HAD IT TOWED A WEEK LATER THEY TOLD HIM A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. IT HAS BEEN 5 WEEKS SINCE HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT. ON THE 2ND DAY AFTER HE BOUGHT THE CAR THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING.*AK *JB

SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM AS REPORTED BY OTHER POSTS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. SERVICED AT SHOP REGULARLY. AT 60,000 MILES THE SUPPOSED "100,000 MILE" COOLING SYSTEM SUDDENLY DEVELOPED LEAK IN LOWER INTAKE. AS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE INTO THE HOT, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF TO LET IT COOL OFF. WHEN I DROVE IT TO THE SHOP (MAYBE DRIVING A TOTAL OF 10 MILES AFTER PROBLEM STARTED), SHOP DIAGNOSED IT AS LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAK. THE MANUAL SAYS IT HAS A ENGINE SAFETY FEATURE TO ALTERNATELY FIRE THE CYLINDERS TO KEEP HEADS FROM BLOWING. DIDN'T WORK FOR ME. BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN. WARPED HEADS. HAD TO HAVE HEADS SHAVED. $2000 REPAIR BILL DURING A VACATION AT A GM SHOP. THE SHOP PUT ON "NEWER GASKETS" THIS ISN'T RIGHT! *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE ON THE LEFT FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION HE SAW THAT THE ENGINE HAD DROPPED AND WAS HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO GM DEALER FOR REPAIRS. BASICALLY, THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE ENGINE MOUNT BROKE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED SOMEONE HAD DONE THIS TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. THE CONSUMER KEPT VEHICLE GARAGED. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. GM OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR COVERAGE. *AK *NM

DT: CONSUMER HAD A 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER CRACKED AND FREON LEAKED OUT. CONSUMER FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THAT BECAUSE HE TRANSPORTS HIS CHILDREN IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALERSHIP STATED THIS HAPPENED IN MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. *AK.*JB

2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE HOOD FLEW UP ON THE CAR WHILE DRIVING SMASHING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE HOOD RELEASE MAY HAVE BEEN PULLED INADVERTENTLY. *JB

FRONT LEFT AXLE OF 01 CHEVY VENTURE IS MAKING A BAD GRINDING TYPE NOISE WHICH GETS LOUDER THE FASTER YOU DRIVE. AFRAID IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE VEHICLE.

JULY 16, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE ALONG MY LOCAL STREET SMITHTOWN NY WHEN I HEARD A EXTREMELY LOUD BANG. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY I PULLED MY CAR OVER AND CONTACTED MY HUSBAND. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON TOWING THE VEHICLE TO A LICENSED GM MECHANIC I LEARNED THAT THE CV KNUCKLE AND THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM SNAPPED WHEN THE ENGINE FELL. UPON CONTACTING GM/CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY OFFERED TO PAY FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS, I FEEL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THEY SHOULD PAY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF MY REPAIR COSTS. THIS VEHICLE IS ACCIDENT FREE. AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT FALL OUT OF A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR TO SHUT IT DOOR DID NOT SHUT. IT REOPENED. HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. CALLER HAS NOT TALKED TO A DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE BUTTON FOR THE POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK ALL OF THE TIME. .SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A 1999 MODEL REGARDING THE SLIDING DOORS. THERE WAS NO RECALL NUMBER AVAILABLE. SHE NO LONGER HAS THE 1999 VEHICLE. WAS CALLING TO COMPLAIN THAT SHE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 2001 MODEL AND SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. *AK *TT

DT: THE HORN BLEW ABOUT ONCE A MONTH WITHOUT WARNING FOR ONLY A SECONDS AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ON ITS OWN. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR CONTACTED MANUAFACTURER. NO CLUE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK

DT: AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER LEAKED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT THERE WERE ABOUT A THOUSAND OF THESE CONDENSERS REPLACED IN THE LAST MONTHS. THE CONDENSER LEAKED FROM THE LOWER LEFT SIDE FROM A FAULTY WELD. *AK *NM

MY FIVE YEAR OLD SON WAS GETTING INTO OUR VAN AND WALKING TOWARD THE REAR ROW OF SEATS WHEN HE RAN INTO THE SEATBELT THAT CROSSES OVER FROM THE REAR SIDE WINDOW AND WAS ENTANGLED. THE SEATBELT WAS SO TIGHTLY WRAPPED AROUND HIM THAT IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION SO THAT I COULD GET HIM OUT. THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD GET HIM OUT WAS BY CUTTING THE SEATBELT. WE HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCINDENTS WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF OUR VAN AND GOING TO THE REAR ROW OF SEATS.

DT: WHILE ON A TRIP THE CALLER HEARD A NOISE AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. SHE PULLED OVER, AND SAW WHAT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS LACK OF ANTIFREEZE. SHE PUT SOME ANTI-FREEZE IN ENGINE AND TRIED TO DRIVE, BUT IT WOULD NOT RUN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION , AND HE WAS REPLACING TRANSMISSIONS IN OTHER VANS LIKE HERS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

HAD INTERMITANT AIRBAG LIGHT, REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER FIXED DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. THEN HAD 40 MPH FRONT END CRASH, FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SDM HAS HISTORY OF FAILURE ON THIS VAN. CONTACTED GM, THEY STATED 'NO ISSUE - CASE CLOSED'. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, ALL CONDITIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MET IN THIS CRASH FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS DURING A LEFT TURN (CENTRIFUGAL FORCE PULLING OCCUPANTS TOWARDS THE OPENING DOOR), AN UNRESTRAINED PASSENGER WOULD HAVE BEEN EJECTED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT IT WAS SCARY. IT TURNS OUT THAT ONE OF THE DOOR GUIDE WHEELS BROKE ON THE REAR PART OF THE DOOR, CAUSING THE DOOR TO CLOSE BUT NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND THE DOOR APPEARED CLOSED TO CASUAL INSPECTION. PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURRED WHEN OUR VIDEO CAMERA ROLLED OUT OF THE CAR INTO THE STREET.

IN SEPT. '03 THE REAR CYLINDER BRAKES WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACED; IN MARCH '04 THE FRONT SUSPENSION WENT AND HAD UPPER STRUTS, MOUNTS AND BEARINGS ALL REPLACED; IN JUNE '04 I FIRST TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ENGINE ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE LUNGES AND REVS HIGH BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT IN SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE THEN; ALSO IN JUNE '04 THE LOWER INTAKE OF THE ENGINE COOLING WAS FOUND LEAKING. IN OCT. '04 THE ABS BRAKES WENT AND IT WAS VERIFIED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HUB FAILED AND REPLACED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HUB BEARING. ALSO IN OCT. '04, THE TRANSMISSION WENT. IT WAS NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP VERIFIED SUN SHELL FAILED AND REPLACED NEW SRTA TRANSMISSION. ALSO AT THIS SAME SERVICE VISIT, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE CAM SENSOR LEAKING. THEY REPLACED LOWER INTAKE AND ALL RELATED GASKETS. IN NOV. '04, I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM, WHICH THEY AGAIN COULD NOT DETERMINE. IN APRIL '05, I DISCOVERED MY AIR CONDITIONING DID NOT WORK. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND THAT I PROBABLY HAD A LEAK AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH MY VAN IS STILL LESS THAN 4 YRS. OLD AND HAS ONLY SEEN 3 SUMMERS AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS BARELY USED. IN MAY '05, DURING A RAINSTORM MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY JOLTED ON AND NEARLY FLIPPED OFF THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP UNTIL

TRANSMISSION FAILS AT 54,000 MILES DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. REBUILT TRANSMISSION WILL COST $2000.

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIRED SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK

THE LOWER INTAKE GASKETS LEAK FLUID, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

COOLANT LOSS, AND TEMPERATURE PROBLEMS LED ME TO MECHANIC, ASSUMING IT WAS A THERMOSTAT. HE TRACED PROBLEM TO LEAKING INTAKE GASKETS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT! COST $532 FOR 6+ HOUR JOB TO REPLACE FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS. GM SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS; THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT THEIR FAULTY GASKETS, BECAUSE THE SET NOW OFFERED IS A "NEW AND IMPROVED SET". *AK

2001 CEV VENTURE MINI VAN REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CORRODED AND CIRCUIT BOARD SHORTED. STOPPED BY POLICE HAVE HAD FRIENDS WITH SAME PROBLEM >LOCAL GARAGE (NOT DEALER) HAS SEEN MANY VENTURES WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WOW FIRST TIME . *AK

WHEN OUR VAN (2001 CHEVY VENTURE) REACHED ABOUT 75000 MILES, WE NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE ON THE GAUGE RISING. I CONTACTED OUR MECHANIC AND HE RECOMMENDED FLUSHING THE COOLING LINE AND CHANGING THE THERMOSTAT. I TOOK THE VAN IN AND HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AND THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED. AT THAT TIME HE NOTICED A COOLANT LEAK BELOW THE INTAKE. NOW THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED AND THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED I WAS HOPING TO NOT SEE A FLUCTUATION IN THE TEMPERATURE. I WAS WRONG, THE TEMPERATURE IS STILL FLUCTUATING AND NOW I NOTICE WHEN IT GETS HOT THE CAR SHIFTS VERY ROUGH. HE RECOMMENDED I CONTACT A GM DEALER AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, DUE TO THE VENTURE VAN BEING KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY GM WOULD COVER THE COST. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL GM DEALER AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE AND I HOPE THAT GM STEPS UP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

IT WAS RAINING IN LOUISIANA AND I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND FROM WORK. UPON LEAVING HIS WORK. WE WERE TRAVELING EAST ON HIGHWAY 10 TO CHURCH ON A WENDESDAY EVENING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HIT EACH OTHER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS LAYING LIMP ON THE SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO WORK. WE HAD TO TURN THEM OFF AND DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO CHURCH WITH NO WIPERS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BEEN BENT AND WE REMOVED THE ARM SO THAT WE COULD DRIVE THE VAN WITH JUST THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME (11000 MILES). WE BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN BAKER, LOUISIANA. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT SO THEY ORDERED THE PARTS. WE WAITED THREE WEEKS FOR PARTS. WHEN WE FINALLY CALLED BACK TO SEE IF THE PARTS HAD COME IN, THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAD AND THEY JUST FORGOT TO CALL US. WE BROUGHT THE VAN IN AND THEY REPLACED THE WIPER ARM AND THEY COULD NOT GET THE TIMING RIGHT ON THE WIPERS. THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE WIPERS AND SET THE TIMING. THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING FINE UNTIL ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THE JUST STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER THIS TIME. YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO TURN TO MOVE THE WIPERS BUT THEY ARE NOT MOVING. THIS REPAIR IS AT 51000 MILES. FIRST TIME EVER THAT I HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED GO OUT, MUCH LESS GO OUT TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE 240 DOLLARS PLUS TAX FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *JB

VACATIONING 500 MILES OUT OF MY HOME STATE, I SUDDENLY DISCOVERED I COULD NOT BACK UP MY VEHICLE -- REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO AN AUTHORIZED CHEVROLET DEALER. UPON INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SHREDDDED METAL IN THE FLUID AND PAN. A SUBSEQUENT TEARDOWN OF THE ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE DESTROYED, REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THE CARE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AT HOME, ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, AND HAD ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS OR WARNING OF ANY DAMAGE OCCURRING TO THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION -- NO OPERATING PROBLEMS, NO NOISES, NO LEAKAGE, NO SMOKING ENGINE, ETC. WE HAD TO EXTEND OUR VACATION FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS AT CONSIDERABLE LODGING AND VEHICLE RENTAL COST, BUT FORTUNATELY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION ITSELF WAS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY WHICH I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IN 2001 (LESS A $100 DEDUCTIBLE). WE KNOW OTHER CHEVROLET OWNERS WHO REPORTED TO US LATER THAT THEY HAD HAD TO REPLACE FRONT WHEEL TRANSAXLES/TRANSMISSIONS, ONE ALSO IN A VENTURE SEVERAL YEARS OLDER THAN OURS AND ONE IN A SUBURBAN ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AS OURS. OUR HOME DEALERSHIP TOLD US THEY THOUGHT OUR EXPERIENCE WAS UNUSUAL BUT WE ARE NOT SO SURE.*AK

2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE STARTER RELAY SECURED NEXT TO THE RADIATOR CAP IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO RAIN WATER AND AS A RESULT THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. *TT *NM

WHILE THE PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR WAS OPENED IT SUDDENLY CLOSED ON ITS OWN. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S CHILD SUSTAINED MAJOR ARM INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE HITTING AGAINST EACH OTHER WHILE OPERATING. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. *JB

POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULDN'T STOP OR OPEN, WIFE GOT SHOULDER, ARM, KNEE CAUGHT IN DOOR. THE DOOR IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. CALLED GM AND THEY WERE VERY RUDE AND SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION SLIP, INABILITY TO USE REVERSE AND/OR DRIVE. MY 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AT MY LOCAL CHVROLET DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM OVER THE PAST 3-4 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS 22000 MILES. GUESS WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AFTER TODAY'S TOW TO THE DEALER ?? NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND - THE VEHICLE -"OPERATES AS DESIGNED" AMAZINGLY ENOUGH WHEN MY WIFE WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT WE WERE IN WE COULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING WAS SPINNING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE AND ONE POINT LURCHED BACKWARD AS MY WIFE CONTINUED IN AN ATTEMPT TO BACK THE VEHICLE UP TO NO AVAIL -AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY. WE COULD NOT USE DRIVE EITHER IT WOULD ONLY MOVE AT A SNAILS PACE. UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND I'M STILL HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN FOR THIS PROBLEM I ALMOST INSTANTLY HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK FOR REPAIR - THEY SAID THEY FILLED THE FLUID AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND IT WAS UNTIL TODAY! - FOR THE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE - I WOULD HOPE FOR A RECALL SOON! ISN'T IT STRANGE HOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER MOST OF WHAT I'VE READ IN OTHER POSTS SAY "DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" ?? *JD. *AK