FaultScore

FaultScore report

1997 Chevrolet G VAN problems

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet G VAN with NHTSA between 2002 and 2005. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

12

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

79,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

10%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 1997 compares with every other Chevrolet G VAN

Click any bar to open that year's report.

92 93 94 95 97 98 99 00 01 02
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Chevrolet G VAN

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Fuel & Propulsion 3 25.0%

Median failure at 79,500 miles

Electrical System 3 25.0%

Median failure at 79,500 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 25.0%

Median failure at 68,569 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 8.3%

Median failure at 79,500 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 8.3%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

Brakes 1 8.3%

Median failure at 154,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 20.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 10.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 5 50.0%
150,000+ miles 2 20.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 2002 peak 5 May 2005

Recalls on the 1997 Chevrolet G VAN

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1998042 4 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

NOTE: VAN CONVERSIONS (TRAVEL VANS). THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 202 - HEAD RESTRAINTS. VEHICLES ARE MISSING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE TWO FRONT SEATS. CORRECTION: HEAD RESTRAINTS WILL BE INSTALLED.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 154,000 miles Marstons Mills, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKES BEGAN IN 2003. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF ABS SYSTEM THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN WARNING WAS LIT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. MECHANIC SAID THAT CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, IN RAINY CONDITIONS BRAKES SEEMED TO CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO RIGHT. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS COMING ON DUE TO COMPUTER PROBLEM. CONTACT BELIEVED THE COMPUTER WAS CAUSING THE ,PROBLEMS DUE TO THE COMPUTER BEING PLACED OUTSIDE NEAR THE TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10122209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles Marstons Mills, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT: PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKES BEGAN IN 2003. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF ABS SYSTEM THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN WARNING WAS LIT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. MECHANIC SAID THAT CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, IN RAINY CONDITIONS BRAKES SEEMED TO CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO RIGHT. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS COMING ON DUE TO COMPUTER PROBLEM. CONTACT BELIEVED THE COMPUTER WAS CAUSING THE ,PROBLEMS DUE TO THE COMPUTER BEING PLACED OUTSIDE NEAR THE TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10122209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,569 miles Glenshaw, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PROBLEMS WITH 1997 CHEVROLET G-VAN TRANSMISSION.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE HIS TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF LEAKING. CHEVROLET HAS ONLY ISSUED A BULLETIN FOR 1991-1995 GMC TRUCK G VANS REGARDING A LEAK IN THE REAR EXTENSION HOUSING BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING IN THE 97 MODELS. THE CONSUMER IS ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1979.45. *CB

NHTSA complaint #10034535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,500 miles Brunswick, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY CUSTOMIZED VAN. I HAVE JUST HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH JUST 79,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, MOST DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I'VE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, 2 FUEL PUMPS, 1 SPEEDOMETER, 3 BATTERIES, AND FUEL LEAKS OVER THE YEARS. THERE WERE ALSO 2 RECALL ITEMS, ONE DEALING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALL OF MY WORK HAS BEEN WITH LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE CENTERS, BUT NOT VERY HAPPY. AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION JUMPING OR SHIFTING ROUGHLY AT LOWER SPEEDS IN TOWN, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID WE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A TREMENDOUS COST AT THAT TIME. MY QUESTIONS AT THE TIME ABOUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND WHY AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE WERE NEVER ANSWERED FULLY, AND I CHOSE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VAN. THE RECENT PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 79,000 WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, WHICH MY WIFE WAS LUCKY. THERE HAD BEEN A BIG BANG, AND THE RESULT INITIALLY WAS A LOST REVERSE GEAR. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WHEN I WENT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAD 5 GM VEHICLES AT HIS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BASICALLY THE SAME MILEAGE ON EACH. NOW WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FIND MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION I AM, AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GO, BECAUSE GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM, OF WHICH I BELIEVE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL ALONG. THERE ARE VERY FEW AVENUES TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALERS AND EVEN THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICES TO BE A VERITABLE NIGHTMARE AND NO GUARANTEE OF HELP. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD ALONG WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATIONS OCCUR WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10039219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,500 miles Brunswick, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY CUSTOMIZED VAN. I HAVE JUST HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH JUST 79,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, MOST DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I'VE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, 2 FUEL PUMPS, 1 SPEEDOMETER, 3 BATTERIES, AND FUEL LEAKS OVER THE YEARS. THERE WERE ALSO 2 RECALL ITEMS, ONE DEALING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALL OF MY WORK HAS BEEN WITH LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE CENTERS, BUT NOT VERY HAPPY. AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION JUMPING OR SHIFTING ROUGHLY AT LOWER SPEEDS IN TOWN, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID WE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A TREMENDOUS COST AT THAT TIME. MY QUESTIONS AT THE TIME ABOUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND WHY AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE WERE NEVER ANSWERED FULLY, AND I CHOSE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VAN. THE RECENT PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 79,000 WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, WHICH MY WIFE WAS LUCKY. THERE HAD BEEN A BIG BANG, AND THE RESULT INITIALLY WAS A LOST REVERSE GEAR. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WHEN I WENT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAD 5 GM VEHICLES AT HIS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BASICALLY THE SAME MILEAGE ON EACH. NOW WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FIND MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION I AM, AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GO, BECAUSE GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM, OF WHICH I BELIEVE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL ALONG. THERE ARE VERY FEW AVENUES TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALERS AND EVEN THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICES TO BE A VERITABLE NIGHTMARE AND NO GUARANTEE OF HELP. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD ALONG WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATIONS OCCUR WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10039219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,500 miles Brunswick, GA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY CUSTOMIZED VAN. I HAVE JUST HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH JUST 79,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, MOST DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I'VE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, 2 FUEL PUMPS, 1 SPEEDOMETER, 3 BATTERIES, AND FUEL LEAKS OVER THE YEARS. THERE WERE ALSO 2 RECALL ITEMS, ONE DEALING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALL OF MY WORK HAS BEEN WITH LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE CENTERS, BUT NOT VERY HAPPY. AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION JUMPING OR SHIFTING ROUGHLY AT LOWER SPEEDS IN TOWN, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID WE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A TREMENDOUS COST AT THAT TIME. MY QUESTIONS AT THE TIME ABOUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND WHY AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE WERE NEVER ANSWERED FULLY, AND I CHOSE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VAN. THE RECENT PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 79,000 WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, WHICH MY WIFE WAS LUCKY. THERE HAD BEEN A BIG BANG, AND THE RESULT INITIALLY WAS A LOST REVERSE GEAR. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WHEN I WENT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAD 5 GM VEHICLES AT HIS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BASICALLY THE SAME MILEAGE ON EACH. NOW WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FIND MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION I AM, AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GO, BECAUSE GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM, OF WHICH I BELIEVE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL ALONG. THERE ARE VERY FEW AVENUES TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALERS AND EVEN THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICES TO BE A VERITABLE NIGHTMARE AND NO GUARANTEE OF HELP. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD ALONG WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATIONS OCCUR WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10039219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,500 miles Brunswick, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY CUSTOMIZED VAN. I HAVE JUST HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH JUST 79,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, MOST DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I'VE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, 2 FUEL PUMPS, 1 SPEEDOMETER, 3 BATTERIES, AND FUEL LEAKS OVER THE YEARS. THERE WERE ALSO 2 RECALL ITEMS, ONE DEALING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALL OF MY WORK HAS BEEN WITH LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE CENTERS, BUT NOT VERY HAPPY. AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION JUMPING OR SHIFTING ROUGHLY AT LOWER SPEEDS IN TOWN, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID WE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A TREMENDOUS COST AT THAT TIME. MY QUESTIONS AT THE TIME ABOUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND WHY AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE WERE NEVER ANSWERED FULLY, AND I CHOSE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VAN. THE RECENT PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 79,000 WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, WHICH MY WIFE WAS LUCKY. THERE HAD BEEN A BIG BANG, AND THE RESULT INITIALLY WAS A LOST REVERSE GEAR. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WHEN I WENT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAD 5 GM VEHICLES AT HIS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BASICALLY THE SAME MILEAGE ON EACH. NOW WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FIND MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION I AM, AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GO, BECAUSE GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM, OF WHICH I BELIEVE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL ALONG. THERE ARE VERY FEW AVENUES TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALERS AND EVEN THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICES TO BE A VERITABLE NIGHTMARE AND NO GUARANTEE OF HELP. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD ALONG WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATIONS OCCUR WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10039219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,500 miles Brunswick, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY CUSTOMIZED VAN. I HAVE JUST HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT WITH JUST 79,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, MOST DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I'VE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, 2 FUEL PUMPS, 1 SPEEDOMETER, 3 BATTERIES, AND FUEL LEAKS OVER THE YEARS. THERE WERE ALSO 2 RECALL ITEMS, ONE DEALING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALL OF MY WORK HAS BEEN WITH LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE CENTERS, BUT NOT VERY HAPPY. AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION JUMPING OR SHIFTING ROUGHLY AT LOWER SPEEDS IN TOWN, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID WE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A TREMENDOUS COST AT THAT TIME. MY QUESTIONS AT THE TIME ABOUT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE AND WHY AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE WERE NEVER ANSWERED FULLY, AND I CHOSE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VAN. THE RECENT PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 79,000 WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, WHICH MY WIFE WAS LUCKY. THERE HAD BEEN A BIG BANG, AND THE RESULT INITIALLY WAS A LOST REVERSE GEAR. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A REPUTABLE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WHEN I WENT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC, FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WAS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. AS A MATTER OF FACT HE HAD 5 GM VEHICLES AT HIS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BASICALLY THE SAME MILEAGE ON EACH. NOW WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FIND MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION I AM, AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GO, BECAUSE GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THERE IS A PROBLEM, OF WHICH I BELIEVE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL ALONG. THERE ARE VERY FEW AVENUES TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF SITUATION AND I HAVE FOUND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALERS AND EVEN THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICES TO BE A VERITABLE NIGHTMARE AND NO GUARANTEE OF HELP. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD ALONG WITH THE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATIONS OCCUR WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10039219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Temperance, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET G VAN HIGHWAY DRIVEN WITH ONLY 29,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR ONLY WHEN HOT. DEALER FOUND A DEFECTIVE VALVE BOBY ASSEMBLY.TIMED OUT OF WARRENTY COST $900 TO REPAIR. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LASTED DLONGER THAN 29,000 MILES. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH WAS NOT FROM WEARING OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10029245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Hartselle, AL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT DESIRED SPEED. VEHICLE IS A 1997 CHEVROLET CG11405 VAN. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sykesville, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WORK WAS COMPLETED, CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING AFTER THE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL JUMP FROM FULL TO 1/4 TANK WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #564669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sykesville, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WORK WAS COMPLETED, CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING AFTER THE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL JUMP FROM FULL TO 1/4 TANK WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #564669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.