54 of the 612 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Venture are about the electrical system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 85,000 miles.
54
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NEEDS REPLACED FRONTEND HUBS ,TIEROD,PINION REPAIRS/RECALL THIS VAN NEEDS A NEW OWNER!!! NOTHING BUT COSTLY REPAIRS CHEVY NEEDS TO RECALL ALL THEM VENTURES.
NHTSA complaint #10261898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND BUSTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT HER RESIDENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10142842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK. VEHICLE WA SRECALLED FOR STEERING RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND COULDN'T BE RESET, THE SENSOR UNIT SHORTED OUT AND BURNE DALL TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER CLAIMED HE WAS 68 YEARS OF AGE AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE COULDN'T BE DRIVEN WITHOUT AIR BAGS BEING USED IN WHICH CASE THEY WERE WRONG.CONSUMER DRIVES ABOUT 3000 MILES PER WEEK AS A DELIVERY PERSON FOR A FURNACE COMPANY AND ALWAY USED SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #10103634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARED IN THE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, VERY NEAR THE GAS TANK. INSPECTOR STATED THAT IT WAS A DEAD SHORT. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO DO PAY THE SUM THAT VEHICLE WAS WORTH.
NHTSA complaint #10099743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY A BURNT ODOR WAS SMELLED FOLLOWED BY BLACK SMOKE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK BLACK SMOKE CAME GUSHING OUT BY THE AIRBAG. SOON AFTER THE DASH BOARD EXPLODED IN FLAMES. EXPLOSION CAUSED ALL THE WINDOWS TO BLOW OUT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE BODY.
NHTSA complaint #10094752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS: 1. HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY; 2. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HEADLIGHTS CAME ON; 3. ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO LEAKING RADIATOR , AND 4. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS IGNITION AND POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED REGULARLY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START. THE DOOR PANELS WERE LOOSE. THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED. THE ANTI THEFT ALARM MALFUNCTIONED. REAR WINDOW WASHER MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #10057204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TRAVELLING ~40 MPH, APPLIED BRAKE, ENGINE STALLED. RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. PROCEEDED ONE QUARTER MILE, APPLIED BRAKE TO TURN RIGHT, ENGINE STALLED, RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; COULD REPRODUCE PROBLEM BUT NOT LOCATE SOURCE. TOOK TO DEALER: UNABLE TO REPRODUCE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10037299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY NO ONE IN IT AND NOT RUNNING WHEN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING DEFECT AND WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH TO FIX IT!! APPARENTLY WATER GOT INTO THE WIRE HARNESS. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT? THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR!!!
NHTSA complaint #10031143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LAMP IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES AND THE RIGHT REAR ONCE. AFTER REMOVING THE BULBS, I NOTICED THE BASE OF THE BULBS WERE CHARRED AND MELTED. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHARRING/MELTING EVENTUALLY CAUSING A FIRE. IF THE BULB ASSEMBLY IS PULLING ENOUGH POWER TO MELT THE BASE, SHOULDN'T THE FUSE BLOW? THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK WHEN ANOTHER MOTORIST TOLD HER SHE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER I CHECKED THE VAN, I DETERMINED THAT BOTH BRAKE LAMPS WERE CHARRED AND MELTED. I HAVE NOT CHECKED ANY OF THE OTHER BULBS YET, BUT NOTICED ANOTHER COMPLAINT HAD BEEN FILED ABOUT THE BULBS MELTING/FUSING TO THE SOCKET.
NHTSA complaint #10030983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY COME ON AT NIGHT. WHEN LEANING FORWARD IN SEAT SEAT BELT COMES ON. SEAT BELT INDICATOR ALARM DOESN'T WORK. LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK GOING DOWN THE ROAD. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BODY CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CONFIRM PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #896441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY OR MAY NOT STOP.
NHTSA complaint #734090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY OR MAY NOT STOP.
NHTSA complaint #734090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
WHILE VAN WAS PARKED, ALL THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED OUT. ACID MOSTLY LEAKED FROM POSITIVE CABLE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA complaint #863946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR SHUT DOWN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. INSPECTION AFTER SECOND FAILURE AT AUTO SHOP INDICATED FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR UNDER LEFT MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND SEVERELY CORRODED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT. SIMILAR CONNECTOR FOR ABS BRAKES ALSO SHOWS SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT YET FAILED. MECHANIC ASKED FOR REPLACEMENT PIGTAIL. GM TOLD THEM ONLY ENTIRE HARNESS WAS AVAILABLE (ENGINE HARNESS ETC). SHOP CUT CONNECTOR OFF AND SPLICED WIRES WITH SOLDER.
NHTSA complaint #723239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRES CONTINUED TO SHORT CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. ALSO, SMOKE ENTERED INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #862272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET, BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, A CAR PULLED INTO OUR PATH. AS THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN, SHE NOTICED SHE HAD TO REMOVE ONE HAND FROM THE RING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE ALSO REALIZED THAT IF IMPACT HAD OCCURRED, HER ARM WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED TREMENDOUS FORCE FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE HORN ACTIVATION BUTTONS SHOULD BE ON EACH SIDE OF THE WHEEL SO THE DRIVER CAN KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL FOR EVASIVE MANUEVERS IF NEEDED AND TO KEEP THE HANDS AWAY FROM THE AIRBAG'S DEPLOYMENT ZONE.
NHTSA complaint #721984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS RUNS THROUGH FLOORBOARD AND UNDERNEATH CARPET, AND IT IS RUBBING UP AGAINST A BOLT, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #857009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRIC MODULE FAILED CAUSING DOME LIGHT TO CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #550690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, I DROVE OVER DEBRIS (TREE LIMB) ON HIGHWAY WHILE PASSING SEMI AT APPROX. 65 MPH. WHEN I RAN OVER BRANCH, ALL VEHICLE ELECTRICAL AND BRAKING SYSTEMS SUDDENLY WENT OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIGHTS, POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, SIGNALS, AND POWER FROM ENGINE - A TOTAL SHUTDOWN. I WRESTLED VAN TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TOWED TO TOWN (WHILE ON XMAS TRIP, TRAVELLING THRU OK). AFTER TOWED TO DEALER (CLOSED, AT NIGHT), I CHECKED UNDER VAN TO FIND A MALE AND FEMALE PLUG FOR WIRING HARNESS DISCONNECTED AND HANGLING DOWN MIDWAY FROM FRONT TO REAR ON DRIVERS SIDE. I PLUGGED TWO BACK TOGETHER AND VAN WORKED PERFECTLY WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ALTHO THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING, THEY PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN CONTROL, PULL VAN TO SIDE OF ROAD. I BELEIVE THAT CONNECTOR PLUG OF THIS CRUCIAL HARNESS SHOULD BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM UNINTENDED DISCONNECTION. I WAITED THIS LONG TO REPORT SINCE I REPORTED PROBLEM VERBALLY TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRIP AND JUST FOUND OUT THIS SITE EXISTS. I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VENTURE VAN, AND HARNESS/CONNECTION HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY BUT STILL SEEMS SUSCEPTIBLE (I TAPED CONNECTORS TO RECEPTACLES AS A PRECAUTION).
NHTSA complaint #717816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH AROUND GAS TANK, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO HAV EBEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR A PIN HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #854240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. RAPID PULSATING NOISE HAS CHANGED TO LONG GRINDING NOISE WHEN SYSTEM ENGAGES. FEELS LIKE WHEELS LOCK TO LONG BEFORE SYSTEM ENGAGES. THEN IT FEELS LIKE WHEELS LOCK AND UNLOCK TO LONG OF A TIME. DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. HORN DID NOT WORK WHEN TURNED SIDE-WAYS OR UP-SIDE DOWN. TOOK 4 SERVICE CALLS TO CORRECT. HORN WORKS BUT IT IS STILL HARD TO FIND THE "SWEET" SPOT TO ACTIVATE. AUDIO TAPE DECK HOUSING HEATS UP TO 150 DEGREES WHEN HEATER IS ON FOR 2 HOURS. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT AFTER 4 TRYS. AUTO SLIDING SIDE DOOR WOULD RANDOMLY REOPEN AAFTER CLOSING. 4 SERVICE CALLS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. CLIPS HOLDING REAR BRAKE LINE CAME OFF LEAVING LINE DRAGGING ON STREET. REAR BRAKES GRIND AFTER CAR HAS SAT FOR 1/2 HOUR. DEALER COULDN'T FIX.
NHTSA complaint #712932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #712160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN FAILED TO ACTIVATE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HORN KIT INSTALLED HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL DUE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES THAT CAUSES HORN TO FREEZE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN TAKES EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ACTIVATE AND ALSO DIFFICULT TO FIND THE HORN BUTTON. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. ALSO, HORN & LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. THEN THE LOCKS WOULD GO UP/DOWN ON THEIR OWN. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR LOCKING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #837089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE AND THE HORN HAS BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO ME FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I FIND IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW THE HORN, AND HAVE SEVERAL TIMES TAKEN IT TO CHEVROLET DEALERS FOR REPAIR. THEY HAVE ALL TOLD ME THE SAME THING: THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO CHEVROLET, BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN DEVISED FOR AFTER-MARKET REPAIR. ONE DEALER SAID THAT MAYBE EVENTUALLY THERE WOULD BE A RECALL AND A "FIX" IF ENOUGH VENTURE OWNERS COMPLAIN VOCIFEROUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #705681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE HORN PAD/BUTTON IT IS VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #827466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN REQUIRES EXCESSIVE EFFORT BY DRIVER IN ORDER FOR IT TO BLOW.
NHTSA complaint #538250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN BUTTONS NOT SENSITIVE TO ANYTHING LESS THAN EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO OPERATE. SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #700991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS YOU APPLY A SUBSTANCIAL AMOUNT OF PRESSUR ON THE HORN PAD.
NHTSA complaint #534284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.