12 of the 612 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Venture are about the equipment — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED 4-TIMES REPLY DIRECTLY TO THE CONSTITUENT. *BF THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CONSUMER'S A/C UNTIL THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNED AND THE PCV VALVE WAS GUMMED WITH DEXCOOL. THE SERPENTINE WAS WORN OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10097012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
THE CAMPAIGN 02049 WAS COMPLETED ON 30 APRIL 2003 THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BEARING. THE VEHICLE STEERING SLOWLY BECAME STIFF AND GAVE RESISTANCE IN MAY 2004 WHEN TURNING OR MAKING STEERING CORRECTIONS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN JUNE OR JULY AS IT WAS GETTING WORSE. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER IT REQUIRED A LOT OF EXERTION TO STEER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED. I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL TO CHECK THE GEAR AND IF IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. HE STATED NO NOT RELATED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS BEHAVING ERRATICALLY ON THE ROAD. STEERING CORRECTIONS WERE SLOPPY YOU HAD TO MOVE IT LEFT OR RIGHT 3 OR MORE INCHES TO TURN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER HE HAD SOME ADJUSTMENT DONE AND THE STEERING SEEMED FINE. ONLY NOW A GROANING CLUNK UPON TURNS AND ACCELERATION. I WAITED A FEW DAYS THEN A COMPONENT FELL FROM THE UNDERSIDE ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN AND VOICED MY CONCERNS OVER THE COMPONENT AND THE NOISE. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NO PROBLEM ONLY A LOOSE WIRE BRACKET. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MECHANIC AND DROVE AROUND TO SHOW HIM THE NOISE. HE HEARD THE NOISE AND WOULD BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. NEXT THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THE STRUT BRACKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I REQUESTED THE MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE STRUTS FOR DAMAGE FROM THE FAULTY STRUT BRACKETS AND LET ME KNOW IF THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE WRITER CALLED AND SAID THE STRUTS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I HAD PURCHASED LIFETIME REPLACEMENT FROM FIRESTONE SO I HAD IT PUT BACK TOGETHER AND I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND DROVE OVER TO FIRESTONE TO HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE SAID THE STRUTS WERE FINE BUT REPLACED THEM ANYWAY. THE ONLY ABNORMALITY THE FIRESTONE MECHANIC NOTED WAS THAT THE STRUT SPRINGS WERE NOT PROPERLY SEATED. AFTER THE STRUT REPLACEMENT THE SAME NOISE WAS PRESENT. IT IS STILL BEING REPAIRED. NOT SURE OF THE START ORIGINAL DATE).
NHTSA complaint #10089035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
FROM ABOUT 40000 MILESPROBLEMS WITH THE TEMP GAUGE INDICATING ENGINE RUNNING HOT WHEN IN FACT IT NEVER WAS AND COOLANT WAS ADEQUATE MECHANIC NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE OUT 60000 INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED 90000 MILES ENGINE LOSING POWER AND STALLING ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED POSSIBLE AND HEAD GASKET. BRAKES NOISY WITH A GRINDING FEEL IN THE PEDAL LIGHTS ON DASH ON & OFF ABS AND COOLANT LOW WHEN NO PROBLEM EXISTS! CAR PULLS TO LEFT AND HARD TO STEER IN A PUDDLE HORN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACTIVATE. DIRECTIONAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FLASH WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #10058226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
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.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
THE SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE SNAPPED AND DROPPED THE SPARE ON THE GROUND DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. COROSION OF THE CABLE IS EVIDENT. I FOUND TWO WEB SITES WHERE A RECALL WAS MENTIONED OF THIS (WWW.WESTERNDRIVER.COM AND WWW.CANADIANDRIVER.COM) BUT FOUND NO INFORMATION HERE. I MUST NOT BE THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #763573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING CAR, HEADLIGHTS FILLED WITH MOISTURE CAUSING LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENTS EVEN MADE YET. AT ALMOST 100,000 MILES ENGINE DIED, POWER STEERING FAILED, BELT SLIPPED AND AC WENT OUT WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER. 1800CHEVUSA REP "JASON" SAID "CHEVY ONLY BUILDS THEIR VEHICHLES TO LAST 100,000 MILES". NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY CHEVY. NOT AFTER WHAT JASON SAID.
NHTSA complaint #750348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
WHILE DRIVING SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL INTO TRAFFIC, CAUSE UNKNOWN. TIRE WAS HELD AGAINST THE BOTTOM WITH WINCH CABLE ASSEMBLY. *AK
NHTSA complaint #861802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAILER HITCHES
PIG TAIL NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY ON VAN. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
#1. STEREO PANEL IS EXTREMELY HOT WITH LIGHTS ON & DRIVING A WHILE, THERE IS ALSO A BURING SMELL. IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWICE, REPLACED ONCE AND STILL YOU CAN BURN YOUR FINGERS. #2. DEFOGGER TAKES FOREVER TO DEFOG IN THE MORNING, SOMETIMES IT MAKES VISIBILITY WORSE. #3. INTERIOR ROOF HAS BEEN HANGING DOWN SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VAN AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. #4. MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF CONDENSATION(AT LEAST 4 TIMES). #5. BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED NEW BRAKES BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I HAD THEM CHECKED ELSEWHERE. I NEEDED NEW BRAKES (FRONT). IT COST ME OVER$700 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID THEY WERE GRINDED DOWN ALL THE WAY AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRIND 2 TIMES BEFORE REPLACING. I HAVE THE PARTS. THEY SAID THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THIS FAR DOWN SO SOON, TOO PREMATURELY. I HAVE THE BILL WITH THE MECHANICS COMMENTS AND II WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FROM GM. #6. SIDE CONTROL PANEL PLASTIC IS BROKEN AND CONTROLS NO LONGER ALL WORK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I WILL BE FILLING OUT ANOTHER FORM TO FILE THE REMAINDER OF THE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #719577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
#1. IT IS VERY HEAVY TO PUSH UP THE TAILGATE WITHOUT THE USE OF THE HYDRAULICS. IT GOES UP EASILY ONLY PART OF THE WAY. #2. MY SEAT AND POCKET SHOULD NOT BE RIPPING AS EASILY AS THEY HAVE. I DO NOT HAVE LITTLE KIDS TUGGING AT THEM. #3. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOES NOT WORK . IT HAS BEEN ALLEGEDLY FIXED SEVERAL TIMES. #4. THE INTERIOR SIDE DOOR PANELS ARE HARD PLASTIC AND THEY ARE ATTACHED BY VELCRO. THEY DON'T ALWAYS STICK TO THE VELCRO AND COME LOOSE. ONE HAS ALREADY BROKEN AND REPLACED. THEY ARE STILL LOOSE. #5. THE FRONT SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT ALL THE WAY ON THEIR OWN AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBELT TWISTS ON A REGULAR BASIS. #6. THE RANGE OF DISTANCE ON THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY IS BEING BASICALLY ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT . IT IS MY FIRST AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MY LAST. I THINK I REALLY BOUGHT A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #719579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #712160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN DRIVING AND REACHING A SPEED OF 50MPH OR MORE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAKES VIOLENTLY LIKE IT'S GOING TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING BOX. TOOK IN TO DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE A/C WAS NOT BLOWING COOL AIR DUE TO A LEAK FROM THE COMPRESSOR, THERE WAS A SMELL OF RAW EGGS DUE TO FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING, AND THE DOME LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT COAT HOOF FELL OUT OF ROOF.
NHTSA complaint #816298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.