EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT TURN SIGNAL WIRING SHORTED OUT & AS RESULT ALL LIGHTS ON LEFT FRONT DO NOT WORK NOW. PIGTAILS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS APPLICATION!!!
NHTSA complaint #11405712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chevrolet Venture headlight problems
260 of the 3,069 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Venture are about the lighting — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
260
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
6
Fires
Lights complaints by model year
What owners said
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS TOLD IT HAD INTERMITTENT REAR LIGHTING PROBLEM (DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS WOULD GO IN AND OUT) WHEN PURCHASING VEHICLE USED IN 2012 WITH160,000 MILES, 90% HIGHWAY. HAD REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR SAFETY, LEGAL AND STATE REQUIRED ANNUAL INSPECTIONS (OR SO I THOUGHT). WITHIN 3 MONTHS/75 MILES LATER, IT STARTED AGAIN. ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, TO NO AVAIL. BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN AGAIN, BOTH REAR LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED WORKING. PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. IT WASN'T FIXED.AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT BACK IN THE SHOP, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS STARTED THE SAME THING. NEW MECHANIC ASSURES ME, " DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE MANY THINGS I CAN TRY!" LITTLE CONSOLATION FOR THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME OR FOR ME FROM BEING PULLED OVER BY & TICKETED OR WHEN I NEED THE VA STATE MANDATORY "ANNUAL INSPECTION" STICKER. THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THEM TO WORK LONG ENOUGH BUT AGAIN, AT WHAT COST? MEANWHILE, THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM MOVED TO THE PASSENGER FRONT LIGHTS, WHEN HITTING BRAKES I SEE THAT FLASHERS START TO WORK. ALL OF THE MECHANICS ARE "PUTTING A BAND-AID ON A BROKEN ARM". & II'M PAYING DEARLY EACH AND EVERY TIME. THEY NOW WANT TO REPLACE THINGS IN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT I WANT CHEVROLET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THIS TIME OR TELL THE MECHANICS WHAT TO DO. THIS IS A MINI-VAN THAT I DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO THE GROCERY AND SCHOOL, .5 MILES - 5 MILES A WAY 3-4 TIMES A WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10934328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT PARKED AND OBSERVED THAT THE LAMPS WERE MELTED AND THE BULBS WERE DARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10806819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA complaint #10783630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM AT NIGHT. NEW BULBS, NEW HEADLIGHT LENSES, NO SOLUTION. SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 CHEVY VENTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10758877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY WIFE HIT A OLD STYLE VAN THAT HAD STOPPED FOR A DOG CROSSING A THE ROAD. THE WHOLE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOOD, GRILL, LIGHTS, BOTH FENDER HAD TO BE REPAIRED, ALSO THE STEAL TUBE UNDER THE RADIATOR FRAME HAD TO BE CUT OUT AND REPLACED. ON 11/5/2010 I HIT A DEER GOING 30 MPH, AGAIN FRONT END DAMAGE. BOTH TIMES THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND ON STAR DIDN'T RESPOND. I ASKED TWO DIFFERENT CHEVROLET DEALERS IF THE AIR BAG SENSOR COULD BE TESTED, ANSWER WAS NO.
NHTSA complaint #10747955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS PULLED OVER DO TO NO REAR BRAKE LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL ON LEFT SIDE. GOT A TICKET. WENT TO JUNK YARD BOUGHT REPLACEMENT ONLY TO DISCOVER IT WAS ALSO BURNED OUT AND USELESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST 50 BULBS IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. I AM SECOND OWNER. ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS IN THE SWITCH ABOVE IN BETWEEN FRONT SEATS THAT CONTROL INSIDE LIGHTING. IT MUST STAY IN THE OFF POSITION OR IT RUNS THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DOWN. ALSO THE SIDE DOOR GETS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND IT TAKES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO CLOSE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10678948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A DEAD STOP,THEN WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. AS SOON AS I DID THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK,WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED ME TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALSO MY GAS GAUGE DIDN'T WORK AND WOULD RANDOMLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH,EVEN IF I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS. THEN,THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO GO OUT DUE TO THE MELTING OF THE PART OF THE BULB,NOT THE BULB ITSELF. MY ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE CAME OFF THE TRACK DUE TO THE CORD AND PULLEY/MOTOR IN THE DOOR. I COULD NEVER GET THE DOOR TO WORK OTHER THAN BY MANUALLY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR AFTER THAT.
NHTSA complaint #10598676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY VENTURE AND WHEN I PURCHASED IT, I NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD START BLINKING REAL FAST ON THE DASH. WHEN I WOULD LOOK AT THEM ON THE OUTSIDE THEY WERE BLINKING FINE, AS WAS THE DASH LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, SO I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST THE BULBS THEMSELVES. THEN ON MARCH 29, 2014, I NOTICED A LITTLE PUFF OF SMOKE COME FROM THE HEADLIGHT AREA WHEN MY WIFE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN/PARKING LIGHT WAS OUT. I LUCKILY HAD A BULB FROM ANOTHER CAR TO REPLACE IT, BUT WHEN I TOOK THE ASSEMBLY OUT AND WENT TO TURN THE CONNECTOR TO REPLACE THE BULB, AND NOTICED IT WAS HOT. THINKING THAT SOMETHING DID NOT SEEM RIGHT, I LET IT COOL DOWN AND THEN REMOVED IT. WHAT I SAW WAS THE CONNECTOR THAT HOLDS THE BULB WAS BLACK AND MELTED. IT ACTUALLY MELTED TO THE BULB ITSELF. I LOOKED AT THE BULB AND IT WAS STILL GOOD, OTHER THAN THE BOTTOM PLASTIC PART. THE WHITE SMOKE I HAD SEEN WAS EITHER THE CONNECTOR CATCHING ON FIRE AND MELTING OR THE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC ITSELF. I NEVER SAW ANY FLAMES. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR, NOR WOULD I RISK MY FAMILY'S LIFE, SO I HAVE NO TURN SIGNAL. THEN WORSE PART IS THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AS THE PASSENGER, BUT IT HAS SINCE STOPPED AND IS WORKING PROPERLY NOW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BULB HAS BEEN REMOVED.
NHTSA complaint #10587966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WATER ENTERS THE HEADLIGHTS. CONDENSATION COVERS THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES AND REDUCES LIGHT OUTPUT.
NHTSA complaint #10505183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR BRAKE LAMPS KEEP FAILING, LIGHT BAR ON TOP WORKS FINE BUT BOTH SIDE REAR BRAKE LAMPS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF BRAKE LIGHT ONE CAN SEE THE SOCKETS AND BULB CONTACTS ARE MELTING. THIS VAN HAS ALREADY HAD THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON EACH SIDE REPLACED BUT PROBLEM IS RECURRING. CLEANING/SANDING SOCKETS WORKS TEMPORARILY BUT PROBLEM RETURNS WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. BULB REPLACEMENT ALONE DOES NOT WORK. FILAMENTS IN BULBS ARE NOT BURNT OUT BUT CONTACTS ON BULBS AND SOCKETS ARE BURNT. THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE CIRCUIT THE BRAKE LIGHT FILAMENT IS ON, THE TAILLIGHTS (WHICH SHARE THE SAME MULTIFILAMENT BULB) ARE NOT AFFECTED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT'S QUITE APPARENT THIS IS A PROBLEM VERY COMMON ACROSS MOST OR ALL MODEL YEARS OF THIS VAN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE OCCUPANTS - THE LIGHTS CAN (AND WILL) FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE LEAVING DRIVER VULNERABLE TO COLLISIONS FROM BEHIND DUE TO INADEQUATE SIGNALING.
NHTSA complaint #10503490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. BULBS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. PANELS REPLACED TWICE. WHEN PANELS REPLACED, WILL WORK APPROXIMATELY 1-2 WEEKS. UPPER LIGHT BAR WILL ILLUMINATE. NO WARNING AS TO WHEN LIGHTS FAIL. NUMEROUS WARNINGS BY POLICE TO HAVE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10503274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 Chevrolet Venture
Willard, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOR 6-7 YEARS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS LIGHTING PROBLEMS WITH OUR CHEVY VENTURE (2000). THE LEFT REAR CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BURNED OUT TWICE. I RECENTLY PUT A NEW ONE ON AND NOW JUST ABOUT 12 WEEKS LATER, I AM HAVING BREAK AND BLINKER ISSUES AGAIN. ACTUALLY, THE BLINKER STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITHIN DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10498155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY MOTHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2001, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE SHE BROUGHT IT HOME. TURN SIGNALS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER CAUSING THEM TO BURN OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. I ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE AFTER HER PASSING IN 2012 . THE VAN ONLY HAS 66000 MILES ON IT AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS 6 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD IT. WHEN SHE HAD IT SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS HAPPEN AGAIN. I RECENTLY RAN INTO SOMEONE THAT WAS IN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YR VEHICLE AT A GAS STATION, HE ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND OF COURSE I SAID YES..THIS VAN IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS LEMON?
NHTSA complaint #10493532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTS IN FRONT KEEP SHORTING OUT(TURN SIGNAL AND NIGHT). ASSEMBLY FELL APART (BOTH FRONT). REAR LIGHTING ASSEMBLY INSIDES BURNED UP 3 OF THE 6 CONNECTORS. HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS, FUSES, ETC AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THE LAST YEAR FOR THE FRONT LIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10493498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THROUGH THE REFLECTION OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH HAD BEEN DRIVING EXTREMELY CLOSE, THAT BOTH OF HIS REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH TAIL LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CONTINUOUSLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10480686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WAS CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE THROUGHOUT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT COVER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CONTINUE TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10470452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKES LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT MELTING PLASTIC. A SEARCH ONLINE SHOWED THIS HAPPENS ALOT AND THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10465050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 Chevrolet Venture
Greensboro, NC
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED THE 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN NEW AND HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE/TAIL LIGHTS BURNING OUT. SPOKE WITH GM AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME THEY BULBS WERE REPLACED WAS IN JUNE 2004. SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS 2-4 TIMES PER YEAR TRYING DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND TYPES. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR SOLUTIONS ON THE INTERNET AND TRIED REPLACING THE CIRCUIT BOARDS AND THIS STILL DOES NOT MITIGATE THE ISSUE. THE GREATEST EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND AT THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-VENTURE/TSSEMRSDQ22R1F463 WITH DATES BEGINNING 8/2006 RUNNING UNTIL 4/2012. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD FOR SEVERAL REASONS. 1) THE BULBS CAN WORK INTERMITTENTLY GIVING A FALSE SENSE OF REPAIR; 2) THE BULBS CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING; 3) THE TAIL LIGHTS CANNOT BE SEEN WHEN DRIVING IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS; 4) THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT TO INDICATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT THE BULBS HAVE FAILED; AND 5) REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF BULBS AND/OR CIRCUIT BOARDS ARE COSTLY AND CANNOT BE EASILY ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ELDERLY OR HANDICAPPED DUE TO THE LOCATION AND STRENGTH NECESSARY TO DISASSEMBLE THE TAIL LIGHTS. AN ELDERLY PERSON OR ANY INDIVIDUAL MAY MAKE THE CHOICE TO FOREGO REPAIR DUE TO COST AND ENDANGER THEMSELVES IN THE MEANTIME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF YOU AGREE THAT A RECALL IS IN ORDER THAT COVERS ALL 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE VANS (NO MILEAGE LIMITS) SO I MAY NO LONGER WORRY ABOUT MY WIFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHILE COMMUTING AND TRANSPORTING OUR SON AND HIS FRIENDS TO SCHOOL.
NHTSA complaint #10460044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 Chevrolet Venture
Hudson, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE OWN A 2003 CHEVY VENTURE AND I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER SIGNAL BULB THREE (3) TIMES AND THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL LIGHTS FOUR (4) TIMES ALREADY. I JUST CHANGED BOTH BRAKELIGHT BULBS 03/19/12 AND YESTERDAY ANOTHER MOTORIST PULLED AROUND ME TO INFORM ME THAT MY BRAKELIGHTS ARE OUT. ONCE AGAIN I OPENED THE BRAKELIGHT HOUSING AND NOTICED THE BULB HOUSING IS MELTING. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10453169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Other Chevrolet Venture problems
Chevrolet Venture engine problems
555
Chevrolet Venture body problems
271
Chevrolet Venture electrical problems
262
Chevrolet Venture fuel system problems
226
Chevrolet Venture brake problems
206
Chevrolet Venture airbag problems
181
Chevrolet Venture transmission problems
169
Chevrolet Venture window and wiper problems
158