1998 Chevrolet Chevy Van Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Chevy Van, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes327.3%
- Body & structure19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
- Engine19.1%
- Interior & seats19.1%
- Exterior lighting19.1%
- Seat belts19.1%
- Airbags19.1%
- Visibility19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES I APPLIED MINE BUT I HAD NO BRAKES. THEY HAD ROTTED OUT. *TR
DT: 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A RECALL ON GM CHEVROLET FOR YEAR 1999 TO 2003. THE CONTACT'S CAR IS A 1998 AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN RECALL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CONTACT BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE SEAT BELT IN THE FIRST ROW MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, AND THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY 2004. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK DOOR. THE DOOR ISSUE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. THE RECALL WORK FOR THE DOOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DONE. THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHEVORLET, ADVENTURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN ON MARCH 8, 2007. WE TOOK A FAMILY VACATION TO IOWA OCTOBER 1-5, 2007. ON THE WAY BACK TO TENNESSEE, ON I-64, LOCATED NEAR NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS, THE VAN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THINKING IT WAS JUST OVERHEATING, WE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. AS WE WERE EXITING, WE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WE RAN. A LARGE GUSH OF WIND CAUSED THE ENTIRE VAN TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE LOST ALL OUR BELONGINGS AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ITSELF. WE ARE NOT EXACTLY HIGH ON THE FINANCIAL END AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN GIVE US. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE CHEVY VENTURE, NOW STARTED KNOCKING ENGINE WHEN IS COLD, THIS ONE OF SYMPTOMS OF COOLING LEAKING TO ENGINE, THE DEXCOOL COOLING IS EATING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GM SHOULD BY THE REPAIR AND RECALL. I AM STILL NOT HAS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BUT IT MAY HAPPEN SOON OR LATER, I WHICH NEVER HAPPEN. THANK YOU
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR (AUTOMATIC) DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN WEATHER CONDITIONS UNDER 50/60 DEGREES. THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH (WHICH I'VE PAID TO HAVE FIXED IN 2002), AND NOW BECAUSE IT DOES NOT LATCH, IT IS POPPING BACK OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE ALSO FOUND OUT, BY MY OWN RESEARCH, THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SLIDING DOOR ACTUATORS, AND ANOTHER COMING ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS DETERRING ME FROM PURCHASING ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY WATER PUMP, WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VENTURE. THE VAN ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE AS MANY DEFECTS AS IT DOES.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHT COVER FALLS OFF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. BULB IS EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS, WHICH DESTROYS THE BULB. REPLACEMENT PART, WHICH IS AN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, INCLUDES A HEADLIGHT BULB, COST $125-$145. THIS IS A REDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY WHEN JUST A PLASTIC COVER FALLS OFF. MAKE THE PLASTIC COVER AVAILABLE WITH A GLUE KIT FOR THE CUSTOMER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN GET YOUR ENGINEERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE SEAT BELT IN THE FIRST ROW MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, AND THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY 2004. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK DOOR. THE DOOR ISSUE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. THE RECALL WORK FOR THE DOOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DONE. THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHEVORLET, ADVENTURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER AIR BAG EXPLODED AS I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE , SITTING STILL
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN THAT HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT RANDOMLY. I ALSO KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER MODEL CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS, VANS, AND CARS. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE WIPER MOTOR ITSELF. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .