RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet G Van Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest May 26, 2005
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet G 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

  • Transmission333.3%
  • Electrical222.2%
  • Fuel system222.2%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Driver assistance111.1%

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

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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. *JB

NHTSA ID 10039219 · filed Sep 20, 2003

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 *JB

NHTSA ID 10034535 · filed Aug 18, 2003

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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. *AK

NHTSA ID 10122209 · filed May 26, 2005

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. *JB

NHTSA ID 10039219 · filed Sep 20, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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. *JB

NHTSA ID 10039219 · filed Sep 20, 2003

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. *YH

NHTSA ID 564669 · filed Mar 8, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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. *AK

NHTSA ID 10122209 · filed May 26, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 ID 10001792 · filed Jan 2, 2003

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

Data on this page last refreshed .