1997 Chevrolet G 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 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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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 .