1997 Chevrolet Venture Body & structure Problems

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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10057204

Mileage

74,000 mi

THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF AND YET GM CANADA CLAIMS NO PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO HEAR OUR COMPLAINT LET ALONE ACKNOWLEDGE IT YET WE CAN SEE FOR OURSELVES ON THIS SITE THE U.S. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT! THE FLOORBOARD CRACKED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND IT'S BEEN A DAY AND WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL RETAILER!

NHTSA ID

10071276

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. *AK *JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10030103

THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *AK ALSO THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED AND THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10024871

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LAMP IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES AND THE RIGHT REAR ONCE. AFTER REMOVING THE BULBS, I NOTICED THE BASE OF THE BULBS WERE CHARRED AND MELTED. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHARRING/MELTING EVENTUALLY CAUSING A FIRE. IF THE BULB ASSEMBLY IS PULLING ENOUGH POWER TO MELT THE BASE, SHOULDN'T THE FUSE BLOW? THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK WHEN ANOTHER MOTORIST TOLD HER SHE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER I CHECKED THE VAN, I DETERMINED THAT BOTH BRAKE LAMPS WERE CHARRED AND MELTED. I HAVE NOT CHECKED ANY OF THE OTHER BULBS YET, BUT NOTICED ANOTHER COMPLAINT HAD BEEN FILED ABOUT THE BULBS MELTING/FUSING TO THE SOCKET. *PH

NHTSA ID

10030983

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. WINDOW WILL NOT OPERATE. TALKED TO A MECHANIC ABOUT IT. HE WAS COMPLETELY AMAZED BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN ABOUT 5 VENTURE VANS IN THE LAST MONTH WITH THE PROBLEM. THE PART TO FIX IS ALMOST 500.00 AND I HAVE MY NAME ON LISTS COUNTRY WIDE TO PURCHASE A USED ONE, LOW IN BEHOLD I CAN'T FIND ONE THAT IS OPERABLE.

NHTSA ID

10005046

Incident

Jan 13, 2003

DOOR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN, DEALER EITHER WANTS $2000 TO FIX IT AND WON'T TELL ME HOW MUCH TO DISCONNECT THE WHOLE THING SO THAT IT IS EASY TO OPEN.

NHTSA ID

768690

SLIDING DOOR COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD. SOMETIMES DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN, AND SOMETIMES AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR DOOR DOESN'T WORK. DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 MODULES TRYING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018204

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW AND FILLED THE ENGINE WITH WATER, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4 ENGINE THAT GM IS AWARE OF. THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS FALLEN OFF THE VAN 4 TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD DEALER FIXED 3 TIMES THEN IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING WHEN THE VAN HAD 1000 MILES ON IT AND CONTINUE TO THIS DAY. GM SAYS THEY ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT. THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VAN COME UNLATCHED AT ANY TIME, THE BELTS IN THE REAR WILL CONTIUALLY TIGHTEN WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD. GM TOLD US THAT WE WERE NOT USING THE SEATBELTS PROPERLY. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE IMMIDIATLY FOLLOWING THE WARRENTY RUNNING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

763298

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

VAN WAS INVOLVED WITH RECALL 01V067 POWER SLIDING DOOR. DOOR APPEARS CLOSED BUT WILL OPEN WHILE VAN IS BEING DRIVEN. OWNER TOOK VAN BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHICH THEN REPLACED ELECTRIC CONTACT POINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011632

POWER LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID

8007080

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

ON 12/12/01, THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED UNDER POWER. THE MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH LOCATED ON THE HEADER HAD TO BE USED AND THE DOOR CLOSED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 12/19/01 TO HAVE THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR PERFORMED. THIS WAS DONE BUT THE DEALER SAID THE INSIDE DOOR LOCK WAS BROKEN DUE TO THE BAD ACTUATOR THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE CAMPAIGN AND THAT I NEEDED TO CALL CHEVROLET. LATER THAT EVENING, THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. CHEVROLET (REF. # CO6273409) WAS CALLED AND TODAY, OVER 2 MONTHS LATER, MICHAEL GLENN OF CHEVROLET SAID THAT IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE DOOR REPAIRED. YESTERDAY, 2/27/02, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND POWER WAS REMOVED FROM THE SIDE DOOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

758779

Incident

Dec 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH SLIDING DOOR CAME OPEN. A SHORT TIME BEFORE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN REPAIR SH0P TO GET SLIDING DOOR FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003474

Incident

Feb 3, 2002

POWER DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CLOSE ON PASSENGER OR NOT OPERATE AT ALL WHILE GETTING IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND WASUNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003079

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

RECALL 01V264000, FOR SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8002571

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

RECALL 01V264000. NOT PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

898918

WHEN CONSUMER IS TRAVELING PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED THERE IS AN ALARM INDICATING THAT DOOR IS SECURE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

898780

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY COME ON AT NIGHT. WHEN LEANING FORWARD IN SEAT SEAT BELT COMES ON. SEAT BELT INDICATOR ALARM DOESN'T WORK. LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK GOING DOWN THE ROAD. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS BODY CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CONFIRM PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

896441

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR OPENED WHILE IN MOTION . IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TRACK AND ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE MOULDING INSIDE THE VAN IT ALSO FRIGHTENED MY 2 YEAR OLD WHO WAS SEATED AT THE DOOR. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS SECURED IN HER CHILD SAFETY SEAT DOOR WAS IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ENGAGED.CHEVY DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. THIS MATTER IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR GETS KILLED.

NHTSA ID

744010

Incident

Apr 9, 2001

DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WHEN DOOR CLOSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT VERY DANGEROUS. CONSUMER'S CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN VEHICLE SOMETIMES WITH KEYS INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID NOTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. MANUFACTURER KEPT REFERRING CONSUMER TO DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

875353

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, WHETHER VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF, UNCONTROLLABLY. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. AT THAT TIME, LOCK CODE MODE WAS RESET. HOWEVER, THIS TIME NOT ABLE TO RESET. WORRIED ABOUT LOCKING CHILDREN IN VAN WITH KEYS IN IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

728746

Incident

Aug 19, 2000

#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. *AK

NHTSA ID

719579

#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 ID

719577

Incident

Dec 9, 1999

UNDER CARRIAGE FLOORBOARD OF THE CAR CAME APART.THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

845961

Incident

Aug 25, 1999

POWER SLIDING DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE BY THEMSELVES. WHEN PUSHING BUTTON TO CLOSE DOOR, IT WILL NOT CLOSE. WHILE DRIVING DOOR WOULD SLIDE OPEN ON ITS OWN. ALSO, CHILD SAFETY SEAT LOCATED ON THAT SIDE WOULD NOT CLOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

850242

Incident

Oct 7, 1999