Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Venture submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words
NEEDS REPLACED FRONTEND HUBS ,TIEROD,PINION REPAIRS/RECALL THIS VAN NEEDS A NEW OWNER!!! NOTHING BUT COSTLY REPAIRS CHEVY NEEDS TO RECALL ALL THEM VENTURES. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND BUSTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT HER RESIDENCE. *AK
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK. VEHICLE WA SRECALLED FOR STEERING RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND COULDN'T BE RESET, THE SENSOR UNIT SHORTED OUT AND BURNE DALL TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER CLAIMED HE WAS 68 YEARS OF AGE AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE COULDN'T BE DRIVEN WITHOUT AIR BAGS BEING USED IN WHICH CASE THEY WERE WRONG.CONSUMER DRIVES ABOUT 3000 MILES PER WEEK AS A DELIVERY PERSON FOR A FURNACE COMPANY AND ALWAY USED SEAT BELTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A FIRE STARED IN THE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, VERY NEAR THE GAS TANK. INSPECTOR STATED THAT IT WAS A DEAD SHORT. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO DO PAY THE SUM THAT VEHICLE WAS WORTH. *AK
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
TRAVELLING ~40 MPH, APPLIED BRAKE, ENGINE STALLED. RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. PROCEEDED ONE QUARTER MILE, APPLIED BRAKE TO TURN RIGHT, ENGINE STALLED, RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; COULD REPRODUCE PROBLEM BUT NOT LOCATE SOURCE. TOOK TO DEALER: UNABLE TO REPRODUCE PROBLEM. *AK
MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY NO ONE IN IT AND NOT RUNNING WHEN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING DEFECT AND WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH TO FIX IT!! APPARENTLY WATER GOT INTO THE WIRE HARNESS. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT? THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR!!!*AK
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY OR MAY NOT STOP.
WHILE VAN WAS PARKED, ALL THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED OUT. ACID MOSTLY LEAKED FROM POSITIVE CABLE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML
CAR SHUT DOWN ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. INSPECTION AFTER SECOND FAILURE AT AUTO SHOP INDICATED FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR UNDER LEFT MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND SEVERELY CORRODED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT. SIMILAR CONNECTOR FOR ABS BRAKES ALSO SHOWS SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT YET FAILED. MECHANIC ASKED FOR REPLACEMENT PIGTAIL. GM TOLD THEM ONLY ENTIRE HARNESS WAS AVAILABLE (ENGINE HARNESS ETC). SHOP CUT CONNECTOR OFF AND SPLICED WIRES WITH SOLDER.*AK
ELECTRICAL WIRES CONTINUED TO SHORT CIRCUIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. ALSO, SMOKE ENTERED INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET, BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, A CAR PULLED INTO OUR PATH. AS THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN, SHE NOTICED SHE HAD TO REMOVE ONE HAND FROM THE RING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE ALSO REALIZED THAT IF IMPACT HAD OCCURRED, HER ARM WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED TREMENDOUS FORCE FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE HORN ACTIVATION BUTTONS SHOULD BE ON EACH SIDE OF THE WHEEL SO THE DRIVER CAN KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL FOR EVASIVE MANUEVERS IF NEEDED AND TO KEEP THE HANDS AWAY FROM THE AIRBAG'S DEPLOYMENT ZONE. *AK
#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
#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.
WIRING HARNESS RUNS THROUGH FLOORBOARD AND UNDERNEATH CARPET, AND IT IS RUBBING UP AGAINST A BOLT, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. *AK
FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, I DROVE OVER DEBRIS (TREE LIMB) ON HIGHWAY WHILE PASSING SEMI AT APPROX. 65 MPH. WHEN I RAN OVER BRANCH, ALL VEHICLE ELECTRICAL AND BRAKING SYSTEMS SUDDENLY WENT OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIGHTS, POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, SIGNALS, AND POWER FROM ENGINE - A TOTAL SHUTDOWN. I WRESTLED VAN TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TOWED TO TOWN (WHILE ON XMAS TRIP, TRAVELLING THRU OK). AFTER TOWED TO DEALER (CLOSED, AT NIGHT), I CHECKED UNDER VAN TO FIND A MALE AND FEMALE PLUG FOR WIRING HARNESS DISCONNECTED AND HANGLING DOWN MIDWAY FROM FRONT TO REAR ON DRIVERS SIDE. I PLUGGED TWO BACK TOGETHER AND VAN WORKED PERFECTLY WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ALTHO THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING, THEY PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN CONTROL, PULL VAN TO SIDE OF ROAD. I BELEIVE THAT CONNECTOR PLUG OF THIS CRUCIAL HARNESS SHOULD BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM UNINTENDED DISCONNECTION. I WAITED THIS LONG TO REPORT SINCE I REPORTED PROBLEM VERBALLY TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRIP AND JUST FOUND OUT THIS SITE EXISTS. I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VENTURE VAN, AND HARNESS/CONNECTION HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY BUT STILL SEEMS SUSCEPTIBLE (I TAPED CONNECTORS TO RECEPTACLES AS A PRECAUTION). *AK
VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH AROUND GAS TANK, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO HAV EBEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR A PIN HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
HORN FAILED TO ACTIVATE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HORN KIT INSTALLED HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL DUE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES THAT CAUSES HORN TO FREEZE. MJS
FUEL GAUGE FAILED CAUSING IT TO READ 1/4 TANK WHEN VEHICLE IS OUT OF FUEL.
DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. ALSO, HORN & LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. THEN THE LOCKS WOULD GO UP/DOWN ON THEIR OWN. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR LOCKING PROBLEM. *AK
I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE AND THE HORN HAS BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO ME FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I FIND IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW THE HORN, AND HAVE SEVERAL TIMES TAKEN IT TO CHEVROLET DEALERS FOR REPAIR. THEY HAVE ALL TOLD ME THE SAME THING: THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO CHEVROLET, BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN DEVISED FOR AFTER-MARKET REPAIR. ONE DEALER SAID THAT MAYBE EVENTUALLY THERE WOULD BE A RECALL AND A "FIX" IF ENOUGH VENTURE OWNERS COMPLAIN VOCIFEROUSLY.
HORN BUTTONS NOT SENSITIVE TO ANYTHING LESS THAN EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO OPERATE. SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX. *AK
HORN SENSOR IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE HORN PAD/BUTTON IT IS VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.
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