1997 Chevrolet Venture Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WITHIN LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE COOLANT LIGHT RANDOMLY KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO SOLUTION FROM THE MECHANIC AND WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10892584

Incident

Jul 18, 2016

1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE, CAUGHT FIRE AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED CAUSING TOTAL DAMAGE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE VEHICLE HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0318-89)*JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF

NHTSA ID

10354249

Incident

Jul 31, 2010

I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVANS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. ALL OF THEM HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THE SIGNAL AND HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT, THE WINDOW SWITCH GOES OUT AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKET GOES. THEY RUN GREAT UNTIL THE DAY IT STARTS OVERHEATING, THEN YOUR OUT A VEHICLE. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS A VENTURE HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329161

Incident

Dec 18, 2009

Mileage

99,998 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IN HER VEHICLE HAS CORRODED THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND INTAKE VALVE. THIS IS THE COOLANT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND IS ALWAYS USED IN HER VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS SENT TO CHEVROLET CONSUMERS, BUT IT WAS NOT ISSUED BY NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ID

10265521

Incident

Dec 28, 2008

Mileage

122,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10261898

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

GENERAL MOTORS DEX-COOL RUINED OUR COOLING SYSTEM IN OUR 97 CHEVY VENTURE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM AND NOW CRANKSHAFT HAS GONE BAD. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. VAN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 80,000MILES. VAN ONLY HAS 110,000 MILES. WE ARE OVERWHELMED AND EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED. WE WOULD HAVE REPLACE THE COOLANT IF WE WOULD HAVE KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THE DEX-COOL CAUSED. WE FEEL WE HAVE BEEN DENIED VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO MAINTAINING OUR VEHICLE. CONSUMERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH DEX-COOL COOLANT!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10261694

Incident

Feb 20, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED LAST YEAR. RECENTLY THE VAN STALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT ANTI-FREEZE HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS, AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE NEW ENGINE NOT ONLY COULD BUT WOULD HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AT SOME POINT. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE VEHICLES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10148808

Incident

Jan 20, 2006

Mileage

172,000 mi

THIS HAPPENED TWICE THE FIRST TIME THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL DUE TO A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. I REPLACED THIS AT A COST OF 25.00, LUCKILY IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN JULY OF 2003 I HAD JUST GOTTEN ONTO TO THE HIGHWAY WITH MY TWO 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS SUDDENLY THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AS IF TO STALL WHITE SMOKE EVERYWHERE.. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE MANIFOLD GASKET AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE WENT AND I HAD TO GET THE ENGINE REPAIRED AT A PRICE OF $4400.00. MY MECHANIC THOUGH AT LEAST GUARANTEES ME ON THIS ENGINE OF 3 YEARS OR 75000 MILES. MORE OF A WARRANTY THAN GM GAVE ME. I WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN GM PRODUCTS AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED, I WAS ONLY 1,000 MILES OVER ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NOT YET UP ON THE YEARS AND GM AND THE COMPANY OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME OUT. GM REFUSED TO HELP OUT AT ALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139394

Incident

Jul 8, 2003

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT IN MY VAN NOT TO MENTION THE MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE LIGHTS ON THIS VAN, SO NOW I AM HAVING TO SINK ANOTHER $500 INTO THIS VAN TO GET THE PART FIRST MENTIONED JUST SO MY MOTOR WON'T BLOW UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10117869

Incident

Apr 13, 2005

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. WHEN TAKING THE OIL CAP OFF THERE IS A MILKY MIX. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110939

Incident

Apr 10, 2000

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY VEHICLE A 1997 CHEVY VENTURE, SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TEMP LIGHT CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED TO BE THE DEALERSHIPS EXIT AND I PULLED RIGHT IN TO THE SERVICE BAY. THEY TELL ME I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHEN THEY TOOK THE ENGINE APART THE SERVICE MANAGER ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT CHANNELS ARE COATED WITH A BROWN GUMMY SUBSTANCE AND THE CYLINDERS WERE FULL OF COOLANT. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS GIVEN A SAMPLE OF THE SUBSTANCE AND SAID HE WILL GIVE IT TO THE GM REP WHEN HE COMES IN LATER THIS WEEK. COST WILL TOP $2500. PREVIOUSLY I REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THE WATER PUMP. THIS SEEMS LIKE FAULTY GASKETS OR COOLANT I DON'T KNOW WHICH. I'M JUST GLAD IT DIDN'T STRAND ME OUT SOMEWHERE AWAY FROM TOWN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107810

Incident

Jan 14, 2005

Mileage

116,000 mi

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIRED 4-TIMES REPLY DIRECTLY TO THE CONSTITUENT. *BF THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CONSUMER'S A/C UNTIL THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNED AND THE PCV VALVE WAS GUMMED WITH DEXCOOL. THE SERPENTINE WAS WORN OUT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10097012

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

29,904 mi

WHILE DRIVING COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK. CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092533

Incident

Aug 25, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL REIMBURSE FOR PART OF THE REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092446

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

Mileage

57,367 mi

(1) CAR STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISE AND THEN QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. (2) THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE OIL. THIS COOLANT IN THE OIL RUINED THE ENGINE BEARINGS AND MAIN JOURNAL. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. (3) THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND A COMPLETE NEW ENGINE HAD TO BE INSTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090559

Incident

Jun 28, 2004

Mileage

74,338 mi

FAILURE OF MANIFOLD GASKET AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE WATER PUMP CAUSED COOLANT LIGHT TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND. THERE WAS SOME DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS QUITE COMMON, BUT NOT WARRANTIED. THE BEST PART WAS IT FAILED ON CONSUMER'S BIRTHDAY, WHAT A GIFT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090412

Incident

Apr 30, 2003

Mileage

90,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE LOCK. THE OIL PAN WAS FULL WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087761

Incident

Aug 6, 2004

Mileage

112,876 mi

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS COULD BE RELATED TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10079351

Incident

Apr 16, 2004

OWN A 97 CHEVY VENTURE DURING AN OIL CHANGE WAS TOLD I HAD COOLANT IN MY OIL, SO I TOOK VAN TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THEY INFORMED MY THE INTAKE GASKET WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 975.00, THIS WAS DONE AND NO MENTION WAS EVER MADE THAT THERE COULD ALSO BE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THIS LEAK. FIVE MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET DURING 5 O'CLOCK RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TAKING MY SICK CHILD TO THE DOCTOR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER, I HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE CURB SIDE LANE, GET MY SICK CHILD OUT AND WALK TO A PHONE TO CALL MY SPOUSE TO COME GET US AND THE VEHICLE MIND YOU THIS WAS LATE SEPTEMBER AND IT WAS CHILLY OUTSIDE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER (THE SAME ONE THAT DIAGNOSED THE GASKET LEAK) WHO TOLD ME THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPLACE THE MOTOR THAN TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, AT A COST BETWEEN $3000.00 TO $5200.00 DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF REPLACEMENT MOTOR I WANTED, NOT BEING COMFORTABLE WITH THIS REPSONSE I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHO AT LEAST COULD TELL THAT THE INTAKE GASKET HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT UNFORTUNATLY GAVE THE SAME RESULT REPLACE MOTOR. I DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THIS SO THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND OF NO USE TO ME. I HAD TO GO AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10068058

Incident

Sep 28, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED ON VAN. VEHICLE BECAME HOT QUICKLY AND STOPPED RUNNING. HAD CHEVY DEALER REPLACE INTAKE. VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATS. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER SPENDING OVER $1100.00. I APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.1, 3.4 AND 3.8 GM MOTORS. VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN THIS PRODUCT.

NHTSA ID

10066536

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

Mileage

98,000 mi

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP OF ACOMPLAINT FILED ON 3/10/1997. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH CHEVY CORP. THEY HAVE ADVISED ME THAT THEY WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING MY VENTURE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADVISED ME THAT REPAIRS WILL COST A MINIMUM OF $2000. ADD THIS TO THE $7500 THAT I STILL OWE AND I WILL OWE $9500 ON THIS VAN. I AM AMAZED BY THE DENIAL OF CHEVY CORP. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS WHO HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS FROM DEX COOLANT. I AM ASKING THAT SOMEONE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER!! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES ON THIS VAN. THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 12,000 MILES PER YEAR, AND I HAVE DOCCUMENTED PROOF OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SLIDING DOOR, SEAT LATCHES, AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS. I WILL NEVER BY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10064213

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE IN 8/2000. THE VAN HAD 19,000 MILES AND I PAID 17,900. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, AND THE VAN HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I USE THE VAN TO TRANSPORT MY DAY CARE CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOLS. I ALSO USE IT TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS AND DANCE. LAST WEEK THE COOLANT LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON & OFF. ALSO, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING BETWEEN HOT AND COLD, AND THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT- $130.00. AT THE TIME THERE APPEARED TO BE NO COOLANT MIXING WITH THE OIL. I DROVE THE VAN 3 MILES TO MY HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE VERY NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL THE SAME THING OCCURRED. AFTER RETURNING THE VAN TO THE GARAGE, I GOT THE DEVASTATING NEWS THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A HEAD GASKET. MY MECHANIC WAS IN DISBELIEF BECAUSE I TAKE SUCH GREAT CARE OF MY VAN. MY DAY CARE PARENTS ARE FURIOUS!! I STILL OWE $7,000. ON THIS VAN AND I'M MAKING PAYMENTS OVER $300.00 A MONTH. I RECENTLY BUILT A NEW HOME AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, TWO OF MY FRIENDS JUST PURCHASED VENTURESBASED ON MY RECCOMMENDATION! THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING UNLOADING THEM ASAP. I WAS GOING TO TRADE MINE FOR A WARNERS BROTHERS MODEL LATER THIS YEAR. I SOLD A JEEP CHEROKEE WITH 100,000+ MILES ON IT FOR $2000 SO THAT I COULD GET THIS VAN. THE JEEP WAS RUNNING BEAUTIFULLY. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING COMPLAINTS. THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR. THIS MAY VERY WELL BE MY LAST GM PURCHASE. MY FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND BUISNESS ASSOCIATES HAVE ALL SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT PURCHASE GM PRODUCTS IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING WITH MY VAN! WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, NEWS SPREADS FAST!! I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW GM IS HANDLING THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP. GREATFULLY, MARIE MARION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10062515

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

ON 11/18/2003 I TOOK MY 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN, WITH 64,000 MILES, TO MY SERVICE SHOP TELLING THEM I WAS GETTING A FLUID LEAK ON MY DRIVEWAY LOOKING LIKE A MIXTURE OF OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND ALSO THAT I COULD HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT. IT TURNS OUT I DID HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE AND NOW MAY NEED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH SO FEW MILES. CHEVROLET SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062233

Incident

Nov 18, 2003

Mileage

64,000 mi

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

VAN TAKEN FOR SERVICE FOR COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE OVERHEATING AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING UP AND CAUSING TEMPERATURE (HOT) AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LAMPS TO COME ON. THE VAN NEVER WARMS UP EITHER. THE VAN WAS DIAGNOSED BY GM TECHNICIAN INDICATING REPAIRS OF LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, REPLACEMENT OF LOWER INTAKE GASKET THERMOSTAT AND OIL PUMP DRIVE SEAL. CYLINDER #2 MISFIRE WITH INSTALLATION OF NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, PCV VALVE, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER AND CLEANING OF FUEL INJECTORS. THE VAN DIDNT GET 1.5 MILES FROM THE SERVICE FACILITY AFTER MY ALMOST $1600 PAYMENT BEFORE THE SAME PROBLEMS RESURFACED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK AND AFTER BEING SERVICED AGAIN WITH NO NEW DIAGNOSIS, I DROVE THE VAN ALL OF 20 MILES BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THE VAN WAS TAKEN BACK FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER INITIAL SERVICE, ALL WITHIN A ONE-WEEK TIMEFRAME. NOW, THE VAN HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING HEAD FAILURE. GM NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND ITS WORK THE FIRST TIME AND NOT TRY TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER MORE THE THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10058478

Incident

Feb 11, 2004

Mileage

94,060 mi