1997 Chevrolet Venture Fuel system Problems

FUEL PUMP FAILED WITH ONLY 65,000 MILES ON THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045524

Incident

Oct 31, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

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

DESCRIPTION : I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE FROM THE NORWOOD GROUP IN WARWICK, RI BACK IN SEPT 2002. APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS AGO I BEGAN EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS IN WARICK, RI FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THINKING THAT IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT. THEY RAN THE TEST AND CAME BACK WITH AN ENGINE PROBLEM, AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DID THIS AND THE SERVICE DEPT AT NORWOOD INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS THEY REPAIRED THAT AND WHEN TAKING IT FOR A TEST DRIVE BEFORE RETURNING IT TO ME, THEY DECIDED THAT I NOW HAD A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. FIXED THAT AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMELL STRONGLY OF GAS. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHERE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE FUEL INJECTOR KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. BACK TO NORWOOD I GO....NORWOOD ASSUMED A PORTION OF THIS REPAIR BUT IT STILL COST ME A LOT MORE MONEY THAN IT SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST DONE THIS WORK.LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER GETTING MY VEHICLE BACK, WHILE ON THE ROAD AND 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH. OIL IS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR,THE ENGINE AND UNDERCARRIAGE. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO NORWOOD. THE ENGINE APPEARS TO BE SEIZED UP AND WILL NOT TURN OVER. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED OVER THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CASH OUTLAY I AM HAVING FORCED UPON ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE WAY OF RECOURSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032733

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

DESIGN OF INTAKE GASKET WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY SET BECAUSE IN HOT TEMPERATURES, BETWEEN 90-110 DEGREES, PART WILL MELT, AND VEHICLE WILL MALFUNCTION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011906

Incident

Jun 12, 2002

WHEN TRYING TO PROCEED FORWARD AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION.*AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE TURN SIGNALS STOP FLASHING WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED DUE TO MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE. THE ENGINE LOOSES COOLANT AND OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. REAR WIPER WAS INOPERATIVE. ABS LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. RIGHT FRONT TIRES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8003389

Incident

Dec 31, 2000

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT DEALER, SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL VANS IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH EVEN LESS MILAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

757104

Incident

Dec 28, 2001

AFTER OWNING VEHICHLE A FEW MONTHS, VAN WAS LEFT RUNNING WHILE PARKED, WAITING ON A PASSENGER. IT RAN OUT OF GAS DURING THIS TIME AND WE FILLED A TOTAL OF FOUR FIVE GALLON GAS CANS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT STARTED. FINALLY CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SOME SELF-DESTRUCT MECHANISM WHICH CAUSED A DIAPHRAM (?) IN THE TANK TO DISABLE SHOULD IT EVER RUN OUT OF GAS OR HAVE GAS PUT IN IN ANY METHOD OTHER THAN WITH A STANDARD NOZZLE. THIS, I WAS TOLD WAS A SAFTY FEATURE SO THAT OWNER'S WOULD TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP SHOULD THEY RUN OUT OF GAS, SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE CHECKED. HOWEVER, HAD I RAN OUT OF GAS IN AN UNSAFE AREA, THIS COULD PROVE DETRIMENTAL TO MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ID

750437

Incident

Apr 1, 1997

FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLE STARTING HARD. VEHICLE IS NOW ACTING UP AGAIN AND WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING IT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE SHOCKS LAST YEAR AND HAD THEM REPLACED. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT THE CORRECT ANSWER!!! BRAKES WERE ALSO REPLACED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. BRAKES STILL FEEL SOFT AND ARE MAKING A GRINDING/SQUEALING NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ID

742026

Incident

Mar 5, 2001

HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT, NEW FUEL PUMP, FRONT/REAR SHOCKS & STRUTS,INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, BRAKES. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID

738375

Incident

Dec 10, 2000

DEALER FOUND PROBLEM WITH A FUEL INJECTOR WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. VAN SUDDENLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION IN 65MPH TRAFFIC. MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. (SCARY!)*AK

NHTSA ID

727475

Incident

Aug 6, 2000

O-RING CRACKED ON FUEL FILTER UNDER THE VEHICLE, FUEL LEAKED ALL OVER GARAGE, AND CONSUMER WOKE UP, COUGHING AND HAD BURNING EYES. CONSUMER FELT HOUSE COULD HAVE EXPLODED. *AK

NHTSA ID

868941

Incident

Jul 28, 2000

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, HEARD BANGING/THUMPING NOISE IN REAR WHEN STOPPING AND ACCELERATING. HAPPENS WHEN TANK IS FULL OR 3/4 FULL ONLY. REPLACED SHOCKS AND GAS TANK. CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM AND DEALER/MFG UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. VERY ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING THAT MANUFACTURER CAN'T CORRECT OBVIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

725072

Incident

Sep 1, 1997

POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE BACK SIDE WHILE DRIVING AND BURNT COMPLETELY. YH

NHTSA ID

552667

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

NHTSA ID

723239

Incident

Apr 26, 2000

FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *MJS

NHTSA ID

550690

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

854240

Incident

Nov 15, 1999

FUEL GAUGE FAILED CAUSING IT TO READ 1/4 TANK WHEN VEHICLE IS OUT OF FUEL.

NHTSA ID

545904

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

FUEL TANK DESIGN ALLOWS FOR BANGING IN THE REAR OF THE VAN, UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM WITH TANK STRAPS.

NHTSA ID

541026

FUEL SLAMS BACK AND FORWARD IN THE FUEL TANK AND MAKES NOISE POSSIBLY BECAUSE THERE'RE NO BAFFLES IN THE TANK.

NHTSA ID

538735

Incident

Sep 1, 1997

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULLAND ALSO 3/4 FULL CONSUMER NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

824094

Incident

May 13, 1998

LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.

NHTSA ID

999999999

SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT GM IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VENTURE VANS WHERE THE FUEL INJECTORS CLOG UP WITH FUEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

NHTSA ID

525186

Incident

Oct 15, 1997

WHEN DRIVING AND REACHING A SPEED OF 50MPH OR MORE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAKES VIOLENTLY LIKE IT'S GOING TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING BOX. TOOK IN TO DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE A/C WAS NOT BLOWING COOL AIR DUE TO A LEAK FROM THE COMPRESSOR, THERE WAS A SMELL OF RAW EGGS DUE TO FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING, AND THE DOME LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT COAT HOOF FELL OUT OF ROOF.*JB

NHTSA ID

816298

Incident

Apr 22, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED AND STARTED, FUEL TANK MOVED DUE TO BOLTS/ BRACKETS, WHICH CONNECTED THE FUEL TANK TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, BECOMING LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

805962