1997 Chevrolet Venture Exterior lighting Problems

REAR BRAKE LAMPS KEEP FAILING, LIGHT BAR ON TOP WORKS FINE BUT BOTH SIDE REAR BRAKE LAMPS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF BRAKE LIGHT ONE CAN SEE THE SOCKETS AND BULB CONTACTS ARE MELTING. THIS VAN HAS ALREADY HAD THE ENTIRE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON EACH SIDE REPLACED BUT PROBLEM IS RECURRING. CLEANING/SANDING SOCKETS WORKS TEMPORARILY BUT PROBLEM RETURNS WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. BULB REPLACEMENT ALONE DOES NOT WORK. FILAMENTS IN BULBS ARE NOT BURNT OUT BUT CONTACTS ON BULBS AND SOCKETS ARE BURNT. THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE CIRCUIT THE BRAKE LIGHT FILAMENT IS ON, THE TAILLIGHTS (WHICH SHARE THE SAME MULTIFILAMENT BULB) ARE NOT AFFECTED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT'S QUITE APPARENT THIS IS A PROBLEM VERY COMMON ACROSS MOST OR ALL MODEL YEARS OF THIS VAN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE OCCUPANTS - THE LIGHTS CAN (AND WILL) FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE LEAVING DRIVER VULNERABLE TO COLLISIONS FROM BEHIND DUE TO INADEQUATE SIGNALING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503490

Incident

Apr 11, 2012

Mileage

156,000 mi

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 FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB CONTINUOUSLY FAILED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BULB, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONSTANT FAILURE WAS DUE TO MOISTURE ENTERING THE FIXTURE, WHICH BLEW OUT THE BULB AND DISCOLORED THE LENS. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10202559

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

Mileage

20,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHTS WERE GLUED AND NOT BOLTED ONTO THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE GLUE WORE OUT WATER GOT INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THE PLASTIC POPPED OFF, CAUSING THE HALOGEN LIGHT BULB TO BURN OUT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10145906

Incident

Dec 22, 2005

Mileage

44,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE HEADLIGHT COVERS CAME OFF OF THE VEHICLE. IT COSTS $178.00 PLUS TAX FOR EACH OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS TO BE REPAIRED. ABOUT SIX MONTH AGO ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS CAME OFF, AND A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE OTHER HEADLIGHT COVER CAME OFF. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE GM MANUFACTURER TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE FIRST TIME IT GOT STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME AT ONLY 26,000 MILES, AND THE SECOND TIME AT 26,100 MILES. BOTH TIMES WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IT HAD ONLY 78,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE ON VACATION AND DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE TRANSMISSION QUIT. HAD TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THAT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED TRANSMISSION, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR. ALL THE DEALERSHIPS THAT THE CONTACT CHECKED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION SAID THAT THERE WHERE NO TRANSMISSIONS AROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE REDESIGNING ALL OF THE TRANSMISSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. SHE CONTACTED GM MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 100,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10134990

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

THE FRONT HEADLAMPS ON THE 1997-2004 CHEVROLET, PONTIAC, & OLDSMOBILE VANS DO NOT RELEASE MOISTURE FROM THE CAPSULE CAUSING THE LIGHT TO GLAZE OVER TIME. I HAVE REPLACED FRONT LIGHTS TWICE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE GLAZE ON THE HEADLIGHTS DRAMATICALLY REDUCES YOUR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT TO SEE WHAT IS OUT THERE, POTENTIALLY ABLE TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134411

Incident

May 16, 2005

THE PLASTIC COVERS OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 1997 CHEVY VENTURE ARE GLUED ON. WATER GETS INSIDE THE UNIT AND THE PLASTIC POPS OFF, THEN THE LIGHTS BURN OUT. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT THE COST OF $185.00 PER LIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110091

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME FROM THE CAR WASH, BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. CONSUMER NOTICED BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS WERE MISSING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10107492

Incident

Oct 30, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR FELL COMPLETELY OFF. THE SEAT BELT WAS DAMAGED ON THE SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE. THE HEAD LIGHT COVERS CONTINUOUSLY FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS CONSTANTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE THE TIRES CHANGED AND WAS TOLD THE TIRE ROD WAS BENT AND THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10099099

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING/PARING BOTH FRONTAL PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073453

Incident

Apr 7, 2004

Mileage

63,000 mi

FROM ABOUT 40000 MILESPROBLEMS WITH THE TEMP GAUGE INDICATING ENGINE RUNNING HOT WHEN IN FACT IT NEVER WAS AND COOLANT WAS ADEQUATE MECHANIC NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE OUT 60000 INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED 90000 MILES ENGINE LOSING POWER AND STALLING ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED POSSIBLE AND HEAD GASKET. BRAKES NOISY WITH A GRINDING FEEL IN THE PEDAL LIGHTS ON DASH ON & OFF ABS AND COOLANT LOW WHEN NO PROBLEM EXISTS! CAR PULLS TO LEFT AND HARD TO STEER IN A PUDDLE HORN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACTIVATE. DIRECTIONAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FLASH WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058226

Incident

Feb 14, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. HEADLIGHT LENS COVER. LAST SUMMER I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE LENS WAS LOOSE SO I GLUED IT BACK ON WITH EPOXY.(COST $3.00) RECENTLY I FOUND OUT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LENS HAD FALLEN OUT SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING.(BOTH FELL OUT WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER) I WENT TO WASH THE VAN AND THE HALOGEN BULB EXPLODED AND FLAMED WHEN IT GOT WET. HAD I BEEN CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE I COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY FLYING GLASS. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING A RAIN STORM I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. (THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $165 TO REPLACE ONE ASSEMBLY). THE SEALANT WAS FAULTY ON THE LAST ASSEMBLY, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEW ONE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10013749

Incident

Mar 30, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012008

Incident

Mar 16, 2003

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HEAD GASKET FAILED, AND THE HEAD LIGHT LENS FELL OUT OF PLACE. PH

NHTSA ID

10007568

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

54,500 mi

HEADLIGHTS FOG CAUSING A DISTRACTION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ID

10006495

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT TIME AND HEAVY SNOWING THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT BLEW OUT, DUE TO THE HEAD PLASTIC LIGHT COVER NOT WELL DESIGNED FOR THIS KIND OF WEATHER. DEALER WONT SELL JUST THE HEAD LIGHT (SELL ALL UNIT $161.00) PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

NHTSA ID

10006015

Incident

Jan 30, 2003

1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE - REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS LEAKING WATER IN, COLLECTING MOISTURE, LENSES FALLING OFF, ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLSION BECAUSE HEADLIGHT BLEW WHEN LENSE COVER FELL OFF AGAIN DURING RECENT RAIN STORM. THIS IS THIRD TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A LENSE AND HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. IN CHECKING "MYCARSTATS.COM" THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I'M SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT. DEALER AND CHEVROLET REFUSE TO ADMIT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT LENSES

NHTSA ID

10000042

Incident

Dec 4, 2002

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING DURING RAIN HEAD LIGHT COVERS FAIL OFF IN RESULT OF HEAD LIGHT BLOWING OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID

8022752

Incident

Feb 2, 2002

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS SHORTED OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID

8020754

Incident

Oct 9, 2002

THE CLEAR PART THAT HOLDS THE BULB INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT FIXTURES FLEW OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015735

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

BRIDGESTONE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. CHEVROLET NOTIFIED, BUT STATED TIRES ARE NOT ON RECALL LIST.*AK

NHTSA ID

763937

Incident

May 21, 2000

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF, THE CAULKING AROUND THE COVER CRACKED. *AK THE GLASS DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS MISSING. MAYBE IT HAD BROKEN OR SOMEONE HAD BROKEN IT. THERE WERE NO PIECES OF GLASS LEFT ON THE BASE OF THE HOUSING OF THE HEADLIGHT. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8010446

Incident

Apr 20, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT SEALING COMPOUND HOLDING LENS TO BODY OF HEADLIGHT DRIED OUT AND THE LENS FELL OFF. THIS RESULTED IN THE OPEN TYPE BULB TO GET WET AND BLOW. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *YD

NHTSA ID

785999

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FELL OFF OF THE CAR - ONE YEAR APART - THE LEFT AND RIGHT ASSEMBLIES - THE COST TO REPLACE THEM EXCEEDED 200.00 - WHEN CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS, CHEVROLET DIVISION THEY DENIED THEIR WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE US. *A,

NHTSA ID

761275

Incident

Apr 12, 2000

HEADLAMP FELL OUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, NEVER DID FIND IT. ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE MALFUNCTIONING, VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, ESPECIALLY WITH SO LITTLE MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS THAT I AM REPORTING ARE VERY COMMOM AND NEED SOME ATTENTION GRANTED TO THEM. VEHICLES COST SO MUCH AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THEM IT CAN FINANCIALLY DRAIN YOU. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

761127

Incident

Mar 25, 2002