1997 Chevrolet Venture Steering Problems

STEERING LOCKED UP ON '97 VENTURE VAN WHILE BEING OPERATED AT 70 MPH ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, RACK AND PINION AND STEERING PUMP REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11013139

Incident

Apr 11, 2017

Mileage

58,000 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT GOING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING RACK AND PINION BECAUSE HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA MANUFACTURER NOTICES TO DEALERS (ETC RCMN-02V286-8630.PDF), THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL FOR THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,197.

NHTSA ID

10215810

Incident

Dec 20, 2007

Mileage

100,197 mi

I BOUGHT MY 97 VENTURE A YEAR AGO, ENDED UP GETTING A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER FOR THE REAR DOOR HANDLES. BROUGHT TO DEALER TO HAVE FIXED, TO FIND OUT OTHER RECALLS WEREN'T FIXED. I HAD THE STEERING RECALL DONE. WELL NOW NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN UNDER 6 YRS OLD AND THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IM AFRAID TO TRAVEL IN IT!! EVERY TURN BE IT RIGHT OR LEFT I FEEL THE STEERING KIND OF POP AND STICK ITS SCARY I THINK GM NEEDS TO REEVALUATE ITS SO CALLED FAMILY SAFE VEHICLE AND REIMBURSE ALL OF US OWNERS!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10174427

Incident

Nov 27, 2006

ON 28 JULY 2003, THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN MY 97 CHEVY VENTURE UNDER A RECALL SCHEME. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT BACK IN, SINCE THEY LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE STEERING OFFSET TO THE RIGHT BY ABOUT 15 DEGREES, BUT IT WAS SUCH A HASSLE DEALING WITH THEM THAT I DIDN'T BOTHER. AROUND THE START OF FEBRUARY 2006, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHEN STEERING TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS AS IF THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE VAN, I HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY PREPARED TO WRESTLE THE WHEEL WITH BOTH ARMS, ALTHOUGH THE FAULT IS STILL INTERMITTENT. I HAVE YET TO RAISE THE MATTER WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR ACCOUNTS, ALTHOUGH MOSTLY RELATING TO STEERING TO THE LEFT, FOR SIMILAR 97 VENTURES AND OTHER GM VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151201

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

83,000 mi

DT: THE CALLER BOUGHT A VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL BEFORE HE GOT THE VEHICLE. THE RECALLED PART WAS THE STEERING RACK BEARING. HE WAS TOLD THE REPAIR WAS DONE. HE SAYS THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO TURN WHEN TURNING RIGHT. HE WILL NOT LET HIS WIFE DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE THOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS FAULTY. DEALER SAID THEY MIGHT NOT DO THE WORK FOR FREE. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD PAY THE REPAIR COSTS, THE FIRST TIME HE CALLED, IF IT WAS THE PART IN QUESTION. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10137091

Incident

Oct 17, 2003

Mileage

91,000 mi

STEERING RACK BROKE. DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL CAN ASSUME POSITIONS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 2 O'CLOCK WHILE STILL GOING STRAIGHT. STEERING ACTION IS NOT POSITIVE. AT TURNS, MORE STEERING MOVEMENT IS NEEDED AND VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPONSE AS BEFORE. FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL NHTSA #02V286000 FOR THE STEERING RACK LOWER PINION BEARINGS THAT THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING OR REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. WE TOOK THE CAR IN 5/28/05 FOR THIS RECALL AND I BELIEVE THE LOWER PINION BEARING WAS REPLACED. CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE 1/17/05. TOLD TO HAVE CAR INSPECTED BY DEALER. LANNAN CHEVROLET CONFIRMED THAT DAMAGE IS INSIDE STEERING RACK AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TALKED WITH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE 1/20/05, THEY DECLINE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CURRENT PROBLEM AND SAID THAT IT IS DUE TO "WEAR AND TEAR". HE BLAMED IT ON OTHER THINGS SUCH AS HYDRAULIC HOSE LEAK. THE HYDRAULIC HOSE HAS BEEN "WET" SINCE THE EARLY DAYS (1 OR 2 YEARS) AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE LEAK IS NOT SIGNIFICANT AND THE LEVEL HAS BEEN CHECKING EVERY 1-2 WEEK. WE BELIEVE THIS CURRENT PROBLEM IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND THE WORK DONE FOR THE STEERING RACK RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE UNDERLINING PROBLEM. EITHER THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STEERING RACK DEFECTS OR INTERNAL DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10107620

Incident

Jan 15, 2005

Mileage

102,500 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

ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 02049 FROM THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING RACK AND PINION FAILURE. , PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER, CONSUMER HAD ALREADY FIXED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT, AND THEY INDICATED THEY WON'T HONOR THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091533

Incident

Sep 8, 2004

THE CAMPAIGN 02049 WAS COMPLETED ON 30 APRIL 2003 THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BEARING. THE VEHICLE STEERING SLOWLY BECAME STIFF AND GAVE RESISTANCE IN MAY 2004 WHEN TURNING OR MAKING STEERING CORRECTIONS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN JUNE OR JULY AS IT WAS GETTING WORSE. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER IT REQUIRED A LOT OF EXERTION TO STEER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED. I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL TO CHECK THE GEAR AND IF IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. HE STATED NO NOT RELATED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS BEHAVING ERRATICALLY ON THE ROAD. STEERING CORRECTIONS WERE SLOPPY YOU HAD TO MOVE IT LEFT OR RIGHT 3 OR MORE INCHES TO TURN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER HE HAD SOME ADJUSTMENT DONE AND THE STEERING SEEMED FINE. ONLY NOW A GROANING CLUNK UPON TURNS AND ACCELERATION. I WAITED A FEW DAYS THEN A COMPONENT FELL FROM THE UNDERSIDE ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN AND VOICED MY CONCERNS OVER THE COMPONENT AND THE NOISE. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NO PROBLEM ONLY A LOOSE WIRE BRACKET. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MECHANIC AND DROVE AROUND TO SHOW HIM THE NOISE. HE HEARD THE NOISE AND WOULD BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. NEXT THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THE STRUT BRACKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I REQUESTED THE MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE STRUTS FOR DAMAGE FROM THE FAULTY STRUT BRACKETS AND LET ME KNOW IF THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE WRITER CALLED AND SAID THE STRUTS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I HAD PURCHASED LIFETIME REPLACEMENT FROM FIRESTONE SO I HAD IT PUT BACK TOGETHER AND I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND DROVE OVER TO FIRESTONE TO HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE SAID THE STRUTS WERE FINE BUT REPLACED THEM ANYWAY. THE ONLY ABNORMALITY THE FIRESTONE MECHANIC NOTED WAS THAT THE STRUT SPRINGS WERE NOT PROPERLY SEATED. AFTER THE STRUT REPLACEMENT THE SAME NOISE WAS PRESENT. IT IS STILL BEING REPAIRED. NOT SURE OF THE START ORIGINAL DATE). *AK

NHTSA ID

10089035

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089676

Incident

Aug 24, 2004

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS THROWN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER STATED THAT RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. NO IMPACT WAS REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087272

Incident

Jul 25, 2004

Mileage

35,800 mi

1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK PINION STEERING, WRITER QUESTION IF HIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED WITH RECALLED CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000. *PH *MR *SC *JB.

NHTSA ID

10055637

VEHICLE REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER TO THE RIGHT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO STEER TO THE LEFT. THIS IS AFTER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V286000 (02049) WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON 03/19/03 @ 103819 MILES. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054283

Incident

Jan 9, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053870

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 VENTURE CHEVROLET VAN THAT I PURCHASED IN MAY OF 1997. I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS AFTER REVIEWING YOUR WEB SITE. FIRST, I JUST CHARGED ON MY CREDIT CARD ALMOST $2,000 (DECEMBER 2003) TO FIX THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE WAS A RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2002 THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED FOR THE RACK AND PINION. SECOND, I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL RELATED TO THE POWER PUMP STEERING. IT IS NOT BY CHANCE THAT BOTH OF THESE ITEMS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXERTION ON MORE PRESSURE TO MAKE TURNS AND THIS IS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE RECALL. I CAN NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE OF THE INCIDENTS WHEN THE ISSUES FIRST STARTED BUT IT IS FAIR TO SAY IT STARTED SOMETIME IN 2003. WHAT PROCEDURES SHOULD I FOLLOW TO GET THESE CHARGES TAKEN OFF OF MY CREDIT CARD? SINCE I PAID FOR OR IS CHARGED TO MY CREDIT CARD, I CAN NOT GET THE REPAIRS FREE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF BILLS - PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ALSO, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LEAKING OF BREAK FLUID IN 2001. AFTER VIEWING YOUR WEB SITE IT APPEARS THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANOTHER DEFECT. I DO NOT THINK IT IS JUST BY CHANCE THE THREE MAJOR REPAIRS THAT I HAVE PAID FOR ON MY VEHICLE ARE RECALLS FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052980

Incident

Jul 16, 2003

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-286-000 MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. THIS RECALL FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *CB

NHTSA ID

10039946

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

WHEN MAKING A TURN AT 15 MPH STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND THEN LOCKED UP. WITH ENOUGH FORCE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10053574

Incident

Dec 30, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

LOSS OF POWER STEERING LED TO THE DEATH OF DRIVER'S INFANT DAUGHTER AS STATED BY THE CONSUMER'S LAWYER. *LA WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. IN JANUARY 2003 THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10051708

Incident

Jan 24, 2002

I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO THE STREET I LIVE ON, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND RELEASED. IT RIPPED OUT OF MY HANDS AND SENT ME RIGHT ON ONTO SOMEONE'S FRONT LAWN NEARLY MISSING A TREE. I REGAINED CONTROL JUST IN TIME AND GOT IT BACK ON THE ROAD. I LIMPED IT HOME AND PARKED IT. I CALLED THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND DID NOT BELIEVE ME AND WOULD NOT HELP, SO I STARTED LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM MY PARENTS. FOUND A DEALER SHIP 3 CITIES AWAY AND SAID BRING IT IN AND WE'LL HELP YOU. THEY CALLED IN SAGINAW STEERING PLANT REP. AND IT DID IT TO HIM AND SAID WE'LL REPLACE FOR FREE JUST PAY LABOR. SEEING IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY I ACCEPTED AND TRADED IT IN ON A S-10 PICK-UP. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023960

Incident

Sep 10, 1999

Mileage

82,000 mi

CONSUMER SEEKING FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DONE TO 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION. *MR *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10025060

Incident

May 30, 2003

VEHICLE STEERS TO THE RIGHT AT ALL TIMES. DEALER REPLACED RACK ANDPINION AND IT IS PULLING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024429

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE RACK AND PINION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION 02V-286000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018239

Incident

Jul 26, 2002

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIR 02V286000 ON 03/31/03. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS BUT ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS BAD BUT THIS REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER RECALL. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THEIR AGREEMENT WITH MANUFACTURER WAS TO REPLACE BEARINGS ONLY. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015266

Incident

Mar 31, 2003

THE RECALL WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED. RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB *TT

NHTSA ID

10011926

Incident

Mar 17, 2003