1998 Chevrolet Venture Engine Problems

I BACKED THE VAN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME AND PLACED THE CAR INTO DRIVE. AS I STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, THE GAS PEDAL FELT HARDER THAN NORMAL BUT I ATTRIBUTED THAT TO BEING LEFT OUTSIDE ALL WINTER. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL HARDER TO GET TO CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. AND IMMEDIATELY I FELT THE PEDAL UNSTICK . AT THAT SAME MOMENT, THE ENGINE RACED TO FULL THROTTLE AND RACED FORWARD WITH THE VAN CONTINUALLY GOING FASTER AND FASTER RACING INSTANTLY TO 50 MILES AN HOUR AND STILL ACCELERATING. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT STOP THE VAN OR STOP THE ACCELERATION. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND FINALLY BRAKED THE VAN TO A STOP. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON THE SIDE STREET OF MY SUBDIVISION BEFORE I COULD GET ONTO THE MAIN ROAD. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS OR PEOPLE IN MY WAY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF THE VAN WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF OR OTHERS, THE VAN WAS BROUGHT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY WHERE IT REMAINS. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT AS I DO NOT WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THIS 12 YEAR OLD VAN REPAIRED AT MY COST NOR DO I EVER WANT TO DRIVE THIS VAN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303433

Incident

Jan 9, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC OR ON AN INCLINE, THE HEAT TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATES. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO LOSING ANTIFREEZE. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ADDING ONE HALF GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE PER MONTH AND DOES NOT KNOW WHY. WHEN THE WEATHER BECOMES WARMER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY. THE LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE WINTER. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10220267

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHEN APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE AUSE OF THE PROBLEM , AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A BAR INSIDE THE ENGINE THAT BROKE, AND THEREWAS ALSO CORROSION IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 14, 4000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186370

Incident

Mar 21, 2007

Mileage

144,000 mi

VENTURE WAS MAKING A SMELL THAT I REMEMBERED FROM MY 95 CHEVY LUMINA. PULL OVER REALIZED THE SAME THING WAS GOING ON WITH THIS VAN. COOLANT GOING INTO ENGINE. THIS VAN ONLY HAD 51,652 MILES ON FOR A 98 THAT IS GREAT I TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT AND CHEVY LOST A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE. WE WERE LOOKING A TAHOE BUT I WOULD EVEN LOOK AT IT NOW CHEVY IS THE WORST CAR MAKER OUT THERE BUT THEN AGAIN THEY ARE MAKING ME NOW LOOK A TOYOTA,HONDA IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152942

Incident

Feb 20, 2006

Mileage

50,652 mi

THE INTAKE GASKET ON MY 98 VENTURE FAILED AND LEAKED DEXCOOL INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE TEMP FLUCTUATED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DAMAGING THE HEAD GASKET. I SEE GM IS IGNORING THE ISSUE AS WELL AS NHTSA. THERE IS HOWEVER A LAW FIRM IN PUTTING TOGETHER A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ENCOURAGE ALL TO JOIN IN THE SUIT AND TO LEAVE GM AND BECOME LOYAL HONDA OWNERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148300

Incident

Dec 18, 2005

Mileage

112,234 mi

FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE THE DATE NOTED BELOW, I AM EXPERIENCING INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. IN 2003 IT WAS REPLACED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT 34,000 MILES. NOW, JUST SHY OF 2 YEARS LATER, AND AT 53,000 (AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND A COST OF $1200.00)) IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE REASON I AM CONTACTING YOU AT THIS TIME IS THAT GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A RECALLABLE ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I SPOKE WITH GLEN KUNIYUKI ON 12/7/05, AND SYLVIA JABOUIN ON 12/8/05, AT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY SAID THAT SINCE THIS WAS NOT A RECALLABLE ISSUE AND UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE NHTSA MADE THEM RECALL THE VEHICLES INVOLVED, THAT THEY SIMPLY WERE NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO GM MODELS, AND RECOMMENDED TRADING IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES WHERE MANY OTHER GM CUSTOMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME REPETITIVE PROBLEM WITH NO SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I AM PROVIDING YOU WITH ONLY FOUR, BUT THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE. (HTTP://FORUM.FREEADVICE.COM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-194703.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/GM_INTAKE_MANIFOLD.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/GM_DEXCOOL.HTML HTTP://SFDISCUSSIONS.PROBOARDS32.COM/INDEX.CGI?BOARD=LEMON&ACTION=DISPLAY&THREAD=1089240579) YOUR ATTENTION AND RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER WILL BE ANXIOUSLY AWAITED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146177

Incident

Dec 11, 2003

Mileage

34,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. AT 55000 MILES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED IMMACULATELY. THIS HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 2003. VEHICLE WAS FIXED BY A DEALER ON OCTOBER 10, 2003. HE THEN CHECKED THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A COOLANT THAT THE MANUFACTURER USED. ON JULY 2, 2005 THE HEAD GASKET FAILED SUDDENLY, VEHICLE HAD 75,000 MILES. THIS WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER A GARAGE HAD DONE A 75000 MILE CHECK UP ON VEHICLE. WELL OVER $40000 WAS SPENT. HE DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET TO FIND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. HE FELT THIS WA A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT WAS ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY. HE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK, AFTER NOT BEING CALLED BACK BY THE MANUFACTURER AND HIM CALLING MANUFACTURE OFTEN BACK THEY FINALLY MADE HIM AN OFFER OF A DISCOUNT ON SOMETHING. HE REFUSED THE OFFER,. HE FELT THAT THE OFFER WAS NOT NEAR WHAT HE HAD SPENT ON REPAIRS THAT MANUFACTURE SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133535

Incident

Oct 5, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi

I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLES COOLANT LEVEL HAD BEEN DROPPING OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERLA WEEKS. AFTER HAVING IT TESTED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANILFOLD HAD A SLOW LEAK AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT AND IT SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SO SOON.

NHTSA ID

10130264

Incident

Nov 15, 2004

Mileage

68,000 mi

TICKING BEGIN AT AROUND 45000 TO 50000 MILES ON 1998 VENTURE, SOON IT NEEDED BEARINGS AND RODS, THE MECHANIC TOOK OFF THE OIL PAN AND OIL WAS LIKE MUD, I HAVE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES, I SAW THE OIL, IT WAS AWFUL, THEN ONE DAY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND AT AROUND 70000 MILES I NEED NEW ENGINE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GENERAL MOTORS PERSON MAINLY CHEROLET, BUT, AS OF NOW, I AM THINKING IT WILL BE A COLD DAY IN ---- BEFORE I BUY ANOTHER, I SEE WHY THE FOREIGN MOTOR COMPANIES ARE KICKING BUTT...I AM NOT THE 1ST TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VENTURES.. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MAIFOLD IS LEAKING INTO THE OIL SYSTEM THERE BY CAUSING THIS PROBLEM WITH ENGINES BLOWING...I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I HAVE 4 CHILDREN 2 OF WHOM ARE IN COLLEGE AND 2 AT HOME, I CAN'T JUST RACE OUT AND BUY A NEW ONE, WHICH CHEVY OFFERED TO MAYBE GIVE ME A LITTLE OFF IF I WANTED TO BUY A NEW ONE.

NHTSA ID

10129049

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE NOW ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE (2003 AND 2005). ALSO THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR TURNING LEFT.

NHTSA ID

10124446

Incident

Apr 14, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. TWO MONTHS AGO SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE CAM SHAFT BREAKING. SHE REPLACED THE OLD ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAM SHAFT BROKE AGAIN ON THE SAME SPOT AS THE OTHER. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A HOLLOW CAMSHAFT, AND THAT WAS THE WAY ALL CAM SHAFTS WERE FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10124014

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

1998 CHEVY VENTURE MINI-VAN. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR (NOW TWICE) DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED BY "SLUDGE" IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. ALSO, MECHANIC REPORTS A COOLANT LEAKAGE IN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH APPARENTLY IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. HAVE ONLY PUT DEXCOOL IN SYSTEM, SO WONDER WHERE SLUDGE CAME FROM. HAVE NOT HAD GASKET REPAIRED YET BECAUSE I THINK GM SHOULD DO IT FOR FREE.

NHTSA ID

10121114

Incident

May 16, 2005

I HAVE HAD ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT, BUT, THE WORST TO ME IS THAT I AM SITTING HERE IN NEED OF A MOTOR IN MY 1998 VENTURE VAN. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO USE TO AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. I STARTED GETTING THE TICKING NOISE LIKE AT 50,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE LIFTERS, COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, THEN BEFORE IT HIT 60,000 I HAD RODS BEARINGS AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE DONE AND BY 70,00 MY MOTOR IS BLOWN. I AM A HOMEMAKER WITH 2 CHILDREN IN COLLEGE AND 2 WEDDINGS GOING ON, I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR AND NOW I AM DRIVING MY BROTHERS, IT IS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAD CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY OFFERED ME A LITTLE VOUCHER TO HELP PAY ON A NEW VAN. I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE, I AM NOT A VAIN PERSON, I JUST WANT A CAR I CAN TRUST AND THOUGHT THAT I HAD ONE IN CHEVY. NOW I SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING FOREIGN. I SAW IN THE COMPLAINTS WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL VENTURES WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

NHTSA ID

10120616

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

71,000 mi

VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT 39000 MILES. MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A MANIFOLD INTAKE LEAK THAT WOULD COST $600+ TO FIX.I DID NOT DO THE REPAIR, BUT HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND THAT NOT REPAIRING COULD CAUSE SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE. SOMETHING KNOWN AND COMMON LIKE THIS IS SHAMEFUL FOR A CAR 3000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT AT THE OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO 36K.

NHTSA ID

10120561

Incident

Jun 28, 2001

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE 1997-2000 VENUTURES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES, THE INTAKE GASKET BREAKS DOWN CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO MIX WITH THE ENGINES OIL CAUSING THE CAM SHAFT TO CRACK, IN OUR CASE THERE WAS NO LEAKS UNDER THE VAN AND THERE WAS NO WARNING EITHER THE VAN WAS RUNNING WELL THAT MORNING AND WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET THERE WAS 2 SHORT BUKLES FROM THE VAN AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN INCLUDING STEERING WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO DO, IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONES FAMILY TO DIE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE GM WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THEN THERE WOULD BE NO WAY THAT SHE WOULD HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT BEING HIT, EVEN THEN SHE HAD 3 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VAN AGES 3-8 AND WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND, BECAUSE IT WAS AN INDUSTRIAL HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT OF 50MPH AND NOT MUCH ROOM ON THE SHOULDER TO PARK. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE VANS AND YET NO ONE SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING. THIS WEBSITE HAS COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT, WWW. COMPLAINTS.COM AND WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH OTHER WEBSITES OF PEOPLE EXPERANCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? GM DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE EVEN THOUGH THEIR DEALERSHIPS HAVE STATED THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES. ENGINE SHUT OFF AND FAILURE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS . *AK

NHTSA ID

10114737

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

Mileage

52,000 mi

WATER BUILD UP INTO THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS AND WATER BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACE LIGHTS AND ENGINE AFTER LIGHTS WERE REPLACED WE HAD TO DRILL A HOLD BELOW THE LIGHT COVERS SO THAT WATER BUILD UP CAN DRAIN FROM HOLE. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10107725

Incident

Jul 9, 2004

DECEMBER 2002 - MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, ALLOWING DEXCOOL COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL SYSTEM. GASKET REPLACED. NOVEMBER 2004. REPLACEMENT GASKET FAILED. COOLANT IN OIL SYSTEM AGAIN. MODIFIED GASKET KIT INSTALLED. JAN 2, 2005. CAM SHAFT BREAKS. BEARINGS/BUSHING SEIZED DUE TO OIL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION. ON JAN 2, 2005, THE VAN STALLED IN INTERSECTION. CAR RESTARTED. CAR THEN STALLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY ON THE WAY HOME AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE STALL OCCURRED ON A BEND COMING OUT OF A TUNNEL. APPROACHING CARS HAD LITTLE WARNING THAT OUR VAN WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. POLICE HELPED PUSH THE VAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONTO THE GRASS. THE VAN CANNOT BE COST EFFECTIVELY REPAIRED. IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106377

Incident

Jan 2, 2005

Mileage

139,000 mi

ENGINE STALLING AND UNDER PERFORMING DUE TO MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A MAIN ROAD FROM OUR SUB-DIVISION DRIVING OUR CHEVROLET VENTURE '98 WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY AND SPUTTERING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL WITH THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A LEAK OF COOLANT I BELIEVE INTO THE ENGINE. IT SEEMS GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE VANS. AT THE LEAST THEY SHOULD BE MAKING CONSUMERS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT ENGINE FAILURE COULD OCCUR DURING CRITICAL TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10106058

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

84,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE WITH 82,651 MILES. THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY DISSIPATE COOLANT, WHICH I REPLENISHED AS NEEDED. THEN A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK OCCURRED AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. BARNARD CHEVROLET OF CHURCHVILLE, NY 14428 REPAIRED THE LOWER AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, AND THE REAR HEAD GASKET. EACH HAD DETIORATED FROM THE DEX COOL, CAUSING THE LEAKAGE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED ANY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, DESPITE MY PROVIDING THEM WITH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #03-06-01-010. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER PROVIDED A COMPLETE AND PROFESSIONAL REPAIR, I BELIEVE THAT EVIDENCE IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THE DEX COOL COOLANT AND THE GASKET MATERIALS USED BY GM RESULTS IN A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND THAT GM MUST PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THAT NHTSA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER TO HOLD GM ACCOUNTABLE. THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SEEMS TO HAVE COMPLETELY SUPPRESSED THIS ISSUE IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT FOLLOWUP. WHAT A SHAME, THE LOBBYISTS WIN AGAIN. MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS LEFT WITH THE BILL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105949

Incident

Jan 2, 2005

Mileage

82,647 mi

EXTREME LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, LEADING TO POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO COOLANT DESTROYING ALUMINUM COMPONENTS OF INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. THE FOLLOWING WAS DONE TO PREVENT IMMEDIATE ENGINE FAILURE: REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN INSIDE ENGINE ($771), REPLACE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH ($86), FULL COOLANT FLUSH ($105), OIL/FILTER CHANGE ($15), AND REPLACE COOLANT SENSOR ($85). CONSISTANT WITH HISTORICAL FAILURE OF ALL SIMILAR MAKES/MODELS. CUSTOMER PAYS FOR GM'S POOR PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105685

Incident

Dec 28, 2004

HEATER NOT WORKING DUE TO A FAULTY MANIFOLD GASKET THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE OF OUR 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT GM IS NOW PRODUCING A BETTER GASKET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THAT'S GREAT!! I WOULD LIKE GM TO PAY THE $798.67 BILL FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE FIRST GASKET THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY TESTED BY ENGINEERING. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104037

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

Mileage

110,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY VAN OVER HEATED AND STALLED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. I HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKETS, LOWER INTAKE, ALL MY SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. I HAD NO LEAKS THAT I WAS AWARE OF. NOTHING ON THE GORUND TO EVEN SUSPECT A LEAK. APPARENTLY I WAS LEAKING SO BAD INTERNALLY THAT 2 OF MY SPARK PLUGS CRAPPED OUT AND MY VAN REFUSED TO RUN. FROM WHAT I READ THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG VENTURE OWNERS. I REALLY LOVE MY VAN BUT THIS FLAW WILL PREVENT ME FROM BUYING ANOTHER ONE, WHICH I FULLY INTENDED ON DOING IN A FEW YEAR. SORRY GM BUT I'LL GO WITH A HONDA NEXT TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102878

Incident

Feb 20, 2004

Mileage

45 mi

CAM SHAFT BROKE WHILE WARMING UP IN MY YARD. 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. I FOUND A TSB THAT STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VAN HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THE DEALER NEVER REPLACED THE GASKET BEFORE I PURCHASED IT.IT HAS 56000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS 88000 16 MONTHES LATER. TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT CAMSHAFTS DON;T JUST BREAK UNLESS THEY ARE FAULTY. I AM CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE LOANED ME A VEHICLE TO USE UNTIL WE COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100435

Incident

Nov 12, 2004

Mileage

88,000 mi

I HAD THE COOLANT FLUSHED ONE MONTH AGO AT THE LOCAL DEALER. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY NEAR HOME, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. NO INDICATION ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE THAT COOLANT TEMP EVER EXCEEDED EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE NORMAL RANGE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE VAN RUNS ROUGH AND HAS A LIGHT COOLANT SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALER SAID THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FAILED ALLOWING THE VAN TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW THE HEAD GASKETS. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $2500 AND WITH ONLY 88K MILES ON THE VAN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE FAILED. FIRST TIME THE INTAKE GASKETS FAILED WAS AT 45K MILES RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THERE WAS NO OVERHEAT OR HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE FIRST INCIDENCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10100359

Incident

Nov 8, 2004

Mileage

88,500 mi

I AM GOING TO NEED TO REPAIR MY MINIVAN DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT LEAK AND I REALLY CAN NOT AFFORD THIS AND MAY HAVE TO HAVE THE VAN SIT UNTIL I CAN. I CANNOT BELIEVE AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON HERE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS OR THE HEADLIGHTS. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT IS NOT THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY, ITS OBVIOUS THAT THIS NEEDS A RECALL. I DO HOPE YOU COME TO YOUR SENSES ABOUT THIS COSTLY REPAIR TO THE CONSUMERS BECAUSE I WILL LET EVERY ONE I POSSIBLE KNOW THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS COSTLY PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AS I AM SURE OTHERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM HAVE TOLD NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND YOU SALES WILL DROP SO LOW THAT YOU WILL WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098700

Incident

Nov 11, 2004

Mileage

71,691 mi