RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Venture Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
36
Latest Nov 27, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 409 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Venture submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed Nov 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E005000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ID
10807166
Incident
Nov 25, 2015
Mileage
122,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000.

NHTSA ID
10215369
Incident
Jan 15, 2008
Mileage
132,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 4, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10201838
Incident
Aug 31, 2007
Mileage
138,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 23, 2007

STEERING MAKES NOTICEABLE THUMPING WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT'S THE PROBLEM..THE STEERING IS FAILING AT THIS TIME.... *TR

NHTSA ID
10194040
Incident
May 1, 2007
AirbagsSteering
Filed Sep 18, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND STRAIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL RACK AND PINION FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. SOON AFTER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO CONFIRMED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FRACTURE. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO DETERMINED DUE TO THE UNIQUE FRACTURE OF THE RACK AND PINION AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10168524
Incident
Sep 5, 2006
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 15, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS FAILURE TO THE LOWER BEARING PLATE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000, REGARDING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10159931
Incident
Jun 12, 2006
Mileage
130,153 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 3, 2006

I EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE MAKING LEFT TURNS ONLY. DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE EVEN THOU IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL VEHICLES OF 1998 (NHTSA ID # 02V28600). THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING GEAR AT MY COST. THEY KEPT THE CORE GEAR ASSEMBLY DN/26065144 - RV 26065041-78091. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TELL WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED UNIT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146778
Incident
Nov 30, 2005
Mileage
79,500 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 26, 2005

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN THAT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME DEFECTS OF THE RACK AND PINION RECALL FOR THE SAME LISTED VEHICLE AND YEAR. CHEVY TELLS ME THAT MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH COINCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146093
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
Mileage
74,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jun 7, 2005

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
Steering
Filed Apr 15, 2004

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067218
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VAN I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE BAD DESIGN OF GM'S INTAKE GASKET WHICH BREAKS DOWN AND CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR AND/OR REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
10068939
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Steering
Filed Jan 5, 2004

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10053392
Steering
Filed Dec 8, 2003

HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE, IT HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DOING RESEARCH I SEE THAT MANY VANS OF THIS YEAR ARE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM INSISTS THAT MINE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I THINK THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY PART. POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS. AT TIMES I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TURNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN/INTERSECTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049420
Incident
Nov 20, 2003
Mileage
64,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 25, 2003

POWER STEERING IS FAILING IN MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. IT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, CHEVROLET SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICES I'VE READ INCLUDE 1998 CHEVY VENTURES. I AM UPSET THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUR OF POCKET AND THEN "WAIT" FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT ALREADY IS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047533
Incident
Nov 25, 2003
Mileage
64,500 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 17, 2003

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V286000 NOTICE CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON 12/19/2002, AND DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10044223
Steering
Filed Jun 24, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE VIN DOES NOT COMPLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10024840
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *NLM *NLM

NHTSA ID
10011890
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Mileage
80,000 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Mar 23, 2003
Crash reported

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN FOR A RECALL FOR A DEFECT ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V286000). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT BECAUSE THE VAN HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT "THE BEARING IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT" AND THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE DEFECT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. I CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR POLICY NOT TO DO RECALLS ON VEHICLES WITH A SALVAGED TITLE. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDLESS OF THE SALVAGED TITLE AND I THINK GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 98V131000) THAT IS A PROBLEM ON MY PARTICULAR VAN. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A 5 YEAR OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY WAS PLAYING IN THE VAN (WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE). HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER ENOUGH TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION LOCK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL IN PARK, AND THE VAN ROLLED DOWN THE HILL IN OUR BACK YARD. IT WAS STOPPED BY A SMALL TREE. NOBODY WAS HURT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE TWO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE BACK YARD PLAYING AND THE VAN SUFFERED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THIS WAS BECAUSE THE VAN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SO I DIDN'T PURSUE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEN I DISCOVERED THE RECALL ON IT AND NOW I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THEM TO FIX MY VAN?. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010917
Incident
Mar 13, 2003
Steering
Filed Mar 7, 2003

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE. HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE STEERING. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL SCOPE, EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10009447
Steering
Filed Feb 15, 2003

RACK AND PINION REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. PH

NHTSA ID
10007540
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Steering
Filed Nov 20, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKE LEFT TURN. STEERING WHEEL, WILL LOSE THE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8023034
Incident
Nov 20, 2002
Steering
Filed Sep 11, 2002

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING, UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER. STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018397
Incident
Sep 10, 2002
BrakesSteering
Filed Jul 16, 2002

STEERING RACK AND PINION FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOST OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK THE COMPONENT FROM RACK AND PINION THAT FELL ON THE GROUND WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, ALSO THE BRAKES FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID
8014023
Incident
Jun 25, 2002
Steering
Filed Jun 14, 2002

LOSE ABILITY TO STEER THE VAN WHEN IT RAINS OR PASSING THROUGH SMALL WATER DEPOSITS ON THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
763074
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Steering
Filed Feb 15, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WIND BLEW VAN INTO A DITCH AND IT SLAMMED INTO A TREE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004126
Incident
Feb 1, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .