1999 Chevrolet Venture

SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE WERE 102 ALLEGED INJURIES INCLUDING ARM/WRIST, THUMB AND SHOULDER INJURIES.A COUNT OF INJURIES REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 14 INCIDENTS OF REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 THROUGH 1999 GM U-VANS, INCLUDING TWO THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES IS USED IN THE U-VANS FROM MY 1997 THROUGH 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS CAN CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS (E.G., IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING).GM IDENTIFIED A PARTS HANDLING CONCERN THAT WAS CAUSING SOME TRAILING ARMS TO BE DAMAGED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, GM IMPLEMENTED CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS FROM JANUARY 1999 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1999. EIGHT (8) OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS IN MY 1997-99 U-VANS, INCLUDING THE TWO CRASHES, OCCURRED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE TREND AND SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.

I NEED TO KNOW WERE I CAN FIND OUT WHO I TEX TO RECALL THIS VAN THERE ARE TO MANY THINGS THATS GOING WRONG WITH IT I FIX ONE THING AND SOMETHING ELSE GO WRONG WITH IT LOOK I HAVE CANCER AND NEED A GOOD CAR TO GO TO STANFORD CANCER PLEASE CAN U HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

11097733

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

239,137 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD FLASH 7 TIMES THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,500.

NHTSA ID

11010181

Incident

Jun 28, 2017

Mileage

97,500 mi

CPSC: I1480097A. 1999 CHEVY VENTURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAS A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *LN

NHTSA ID

10666949

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 I NOTICED OIL IN COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC. CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED HEAD GASKETS WERE DESTROYED. HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND THE COOLANT FLUSHED OUT AS WELL AS CHANGED ALL COOLANT HOSES, WATER PUMP, AND THERMOSTAT TO THE TUNE OF $900.00 DOLLARS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 84000 MILES ON IT. PURCHASED NEW IN 1999. USED THE VEHICLE DAILY FOR FOUR MONTHS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAGE STARTED FLUCTUATING FROM HOT TO COLD AND FOUND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE HEAT. VEHICLE WOULD THEN IDLE ROUGH. BROUGHT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND IT APPEARS THE SAME ISSUE IS OCCURRING. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. ANOTHER $800-$1000 NO WAY. MECHANIC ADVISES THIS IS COMMON FOR VENTURES. THANKS CHEVY LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE SHOPPING FOR A HONDA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561774

Incident

Sep 23, 2013

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE AND FUEL TANK MELTED DUE TO THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT PATCHED UP THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL LINE SINCE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10559371

Incident

Dec 27, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY WIFE SMELLED GASOLINE UPON ENTERING THE CAR ON OCTOBER 7, 2012. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FROM WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM, AND SAW GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM A PIPE NEAR THE GAS TANK. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO REPLACE FOUR FUEL AND EVAPORATION LINES DUE TO CORROSION. IT COST ME OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THESE LINES. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A DISASTER COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO MY EXHAUST PIPE. I THINK THAT THESE VANS SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT CHEVY WOULD PUT IN FUEL LINES THAT HAD ANY POSSIBILITY OF CORRODING. THEY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479979

Incident

Oct 7, 2012

Mileage

101,000 mi

PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW. MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AT 35,000 MILES REPAIRED BY GM. FAILED AGAIN AT 70,000 MILES BUT GM WOULDN'T COVER THE COST, PAID $900 OUT OF POCKET. NOW AT 112,000 MILES AND SUSPECT THAT IT IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THE LIFTERS ARE ALSO MAKING NOISE. THE MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR ENGINE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND ORDER A RECALL. *LN

NHTSA ID

10380996

Incident

Feb 7, 2011

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. SHE THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGERS IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAITED FIFTEEN MINUTES TO ALLOW THE DOOR TO COOL DOWN BEFORE ACCESSING. THE INNER DOOR PANEL WAS DETACHED. THE PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE OF THE DOOR PANEL WERE MELTED AND OTHER INNER COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10356193

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.