1999 Chevrolet Venture Engine Problems

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

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

1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE, WHILE TRAVELING A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0260-91) UPDATED 07/22/10 *BF

NHTSA ID

10340098

Incident

May 20, 2010

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. SHE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS STILL PRESENT.ALSO THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FRONTAL FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND A MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEATER CORE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RE-INSPECTED IN WHICH THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

10283507

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAD TO REPLACE INTAKE AND HEAD GASKETS AT 105,000 MILES ON MY 1999 CHEVY VENTURE. THEY ARE LEAKING AT 180,000 MILES. I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249472

Incident

Mar 13, 2005

Mileage

105,000 mi

I OWN A 99 CHEVY VENTURE THE PROBLEM IS THE TEMP GAUGE GOES BACK AND FORTH FROM HOT TO COLD I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BAD. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING WITH A MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES WHY ISN'T GM DOING A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245416

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

139,000 mi

BALL BEARING ON VEHICLE REPLACED 2007, NOW 2008 WON'T PASS INSPECTION MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN, PLUS THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234560

Incident

Jul 16, 2008

Mileage

111,000 mi

DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE DETERIORATED MY INTAKE GASKETS OF MY 99 CHEVY VENTURE, SLUDGED UP MY ENGINE AND CAUSED MY CAR TO OVERHEAT AND LEAK DEXCOOL CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER JUST TOLD ME SORRY BUT IT WILL BE ABOUT 1500 TO 2000 TO REPAIR. THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NEVER CHANGED AND WORK UNTIL 150K MILES. MY VAN IS A LEAKING RELIABILITY PROBLEM THAT COULD STRAND US ON THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE DEX COOL THEY PUT IN THE FACTORY. THERE WILL BE A RECALL IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS. THE PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE WEB AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ABOUT IT IN CALIFORNIA. IT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220324

Incident

Mar 6, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING, UPPER AND LOWER. CAUSED OIL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH ANTI FREEZE AND ANTI FFREEZE TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH OIL. GM HAS SINCE CHANGED THE GASKETS TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MATERIAL. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10185904

Incident

Mar 19, 2007

Mileage

101,050 mi

THIS WILL BE A LIST OF MOST OF THE PROBLEMS. I HAVE COMPLAINED OF SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN NEW. IT CURRENTLY HAS 94K ON IT AND I HAVE DONE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON IT. I THINK THE CLOCK WORK OIL CHANGES IS THE ONLY REASON IT STILL RUNS. MANIFOLD GASKETS, INTAKE, HEAD...HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND NEED IT AGAIN, REALLY BAD. BUT I JUST DO NOT HAVE 5-800 BUCKS LAYING AROUND TO DO A GASKET JOB AGAIN SINCE I JUST DID IT A YEAR AGO. THE ANTI-FREEZE DILUTING THE OIL HAS MESSED UP A COUPLE PISTONS. THEY SLAP VERY BAD OK HERE IS MY LIST (I HAVE DEALER INVOICES FOR EVERYTHING FIXED THE FIRST TIME AND RECEIPTS FOR PARTS AND LABOR THE SECOND TIME, OR MY HUSBAND GOT SICK OF PAYING FOR THE SAME CRAP SO HE WOULD FIX THINGS) (HE IS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE TESTING AND DESIGN FIELD) *JB

NHTSA ID

10163941

Incident

Apr 28, 1999

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE ENGINE IN MY 1999 CHEVY VENTURE VAN JUST WENT OUT. THE VAN HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT. MY PARENTS 1999 VENTURE DID THE SAME THING AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE 2 YEARS AGO. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES IN THE 1999 VENTURE VANS? *JB

NHTSA ID

10159233

Incident

May 30, 2006

Mileage

89,500 mi

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS 1. THE INNER BRAKE PADS WORE DOWN TO THE STEEL RUINING THE INSIDE OF BOTH ROTORS ABOUT 3,000 MILES. UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THE BRAKE PADS. 2. BATTERY ACID IS CORRODING ABOUT 4,000 MILES THE DEALERSHIP PAY ALL STILL UNDER WARRANTY 3. BATTERY AGAIN BUT IT TURN OUT TO BE THE ALTERNATOR ABOUT 6,500 THE DEALERSHIP PAY UNDER WARRANTY. 4. THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. P215/70R15, FIRE STONE ON ALL FOUR TIRES. DEALERSHIP DID NOT COVER TIRE HAVE NO WARRANTY ON NEW VEHICLE 7,000 MILES 5. WATER LEAK, AND CARPET IS WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS I FEEL IT IS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER. 8,000 STILL DOES IT AT 50,256. 6. LIGHTER KEEP SHORTING OUT AND AC KEEP MESS UP UNDER THE WARRANTY 7. WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK OIL LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LINE CAME ON. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, LOOSING ALL POWER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD UNDER WARRANTY 38,000 MILES. 8. INTAKE MANIFOLD FIX CAME HOME MY LIGHTS WAS MESS UP WHEN PUT ON MY BRAKES THE FOUR WAY FLASHER CAME ON WHEN I PUT MY LEFT TURN SIGNALS THE RIGHT ONE WOULD CAME ON PUT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS THE LEFT ONE WOULD COME ON TOOK IT BACK THEY HAD TO REPAIRED ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM BECAUSE OF OVER HEARTED BURN IT UP UNDER WARRANT 9. BATTERY ACID IS CORRODING THE BATTERY PAN AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS, POSITIVE CABLE CONNECTED TO BATTERY HAS FALLEN OFF,38,500 NOT COVER 6 YEAR WAS UP. 10. POWER STEERING FLUID SPRAYING FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE AND SERPENTINE BELT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PUT CAP BACK ON POWER STEERING. 11. POWER LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE FROM DOOR SWITCHES ONLY FROM THE REMOTE POWER WINDOW. BACK AC DOES NOT WORK. 12. CONNECTOR LEFT AND RIGHT MELT TAIL LIGHTS, STOP LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS ABOUT 42,000. 13. THERE IS A THUMP NOISE WHEN STOPPING AND TAKING OFF. 14. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN PARKED. 15. CLOUDING OF LENS 16. SERPENTINE BELT REPLACE AT 50,256 17. LEAKING FROM LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AT 50,000. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157702

Incident

May 12, 2006

Mileage

3,000 mi

WE HAVE A 1999 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WITH IT. AFTER MANY TRIPS TO THE MECHANIC, WE FINALLY FOUND THE MAIN ISSUE CAUSING THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE OIL. THE GM PART IS PLASTIC. IT IS A SMALL PART, BUT TAKES 7.5 HOURS TO FIX, SO THE AVERAGE COST TO FIX IT IS $800!!. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART USED BY GM. THERE IS A PETITION WITH OVER 9,000 SIGNATURES!! ITS TIME FOR GM TO RECALL THE PART AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS USUALLY FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN RIDING IN THESE GM MINIVANS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147168

Incident

Jan 6, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE WHICH MY HUSBAND PURCHASED NEW FOR ME IN DECEMBER 1998. LAST YEAR I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON, COOLANT LEVEL CONSTANTLY DROPPING NO MATTER HOW OFTEN WE ADDED DEX COOL, AND THEN IN THE SPRING I HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO ENGINE OIL IN THE COOLANT. HE TOLD ME HE HAS HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WITH CHEVY VENTURE AND OLDS SILHOUETTES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THIS REPAIR WHICH COST ME OVER $1,000.00 MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON ROUTE 22 ON MY WAY TO WORK. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT STOPPED ROLLING DESPITE LOSING POWER AND CALLED MY MECHANIC. HE TOWED ME TO HIS SHOP AND HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAMSHAFT IS BROKEN AND HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE! WELL, AFTER FINDING THIS SITE WHILE RESEARCHING WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THIS SITE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND SINCE AT LEAST 2001 CHEVROLET HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS ENOUGH TO WARN THEM OR OFFER TO REPLACE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE WE HAD MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE LIKE MINE. I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY BY A TRUCK REAR ENDING ME OR SOMETHING! I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH 4 KIDS AND I STILL OWE MY MECHANIC OVER $800.00 FOR MY LAST REPAIRS AND NOW THIS! NO WAY CAN I AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE! BESIDES, ANOTHER VENTURE ENGINE WOULD JUST HAVE MORE PROBLEMS! AND NOW I'M READING ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE AIR BAGS NOT WORKING AND WINDOWS EXPLODING AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES, TAIL LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS! THESE CARS ARE DEATH TRAPS! AND MOST PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE MINI VANS HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN! GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED! *NM

NHTSA ID

10132957

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

84,000 mi

1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT HE BELIEVES THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO FAULTY VALVE BODY INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132388

Incident

Feb 16, 2005

1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE THERMOSTAT, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS.*MR THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TYPE OF VEHICLE HE HAD WAS NONE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF 780.00 DOLLARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10129128

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

63,000 mi

MY WIFE WITH MY 4 SMALL CHILDREN WERE ENTERING MO HWY 412 WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AND QUIT. WHEN THE VEHICLE QUIT IT WAS PARTIALLY ON THE HWY AND PARTIALLY ON THE TURN FROM WHERE SHE WAS EXITING. WHILE SHE ALONE WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE HWY A TRACTOR TRUCK AND TRAILOR ALMOST RUN THEM OVER. TAKE IN MIND THAT WHEN THESE VEHICLES DIE THEY HAVE NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT IT SEEMS THAT IT HAD A INTAKE VALVE GASKET BLOWN LEAKING DEXCOOL INTO THE OIL AND BROKE THE CAMSHAFT. AT THIS TIME I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED BECAUSE FROM THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE IT WILL COST $4,000 TO $5000 TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10127373

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING LOW ON RADIATOR FLUID, BUT WE COULD NOT FIND ANY VISIBLE LEAKAGES. WE HAVE BEEN REPLINISHING THE FLUID. WE DID NOT THINK ANYTHING MAJOR. ON A FRIDAY, WE STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. WE WERE TOLD TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED/LOOKED AT. AFTERWARDS, THE NOISE CONTINUED EVEN LOUDER. WE HAD THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TOWED. THE PROBLEM INVOLVED THE LIFTERS AND THE INTAKE GASKET. (BOTH PROBLEMS ARE RELATED.) I RESEARCHED AND MANY OTHERS HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE GASKET. REPAIR FOR ALL WILL BE $1,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116465

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS LOSING COOLANT DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT THERE WAS NO LEAK. *AK ALL OF THE REPAIR SHOPS AND DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS INTAKE PROBLEM WAS COMMON WITH THIS ENGINE. IT TOOK DEALERSHIP TWO MONTHS TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115600

Incident

Oct 11, 2004

I'VE HAD A 1999 CHEVY VENTURE SINCE NEW. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSES AT 69500 MILES. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AT 78400 MILES. AT 78500 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD GASKETS,INTAKE GASKET AND PLENUM GASKET, BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND SEVERAL COLLAPSED LIFTERS, AND THE CYLINDER HEADS NEEDED TO BE RECONDITIONED. THESE REPAIRS COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SOMETHING IS SURELY NOT RIGHT WITH THIS ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10112103

Incident

Jul 8, 2003

Mileage

69,500 mi

WE OWN A 1999 CHEVY VENTURE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS 1-28-03 AT 55385 MILES. IT WAS LEAKING FLUID IN THE FRONT. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND REPAIRED. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON 10-30-03 AT 67823 MILES. THIS TIME, THE REPAIR SHOP TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHARGES AS THEY FELT THE ADHESIVE FAILED. THE THIRD FAILURE JUST HAPPENED ON 2-11-05 AT 85500 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110409

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

55,385 mi

I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE INTAKE GASKET STARTED LEAKING AND GOT IN MY OIL AND CAUSED IT TO DIE ON ME. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE WORST ONE THAT HE HAD SEEN. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR, BUT WHAT IS TO SAY THAT THIS ONE WILL NOT DO THE SAME THING? *JB

NHTSA ID

10109849

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

136,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 91,000 MILES. THIS IS THE SEOND TIME THIS GASKET HAS FAILED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME (3 YEARS AGO, I THINK) WAS REPLACED BY GM UNDER WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC TO THIS (3.4 V6 AND THE GM 3.1 V6) ENGINE. GM SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THESE FOR FREE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108129

Incident

Jan 25, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106577

Incident

Mar 23, 2004

Mileage

39,000 mi

WE HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE THAT WE PURCHASED IN DEC. 2001. WE DID NOT PURCHASE A WARRANTY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE "CHECK COOLANT" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WE HAD TO KEEP ADDING COOLANT. I DO NOT WORK ON CARS AND HAD A VERY SICK WIFE, SO THE LIGHT WAS A MINOR STRESS AT THE TIME. I'D TAKEN THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID "THE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE IS GOING" WELL FOR A CAR WITH JUST OVER 23,825 MILES ON IT, I WAS VERY STEAMED. IT LASTED TILL 47,359 MILES AND MY WIFE WAS STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND SAT AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FROM SEPT. 9TH TILL DEC. 12TH 2002. WHILE STILL PAYING $437.00 A MONTH PAYMENT. WE HAD A USED ENGINE PUT IN IT BY THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHICH HAD 20,000 LESS MILES ON IT, AND TODAY HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT.WE PAID $2,400 FOR THIS USED ENGINE. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE O2 SENSOR JUST WENT OUT ON US. BUT IF THERE IS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE OR SIMILAR PARTS ON IT, IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN- JUST A MATTER OF TIME?

NHTSA ID

10083033

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

Mileage

47,359 mi