2000 Chevrolet Venture Engine Problems

In January 2022, I noticed white smoke coming from the engine and a mechanic said it was the water pump that needed to be replaced, so I have it replaced. Recently, I noticed the same white smoke coming from the engine and took it back to the same mechanic who installed the water pump. The mechanic said it was the intake manifold that caused the white smoke. I decided to take it to another mechanic to see if the first diagnosis was correct and that mechanic confirmed the first mechanic's diagnosis and my previous experience with another GM vehicle (1997 Vhevy Lumina) that had the exact same problem: water pump went out and intake manifold also started to fail until the Lumina's engine was fried.

NHTSA ID

11488379

Incident

Sep 26, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR TWO DAYS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSED A GARAGE LOCATED NEXT TO THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10705572

Incident

May 6, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

MY 2000 CHEVY VENTURE VAN HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHEN THE COOLANT WAS FULL. I RESEARCHED ON GOOGLE AND FOUND THERE TO BE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC VAN PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND YEAR. IS THERE A RECALL OR ANY WAY THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED FOR NO CHARGE? THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT HAS SEEN THIS ON THIS VEHICLE AS WILL AND THE COST TO FIX THE CRACKED HEAD GASKET IS $1200.00 I APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME WITH THIS MATTER. I SIGNED UP FOR PRINTOUT OF RESEARCH BUT PLEASE DISREGARD AS THIS COMPLAINT FORM IS WHAT I NEEDED. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406823

Incident

May 30, 2011

Mileage

170,000 mi

WE OWN A 2000 CHEVY VENTURE THAT WE BOUGHT USED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, THE BUTTON FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN AUTOMATICALLY DIDN'T WORK AS WELL AS THE GAS GAUGE. SINCE, WE HAVE REPLACED THE HEADS, THE WATER PUMP, RACK AND PINION, WHEEL HUB, TIE ROD END, AS WELL AS REPLACING THE HEAD LIGHTS EVERY COUPLE MONTHS AND NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS.WHEN WE HAD THE HEADS REPLACED, THEY FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AND WE ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AND THE FLUID LOOKING CLOUDY. THEY TOLD US THAT THE CLOUDINESS SOMETIMES HAPPENS, BUT STILL DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE LIGHT COMING ON SAYING ITS LOW!!! WE WERE ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THE ABS BOX IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACED...ALSO, SOMETIMES THERE IS WATER THAT LEAKS FROM THE WEATHER GAUGE OR THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND ACTUALLY SHUTS THE SYSTEM OFF WHEN YOU TURN THE VAN ON, THIS MAYBE DUE TO THE BAD ABS BOX BUT HAS BEEN DOING THIS LONGER THEN THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. THERE IS ALSO RUST ALONG THE VAN BELOW THE SLIDING DOORS. THE LOCKS ALSO SOMETIMES STICK WHEN USING THE KEYPAD OR THE ELECTRICAL LOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE VAN. WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF THIS VAN! JUST HOPE WE HAVE BETTER LUCK WITH OUR NEXT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365536

Incident

Feb 16, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

LAST WINTER I LEFT MY 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN (WITH A 3.4 LITER V6 ENGINE) IDLING FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHILE I WORKED OUTSIDE IT. WHEN I GOT BACK INSIDE, THE HEAT GAUGE WAS ABOUT 3/4 THE WAY TO HOT, AND NEITHER OF THE (2) ELECTRIC RADIATOR COOLING FANS WERE RUNNING. THE ENGINE RAN COOL FOR NORMAL UNCONJESTED TRAFFIC AFTER THIS. IN MID SUMMER THE HEAT GAUGE AGAIN WENT 3/4 HOT WHILE I WAS IN SLOW MOVING STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. TO PREVENT HEAT DAMAGE, I RAN THE HEATER FULL BLAST IN MID 80'S WEATHER; -NO FUN! I TROUBLESHOOT THE RADIATOR FANS CONTROL SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE PCM (POWER-TRAIN CONTROL MODULE; (COMPUTER)) WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. I REPLACED THE PCM MYSELF WITH AN AFTER-MARKET, REFLASHED (REPROGRAMMED WITH GM UP-TO-DATE SOFTWARE) UNIT, BUT I COULDN'T GET THE PCM TO DO ITS 'CRANKSHAFT VARIATION RELEARN PROCEDURE' WITH MY EQUIPMENT, SO I TOOK THE VAN TO MY GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DONE, AND ALSO TO HAVE THE COOLING FANS TESTED. MY DEALERSHIP TESTED THE FANS AND FOUND THEY NOW WORKED, FINISHED THE PCM WORK, BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT OVERHEATED AND BLEW COOLANT RIGHT OUT OF THE RESERVOIR; THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR PARTS. (IT DOESN'T SOUND BLOWN, HAVE COOLANT IN THE OIL, OR PUT EXHAUST IN THE COOLANT THAT I CAN SEE.) THEY QUOTED $1147.50 LABOR & $390. PARTS, & WHATEVER IT COST FOR A MACHINE SHOP TO CORRECT ANY HEAD WARPAGE, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO ADVISED MY WIFE (WHO BROUGHT IN THE VAN), THAT THE VAN SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS FIXED. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME THAT MOST EVERYONE WHO HAD THIS 3.4 LITER GM ENGINE HAS HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO SOMETHING SINCE THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SO WIDE SPREAD. I SUSPECT THAT THE PCM FAILING TO TURN ON THE COOLING FANS WAS WHAT CAUSED THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN MY CASE. DO YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10352613

Incident

Aug 8, 2010

Mileage

112,765 mi

WAS LOOSING COOLANT A MONTH OUT OF WARR.(LESS THAN 36K MILES IN 2003) DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET (SAME ON A '97 VENTURE I HAD) AND SQUEAKED IT UNDER WARR. NOW 5 YEARS LATER AT 63K MILE, THE SAME HEAD GASKET, SAME SPOT. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON AND REPLACE THEM ALL THE TIME WITH THESE ENGINES BUT NO RECALL AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255511

Incident

Jan 16, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

MATERIAL USED FOR HEAD GASKET AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET WERE MADE FROM MATERIAL WHICH DETERIORATED WHEN EXPOSED TO COOLANT. MANUFACTURER DEVELOPED NEW GASKET FROM ALUMINUM TO REPLACE, BUT NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2500 IN REPAIRS, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER SEEMED TO BE WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AS THEY ACTED LIKE THIS WASN'T THE FIRST ONE THEY HAD SEEN. THE FIRST REPAIR I HAD WAS FOR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET, AND IT CAME TO $1300. LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AND 5000 MILES LATER, IT WAS BACK IN THE GARAGE WITH A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DISCOUNT THE REPAIR, BUT STILL CAME TO ANOTHER $1300. THIS WAS ON A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 63000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252807

Incident

Dec 19, 2008

Mileage

59,000 mi

I HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME PROBLEM FIXED ON MY CHEVY VENTURE VAN (2000) THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME...THE INTAKE GASKET KEEPS BLOWING OUT...I WOULD HOPE IF ANY OTHER GM VEHICLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WOULD COME FORWARD SO THERE CAN BE A RECALL ON THIS, SO WE CAN GET IT FIXED...TRUST ME IT IS NOT A "CHEAP" FIX AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED WITHIN THE LAST 4 YEARS...3 TIMES...THE CAR STARTS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, AND OVER HEATING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226046

Incident

Apr 29, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000. UPDATE 05/13/08 *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP ON 4 OCCASIONS. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10223390

Incident

Feb 17, 2008

Mileage

153,000 mi

I HAD MY RADIATOR FLUSHED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE SEEMED TO HAVE OIL IN MY COOLANT. I WAS TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE, WHICH WAS CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. HE SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DEXCOOL WHICH IS THE RECOMMENDED COOLANT TO BE USED IN OUR VAN. IF GM RECOMMENDS THAT THIS COOLANT BE USED, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. WHICH IS GOING TO COST US ABOUT $800 OR MORE IF OUR ENGINE BLOWS. WHEN WE FINALLY DO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WE WILL NOT BE PUTTING THE RED DEXCOOL BACK IN IT, WE ARE SWITCHING TO THE GREEN, IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY OUR MECHANIC. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR TAX REFUNDS, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS A DISABLED VET AND WE ARE ON A LIMITED INCOME.. SHAME ON GM FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR CONSUMERS LIKE THIS, AND I CAN SEE FROM ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206968

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE GROUND AND INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. KNOWN ISSUE THAT GM REFUSES TO ADDRESS - AFFECTS ALL 3800CC ENGINES PRIOR TO ABOUT 2004. KNOWN DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179417

Incident

Dec 24, 2004

Mileage

26,450 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN SHE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE, #030601010 DATED 03/01/03. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HER 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAS HAD THE SAME REPAIR THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN REFERS TO. THE REPAIR WAS DONE ON 12/21/06 FOR THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND THE REPAIR COST THE CONTACT $696.07. THE CONTACT DOES HAVE HER REPAIR ORDER.

NHTSA ID

10176805

Incident

Dec 21, 2006

Mileage

89,543 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH ENGINE OIL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159196

Incident

May 14, 2006

Mileage

112,500 mi

WE HAVE SPENT 3 YEARS FLUSHING RADIATOR WITH DEXCOOL--STILL HAVING OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRANSMISSION--EVERY TIME SEEING SLUDGE IN OVERFLOW TANK WITHIN A MONTH AFTER FRESH FLUSH--THIS MONTH WE HAVE REPLACED WATER PUMP, AND REPLACING RADIATOR, OIL COOLER, AND GOING BACK TO REGULAR GREEN ANTIFREEZE AFTER HEARING OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WORSE IN CHEVROLET MODELS USING DEXCOOL!! UNKNOWN IF DAMAGE HAS BEEN CAUSED TO TRANSMISSION FOR 3 SUMMERS OF OVERHEATING...CAN'T DRIVE IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC SAFELY IN WARM WEATHER KNOWING THAT COOLING SYSTEM/TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL IN THOSE CONDITIONS. WE'VE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS STOPPED UNDER SHADE TREES TO LET ENGINE COOL DOWN ENOUGH TO GET TO DESTINATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155122

Incident

Apr 8, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING BROUGHT INTO MY MECHANIC HE DIAGNOSED " REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS", BROUGHT VAN TO CHEVY TO SEE IF PERHAPS A RECALL BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THIS ENGINE, BUT I WAS TOLD NO RECALL AND THEY ARE UNAWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. SO I PAID $1,265 TO CHEVY TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECT ON A 2000 CHEVY VENTURE WITH JUST UNDER 25K MILES. AND THEY WONDER WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING FOREIGN MADE CARS!!!!!*JB

NHTSA ID

10154240

Incident

Mar 29, 2006

Mileage

24,765 mi

I NOTICED RED FLUID ON ONE OF THE LINES BELOW IN THE AREA OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. I DO HAVE DEXCOOL IN THE SYSTEM. I HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TO WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM BUT I NOTICE THE RESERVOIR GETS LOW PERIODICALLY. I FEAR IT IS LEAKING FROM THE GASKET BUT NOT SURE YET. I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPEND $600-$1000 EVERY YEAR WHICH A COUPLE OF THE REPAIRS GM TOOK CARE OF AFTER REAMING THEM OUT. THEIR PRODUCT IS TERRIBLE AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10149076

Incident

Jan 14, 2006

Mileage

57,000 mi

VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CHANGE FUEL FILTER. DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW MY DEX-COOL IS LEAKING, SHORTED OUT CAM POSITION SENSOR. HAS HAD LOW COOLANT FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE CAN USE SO MUCH COOLANT. VEHICLE IS STILL PARKED, NOT RUNNING, HAD MECHANIC CHECK VEHICLE WITH A SCAN TOOL, SAYS THE CAM SENSOR IS BAD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137868

Incident

Sep 20, 2005

WE HAVE A 2000 CHEVY VENTURE WB EDITION AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IT APPEARS TO BE LEAKING AND WE ARE IN FEAR THAT IT WILL DO HARM TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE TALKED WITH THE MECHANIC AND HE SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT GM HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. WHAY IS THAT? IF THIS IS SO COMMON WHY NOT FIX IT!*JB

NHTSA ID

10137617

Incident

Sep 26, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STARTING EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ON MAR 18TH, 2005. THE CONSUMER FELT A SKIP OR SPUTTER WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP SIGN. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER TO PUT DRY GAS IN THE VEHICLE WHICH SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SO THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10128598

Incident

Mar 18, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A CHEVY VENTURE 2000. FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD OIL SPOTS ON THE GROUND IN THE GARAGE, AND HAVE HAD TO KEEP FILLING UP THE COOLANT RESEVOIR TANK FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT THE DEALER FOR THE OIL SPOTS AFTER HAVING THEM DO AN OIL CHANGE MONTHS AGO. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL. HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO GET CHECKED WHY I WAS HAVING TO ADD COOLANT THEY FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. IT COST ME $600.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. MY VAN HAS 86K MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD THE GASKET REPLACED TWICE NOW. I HAVE RESEARCHED INFO FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE 3.1L AND 3.4L MOTORS IN GM'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY DOES THIS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM? THIS HAS TO BE DAMAGING THE ENGINE HAVING COOLANT BEING ABLE TO LEAK INTO IT. THE SERVICE STATION I WENT TO DOES SEVERAL OF THESE A MONTH ON 1998 TO 2001 MODELS WITH THESE ENGINES. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A FLAW WITH EITHER THE GASKET OR THE DEX COOL THAT CORRODES THE GASKET.

NHTSA ID

10125235

Incident

Jun 13, 2005

Mileage

86,508 mi

DT: FUEL SYSTEM IS NOT CONNECTED CORRECTLY WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL TO MIX AND TO DRAIN. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OFF BECAUSE OF THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10124322

Incident

Mar 26, 2005

Mileage

88,000 mi

LOSING OIL ON 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN AND WENT FOR SERVICE. THEY FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKING COOLANT AND OIL. THEY EXPLAINED THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED CRITICAL ENGINE ISSUE IF LEFT. HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND ALSO SERVICE NOTES FROM GM ON THIS TOPIC. THE VAN HAS ONLY 49000 MILES. I PAID OVER $950 TO FIX A GM DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116898

Incident

Apr 12, 2005

Mileage

49,000 mi

THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. *AK THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS INSTALLED WITH AN ACTIVATION CABLE UNDER THE SEAT TRACK. OVER TIME, THE WIRING IN THE CABLE SHORTED INTERNALLY REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. WITHOUT REPLACEMENT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. THERE WAS ALSO A COOLANT LEAK WHICH WAS FOUND IN THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101166

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

82,000 mi

LABOR DAY 2004 TRAVELING THROUGH ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, ENGINE COOLANT OVERHEATED. HAD REPLACED COOLANT 2 MONTHS PREVIOUS. TEMPERATURE GAUGE NOW ALWAYS SHOWS COOL. TODAY HAD ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SHOP ADVISED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING AND NEEDING REPLACED. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, DISCOVERED IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON ON CHEVROLET 3.4L ENGINE AND OFTEN LEADS TO CAM SHAFT AND EVEN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT. GM CURRENTLY IGNORING CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112789

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

AT APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES THERE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A CONSUMPTION OF COOLANT, WITH NO LEAKS OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS THEN A LEAK THAT STARTED OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE A FEW HUNDRED MILES LATER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ($800) OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON TO THE GM V6 ENGINES (WHICH THE SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED). THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!! GM IS AWARE OF THIS WITH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 03-06-01-010. *NM

NHTSA ID

10112093

Incident

Feb 18, 2005

Mileage

47,900 mi