2003 Chevrolet Venture Engine Problems

THE ENGINE RPM SURGES WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS. THE ENGINE WILL GRADUALLY PROPEL THE VEHICLE TO AROUND 50-60 MPH WITH NO MECHANICAL MOVEMENT OF THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY DAY OR TWO. HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR FIRMLY PRESS THE BRAKES TO GET THE VELOCITY DOWN. THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. CHANGING ALL TYPES OF PARTS AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. I ALSO SEE ALOT OF THE SAME ISSUES ON LINE WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11080807

Incident

Jan 12, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD HEAD GASKET CRACKED OR RUPTURED RESULTING IN THE ANTI- FREEZE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR OIL. REQUIRED REMOVAL OF ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY AND REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE RUPTURED HEAD GASKET. COST 9 HOURS MECHANIC LABOR AND $ 975.00 FOR PROFESSIONAL REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10969221

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

61,000 mi

ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I GOT MY MINI VAN THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED STAYING ON IN THE START POSITION, AND I'VE GOT A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE THAT NOBODY CAN SEEM TO FIND. ALL OF MY FRIEND'S HAVE HEARD THIS SOUND IN THE ENGINE, BUT THE TECHS KEEP TELLING ME IT'S NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639215

Incident

Apr 11, 2013

Mileage

90,300 mi

THE METAL UNDERSIDE SUPPORT BRACKET THAT HOLDS UP BOTH THE ENGINE COOLANT RADIATOR AND A/C RADIATOR HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LEFT (DRIVER) SIDE OF THE BRACKET COMPLETELY FAILED AND ALLOWED THE RADIATORS TO TILT DOWN AND DROP APPROX. 4" ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE PRIMARY SUPPORT IS NOW ONLY THE COOLANT HOSES. HAD I NOT NOTICED, WHILE VIEWING THE CAR FROM THE FRONT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM; BOTH THE RADIATORS COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING, THEY CERTAINLY COULD HAVE WEDGED TO IMPEDE THE STEERING CONTROL AND /OR RUN OVER BY THE TIRES TO MOST CERTAINLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO US OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. MY CALL TO A DEALERSHIP STATED THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR RUST ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL BY GM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPAIR A CORROSION ISSUE OF THIS SUPPORT COMPONENT THAT IS A SAFETY INTEGRITY ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10502065

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

Mileage

133,280 mi

I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK, WHILE TAKING FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, I ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED FROM A STOP SIGN IN SHOPPING MALL. DUE TO DELAY, FROM A BAD TRANSMISSION FROM DAY 1 WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM FELIX CHEVROLET, LA CA IT HOLDS UP TRAFFIC. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN AND IT APPEARED TO DRIVER THAT I WAS MOVING FORWARD. YET, THE DELAY CAUSES DANGER FROM BEHIND AND I'M STILL ENCOUNTERING DELAYS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, 2006 UP UNTIL NOW. FELIX DENIED ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH AFTER I COMPLAINED AND HAD THEM TEST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE. I'VE BEEN VERY DISSATISFIED WITH PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY OF VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE SEVERELY JERKS. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE IN THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 60,000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490520

Incident

Sep 30, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,600.

NHTSA ID

10464765

Incident

Jul 5, 2012

Mileage

94,600 mi

2003 CHEVY VENTURE 3.4L. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN. HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE AROUND 100,000 MILES. NOW AT 132,000 THE VAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP BEING TORN DOWN TO FIND WHAT IS A SUSPECTED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD OR CRACKED BLOCK. AT WHAT POINT WITH GM DECIDE THAT THEY MANUFACTURED A WORTHLESS ENGINE THAT IS COSTING ITS CUSTOMERS THOUSANDS TO REPAIR. HELP!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10398470

Incident

Apr 29, 2011

Mileage

132,000 mi

WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON ** INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ** FOR THE CHEVROLET VENTURE 2003 ? I REPLACED IT 2 YEARS AGO AND NOW I MUST REPLACE IT AGAIN . THERE ARE LIKE 35 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. GMC KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. NO ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HOPE YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE EVERY REPAIR IS AROUND $ 700 TO $1100 . IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU GO. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS CAN'T FORCE GMC TO MAKE THIS A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314015

Incident

Sep 11, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

STRONG SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE AND WAS LOOSING COOLANT. OVERHEATING. SPOKE WITH GM SEVERAL TIMES AND COMPLAINED. THIS COST ME $1000.00 TO REPAIR AND AFTER READING COMPLAINTS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER REPAIRING. ALSO, SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS KEPT BLOWING AND AN ELECTRICAL BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265535

Incident

Dec 28, 2008

Mileage

126,000 mi

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VAN. THE FIRST IS THE PLUG AT THE BASE OF THE CAPTAINS CHAIR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BROKEN TWICE. SINCE IT IS PLASTIC-I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THIS ITEM. THE VAN HAS AN INTAKE LEAK WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX, THIS WAS DISCOVERED AT 64,000 MILES. WITH A PRICE TAG OF OVER $500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, IT IS STILL AN ISSUE. AT THE 60667 MILES IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS DONE WITH THE HEFTY PRICE TAG OF $1,279.00 WHICH ALSO INCLUDED REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WHICH HAD BEGUN LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACED. NOW THE BRAKES ARE SQUEALING AGAIN AND I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PATTERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231548

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

60,667 mi

WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS WHEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED. WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO IN-TOWN SPEEDS THE VAN DROVE VERY ROUGH AND WOULD OFTEN STALL WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT. TOOK IT TO GM SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT THE ROCKER ARM POST HAD PULLED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD #4. GM WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $2000 TO REPAIR. INSTEAD THE OFFERED TO REPAIR WITH A "HELI-COIL" AND GM PICKED UP ALL CHARGES. 10 MONTHS LATER DRIVING AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE WENT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GM SERVICE SHOP. THEY FOUND ANOTHER ROCKER ARM POST HAD PULLED OUT OF A CYLINDER HEAD #6. THEY DID A "HELI-COIL" REPLACEMENT AGAIN WHICH I PAID FOR. BOTH SHOPS HAVE SAID THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN DURING THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE, YET IT HAPPENED TWICE IN MINE. IN A CAR LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD NO LESS. IS THERE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THESE ENGINES TO CAUSE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10226841

Incident

Apr 26, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

IN OUR 2003 CHEVY VENTURE WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES. WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING. THE VAN HAS OVERHEATED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A HIGH COST TO US. IT UPSETS ME TO FIND THAT CHEVROLET KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. WHY RECALL THE VANS IN CANADA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222257

Incident

Mar 10, 2008

PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221878

Incident

Mar 12, 2008

ON 3 MILE IN TOWN TRIP, HEAT GAUGE SUDDENLY CLIMBED INTO THE RED. I TURNED OF CAR AND LET IT COOL. DROVE BACK HOME WITH MANY STOPS TO PREVENT OVERHEATING. TOWED IT TO A DEALER. LOWER MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET, A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM--BUT NO US RECALL, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LABOR COSTS BROUGHT THE DEFECTIVE AND BADLY ENGINEERED REPLACEMENT TO OVER $900. THERE WAS NO ENGINE DAMAGE, BECAUSE I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM EARLY, AS NO COOLANT HAD YET LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203886

Incident

Apr 9, 2007

Mileage

63,500 mi

2003 CHEVY VENTURE WITH ENGINE CODE OF E IN THE VIN (COVERED UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN) STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND OIL FROM THE INTAKE GASKET. CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $850 TO REPAIR AND BE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS.

NHTSA ID

10191617

Incident

Apr 10, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL GAS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER INITIALLY DETECTING GAS THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE HEAD GASKET. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE SCENT OF GAS REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED. ONCE MORE, THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FILLER HOSE DETERIORATED DUE TO POOR DESIGN OR A MATERIAL DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 113,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKS FROM THE MANIFOLD AS WELL AS THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. UPDATED 07/30/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10187605

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

Mileage

113,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING WHILE AN OIL CHANGE WAS BEING PERFORMED. THE INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10165168

Incident

Aug 10, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN FOR 28 MONTHS WITH MULTIPLE MECHANICAL FAILURES. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED, THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED TWICE, THE TIE RODS ON BOTH SIDES, THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE GLOVE BOX LOCK, THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT TWICE, THE ENGINE "SEALS", THE COOLANT HOSES AND THE POWER DOOR HANDLES. THE POWER SLIDING DOOR GASKET HAS ALSO COME OFF ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOW BEEN ON FOR 4 WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES AND WITHOUT A VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE LATEST PROBLEM REQUIRED THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER TO FIX. THE CAR OVERHEATED AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN ALL THREE TIMES, IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. THIS REQUIRED A NEW WATER PUMP ON THE FIRST VISIT, A NEW THERMOSTAT 8 DAYS LATER AND NEW HOSES 1 DAY AFTER THAT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139788

Incident

Oct 13, 2005

I HAVE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED BY A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP THAT OUR 2003 CHEVY VENTURE, WITH 40000 MILES ON A 3.4L V6 ENGINE, NEEDS THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, IN FACT GM ISSUED A RECALL IN CANADA TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED FOR NO CHARGE TO THEIR LOYAL OWNERS. HOWEVER, HERE IN THE US WE ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY $1100 OR MORE BECAUSE OF AN INTIAL DESIGN FLAW. NOT ONLY AM I DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE THIS KIND OF TROUBLE WITH MY RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE (WE HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT), THE QUOTE OF $1100 FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THIS GASKET IS, I THINK, RIDICULOUS. GM HAS ADMITTED THEIR PART IN THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING THE RECALL IN CANADA, AND I FEEL THEY NEED TO DO THE SAME HERE IN THE STATES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102891

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING TWICE. THIS CAUSED DIFFICULT STEERING AND NEAR COLLISION. WILL CONTACT DEALER FOR INSPECTION / REPAIR. VAN HAS ONLY 22K MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10095572

Incident

Oct 11, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TURNING TO THE LEFT VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, PROBLEM WITH BOTH SLIDING DOORS OPENING AND CLOSING ON THEIR OWN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089185

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF REAR END PROBLEM. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT MANUFACTURER NEVER SEALED THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS WILLING TO DRY OUT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, A MOLDY MILDEW SMELL LINGERED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. *AK MOLD WAS ALL THROUGH THE CEILING AS WELL AS BLOWING THROUGH THE REAR VENTS, THE BACK END LEAKED, THE ROOF RAIL SEAMS AND PITCH RAIL WERE NOT SEALED, WATER LEAKED INTO THE REAR DOME LIGHT AND LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR IN THE REAR, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 18K MILES, THE #2 AND #3 FAN RELAY SHORTED, THE FRONT END HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY, AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SEAL HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE GLASS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10067121

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

Mileage

33,484 mi

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN VEHICLE DIES UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10061491

Mileage

9,519 mi

I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT IN DECEMBER ODI ID NUMBER 10051011, CONCERNING OUR 2003 CHEVY VENTURE AND THE ENGINE CUTTING OFF, BETWEEN DECEMBER 2003 AND MARCH 3, 2004 THE VAN HAS SINCE HAD DISTURBING NOISES COMING FROM THE UNDER NEATH OF THE VEHICLE, GRINDING SOUNDS AND A THUMPING SOUND. SCHEDULED THE VAN TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND WHILE DRIVING IN THE VAN'S ENGINE CUT OFF. THE VAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY THIS TIME. LAST TIME THEY SAID THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGIAN, WELL IT DID, AND WE ARE AWAITING A REPLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060261

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

AWD AND ABS LIGHT ON. REAR HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. CAR HORN BEEPED WHEN GAS PEDAL IN DEPRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10068752

Incident

Mar 15, 2002