2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE Complaints

VACATIONING 500 MILES OUT OF MY HOME STATE, I SUDDENLY DISCOVERED I COULD NOT BACK UP MY VEHICLE -- REVERSE GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO AN AUTHORIZED CHEVROLET DEALER. UPON INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SHREDDDED METAL IN THE FLUID AND PAN. A SUBSEQUENT TEARDOWN OF THE ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE DESTROYED, REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THE CARE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AT HOME, ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, AND HAD ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS OR WARNING OF ANY DAMAGE OCCURRING TO THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION -- NO OPERATING PROBLEMS, NO NOISES, NO LEAKAGE, NO SMOKING ENGINE, ETC. WE HAD TO EXTEND OUR VACATION FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS AT CONSIDERABLE LODGING AND VEHICLE RENTAL COST, BUT FORTUNATELY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION ITSELF WAS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY WHICH I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IN 2001 (LESS A $100 DEDUCTIBLE). WE KNOW OTHER CHEVROLET OWNERS WHO REPORTED TO US LATER THAT THEY HAD HAD TO REPLACE FRONT WHEEL TRANSAXLES/TRANSMISSIONS, ONE ALSO IN A VENTURE SEVERAL YEARS OLDER THAN OURS AND ONE IN A SUBURBAN ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AS OURS. OUR HOME DEALERSHIP TOLD US THEY THOUGHT OUR EXPERIENCE WAS UNUSUAL BUT WE ARE NOT SO SURE.*AK

2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE STARTER RELAY SECURED NEXT TO THE RADIATOR CAP IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO RAIN WATER AND AS A RESULT THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. *TT *NM

WHILE THE PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR WAS OPENED IT SUDDENLY CLOSED ON ITS OWN. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S CHILD SUSTAINED MAJOR ARM INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE HITTING AGAINST EACH OTHER WHILE OPERATING. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE BY THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. *JB

POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULDN'T STOP OR OPEN, WIFE GOT SHOULDER, ARM, KNEE CAUGHT IN DOOR. THE DOOR IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. CALLED GM AND THEY WERE VERY RUDE AND SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION SLIP, INABILITY TO USE REVERSE AND/OR DRIVE. MY 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AT MY LOCAL CHVROLET DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM OVER THE PAST 3-4 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS 22000 MILES. GUESS WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AFTER TODAY'S TOW TO THE DEALER ?? NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND - THE VEHICLE -"OPERATES AS DESIGNED" AMAZINGLY ENOUGH WHEN MY WIFE WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT WE WERE IN WE COULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING WAS SPINNING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE AND ONE POINT LURCHED BACKWARD AS MY WIFE CONTINUED IN AN ATTEMPT TO BACK THE VEHICLE UP TO NO AVAIL -AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY. WE COULD NOT USE DRIVE EITHER IT WOULD ONLY MOVE AT A SNAILS PACE. UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND I'M STILL HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN FOR THIS PROBLEM I ALMOST INSTANTLY HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK FOR REPAIR - THEY SAID THEY FILLED THE FLUID AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND IT WAS UNTIL TODAY! - FOR THE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE - I WOULD HOPE FOR A RECALL SOON! ISN'T IT STRANGE HOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER MOST OF WHAT I'VE READ IN OTHER POSTS SAY "DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" ?? *JD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULLOVER, AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE, 21570R15 , DOT#W2M3

MY 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN MY GARAGE. IT BURNED TO A TOTAL LOSS. IT ALSO CAUSED A MEASURE OF SMOKE DAMAGE TO MY GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD 54,000 MILES ON IT. THE SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT MY GARAGE OR EVEN MY HOME ON FIRE. THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE A DEFECT. *AK

3.4 V6 GASKET FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE,COOLANT LEAKING AT 25,000 MILES.TOOK TO DEALER AND FIXED IT BUT HAD TO HAVE ENGINE FLUSHED FOR 300.00,THEY DIDNT CHARGE ME TO FIX GASKET.DEALER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE,HIS HANDS ARE TIED.I WILL GET RID OF THIS VAN[VENTURE 2001].PLEASE CHECK ALL OTHER CARS VANS WITH THIS ENGINE,ALERO,IMPALA,MONTECARLO,VENTURE ECT.... THEY ALL HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM!!! GM WAKE UP!!! STOP SELLING US JUNK!!*AK

VAN WAS MAKING SCRATCHING NOISE UPON CRANKING. TOOK VAN IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VAN HAD 48,000 MILES AT THE TIME. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. SAME THING HAPPENED 2 WEEKS AGO, TOOK VAN IN, NEW BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID. THE SECOND BATTERY ONLY HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN.*AK