1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE Complaints

I AM SURPRISED NO TSB EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT I CAN FIND. MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT - THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING FELL OFF! DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH A NUMBER OF AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS, I LEARNED THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON OCCURRENCE. NOW IF THE LENS FALLS OFF, THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS EXPOSED AND CAN EASILY BE DAMAGED AND NOT FUNCTION - IS THIS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN? SHOULD NOT THIS ISSUE BE ADDRESSED AS A POSSIBLE THREAT TO SAFETY IN THE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE? THANK YOU.

MY WIFE CLOSED THE SLIDING DOOR ON OUR VENTURE VAN, AFTER OUR CHILDREN GOT IN AND THE GLASS SHATTERED IN ON THEM, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT EXCEPT FOR A FEW MINOR CUTS.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK, ALLOWING DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. MR SCC

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 62000MI, STARTED TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE IN ENGINE, BASED ON DEALER AND OTHER CUSTOMERS , THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM 3.1L AND 3.4L ENGINES. ACCOUNTABILITY IS NEEDED BY GM. ISSUE SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL. $900.00

THE "PRETENSIONER" OF THE SEATBELT SYSTEM ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE HAS FAILED NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS MEANS THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE ALERT LIGHT THAT WARNS OF TROUBLE IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SEEMS TO REVERT TO NORMAL AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT WHEN THE DEALER USES THE PROPER TEST EQUIPMENT IT CAN BE DETERMINED THE UNIT HAS FAILED. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT MANY VENTURES ARE BEING USED WITH FAILED PRETENSIONERS AND THEIR OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE ALL INDICATIONS FROM THE ALERT LIGHT IS THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ON MY VEHICLE IN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AND CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL. DEALER PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST AND VERIFIED LEAK, CHANGED OIL, AND FOUND COOLANT. HAD REPAIRED BY INDEPENDENT SHOP. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF INTERNAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO ENGINE. ENGINE HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO SEE THIS MANY COMPLAINTS WITHOUT A FORCED, OR VOLUNTARY RECALL. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *JB

AT 57,000 MI MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I WAS QUOTED A $500.00 ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE $3.00 GASKET AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE SEES A LOT OF THESE LEAKS AND THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON. TS

FUEL TANK "THUD" HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE A SECOND OR TWO AFTER COMING TO A STOP. LOUDEST WHEN TANK IS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. TAKEN TO DEALER TWO TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NO REPAIR MADE. NOW WITH 80,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN AGAIN AND SHOWN THE DEALER A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" FROM NHTSA.COM SHOWING CERTAIN 1998 VIN #'S NEED NEW FUEL TANKS. DEALER TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DIDN'T APPLY. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURNED AND DROVE VEHICLE W/SERVICE MANAGER. HE FINALLY AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY TANK AND WILL FIX/REPLACE. IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SEE THE SECTION ON THIS WEB SITE THAT SHOWS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, PRINT MY COMPLAINT ALSO, AND TAKE THESE TO YOUR DEALER TO GET YOUR "THUD" FIXED.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND ENGINE SEAL LEAK ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SERVICED EXACTLY AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. SIMPLE INTERNET RESEARCH (INCLUDING THIS WEBISTE) HAS SHOWN A PATTERN OF FAILURE FOR THESE PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLDGED PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT PAY ANY OF THE $1,200 REPAIR BILL SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A HUGE OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE FOR A PART WITH A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW TWO OTHER 1998 VENTURE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME REPAIR.

98 CHEV VENTURE WITH 60K BLOWN ENG.DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE GASKET WHICH GM WONT RECALL.100K ANTIFREEZE SLUDGED AT 30K.OVER 70,000 INTAKE GASKET BACKOREDERED AT ONE TIME.NOV OF2002 MODELS HAVE UPDATED IMPROVED GASKET WHY SHOULD PUBLIC THAT KEPT UP ON THIER MAINT HAVE TO PAY FOR DESIGN FLAW.100S OF WEB SITES ON THIS ISSUE EXSIST.